short story

A Writer’s Life For Me

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It’s been quite a week!

I flew to London last Thursday to teach a class The Author & Social Media and to read at an event A Novel Affair, both at the Irish Cultural Centre. It was a great class, and the event went really well – after readings from the authors, there was a long and interesting Q&A from the audience made up of writers.

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Alan McMonagle and me

On Friday I interviewed Booker-winner Anne Enright at the biggest bookshop in Europe, Waterstones Piccadilly. The packed event was a real insight to Enright’s writing process and I’ve never heard her read so well.

Anne Enright and me

After a sold-out class in Lewes on Saturday I went to Brighton where The Good Son was the City Reads and to see old friends.

I was back in London on Monday for meetings with my old pal and BBC National Short Story Award-winner KJ Orr and my agent Carrie Kania.

On Tuesday I went Swansea in Wales for the shortlisting meeting for the Dylan Thomas Prize and got to meet some of the panel. The next day I taught at Swansea University before flying back to Belfast.

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It’s wonderful traveling around doing interesting work and meeting fascinating people but there are times when a night in your own bed is priceless. So, after a day at home I’m heading off now to Dublin for the weekend. I’m delighted to be reading at The Franco-Irish Literary Festival with events taking place at the Alliance Francaise and Dublin Castle. You can download the programme and come along to see Rob Doyle, Lisa McInerney and Anne Enright – the events are free!

You can check my other upcoming events in the flyer below. Come up and say hello!

March-June 2018

Teaching: ‘That Killer First Page’, Lewes. 17 March – St. Patrick’s Day

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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.
About Paul
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.ukWe look forward to seeing you there!

Date and Time: Sat 17 March. 2pm – 4pm.

Location:  The Classroom, Quaker Meeting House, 8-15 Friars Walk, Lewes, BN7 2LE, View Map

PaulMcVeigh short story

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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

27, June: International Conference on the Short Story in English, Lisbon

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The 15th International Conference on the Short Story in English will take place from June 27-30, 2018 at the University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal with the theme: “Beyond History: The Radiance of the Short Story.”

I’ll be reading on Wednesday 27 June at 3.30pm alongside Maria Teresa Horta and Angelo Lacuesta.

Some writer friends going to… Hisham Bustani, Robert Olen Butler, Rebekah Clarkson, Evelyn Conlon, Lucy Durneen, Nancy Freund, Sandra Jensen, Alison Lock, Alan McMonagle, Mary Morrissy, Billy O’Callaghan, Nuala O’Connor, Judith Nika Pfeifer, Anna Solding, Billie Travalini, Jose Varghese and William Wall.

“In an age when private lives appear to be ruled by the force of historical events, we are contradictorily challenged by creative achievements that, even if originating in History, develop a self-sustainable energy, a radiance, so to say, that supersedes material circumstances and/or envisages alternatives for them.

The 15th International Conference on the Short Story in English brings writers of many nationalities to Lisbon, a city where the cultures of the world meet and stories of history unravel around every corner. In this scenario, fiction writers in English, or authors who have been translated into English, together with scholars of the short story, will join in reading sessions, roundtable discussions and panels, as well as in the more traditional paper presentation sessions.

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Society for the Study of the Short Story, the Conference looks forward to the opportunity of highlighting the variety of ways in which the Short Story becomes a specific form, blurs the boundaries with other literary forms, goes beyond the written medium and borrows from other artistic processes/languages, shaping itself anew in an endless process. Indeed, proving to be an extremely resilient medium, the Short Story has been changing throughout the times and aesthetic tendencies, without losing the kernel that makes it a distinctive mode of the human expressive genius.”

You can check out my online short story course with Writers Victoria here.

Hope to see some of you there.

Huge thanks to Culture Ireland for supporting this trip.

Print

PaulMcVeigh short story

I’m in ‘Common People: An Anthology of Working Class Writers’

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Common People: An Anthology of Working Class Writers (edited by Kit de Waal) 

Delighted to be part of this. Please pledge to Unbound.

Want to help unpublished working class writers get into print? Join Kit de Waal and her contributors to give new writers a platform…

In a recent documentary, novelist Kit de Waal asked ‘where are the working class writers?’ The answer is right here.
Inspired by a shared concern that working class voices are increasingly absent from the pages of books and newspapers, Kit de Waal has come together with Unbound and the regional writing development organisations, including New Writing North and Writing West Midlands, to do something about it.
Common People will be a collection of essays, poems and pieces of personal memoir, bringing together sixteen well-known writers from working class backgrounds with an equal number of brand new as-yet-unpublished writers from all over the UK.
These new writers will be selected by the regional writing development agencies, who will support and mentor them in the run-up to publication.
Too often, working class writers find that the hurdles they have to leap are higher and harder to cross than for writers from more affluent backgrounds. Common People will see writers who have made that leap reach back to give a helping hand to those coming up behind.

