Opportunities to Perform Your Writing
This newsletter is full of opportunities for performing your writing – and a pig's back.
Speak Up Is Back
You may remember that in 2023 I had a delightful time running Speak Up open mic events with Deborah Somers. We wanted to give people confidence in performing their writing, especially women, who are still too inclined to take a back seat.
Now we're back up and running, and we're organising a workshop on Saturday 10 May to blow away the cobwebs and help you find your performance mojo. It'll be in the basement of Garter Lane Studios in Waterford, which is delightfully atmospheric, and it'll be facilitated by actor Lynda Gough, who spreads fun wherever she goes.
This is the Speak Up logo, a picture of a red megaphone with red lips at the other end, set against an orange background. The words Speak Up Waterford appear in yellow at the bottom.
For more info about the workshop, contact Deborah on speakupwaterford@gmail.com or 0832045116.
The Pig's Back Submissions
The Pig's Back is a literary journal based in Donegal that aims to 'bring the world to the northwest.' It publishes fiction and non-fiction, but not poetry. It offers quite a generous flat fee, and it makes previous published work available on its website so you can get an idea of what the editorial team is looking for. Here are the submission guidelines.
Sean Dunne Writers' Weekend
I can also reveal that we have the full lineup for the Sean Dunne Writers' Weekend at the Japanese Gardens in Tramore. It will run from Friday 13 June to Sunday 15 June and haiku will be a strong theme.
Gilles Fabre will host a haiku walk through the gardens, a haiku workshop and then a kukai, a haiku poetry slam. These will be happening on the Saturday on Sunday.
As well, as the haikus, on the Friday night, The Waxed Lemon will launch the newest edition of its literary journal. The Gathering that I co-host with Mary Howlett will be on Saturday and on Sunday there'll be a panel discussion celebrating the works of the poet Sean Dunne. This will be in association with The Poetry Lounge.
Inspiration In Unlikely Places
The author DH Lawrence found inspiration for his books by climbing up mulberry trees – in the nude. Well, you have to find inspiration where you can!