MLC Workshops

This is an online course through Zoom for those writers who are beginning or revising a project, whether memoir or personal essays. Each two-hour class will be equally divided between creative writing workshop and the craft of memoir. We will discuss exemplary texts, as we learn about, and then practice, how to

• “show” and when to “tell”. Here you will learn the importance of scene to bring your story alive with dialogue and descriptive, immersive language.
• use free-writing as a process to progressively hone in on the story you want to tell, and / or assist you in freeing you from blocks.
• work with time by moving between present and past convincingly without confusing the reader, possibly employing more than one timeline, or at least establishing greater awareness of your “narrative present.” (By narrative present I mean the life of the adult narrator that is telling the story.)
• identify the “story within the story” or throughline / central narrative thread, and work with leitmotifs by implementing recurring images or thematic elements.
• create a balance of authentic scenes and exposition by weaving interjections by the adult narrator into the narrative, thus adding richness and texture. Scenes happen in an approximation of real-time while exposition is the informative linking material between scenes that helps us compress time, and deliver vital information.
• find a structure that works for you by mapping plot points, carving out obligatory scenes, and polishing the narrative arc.

We will focus on in-class exercises and you’ll be encouraged to develop and sustain a writing practice to help you to generate new work, or revise a work in progress. This class stresses community, and will help you to build connections with other writers: hopefully “writing buddies” with whom you can share work long after our time together has come to an end. The semester also comprises “office hours” where you can meet with me via Zoom before or after class to discuss any aspect of your writing process that is on your mind. This is an especially important part of the class for me, as I very much enjoy assisting writers in teasing out the essential core of the story that they need to tell.

Cork Events

If you have a literary event in Cork (workshop, reading, open mic etc.) that you would like us to list here, please contact us.

Events are held in the Hayloft Bar, upstairs at the Long Valley, Winthrop street, as well as on Zoom and streamed via obheal.ie/live.

Poetry Films start from 7 p.m. (45mins – not streamed). Five Word Challenge starts at 8.30 p.m. Guest poets begin at around 9.30 p.m. Open mic session from 10.30 p.m.

Founded in 2021, Lime Square Poets is a platform for poets worldwide to share and celebrate each other’s work. Our weekly online poetry events series is hosted from Limerick & Cork, Ireland, and consists of a reading from a featured poet followed by an open mic.

De Barra’s Spoken Word, Clonakilty is an open forum for writers of all genres. The evening features guest speakers, workshops and an open mic.

The Frank O’Connor Writers’ Group meet in Mayfield Library. Refreshments served. New members always welcome. Phone Mayfield Library on 021-4924935 for further details.