BIG SMOKE NEWS

Big Smoke Writing Factory are moving to a new home at 1 Coppinger Row, Dublin, between South William St and Clarendon St - view on the map here. 

Their classes are starting in the next week or so - still a couple of places on most of them so, if interested, get booking.

- Commit To Your First Draft (intermediate/advanced; starting Monday September 28th)
- Intermediate Creative Writing (intermediate; starting Tuesday September 29th)
- Your Second Draft (advanced; starting Wednesday September 30th)
- Beginning To Write (beginners; starting Thursday October 1st)
- Poetry: Reading, Writing, Editing (intermediate/advanced; starting Monday October 5th)

You can get in touch if you've any questions about any of the courses.

The 101 Flash Comp

Big Smoke Writing Factory are excited to announce their annual Flash Fiction Competition "The 101". They have added a new challenge this year by giving you two extra words to play around with.

Every story entered must be EXACTLY 101 words. No more. No less.

They say: ‘With only 101 words on the page there are very few places to hide so send us your best. It can be shocking or touching, brutal or heart wrenching – we want flash that moves the reader. Whether you’re a flash fiction newbie or a total flash expert, this is an evening of creativity and inspiration not to be missed!’

The deadline for 101 submissions is 8th June and 2 stories max can be sent (in separate emails please!) to flash@bigsmokewritingfactory.com.

As always this event is FREE and will be held in Arthur’s Pub, Dublin 8. All are welcome.

DUBLIN DAYS - A LITERARY WEEKEND

I'd a busy two days in Dublin: I went to the Plotting History event at the Dublin Book Festival on Friday, featuring Lia Mills, Patricia O'Reilly and Martina Devlin, all of whom were very interesting on their diverse and excellent novels. Tea and cake afterwards with the sublime Mia Gallagher in Queen of Tarts.

Karl Parkinson, MCing

On that evening to the launch of Dave Lordan's new poetry collection from Salmon, Lost Tribe of the Wicklow Mountains in Toner's. Karl Parkinson was a great MC, Philip Coleman of TCD  delivered a considered and moving launch speech (he and Dave are old friends) and Dave read brilliantly, as always.

Philip Coleman launching Dave Lordan's new book

I love hearing the context of poems and enjoyed Dave's explanations about the lost tribes and about learning to love the corner of Wicklow he calls home. It was great to see pals old and new, including Kerrie O'Brien, Dmita Xidous and Nicole Rourke, director of the Big Smoke Writing Factory. I do so love a night out in Dublin.

Dave reading (phone pic, so excuse quality)

Saturday then was my Lines of Vision event at the National Gallery with Moya Cannon, Dermot Bolger and Roddy Doyle, with Luke Gibbons as chairperson.

Roddy Doyle

We each read our piece from the Lines of Vision book (Roddy and me - stories, Moya and Dermot - poems) and then talked about our relationship to Jack B. Yeats and why we had chosen Yeats's particular paintings as jumping off points for the pieces we wrote. The place was jammers, Luke was a great moderator and I learnt even more about Jack B. Yeats which makes me fall even harder for him and his work.

Dermot, Moya, Janet McLean (curator and editor of the LoV book), Luke, me, Roddy)

It was a great weekend of literary chatter, food and drinks, but am happy to be back at my desk now ready to continue on into novel #4. It has slowed down a little so I may need to have a research/brainstorming week with it. As long as I stay in touch with it, anything will do.

Much as I love getting away, I love even more to come back and potter at my desk. So, while I thank the stars for outings, I thank them equally for retreats.

FLASH FURY FOR IFFD

I'll be there with my judge's hat on. Hope to see you!

FLASH BULBS - BIG SMOKE FOR (I)NFFD

I'll be reading at Big Smoke Writing Factory's FLASH BULBS - a flash fiction event as part of (inter)National Flash Fiction Day 2013. They say:

Join us on Saturday June 22nd at Arthur's Pub, 6pm to 8pm, to celebrate writing that is short but not necessarily always sweet. This event is all about showcasing the best flash fiction writers Dublin has to offer.