We read because we want to experience lives and emotions beyond our own, to learn, to see with others’ eyes – without new working class voices, without the vital reflection of real lives, or role models for working class readers and writers, literature will be poorer. We will all be poorer. Pledge for Common People and join these writers to help to make a difference.

Contributors Include:
Damian Barr
Malorie Blackman OBE
Lisa Blower
Jill Dawson
Louise Doughty
Stuart Maconie
Chris McCrudden
Lisa McInerney
Paul McVeigh
Daljit Nagra
Dr Dave O’Brien
Cathy Rentzenbrink
Anita Sethi
Adelle Stripe
Tony Walsh
Alex Wheatle

Secret Library Podcast

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Recently I did an interview with writer Caroline Donohue and you can listen to it as of today. Caroline asked excellent questions and we had a great chat – I talk far too much! Here’s what Caroline says on her site. I hope you enjoy it.

The Secret Library

Paul McVeigh wrote a story in an afternoon that took twenty years.

How is that possible? We gather images over time, trying to figure out how they fit together. Paul had pieces of a story that didn’t quite fit until suddenly, they did. And then the story came out almost all at once in a single sitting. How do you know when it’s time to write a story? And how do you know when to give up on an idea? These are questions that have plagued so many writers and my clients. Paul was the perfect person to discuss them with. Having written fiction, theater, comedy, and a writing teacher himself, Paul has a breadth of experience and a sensitivity to this topic that will blow you away. His debut novel, The Good Son won countless awards and becomes a favorite of everyone who reads it.

This conversation was both deep and funny, an incredible dive into the places where writing comes from and how to know when you’ve got a story that won’t let you go. This promises to be one you’ll listen to more than once. I have been waiting and waiting to share this one! I’m so glad it’s time for you to hear it.

Discussed in Episode 69 with Paul McVeigh:

  • Turning the original short story into the novel The Good Son | Mentioned: Article about the process on Paul’s blog
  • How ideas evolve into stories
  • Getting clear about what is meant and how people often say things to cover up what they mean
  • Writing for the stage and what it taught Paul about dialog
  • Why you’re bananas if you don’t keep a notebook
  • The elements of the story Paul wrote in an afternoon after pondering for 20 years
  • Collecting three distinct elements to build a story
  • Creating a story that is the duration of a hug
  • Stephen Johnson’s spark file
  • Why good writing is never wasted
  • Paul is waiting for this ability to match his intention
  • Being a risk-taker as well as a writer
  • The real question: What will possibly go wrong if I give it a try?
  • Making friends with the best writers and how this will help your own work
  • Connecting by going in with an offer, not with an ask
  • Find writers who are better from you and learn from them
  • How working with actors helped him find meaning behind the dialogue
  • Turning the short story into a novel
  • Writing with a child as protagonist
  • How writing about the Troubles in Ireland forced Paul to relive that time
  • Going deep with your writing so it becomes more universal
  • Learning to look back with kindness and forgiveness
  • The importance of intention in writing
  • Basking in having completed the book.

The Good Son 3rd Editon

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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
“A triumph of storytelling. An absolute gem.” Donal Ryan

Cork Short Story Festival 2017

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Cork International Short Story Festival 2017

It’s no secret how much I love Cork and the Cork International Short Story Festival. Every year Patrick Cotter brings together the best short story writers from all over the world to celebrate the form. This year is no exception with Carlo Gebler, Claire Keegan, David Means among many. There are films, panel events, workshops and interviews by Rob Doyle, Tom Morris, Sinead Gleeson and me!

I’m involved in three events this year. I’m chairing events with Carlo Gebler & Alannah Hopkin and Alan McMonagle & Billy O’Callaghan. This year I had the honour of judging the Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition and I will giving the prize to the winner at a special ceremony on Friday.

 

Sinead me and CLB at COrk SS F 2016

Last year at CSSF with Sinead Gleeson and Claire-Louise Bennett

 

My events:

1. Alannah Hopkin & Carlo Gébler Readings by two Irish writers, moderated by Paul McVeigh.

14th September at 8.30pm Firkin Crane Theatre, Shandon Admission: €5

Alannah Hopkin is a novelist, travel writer and critic from Kinsale, Co Cork. She has published two novels (Hamish Hamilton, London); other books include West Cork, the People & the Place (The Collins Press, Cork). Her stories have appeared in the London Magazine and The Cork Literary Review. The Dogs of Inishere (Dalkey Archive Press) is her first story collection.

Carlo Gébler was born Dublin in 1954, the eldest son of writer parents, Ernest Gébler and Edna O’Brien. His recent publications from New Island are The Projectionist: The Story of Ernest Gébler, The Wing Orderly’s Tales, and The Innocent of Falkland Road. He teaches at Trinity and is a member of Aosdána.

