Online
Novel Writing: First Chapters at the Virtual John Hewitt International Summer School
On ZoomAs part of the 2020 John Hewitt International Summer School, Bernie McGill will facilitate 3 x Two Hour Online Workshop sessions on Novel Writing: First Chapters. The workshops will be hosted online using Zoom meeting software on the following dates. Monday 27th July 2020, 1430hrs to 1630hrs Wednesday 29th July 2020, 1430hrs to 1630hrs Friday 31st July 2020, 1430hrs to 1630hrs These workshops will look at: structuring work; writing openings with impact; creating credible characters; selecting point of view, as well as outlets for completed work. Suitable for writers who are beginning or developing a novel. Participants should prepare a 250-word synopsis of their novel in advance. Works-in-progress are welcomed. Workshop fee is £60 per person. To book go to the Novel Writing link on the John Hewitt Society page. After booking your place the tutor will email you with the meeting link a week before the workshop begins. You will require a device capable of running Zoom Meeting Software with a functioning screen, microphone, speakers and a stable connection to the internet. All workshop students are advised to test their Zoom connection prior to the workshop. Refunds will not be given for issues caused by your hardware, software or internet connectivity. Online workshops are available on […]
Online Workshop: What’s a short story?
Online , United Kingdom*Please note this workshop is now fully booked What’s a short story? In these online Zoom sessions, hosted by Ballyeamon Barn and led by writer Bernie McGill, we will ask what makes a good short story, and in practical and participative writing exercises, look at the ways in which we might attempt to combine those elements in our own writing. What’s the story about? How does it begin? Where and when is it set? Who is in it? Who’s going to tell it? What happens? Why do they do that? How does it end? Come with a place or a person or an event in mind and we’ll begin. Maximum no. of participants: 10 Saturday 29th August 10.30am – 12 noon and 2pm – 3.30pm Sunday 30th August 2pm – 3.30pm (4.5 hours in total) Facilitator Bernie McGill is the author of the short story collection Sleepwalkers, shortlisted in 2014 for the Edge Hill Prize. She has written two novels: The Butterfly Cabinet, and The Watch House which was nominated in 2019 for the Ireland/European Union Prize for Literature. She has been published in the UK, the US and in translation in Italy and in the Netherlands. Her short fiction has appeared in […]
Online Creative Writing Workshops hosted by Burnavon Arts Centre, Cookstown*
Online , United Kingdom*Please note this workshop is now fully booked. You are welcome to join these two practical online workshops led by writer Bernie McGill on the everyday craft of writing, with the aim of sparking ideas for new work. The workshops will take place over 2 weeks: on Saturday 3rd October and on Saturday 10th October 2020, 10.30 am - 12 noon on each day. All levels of experience welcome, from experienced writers to first-timers, poets and fiction writers alike. The workshop will be fully participative with attendees taking part in writing exercises online, developing work at home and sharing their work with group participants. Come with writing materials and be prepared to write. £20 fee includes both dates After booking your place the tutor will email you with the meeting link a few days before the first workshop begins. You will require a device capable of running Zoom Meeting Software with a functioning screen, microphone, speakers and a stable connection to the internet. * Please Note: The tutor will require your email address for the purpose of this workshop * All workshop participants are advised to test their Zoom connection prior to the workshop. Refunds will not be given for issues caused by your […]
Online Fiction Writing Surgery
Online , United Kingdom*Update The Irish Writers Centre is offering bursaries on its courses to writers based in, or from, Northern Ireland, and to Irish language writers. Apply by 1st October. Full details on The Irish Writers Centre's News Page. Course Level: Emerging Maximum no. 12 Course Summary: Grab a seat. Pull up to the virtual table. Would you appreciate some up-close and detailed feedback on your work? Would you be prepared to share up to 2000 words of your fiction writing with a professional writer and with a group of other writers, at a similar writing stage to you? This short course will offer participants the opportunity to have their writing read and workshopped by writer Bernie McGill, and by a peer group of emerging fiction writers. Course Outline: Participants should submit a maximum of 2000 words of their fiction writing (short story or novel excerpt) at least two weeks prior to the course commencing. The course will consist of 6 x two hour weekly workshops in each of which the work of two participants will be discussed. The work will be circulated to all twelve participants in advance. Participants will be provided with guidelines by the tutor and encouraged to […]
Northern Lights: Bernie McGill in conversation with Jessica Bates, with music by Hannah McPhillimy
Flowerfield Arts Centre 185 Coleraine Road, PORTSTEWART, Northern Ireland, United KingdomThe Arts Service of Causeway Coast & Glens Council presents Bernie McGill in conversation with Jessica Bates, with music by Hannah McPhillimy This event is now available to view online at Flowerfield Arts Centre's YouTube channel. Join us for an evening of music and words from two acclaimed artists whose work is inspired by the distinctive land and seascapes of the Causeway Coast and Glens. North Coast native Hannah McPhillimy’s brand of thoughtful indie-pop takes its influences from artists across the Atlantic such as Regina Spektor and Feist, but retains an unpredictable beauty that is uniquely home-grown. Described by The Irish Times as ‘a bit of a wonder’, she has supported artists such as Foy Vance, SOAK and The Gloaming. Hannah recently returned from completing her masters in classical composition at the prestigious Michigan University and touring in the U.S. ‘Quietly Captivating.’ Culture NI ‘Music both stunning and moving in equal measure.’ Chordblossom ‘McPhillimy’s vocal talents hit home time and time again.’ The Thin Air ‘A real talent.’ Ralph McLean, BBC Ulster The landscape and people of the North Coast are firmly rooted in the writing of Bernie McGill. Her first novel, The Butterfly Cabinet, was set in Portstewart and inspired by the tragic […]
