Congratulations Toby Binder on ‘Wee Muckers’ becoming huge photo features in The Guardian and now The Washington Post – where my introduction is quoted: “poverty, political strife and living in fear was what we had in common. And the Troubles has become this hugely enveloping, shared experience that binds those generations as much as it divides”.
I’m honoured to be teaching at the excellent Faber Academy from June. Here’s a little bit about the course…
28 Weeks – Spend time on your novel, and get it done
Two-Week Sessions – Fit your writing around your other commitments
Small Group – Get to know your fellow writers and their novels
Virtual Classroom – A private space designed specifically for teaching and learning writing skills
One-to-one Feedback – Detailed personal critiques from our tutors, on Skype or over the phone
Regular, Frequent Peer Review – Honest responses from people you trust on your work-in-progress
Focus On Your Novel – No academic essays, no stylistic exercises, just your book
Application Process – To make sure you get the highest quality peer group
24-Hour Tech Support – So you never need to worry that you can’t log in
Find out more today:
Click here to find out what you can expect from your tutor;
Contact us to find out if it’s right for you.”
I’ve written the introduction to Toby Binder’s wonderful photo book ‘Wee Muckers’ which is launched in Munich tonight! The book is a series of photographs of working class youths in Belfast.
German TV, Das Erste 1, flew over to do an interview with me and I took them around Ardoyne, where I grew up and where The Good Son is set.
You can watch the TV segment here (in German). You can buy Guter Junge (German translation) or The Good Son in English here.
An Evening with Iain Archer, Lucy Caldwell, and Lisa McGee, chaired by Paul McVeigh.
The three Seamus Heaney Centre Fellows for 2019, Iain Archer, Lucy Caldwell, and Lisa McGee will reflect on their diverse creative practices, in conversation with writer Paul McVeigh.
This is the closing event for the Writing Through Conflict symposium, hosted by the School of AEL and the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s, in partnership with National Museums NI.
Iain Archer is a Grammy nominated musician from Bangor, who has written and produced for artists such as Snow Patrol, Jake Bugg, Liam Gallagher and James Bay. He has received two Ivor Novello Awards and a third nomination. As well as his critically acclaimed solo career, Iain is a member of the band Tired Pony.
Lucy Caldwell is an award-winning Belfast-born author of three novels, several stage plays and radio dramas, and a collection of short stories. She is the editor of Being Various: New Irish Short Stories (Faber, 2019).
Lisa McGee is a stage and screen writer from Derry, she studied Drama at Queen’s University Belfast. Her plays include The Heights, Nineteen Ninety Two, and Girls and Dolls, and Jump, which has been adapted into a film. Lisa is the acclaimed writer and creator behind the hit Channel 4 sitcom’s London Irish and Derry Girls.
Date And Time: Tue, 5 March 2019, 18:00 – 19:00
Location: Ulster Museum, Belfast BT7 1NG
The Maria Edgeworth Festival and society produce events celebrating the legacy of Maria Edgeworth – this is very exciting to me as I read Castle Rackrent at university. They also promote and celebrate the rich cultural and literary heritage of County Longford. This year is the 400th anniversary of the arrival of her family to Edgeworthstown. I’m delighted to be judging their short story competition (and giving out the prize at the fest), teaching a class and reading from my work.
Here’s my events…
11.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. Short Story Workshop with Paul McVeigh (click to book)
Venue: The Old Schoolhouse, Edgeworthstown
8.00 p.m. Anniversary Celebration (click to book)
Venue: The Manor Church, Edgeworthstown
Poetry and Short Story Readings, featuring Nuala O’Connor and Paul McVeigh
Story & Song with Aidan O’Hara
Music and song with Eleanor Quaine and Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.
Presentation of prizes to competition winners.
Refreshments served
Check out the rest of the events here…
Delighted to be appearing at the Cork World Book Fest again this year. More news to follow… save the date!
RTE Podcast: That Killer First Page
You can hear me talk about ‘That Killer First Page‘ on RTE Arena in this 10-minute podcast.
If you’d like to take my class, the next session is at Stockholm Writers Festival in May.
I’ll also be talking about my novel The Good Son, and giving a talk on using social media as a writer.
Hope to see some of you there.
I’ll be appearing at the London Book Fair Wednesday, March 13th at the invitation of The British Council. I’m excited by the topic of the conversation and to talk to some Indonesian writers after my trip there to The George Town Literature Festival in 2018. Here are the details.
