Short Story

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Course Title: ‘ The Short Story—Character, Plot, Tension versus Drama ’

Course Date:   Sat 22 Nov 2025  - Full day, refreshments provided.

Course Level: Beginner, Emerging or Professional Development.   

For anyone who is interested in this form of writing

Course Outline: 

Workshop Summary: The workshop will concentrate on three things in particular: 

1. Character and what makes for a good/memorable/convincing character. 

2. Plot and how much plot is necessary. 

3. The question of Tension versus Drama in a short story

Workshop Outline:  Discussion within group deriving from the summary answers above. There will be one in-class exercise (very do-able!). 

Course Outcomes: I hope participants will go away wanting to write what they have begun during our session!

Biography:   

Mary O’Donnell has written award-winning poetry, novels, short fiction collections and essays. Published fiction includes the novels ‘The Elysium Testament’ and ‘Where They Lie’. In 2023 she received an An Post/Irish Book Award for her political poem ‘Vectors in Kabul’. In 2026 Wake Forest University Press (USA) will publish her ninth poetry collection, ‘Tenderness’. In May this year, a new short fiction collection, ‘Walking Ghosts’ was published by Mercier Press, and her translated short stories—‘Nomadas’—will appear in Argentina next year. Her latest novel, ‘Sweep the Cobwebs off the Sky’, will be published by Epoque Press in March 2026. Mary is also a member of Aosdána

Eight participants (max) accepted on course. 

You can book your place by clicking on the link below.

Course fee €110 including refreshments.