“It’s the best writing course I've done, and I've done a few,
including a Masters. The group worked because of the quality of the
criticism and there were no door-size egos. Without doubt everybody's
work improved during the course and the work was good to start with. The
one-to-one sessions were instrumental and in-depth. The guest speakers
were unholy and brilliant. The course is definitely a leg up (or a kick
in the arse) on the finicky road to completing the first novel.”
“What is outstanding about this course is the generosity, both in
terms of time and close attention, with which every submission was
discussed by Sean and the rest of the group. Sean’s instincts were
unerring, his suggestions helpful, and the energy with which he engaged
with each novel was remarkable. An atmosphere was soon established in
which as much could be learned by critically engaging with the work of
every other member as from feedback on one’s own work.“
—feedback from participants of the New Way to Fly Novel-Writing Workshop
Are you in the early stages of writing a novel or short-story collection?
If so, we are looking for people like you to participate in The
Stinging Fly Fiction Workshop offered in association with the Irish
Writers' Centre.
The workshop, led by acclaimed novelist and short story-writer Sean
O'Reilly, will consist of no more than 10 writers and will meet once a
week over a six-month period (October 2014—March 2015). Whereas in the
past, this workshop has only been open to those writing novels, we are
now inviting short-story writers into the fray.
HOW IT GOES
At each evening workshop, two participants will present their work in
progress (a draft of a short story or novel excerpt) to the rest of the
group for close scrutiny. The writing up for discussion each week is
the raw material; any questions of writing technique or prose style will
arise naturally from the work itself. If you are writing a novel or
story collection, you will have ten close readers to respond to every
stage of its development.
Alongside the weekly workshops, on four Saturdays during the period,
there will be a series of specialist talks on issues around the process
of writing and the imagination. Previous guest speakers have included
Evelyn Conlon, Mia Gallagher, Michael Harding, Dermot Healy, Christine
Dwyer Hickey, Declan Hughes, Paul Murray, Mark O’Halloran, Keith Ridgway
and Peter Sheridan.
Over the duration, each participant will also have two one-on-one sessions with Sean.
DATES, TIMES, COSTS
Starts: Monday September 28th 2014 (introductory session)
Times: Twenty weekly workshops on Monday evenings from 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Four Saturday sessions (dates/times/speakers TBC)
Venue: The Irish Writers’ Centre, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Cost of workshop: €1500/€1450 IWC members (A €200
deposit will be payable once a place on the workshop has been offered
and accepted. The balance can be paid in two instalments in September
2014 and in January 2015.) The cost of the course includes free
membership of the Irish Writers' Centre and current members receive a
€50 discount.
Workshop fee also includes free admission to one Publishing Day seminar at the Irish Writers’ Centre during 2015.
APPLYING
We are taking applications now and places will be offered on the
basis of work submitted. The final date to apply is August 8th — but we
will assess applications as we receive them and we encourage people to
apply early in order to secure a place.
See the
attached PDF for more detailed information.
Sean O’Reilly’s published work includes
Curfew and Other Stories, the novels
Love and Sleep and
The Swing of Things (all with Faber and Faber), and
Watermark
(with The Stinging Fly Press). O’Reilly has a wealth of experience
facilitating fiction workshops, as Writer-in-Residence with Fingal
County Council, Dublin City Council and IADT/Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
County Council amongst others. He currently teaches at the American
College Dublin and in the Irish Writers’ Centre.