Sowing the Seeds: Online Creative Writing Workshops with Bernie McGill
Online , United KingdomSaturday 6th March 10.30am - 12 noon Saturday 13th March 10.30am - 12 noon* *Please note that, due to demand, a second round of workshops has been added on Saturday 20th and Saturday 27th March from 10.30am - 12 noon. The booking fee covers two workshops (taking place on two consecutive Saturdays). Book at The Burnavon Arts Centre website. As we look ahead to Spring and to the growing of the light, participants are invited to these two practical online writing workshops, designed to ‘sow some seeds’: to inspire ideas for writing and developing new work. All levels of experience welcome from experienced writers to first-timers, poets and fiction writers alike. The workshop will be fully participative with attendees taking part in writing exercises online, developing work at home and sharing their work with group participants. Come with writing materials and be prepared to write. After booking your place the tutor will email you with the meeting link a few days before the workshop begins. * Please Note: The tutor will require your email address for the purpose of this workshop * You will require a device capable of running Zoom Meeting Software with a functioning screen, microphone, speakers and a stable […]
Online Fiction Writing Surgery with Bernie McGill
Online , United KingdomCourse Summary: Would you appreciate some up-close and detailed feedback on your work? Would you be prepared to share up to 2000 words of your fiction writing with a professional writer and with a group of other writers, at a similar writing stage to you? This short course will offer participants the opportunity to have their writing read and workshopped by writer Bernie McGill, and by a peer group of emerging fiction writers. Course Outline: Participants should submit a maximum of 2000 words of their fiction writing (short story or novel excerpt) at least two weeks prior to the course commencing. The course will consist of 6 x two hour weekly workshops in each of which the work of two participants will be discussed. The work will be circulated to all twelve participants in advance. Participants will be provided with guidelines by the tutor and encouraged to give constructive feedback on what they have read and what they can bring from their reading to their own writing. Participants will be encouraged to complete writing exercises during and between workshops that relate primarily to the specific issues raised in the work. Suitable for writers committed to short or longer form fiction […]
Bernie McGill, Author, Live and Interactive
On ZoomCushendun Big Arts Weekend in association with the John Hewitt Society hosts a live event via Zoom with author Bernie McGill on Saturday 1st May at 5pm BST. Bernie is the author of two novels and one short story collection. Her novel The Watch House was nominated in 2019 for the Ireland/European Union Prize for Literature and The Butterfly Cabinet was named in 2012 by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes as his novel of the year. Sleepwalkers was shortlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize in 2014. From 2018 - 2020 Bernie was Writing Fellow with the Royal Literary Fund (RLF) at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen's University, Belfast. She works as a Lector with the RLF and as a mentor and facilitator with the Irish Writers' Centre. Her new short story collection will be published in 2022. Send questions on Bernie's books, or on writing and publishing in advance to info@cushendunbpt.org or pop them into the Chat via the live event. Book via this link.
Prophets, Makers and Risk Takers: A Showcase of Writing from Northern Ireland
Accidental Theatre 12-13 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, United Kingdom'Prophets, Makers and Risk Takers: A Showcase of Writing from Northern Ireland' is a 2-day festival that brings leading writers in Northern Ireland together, in person and online, to share their ideas and skills with emerging writers, and to promote the best of Northern Irish writing across the world. Curated by writer Jan Carson, this 2-day hybrid event will take place in-person at Accidental Theatre in Belfast and online. This will be the 3rd edition of Prophets, Makers and Risk Takers and we continue in our desire to be useful to writers and the literature sector in Northern Ireland through skills development, connection and promotion. We hope that the event will show the breadth of talent that Northern Ireland has to offer and will give representatives from UK and international festivals, and global networks, an opportunity to sit at the table and take note. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Dr Caroline Magennis, and participants will include writers Myra Zepf, Maria McManus, Bernie McGill, Reggie Chamberlain King, Olivia Fitzsimons, Sue Divin, Sam Thompson, Sheena Wilkinson, Finn Kennedy, Cat Brogan, Emily DeDakis, Aislinn Clarke, James Patterson and Kerri ní Dochartaigh with representatives from the Irish Writers Centre, Extra Teeth, Storyline […]
Book Week NI Author Panel: John Self hosts Bernie McGill and Wendy Erskine
Chichester Library 109 Salisbury Avenue, Belfast*This event is now available to view online. Renowned international literary critic John Self will host a panel with authors Bernie McGill and Wendy Erskine to discuss their recent short story collections This Train Is For and Dance Move, and the importance of the short story genre. Bernie McGill is the author of two novels, The Watch House, (2017, Tinder Press), nominated for the Ireland/European Prize for Literature, and The Butterfly Cabinet, (2011, Headline Review), and one previous short story collection Sleepwalkers, (2013, Whittrick Press), shortlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize. Her short fiction has been nominated for numerous awards and in 2008 she won the Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction Award in the USA. Her work has been anthologised in award-winning collections including The Long Gaze Back, The Glass Shore, Her Other Language, The Danger & the Glory, Belfast Stories, and Female Lines. She has been the recipient of numerous Arts Council of Northern Ireland Awards, and is a former Writing Fellow with the Royal Literary Fund at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University, Belfast. She now works as a Lector and Associate Fellow for the Royal Literary Fund, and offers One-to-one mentoring via the Irish Writers’ Centre. This Train is For was published […]