Breaking Arts Events Out of Silos
Okay, I’m going to say it. I’ll probably get in trouble, but that hasn’t stopped me before. It seems as if arts events are planned in silos. In other words, events of a similar nature happen at a similar time, dividing an already limited audience.
I’m not going to speculate on the reason why it is. I’ll just break some arts events happening in Waterford out of their silos and list them here, so those of you who live in the area can decide which ones to go to.
Thursday 25 April
Waterford Music Spring Concert, Large Room, 7.30pm (I’ll be there smiling at people.
Poetry Day events, with a big shout out to Waterford Writers, whose event takes place at the Mansion House, 8pm.
Friday 26 April
SpeakEasy Poetry and Open Mic (I’ll be MC for the author Sophie White,) 8pm, Phil Grimes Pub.
Saturday 27 April
Speak Your Truth Poetry Lounge, 2-4pm, Waterford Gallery of Art
Poetry Date, Japanese Gardens, Tramore, 5.30pm.
I’m going to attend one or both of these.
Sunday 28 April
Madrigallery Choral Concert, 8pm, St Patrick’s Gateway Centre. I’ll be there.
First Paid Newsletter Post
I posted up my first post for paid subscribers yesterday. It’s called Rubble and it’s based on a rather trying experience I endured following a ski injury. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. If you want to read it, hit the Subscribe button to upgrade. Otherwise, you can keep reading my Monday and Thursday posts.
Technology Aided Writing
There’s a lot of worry about the technology is taking writing to, but it can be your friend if you let it. I’m finishing off a reader’s report for a budding author, who wants to know how to keep all the parts of her manuscript in one place.
There is software that helps you organise your writing. It allows you to store your draft and move chapters around as you need to. It then helps you lay the manuscript out for publication. Scrivener is the most well-known, but other software is available.
Successful Creative Writing for Business Workshop
I gave my workshop to dynamic business people in an office supplies company which supplied us with comfortable chairs, pastries and notebooks with paper good enough to sniff. The attendees rose to the challenge and wrote like fury.
Photo Description: Here’s me being all executive with my laser pointer in my left hand pointing at a big screen behind me. The slide is blue and white and says Words That Work. You can see my computer in front of it. I’m wearing a red shirt and black blazer and trusers.
There’s always a concern that a creative writing workshop will stir up uncomfortable memories of boring school essays. I did my best to banish those. The result was lots of happy and engaged faces. Hopefully the long-term result will be people signing up for my Bestselling Content Creation course.
And finally… thanks to those who sent supportive messages following my fit of self-indulgence on this newsletter last week. There’s no question of me giving it up – I just hit a wall, but wanted to show up anyway.
If you want to find out more about any of the items I mention in this post, email me on derbhile@writewords.ie.