Loughside Literature

Pushing Off Into Short Stories

fcwg — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:00:12 +0000

Yesterday we hosted a short story writing workshop, Pushing Off From Solid Ground, with creative writing facilitator, Bernie McGill. Bernie has a Masters degree in Irish Writing; she is the author of The Butterfly Cabinet and has written for the theatre. She has won numerous awards for her short story writing.

While we each put together the bones of a short story, we looked at where ideas for stories come from, why the place or setting is important and how to use point of view to best effect.

All the places for the workshop were booked and we even squeezed in a couple extra participants. Our own members enjoyed exchanging ideas and information with other writers who joined us for the day.

Dermot’s New Role

fcwg — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:30:45 +0000

Dermot reading at FAF mini-Fest

Congratulations to our member, Dermot Maguire, who has recently assumed the role of editor of The Spark, the Irish border counties local history magazine.

A native of the Newtownbutler area, Dermot taught in Belfast for over 30 years before he returned to Fermanagh to retire. He published a local history of a rural area in the parish of Galloon, Drumlone At The Crossroads, in 2005.

Diane Pens Poems For Anthology

fcwg — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:00:43 +0000

Our member, Diane Jardel, has been included in the new anthology Pen 10 Compendium. Her poems Spittle Falls and Taste were chosen for inclusion in the book which was released recently.

The book’s description on Lulu.com says: The Pen 10 Anthology Project brings you a splendid collection of short stories, flash style fiction and poetry great for coffee tables, guest and waiting rooms, even morning commutes.

The Pen 10 Compendium is available from Lulu.com: click here for more information.

Marie’s New Friend

fcwg — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:48:44 +0000

Our member, Marie Connor, has recently been asked by People’s Friend magazine to contribute short stories and reminiscences to the publication. Her reminiscence, Yesterday Once More, in People’s Friend’s Winter Special 2012 is the second piece she has had published in the magazine.

Diane Jardel Featured On MUTT

fcwg — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:24:10 +0000

Diane Jardel is one of the Featured Four this month on Making Us Think Together (MUTT), a website for writers, artists and photographers. She is the Featured Poet, highlighting the publication of her poem, The Mirror, in the poetry anthology, The Poetic Bond. She is featured on the Mutt homepage and her profile can be found at http://www.muttonline.com/forums/profile.cfm?userid=792.

Diane Jardel’s Poetic Link

fcwg — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:09:49 +0000

Our member, Diane Jardel, has been included in the new poetry anthology The Poetic Bond. Her poem The Mirror was chosen for inclusion in the book which was released on 14 November.

The book’s editor, Trevor Maynard, described how the idea for the book developed:

“My purpose in putting together this anthology is to harness poetry through social media and to engage actively in sharing poetry with other poets and bringing poetry to general public. This collection of poems will be the work of a group of poets connected through the global professional networking website LinkedIn.com, and in particular, but not exclusively, the LinkedIn group called, “Poetry, Review and Discuss.”

The Poetic Bond is available from www.thepoeticbond.com.

First Writing Drama Workshop

fcwg — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 06:36:12 +0000

We hosted our first Writing Drama workshop yesterday with tutor, Deirdre Alexander, who has more than a decade of experience writing for television and theatre. Her screen writing credits include RTE shows Fair City and Seacht.

The afternoon sped by as we learned about constructing a 3 act script, how to pitch it to a producer and got tips on how to write good drama. We also were given insight into the world of television drama. It was an information packed session and our tutor still found time to answer a barrage of questions from participants.

This may have been our first workshop on writing drama but it’s unlikely to be the last judging by the enthusiastic response it received from the participants.

Secretary Serves Up Exotic Concoction

fcwg — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:08:11 +0000

Group secretary, Dianne Trimble, has had a short story, Mud and Bilberries, and a reminiscence, Winter Warmth, printed in online writers’ group, Writers Abroad’s second anthology, Foreign Flavours. The forward for the book is written by Alexander McCall Smith.

Writers Abroad describe the anthology as “a book that takes as its theme food, drink and recipes from around the world. It is a tantalizing collection of fiction and non-fiction, full of spice and flavour and sprinkled with mouth-watering recipes. The wide-ranging, sometimes bittersweet, contributions show how adaptable an ex-pat has to be to leave familiar dishes behind and venture into the culinary unknown.”

Extreme Weather, Extreme Poetry

fcwg — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:34:57 +0000

Fermanagh Creative Writing Group doesn’t do anything by halves so to mark National Poetry Day today we had an extreme poetry reading by our members – on and at Lough Erne with Portora Castle as our backdrop. Once we left the shore and the very choppy waves, we huddled in near the fireplace inside the castle - and wished that it was lit. It was wet and windy but we raised our voices and shared our poetry.

Tony Viney

Tony Viney reads to audience

Peter Byrne

Ken Ramsey

Barracaded in Barrack Storeroom

fcwg — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:12:27 +0000

Marie Connor

Yesterday afternoon, during Heritage Open Days , Fermanagh Creative Writing Group took up residence in Enniskillen Castle Museum’s Barrack Storeroom. We had a great time hosting an Open Mic Afternoon for writers – and listeners were eagerly invited in. Many of our members read their work and we also welcomed several other writers from the local area who shared stories and poems with us,

Seamas MacAnnaidh

including authors Seamas MacAnnaidh and Rosemary Gilchrist.

Writers and members of the public (some of whom dropped in while they were visiting the museum) all enjoyed the afternoon.

Tony Viney, our MC, kept the programme moving smoothly. Group members had been cautioned to observe time limits for their readings so that everyone who wished would be able to participate.

Diane Jardel

Mindful of this, our member Gordon Williams restricted himself to several 50 word stories to kick off the readings. We heard funny poems, serious poems, epic poems and the whole gamut of short stories too. The audience never knew what to expect next when a writer stepped up to the podium but they were never disappointed.

Diane and Jacques Jardel manning the food table

Holed up inside on a rainy afternoon we needed sustenance to fortify us before we stepped up to the mike. So we had a table laden with caffeine fixes (tea and coffee) and an assortment of nibbles that included sweet sushi, loads of biscuits, wheat free cake and very sticky, gooey cake. The health conscious and sugar junkies were all catered for.

We went home at the end of the afternoon with our appetites for food and literature sated. And we weren’t bothered by the rain as we were still turning over in our minds all the stories and poems that we’d heard.

Ian Butler

Wayne Hardman