Seamus Heaney Homeplace

Teaching at Seamus Heaney HomePlace

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That Killer First Chapter with Paul McVeigh – July 6th

Have an idea for a novel and don’t know where to start? Have you finished your novel and want to make sure you get the attention of agents, editors and publishers? This course will help you write a gripping first chapter that avoids the rejection pile.

With lots of no-nonsense advice and practical exercises, this course sold out in London and internationally. Felicity Yap came to the class and her novel Yesterday sold for six figures just two weeks later.

Paul’s debut novel, The Good Son, won The Polari First Novel Prize and The McCrea Literary Award and was shortlisted for many others, including the Prix de Roman Cezam in France. The novel was chosen for Brighton’s City Reads and given out around the UK as part of World Book Day. He has written for radio, stage, and television and regularly for The Irish Times. His writing has been translated into seven languages.

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“I devoured it in a day, but I’ve thought about it for many, many more.”
Bailey’s Prize-winner Lisa McInerney
“A triumph of storytelling. An absolute gem.”
Donal Ryan

Interviewing Anne Enright

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Anne Enright in Conversation

I’m excited to interview Man Booker Prize Winner Anne Enright for the second time, this time on home turf. The first time was in Waterstones Piccadilly for Word Factory earlier this year. We also sat on some panels together whilst at a literature festival in Morges, Switzerland.

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Next February 9th, I’ll be interviewing her at the Seamus Heaney Homeplace, here’s the blurb…

‘Booker Prize-winning novelist Anne Enright is one of the most celebrated writers working in Ireland today. Her work is part of a great tradition of Irish writing that explores themes of family life, relationships, love, repression and memory.

Enright won the 2007 Booker Prize for her novel The Gathering, a story about the pull of family and the lure of home. Her first novel was The Wig My Father Wore and subsequent works have included What Are You Like?, The Forgotten Waltz and her most recent The Green Road. Her awards also include the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature, the Encore Award and the Irish Novel of the Year.

From 2015 to 2018 she was the inaugural Laureate for Irish Fiction and we are delighted to welcome her to The Helicon where she will talk about her work and career with Paul McVeigh.’

Come along, it should be a wonderful night.

4 Nov, Teaching at Seamus Heaney Homeplace

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Step Into Writing That Short Story

In this all-day short story workshop you’ll find out how to write that crucial opening and understand why it’s essential to the success of your story. After many examples, discussions and exercises, you’ll write an opening and get tips on staying focused on your story and how to make your sentences work for you on multiple levels.

You will also find out what competition judges and journal editors look for in a short story and how to avoid the rejection pile when you send your work out. You’ll also look at submission opportunities; how to find them and where you should be sending your stories.

The course is led by Paul McVeigh, co-founder of London Short Story Festival and Associate Director at Word Factory. He is the judge of national and international short story competitions including, this year, the International Dylan Thomas Prize, the Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Prize and the Edge Hill Prize. He is the current fiction editor of Southword Literary Journal.

This class is open to writers of all levels and experience.

Workshop 15 Sunday 4 November 2018, 11:00am-5pm

Book tickets now

PaulMcVeigh short story

Ciaran McMenamin, Sally Rooney & June Caldwell this Sunday

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I’m chairing this exciting event – Young Blood: Ciaran McMenamin, Sally Rooney & June Caldwell – this Sunday at The Seamus Heaney Homeplace.

All these authors are making a splash with their first books – novels and short stories. Come along and find out all about there journey to publication and how they’ve coped with success.

Show starts at 3pm.

The Good Son 3rd Editon

Buy Here

Winner of The Polari Prize
“Pungently funny and shot through with streaks of aching sadness.” Patrick Gale
“I devoured it in a day, but I’ve thought about it for many, many more.” Lisa McInerney
“Funny, raw and endlessly entertaining.” Johnathan Coe