 

2. The Seán Ó Faoláin Prizegiving With a reading by the 2017 winner and prize presentation by judge Paul McVeigh.

15th September at 4pm Cork Central Library (Grand Parade) Admission: FREE

Louise Nealon is a twenty-six year old writer from Co. Kildare. She studied English literature in Trinity College Dublin, and then completed a Masters in Creative Writing at Queen’s University Belfast in 2016. She currently lives on her family’s farm where she divides her time between reading, writing and milking cows. She will be reading her prizewinning story, ‘What Feminism Is’, at this event.

The Sean O’Faolain Prize is awarded to the best single story entered in competition from anywhere in the world. The first prize is €2000. The winner also receives a week’s residency at the Anam Cara artist retreat in West Cork and publication of their winning story in Southword. The winner, if they choose to travel to Cork for this event, also receives accommodation with meals for the duration of the festival and entry into all events. This occasion is an opportunity to hear the winning story and the judge’s citation from Paul McVeigh. The competition is now closed, and the winning and shortlisted stories have been announced on our competitions page.

 

3. Alan McMonagle & Billy O’Callaghan Readings by two Irish writers, moderated by Paul McVeigh.

15th September at 8.30pm Firkin Crane Theatre, Shandon Admission: €5

Alan McMonagle has written for radio and published two collections of short stories, Liar Liar (Wordsonthestreet, 2008) and Psychotic Episodes (Arlen House, 2013), both of which were nominated for the Frank O’Connor Award. In November 2015, he signed a two-book deal with Picador, and in March 2017, Ithaca, his debut novel was published and immediately nominated for the Desmond Elliott Award for first novels. He lives in Galway.

Billy O’Callaghan, from Cork, is the author of three short story collections: In Exile (2008) and In Too Deep (2009), both published by Mercier Press, and The Things We Lose, the Things We Leave Behind (2013), published by New Island Books, which won the 2013 Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Award for Short Story of the Year, and which has been selected as Cork’s ‘One City, One Book’ for 2017. His first novel, The Dead House, was published by O’Brien Press/Brandon Books in May 2017. A novella, A Death in the Family, will be published in late 2017 as a Ploughshares Solo.

I hope to see some of you there.

My New Short Story in Numero Cinq

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So it’s rare that I put work online. And I’ve never written anything like this.
I’d love to know what you think of this departure in style – ‘Hollow’.

Apple

Here’s what Numero Cinq said about the story…

“To close out our amazing Irish lit series Uimhir a Cúig (No. 5 in Irish) we have wonderfully strange and disturbing short story from the award-winning Belfast novelist Paul McVeigh. Think of Ovid and the brothers Grimm in a mash up, plant-human sex, and the inevitably terrible outcome.”

A little about the magazine…

“Now in its seventh year the magazine has published a stellar array of new and known (international, award-winning) writers including among others, Lynn Coady, Mavis Gallant, Lance Olsen, Lydia Davis, Anthony Doerr, George Szirtes, Andrew Gallix, Kevin Barry, Nuala Ní Chonchúir, John Kelly, Doireann Ni Griofa and Kevin Barry. They’ve published novellas, entire books, plays, poems, translations, fiction, nonfiction, sermons, criticism, memoirs, music, art work, hybrid art, conceptual art, provocative graphics.”

What do you think of Hollow?

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I’m judging The Sean Ó Faolain Short Story Prize

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I’m judging THE SEÁN Ó FAOLÁIN INTERNATIONAL SHORT STORY PRIZE 2017

The winner will get €2,000 and publication in the literary journal Southword. If that’s not enough they will also get a week-long residency at Anam Cara Writer’s and Artist’s Retreat AND If the winner comes to Cork to collect their prize, they will provide hotel accommodation, meals, drinks and VIP access to the literary stars at the Cork International Short Story Festival (September 13-16, 2017). WOW!

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Cork Short Story Festival 2016 by legendary photographer  John Minihan

 

Second Prize is £500 and publication in Southword. Four more shortlisted entries will be selected for publication in Southword and receive a publication fee of €120.

The Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition is an annual short story competition open to writers from around the world, submissions accepted from May to August annually. It is dedicated to one of Ireland’s most accomplished story writers and theorists, sponsored by the Munster Literature Centre. The Munster Literature Centre is a not-for-profit organisation; all moneys raised from the competition benefits writers and writing.

Anam Cara Writer’s and Artist’s Retreat www.anamcararetreat.com is again awarding a week-long residency to the first prize winner of the Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition. Located just outside the colourful village of Eyeries on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork, Anam Cara is a tranquil spot structured to provide support and sanctuary for people working in the creative arts. It offers private and common working rooms as well as five acres of walking paths, thirty-four nooks and crannies, a river cascades and a river island, gardens, and a labyrinth meadow. Editoral consultation is also available. The prize is valued at €700.

Click here for submission guidelines.

Looking forward to reading your entries.