Taboo
Laksmi Pamuntjak, Norman Erikson Pasaribu and Paul McVeigh; chaired by Phillip Kim
16.00-17.00, Cross Cultural Hub, Olympia
Indonesian writing today is becoming more bold, more inventive, and more determined to say the unsayable. How, through literary experiments, style and themes, are Indonesia’s writers tackling taboos and redefining norms? Laksmi Pamuntjak, author of The Question of Red – which counters the official government history of 1965; Norman Erikson Pasaribu, whose poems shine light on queer Indonesian life in the midst of erasure and oppression today; alongside Paul McVeigh whose writing touches on the complex layers of political oppression, violence and sexuality; discuss their personal reasons for writing on their chosen subjects, and the need to explore, and unsettle, the dominant narratives.
I’ll reading/performing a short story, commissioned especially for this incredible project, at the Barbican, London on Feb 23rd.
It will be part of the Postcards From the Future event – ’50 years from now what will the UK look like? Four respected wordsmiths Paul McVeigh, Dreda Say Mitchell, Tony Mason and A. L. Kennedy write and perform a monologue sending us a postcard from 2069.’
Here’s some more about the project…
“Free and open to all, the day will showcase works from Sky Arts’ Art 50 which invited artists of all kinds, from all walks of life, from all artistic genres, to create a piece of work which says something important about national identity in 2019. Come celebrate the diversity and creativity of a nation through dance, music, photography and film. Highlights of the performances, shows and activities throughout the day will be the chance to see brand new work from contemporary dance group Boy Blue and Ivor Novello award winner, Nitin Sawhney with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain – all for free.”
This September I’m teaching at a writing retreat in Tuscany – fancy joining me? Here’s the info…
“A week-long stay in a blissful Tuscan setting. A 17th century villa on a Chianti hill with panoramic views, providing the perfect backdrop for a time of serene relaxation, writing and dining. Unwind by the poolside, or over a glass of wine from the villa’s vineyard, with an intimate group of like-minded writers, and allow the inspiration to unfold.
At the Free With Words June 2019 writing retreat, you’ll be given space away from your day-to-day life to set your creative spirit free. Workshops, teaching, and one-to-one consultations with our experienced and passionate tutors will help shape your writing in the way it needs to go.
Because we know a relaxed writer is a better writer, we don’t believe in pressure. Our passion and focus is to provide the perfect environment and support to help you do your very best writing, and to move forward in your life with more confidence in your writing projects and ability. You can choose to attend each part of the retreat, or you can use your time to simply write, relax by the pool, or explore the stunning region. Whatever way you approach our retreat, we aim to help you free your creative self.
You’ll leave this uniquely nurturing experience renewed, invigorated, and ready for the next part of your writing life.
What to expect from our Free With Words Tuscan retreat. . . .
Over your six days and seven nights at the stunning Villalta, you’ll wake up to a beautiful breakfast every day, before joining in an optional creative meditation in the morning sunshine to put you in the headspace for maximising your potential that day.
The workshops
Each morning our tutors will host a workshop, covering a range of subjects to inform your writing. From working with self-doubt to developing a page-turning plot, from writing characters that jump off the page to harnessing the power of emotion to hook the reader, you’ll be given a toolbox to bring your writing alive and to the next stage. Learn more about our tutors here.
Writing time
Throughout the day we break for blocks of writing time, where you can go to your room or find a private nook in the villa or gardens, giving yourself space to write.
Mentoring
You will have the chance to send us up to ten pages of a manuscript before the retreat. During the week our tutors will be available for a personalised feedback and mentorship session with each participant, so you and your writing can get the very most from your time with us.
Salons
Every evening post-dinner we host a salon, at which there will be readings, Q&As, discussion, curated interaction, and maybe even song.
Food and wine
We provide a buffet lunch every afternoon, and a three-course meal every evening, in a space that is ripe for convivial conversation. Our food is cooked by an Italian in-house chef with locally-sourced fresh ingredients, and our wines included at dinner come from the villa’s vineyard. (If you prefer to take yourself off to a local restaurant, the town of Arezzo, just a few kilometres away, has a range of top-notch authentic Italian restaurants.)
Meet the tutors…
What’s included:
Seven nights accommodation in a private room
Opening night reception and barbeque
All meals and alcohol
Workshops and salons
One-to-one feedback on your writing with our tutors
Morning meditation
Poolside aperitifs each evening
Free Wi-Fi
Closing night reception
What’s not included:
Airfares, travel and health insurance, and transportation to and from the villa
Pricing:
7-Night Stay & Programme
€2,500 per person, single occupancy
€2,000 per person, double occupancy
Payment terms: €800 deposit due on acceptance of booking. Final balance due by April 1, 2019.
(Rooms are on a first come first served basis.)
Read terms and conditions here
Frequently asked questions here
Paul McVeigh 