Rich and sharp, precise and urgent - we believe flash fiction is an exciting and growing literary form. We want flash that is powerful and intimate, brief and highly charged. If you would like to read at FLASH BULBS please submit your work (published or unpublished) to us here -> http://www.bigsmokewritingfactory.com/Flash2013.php

Whether you're a total flash-enthusiast or you've never encountered flash fiction before in your life, this is an evening of creativity and inspiration not to be missed!

As always this event is FREE and all are welcome.
So come along and bring a friend, bring two if you've got them!
We look forward to seeing you all there

99 WORD STORY BY TONIGHT

Can you write a 99 word story by midnight tonight? If so Big Smoke Writing Factory want your words:

Entering "The 99" - Guidelines

• Entrants must be available to read at the Flash Bulbs event in Dublin on the evening of Saturday June 22nd 2013
• Submissions should be flash fiction of exactly 99 words. No more. No less. (Title is not included in wordcount.)
• Up to three entries per writer
• Entry is free
• Send all entries to bigsmokeflash@gmail.com
• Please include "Competition Entry" as the subject of your email
• Work should be submitted as an attachment (.rtf, .doc or .docx)
• Author's name or personal information must not appear on the attached document
• Entries must be the original work of the author
• Entries will be judged by guest judge Dave Lordan
• The judge's decision is final
• A short-list of the top entries will be invited to read their pieces at Flash Bulbs and the winner will be announced on the night
• Winner will receive a €250 Big Smoke Writing Factory gift voucher
• Entries close at midnight GMT on Friday June 7th 2013

FLASH AT THE BIG SMOKE

There are still a few places left on the one day Flash Fiction course I'm teaching at the Big Smoke Writing Factory in Dublin on Saturday May 11th. It will be fun!

Time: 10am to 4pm.

Fee: €75.

More and booking here.

FLASH FICTION COURSE - BIG SMOKE WRITING FACTORY

I'm teaching a one day Flash Fiction course at the Big Smoke Writing Factory in Dublin on Saturday May 11th.

Time: 10am to 4pm.

Fee: €75.

More and booking here.

BIG SMOKE CLASSES

It's August and time to think of evening classes for the autumn. Big Smoke Writing Factory in Dublin have a wide range. A sample below & see their site here for more:

Novel In Progress (with Claire Hennessy) - 10 weeks
MONDAY, starting September 26th, 6.30-8.30pm, €250

Intermediate Creative Writing (with Maggie Smith Hurt) - 8 weeks
TUESDAY, starting September 20th, 6.30-8.30pm, €200

Starting A Novel (with Claire Hennessy) - 4 weeks
WEDNESDAY, starting September 21st, 6.30-8.30pm, €95

Writing for Stage (with Nicole Rourke) - 4 weeks
WEDNESDAY, starting September 21st, 7-9pm, €95

Polishing Your Fiction Project: What To Do Before Getting Published (with John Kenny) - 4 weeks
WEDNESDAY, starting October 19th, 6.30-8.30pm, €95

The Poetry Workshop (with Maggie Smith Hurt) - 10 weeks

THURSDAY, starting September 22nd, 6.30-8.30pm, €250

BIG SMOKE WRITING FACTORY

If in 2010 you want to brush up your writing skills, or meet fellow writers, or get serious with your writing, you could stop by Dublin's Big Smoke Writing Factory for a course. They run them evenings, afternoons and Saturdays, so there should be a time slot to please all-comers.

Some of the new 12 week courses - costing €280 - that caught my eye included:

Novel In Progress
MONDAY, 6.30pm-8.30pm, starting February 1, 2010.

Demystifying Poetry
TUESDAY, 6.30pm-8.30pm, starting February 2, 2010.

Angst & Adventure (children's and young adult fiction)
WEDNESDAY, 7pm-9pm, starting January 27, 2010.

Writing Short Stories
SATURDAY, 1pm-3pm, starting February 6, 2010.

The Developing Poet
SATURDAY, 3pm-5.15pm, starting January 16, 2010.


More about course leaders and cetera at the Smoke's website here.