We are thrilled to have award-winning novel and short story writer Paul McVeigh join us on Saturday 17 March in Lewes for a two-hour session exploring ‘that killer first page’. Many of you will know Paul from his novel ‘The Good Son‘, from his hugely popular website sharing writing advice and opportunities, and from his work with organisations like London Short Story Festival and Word Factory.

About the Session
We will explore what goes into writing that perfect first page to keep readers (and judges, agents and editors) hooked. How can we create emotional impact? What works and what doesn’t? We’ll find out what competition judges and journal editors look for in a short story. How can we keep their attention and avoid the rejection pile? We will look at editing techniques, from how to know where to begin your story to taking it to the depths it needs. Finally, the session will also look at submission opportunities; how to find them and where you should be sending your work.

Note: Paul’s masterclass starts at 2pm, but we are opening the room from 1pm for anyone who would like an hour working on their first pages (or any other work) in preparation for the session.

Paul McVeigh’s short fiction has appeared in journals, anthologies and on BBC Radio 3, 4 & 5. ‘Hollow’ was shortlisted for Short Story of the Year at the Irish Book Awards 2017. Paul’s short story blog, which shares writing opportunities and advice, is about to reach 2 million visits. His debut novel, The Good Son, has won 2 awards in the UK and his writing has been translated into 7 languages. He is the co-founder of London Short Story Festival, associate director at Word Factory, the UK’s national organisation for excellence in the short story, and he judges international short story competitions. Paul interviews short story writers such as Kevin Barry and George Saunders for The Irish Times.

Practicalities
The masterclass will be held in the Quaker Meeting House in Lewes, by the Library. Some of you will know this from our Thursday writing sessions. There is a kitchen in the room and refreshments will be available. The venue is a short 5-10 min walk from both Lewes Train Station and Bus Station. You can park for two hours in the car park behind Premier Inn, or three hours for free in Tesco (10 min walk). There are plenty of cafes and shops around if you need anything before we begin. The room has wheelchair access – let us know in advance so we can make sure the ramp is down.

Any other questions don’t hesitate to email us lewesshortstoryclub@gmail.com or visit our website www.lewesshortstory.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you there!