Writing Is Like Eating An Orange
Lots of 2025 news nuggets, including my resolution to write like I'm eating an orange.
I've only set one resolution for myself this year – to write like I'm eating an orange. The orange is a challenging fruit. It works all five of your senses, and eating it is messy – the peel, the strings of skin, the pips and the juice that spurts all over your fingers. But it's worth it to experience the intense sweetness of the juice.
This picture shows a pair of hands holding a few small oranges. They look a little battered, but suggest the promise of juice.
So, this year, I'm going to write like I'm eating an orange. I hope to create writing that's ap – peel – ing. It may give me the pip, but if I keep writing, I'll feel a zest for life and come up with lots of juicy stories.
I'll write segment by segment, and that will help me reach the finishing line. Feel free to share other orange-related puns, or writing resolutions, by hitting the comment button.
Schools BLAST Writing Residency
Next week, I'll be starting my residency at a boys' primary school in Waterford, where I'll be working with boys in fifth class (age 10-11.) I'll quite literally blast them off with two back-to-back intro sessions next week.
In the coming weeks, we'll build a Viking-themed story, which ties in nicely with their history curriculum. The BLAST Residency pairs artists with schools, to give children exposure to the arts and enable them to experience the satisfaction and joy of creating a complete piece of art.
Copies of The Pink Cage Sold
More copies of my novel The Pink Cage were released into the world before Christmas, and more continue to be released. I'm delighted they're being released from the former laundry basket where I've stored them. Thanks to faithful newsletter supporters Aisling Maguire, Kay Dalton and Muriel Hayes for requesting copies.
SpeakEasy Is Back
The SpeakEasy crew are massively grateful to Waterford City and County Council, who have given us a grant to run six SpeakEasy events in 2025. Our first event is on Friday 7 February and features poet Eleanor Hooker and keyboard supremo Eva St Maria. More details to come.
ArtLinks Bursary
Waterford Council is a splendid supporter of the arts, so I thought I'd mention the bursary it offers in collaboration with councils in Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford. This is the ArtLinks Bursary, whose supports enable artists to devote proper time to their work and to avail of professional development. Here's a link to the ArtLinks Bursary for more info and application forms.
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Nice image, Derbhile, comparing writing to eating an orange. It's true there's a lot of fiddly and sticky stuff to deal with before you get to the real juice of the work! Best of luck! And good luck with the BLAST residency. It's a cool idea and your proposal for a Viking story will give the lads lots of opportunity to let their imaginations run wild and express themselves.
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