A Week of Writerly Riches

A week of progress with writerly endeavours

Successful SpeakEasy Night

In case you’re all dying with the suspense, I can inform you that the SpeakEasy night was a success. We rose above the challenges of a change in venue, competition from other Culture Night events and competing noise from a music stage outside. I sat on a couch like the diva I am and MCed the event, making sure everyone had a laugh and felt welcome.

Photo description: In a twist to proceedings, we asked Frank Farrelly, a well-known local poet, to host our Q&A with Katie Donovan. They’re the two people you see in the high chairs. Photo Credit. Mary Frances Ryan.

Our poet Katie Donovan and our musician Fergal O’Connor were warm and generous, and understanding of the challenges we were dealing with. They lit up the room with their words and music.

Fourteen local writers read in the open mic, including an Afghan poet who read a poem by Rumi. The night was an oasis of calm and reflection in the middle of al the Culture Night madness.

Submitted to Festive Star Magazine

For the first time in ages, I submitted a piece for publication in a place other than this newsletter. The Festive Star is a Christmas magazine published each year by Waterford News and Star, and its editor Mary Frances Ryan devotes several pages to creative writing from the many talented writers we have here in Waterford. I’m hoping I’ll be counted as one of them.

Apart from that submission, my own writing endeavours include draining excess words from myself and letting words form on the page, even if I feel they are crap. I’ll let you know if this strategy bears fruit.

Lost For Words Documentary

I’ve always been grateful that I can read and absorb words easily, and to spot the patterns that make them work. It has set me free from any prison that may have been created by my wonky eyes. So, I can’t imagine how it must be to find reading a labour, to see letters jump up and down or change shape.

That’s how it is for dyslexic people and the recent RTE documentary Lost for Words illuminated their world. It charted their trials and their triumphs, and the ways they’ve found to escape their own prisons. I don’t mind telling you it made me cry. And that’s saying something.

RTE don’t make it easy to share links, but if you’re in Ireland, go to RTE Player and type Lost For Words, and it’ll come up.

No-Nonsense Marketing Resource

Most writers find marketing their books a pain in the… arsenal. But you have to do it, otherwise how is anyone going to know that you’ve written your book? Recently I discovered a writerly marketing expert called Dan Blank – I mentioned him on this newsletter before. He shows people how to create and develop good Substack newsletters on his own newsletter, The Creative Shift.

Dan markets his books and courses by talking to people, encouraging them to talk to their audience, and steering clear of jargon or talk of algorithms. It’s all about being human. Apparently, we need to be told that these days.