News Views

Interview with Elizabeth Reapy, founding editor of wordlegs.com

w4all_thomas — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:56:03 +0000

Founded in 2010, wordlegs.com is an online Irish journal that publishes short stories, poetry, essays, and anything that doesn't fit too neatly into those categories. In an age where literary blogs and journals come and go, it has already published ten issues of new writing, and has just begun to dip its toes into the choppy waters of eBooks. Writing4all asked its founding editor, Elizabeth Reapy, some questions. And she was kind enough to answer them...

Guest Blog: The similarities between writing and therapy - Tim Smyth

w4all_thomas — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:57:45 +0000

Tim Smyth, current Youth Ambassador at Headstrong, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, writes about the similarities between writing and therapy, the importance of taking time out, and the mental health lessons we can learn from drafting and editing.

Our new contest: A Small, Good Thing Short Story Competition

w4all_thomas — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:39:02 +0000

Writers Abroad seek submissions for 'Foreign Encounters' anthology

w4all_thomas — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:23:45 +0000

Expat writers’ group, Writers Abroad, are looking for short stories, non-fiction pieces and poetry on the general theme of relationships around the world, for a new anthology. 'Foreign Encounters', the group's third anthology, will be print-published and later available as an e-book.

Guest Blog: Self-publishing and the Editorial Process - by John Kenny

w4all_thomas — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:40:35 +0000

Everyone knows that self-publishing is a game-changer. But could the work improve - and in turn, become more respected - by going through the editorial process? Editor and writer, John Kenny, thinks so...

Self-publishing: Putting the shoe on the other foot

Interview with Mary Costello, author of The China Factory

w4all_thomas — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:29:04 +0000

Mary Costello published her first short story in the mid-90s and was promptly shortlisted for a Hennessy Prize, but then didn't publish another story until 2010. Two years later, her wonderful debut collection of short stories, The China Factory, has been published by The Stinging Fly, and looks set for great success. Here Mary tells us about those years of not publishing, how voice is central to all her stories, and how she feels about the prospect of finally being published...

Interview: SCD Goff, author of "Lady Languish" - a new Irish YA title that breaks the mould

w4all_thomas — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:12:16 +0000

Guest blog: Writing and mental health - by Tim Smyth

w4all_thomas — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:40:05 +0000

Tim Smyth, Youth Ambassador at Headstrong, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, recently decided to take some time out of his PhD in English Literature. Here he reflects on the connection between writing and mental health - and how the lessons that can be learned from writing may also be applied to good mental health.

Guest Blog: Why I set up The South Circular – Aoife Walsh

w4all_thomas — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:55:06 +0000

The South Circular, a quarterly e-journal of short stories by emerging authors, was launched just last month. Here, editor and publisher Aoife Walsh tells us why she established the journal, why short stories are important, and why DIY might just be the future of publishing...

Why I set up The South Circular

I was Edna O'Brien's Secretary

w4all_thomas — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:47:11 +0000

Mary Kenny, author, broadcaster, playwright and journalist, reflects on the time she spent in the 1960s as secretary to Irish author, Edna O'Brien...

I can’t remember how I got the job of doing secretarial work for Edna O’Brien in the middle 1960s: I certainly didn’t deserve it, as I was a hopelessly disorganised secretary. But Edna was kind, and she must have hired me out of kindness.

As an employer she was easy and indulgent. She fed me cake and Burgundy, which I thought wonderful.

Do you want to get published in Rathmines Writers’ Workshop (RWW) Anthology?

w4all_thomas — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:34:10 +0000

RWW are inviting poetry submissions for their Anthology. The winner and two runners-up will be published in the forthcoming RWW Anthology. The 3 winning entrants will be invited to read their poems at the launch to be held in Dublin and will also receive a free copy of the publication.

The poems

Poems can have a maximum of 40 lines which includes the title and must be typed. Entries must be in English. Entrants can enter as many times as they like. One poem per entry.

Entry fee

The South Circular Launch Issue One; Now Seeking Stories for Issue 2

w4all_thomas — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:32:39 +0000

February - monthly competition winners

w4all_thomas — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:13:01 +0000

Every month we select winning entries from Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry writings on the site. Winning entries are eligible for inclusion in our annual Best of Writing4all anthology.

Here's the February winners...

Powers Short Story Competition: free entry, first prize €10,000!

w4all_thomas — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:51:18 +0000

What they say:

Hungry Hill Writing Competition (flash fiction)

w4all_thomas — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:48:38 +0000

For fiction of 500 words or less.

First prize: €150 with additional prizes for younger writers.

Winning and shortlisted entries will be published in print and/or online. The judge is novelist Alex Barclay.

Closing Date: April 6th 2012. Entry Fee: €5 (or €3 for younger writers)

Rules

Cork Literary Review Poetry Manuscript Competition 2012

w4all_thomas — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:59:07 +0000

Guidelines for Entry

Currach Press seeking submissions: Irish history, Irish interest, biography, self-help

w4all_thomas — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:14:20 +0000

About Currach Press

Currach Press is an organic offshoot, and the secular imprint, of Columba Press. Although in its infancy, relative to Columba, they are working hard to get Currach Press to a viable and independent stage. To enable them to do this they need submissions and writers. They have decided to accept unsolicited manuscripts to give Irish writers a chance to get published and to hopefully unearth some of the talent they know exists in the country.

What they are looking for

The Arena Flash Challenge 2012: 500 words max; free entry

w4all_thomas — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:02:12 +0000

Rules: A story told in 500 words or less.

Open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 125.

Quirky, daring, challenging and provocative writing encouraged.

Previously unpublished work only.

Deadline: April 30th.

Winners announced: May 15th

Winner crowned Arena Flash Champion 2012 and four runners up broadcast during Arena Flash Fiction week

Judge: Dave Lordan.

Writing Spirit Short Story Competition 2011: winners announced

w4all_thomas — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:51:52 +0000

For those named on the shortlist, the waiting is (finally, finally) over: The results of the Writing Spirit Award 2011 are here.

The lucky (though, of course, hugely talented) first-place winner takes away €1000, with the runner-up picking up €200, and the third place entrant winning €100. As well as this, the top three stories will be published in our annual anthology, Writing4all: Best of 2011, along with all the monthly winners from the Writing4all site.

Words with Jam: First page writing competition 2012

w4all_thomas — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:43:15 +0000

What they're looking for: the most gripping, read-on-able first page of up to 400 words. Any genre but, as always, for The Best First Page.