Current Courses
Writing that short story 8 week online
Suitable for all levels
This course takes you through the craft of writing the short story, it introduces you to the masters of the form, both classical and contemporary, and affords you the opportunity to write a story each week or work on one or two stories intensely over the eight weeks.
The course consists of 8 weekly 2-hour online sessions structured as follows:
- Introductory chat followed by a prompted 10-minute written exercise.
- An instructive session, based on a PowerPoint/handout on the art of writing where a different element of craft is explored each week.
- A short discussion referencing the weekly reading assignment.
- Workshopping weekly written assignments from at least two students.
- Concluding chat about the writing plans for the week ahead.
The elements of craft covered each week are as follows:
Week 1: Introduction to the short form and story openings.
Week 2: Characterisation, exploring how characters drive a story, or perhaps more accurately, how a character’s desire for something drives the story.
Week 3: Dialogue, what it is used for and what it is never used for.
Week 4: Setting, how time and place can add to your story.
Week 5: language and description, looking at the difference between concrete images and abstractions and how word choice helps to ground your story in a sensual world.
Week 6: Voice and point of view, examining what Maeve Binchy meant when she said the only way to find your voice was to tell your story your way.
Week 7: Plot and Theme, looks at how the plot of a story can revolve around a core question which is based on a central concept (theme).
Week 8: Endings, editing and rewriting, explores how you know, following a revision process, when it is time for the final full stop.
Course Outcomes:
The aim of this course is that every student will have written at least one complete short story by week 8, but more importantly that they have acquired the skills and motivation to continue writing stories.
€240 course fee
Creative Writing - 4 week
Suitable for all levels
Focus will be on the short story.
Over the course of the four weeks, I will take you through the craft of writing the short story, introduce you to the masters of the form, both classical and contemporary, and afford you the opportunity to write a story each week or work on one or more stories intensely over the four weeks.
The elements of craft covered each week are as follows:
Week 1: Introduction to the short form and story openings.
Week 2: Characterisation.
Week 3: Dialogue.
Week 4: Setting.
€165 course fee
(including refreshments)
Class numbers will not exceed eight.
CREATIVE WRITING - 4 week
Suitable for all levels
Focus will be on the short story.
Over the course of the four weeks, I will take you through the craft of writing the short story, introduce you to the masters of the form, both classical and contemporary, and afford you the
opportunity to write a story each week or work on one or more stories intensely over the four weeks.
The elements of craft covered each week are as follows:
Week 1. Point of view.
Week 2. Plot and Theme
Week 3. Language and description.
Week 4. Editing, Rewriting and Revision
€165 course fee
(including refreshments)
Class numbers will not exceed eight.
Novel Writing/SHort Story collection 4 week
Suitable for advanced level.
This course is for writers who are embarking on a project but are looking to create a structure around their work. The course is designed to allow you to workshop aspects of your work, discuss elements of craft and assigned reading, and in the writing session, add to your word count. Each week there will be reading and writing assignments appropriate to the work being done by the group.
€110 Course Fee
(including refreshments)
Class numbers will not exceed eight.
Leaving Certificate English 4 week
Suitable for 5th and 6th year students.
While this is a four-week course initially, it will continue throughout the academic year. The course will cover all aspects of Paper 1, the Shakespearian single text and poetry, including the Unseen poem. As a current state examiner of Higher-level LC English with many years’ experience examining and teaching this course, the facilitator’s advice and guidance will direct you towards success.
This first course will concentrate on Paper 1 as this is the foundation needed to manage the prescribed syllabus.
€55 Course Fee (4 weeks)
or €15 weekly drop in
Class numbers will not exceed eight.
WE CAN COME TO YOU
We can bring our courses and workshops to your venue or festival, numbers permitting. Drop a line or call and we can work out the possibilities together.