The Life of the journalist with Deaglán de Bréadún: Among refugees 15 September 2016 – Posted in: Authors, Guest blog

The saddest story I ever covered was the tragedy of the Kurdish refugees who fled Iraq in early 1991 to escape the ferocious assault launched on them by Saddam Hussein during the First Gulf War. Encouraged by US President George Bush Sr. they had staged an uprising against the dictator but, when the Americans decided not to proceed as far as Baghdad, the Kurds were left high and dry. About two million of them were…

Guest blog from Labhrás Ó Finneadha: ‘Íbíotsa’ 23 October 2015 – Posted in: Uncategorised, Guest blog

Anois ó tá cnuasach scéalta liom foilsithe, tá agam an deis blag a scríobh fúthu. Tosód le hainm an leabair ‘Íbíotsa’; is traslitriú é a rinne mé féin ar ainm an oileáin Ibiza. Ach más ar an oileán sin a scríobhadh an chéad dréacht de na scéalta agus gur áiteanna ar an oileán sin atá mar shuíomh acu, bhí eithne na scéalta sin ag ritheacht thart i m’intinn le blianta agus na bunsmaointe scríofa i… Continue reading

Guest-blog by Alex Hijmans – Polish and deletion 16 July 2014 – Posted in: Guest blog

When editing a first draft, cut away the dead wood to make space for new growth, Alex Hijmans writes in the seventh episode of his monthly guest blog on creative writing. Tá dóthain ama caite ag do chéad dréacht ar an gcarn múirín. Tá sos tugtha agat do mhatáin do mheabhrach. Tá sé in am dul i mbun eagarthóireachta. Measaim go bhfuil an-chosúlacht idir an scríbhneoir atá i mbun eagarthóireachta agus dealbhadóir. Is ionann an… Continue reading

Guest-blog with Alex Hijmans – The compost heap 8 May 2014 – Posted in: Authors, Guest blog

Any piece of writing – be it fiction or non-fiction – should spend some time in the compost heap, Alex Hijmans writes in the fifth episode of his monthly guest blog on creative writing. Tá an chéad dréacht críochnaithe: tá dán, gearrscéal, úrscéal nó dráma tugtha ó thalamh bán teibí na samhlaíochta go domhan coincréiteach an dúigh agus an pháipéir agat. Comhghairdeas! Anois, céard é an chéad chéim eile? Eagarthóireacht? Na drochphíosaí ar fad a…

Guest blog with Alex Hijmans – Putting pen to paper 10 April 2014 – Posted in: Uncategorised, Guest blog

When writing a first draft of a piece of fiction, don’t forget to shove a sock in your inner editor’s mouth, Alex Hijmans writes in the fourth episode of his monthly guest blog on creative writing. Mar a dúirt mé an mhí seo caite, ní bhaineann leis an gcéad dréacht ach riail amháin: ní bhaineann aon rialacha leis an gcéad dréacht. Sa chéad dréacht, is féidir leat do rogha rud a scríobh agus do rogha botún a dhéanamh,…