When & Where
11th April 2026, 10 am – 4 pm
12th April 2026, 10 am – 2 pm
YARN Ballycastle, 24-26 Ann St, Ballycastle, BT54 6AD, UK

About
Have you always wanted to try writing a short story? 
Do you already have an idea? 
Do you write in other genres and are interested in the form? 

Whether you’re a first-timer looking for guidance and inspiration or a seasoned writer seeking a fresh challenge, this Short Story Writing Weekend is for you. 

Join award-winning short story writer Bernie McGill for an enjoyable weekend of participative writing that will help to get your writing on track. Please bring your preferred writing materials (pen/pencil, notebook/laptop, etc.) If you’re already working on a short story, feel free to bring a copy for workshopping. Participants will be encouraged to share their work only if they are comfortable doing so.

Saturday 11th April: 10 am – 4 pm

• What is a short story? How to get started with focus on structure, character and setting. 
• Participants will be offered prompts and exercises to help develop their work.
• There will be a lunch break, with lunch provided on the day. Tea/coffee & snacks will also be provided.

Sunday 12th April: 10 am – 2 pm

• What next? What’s happening under the surface of your story? What more does it need? This workshop focuses on how to dive a little deeper and how to revise. 
• We’ll finish with a Q&A and information-sharing on opportunities and outlets for work.
• There will be a short break mid-session. Tea/coffee & snacks will be provided.

Accommodation
For those travelling from further afield, Yarn offers gorgeous on-site accommodation, with a special discount for retreat participants. Use code BERNIE20 when booking for 20% off your stay.

Who is Bernie McGill?
Bernie McGill is the 2023 winner of the prestigious Edge Hill Short Story Prize for her collection This Train is For. She is the author of two novels: The Watch House (nominated for the Ireland European Union Prize for Literature in 2019) and The Butterfly Cabinet (2010). Her short stories have been widely anthologised, and her work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4. Bernie was co-judge of the Edge Hill Prize in 2024 and of the Michael McLaverty Short Story Award in 2023. She is a Fellow with the Royal Literary Fund, a Mentor with the Irish Writers’ Centre and an Honorary Member of the Linen Hall Library, where her writing archive is held. Her first short story collection, Sleepwalkers (2013), was re-published in 2025 by No Alibis Press.

For full details and to book tickets please visit YARN, Ballycastle