23 October 2016

Influence



Yesterday I attended a workshop on writing short stories that get published with a young writer named Nuala O'Connor (Ni Chonchuir), who has several collections of short stories, poetry and novels to her credit. She has a very gentle manner. She teaches creative writing on occasion, and in this case, Mayo County Council's art council hired her to do a workshop at the Linenhall in Castlebar. Attendance was free and Alex and I were quick to join up.

Although the format of the workshop would not have been my choice, I did learn some very useful tips.  Armed with lists of to dos and not to dos, I am about to tackle my list of short stories again. I have a collection under the working title "Joy of Sailing", which I have to edit and find a new title. I have several beginnings of sci fi short stories that I need to expand. I have already edited Alex's short story, The Invitation, with a completely different eye than last time.

Thank you Nuala and MayoCoCo, for the inspiration to get back to work in new directions.

02 October 2016

Inspired by a great...Edna O'Brien, Country Girl



At the book signing. I'm telling her how much she inspired me. 
Last night, we saw Edna O'Brien, perhaps the most well-known living Irish author and playwrite, being interviewed by Sean Rocks of the great radio programme Arena.  She walked on stage tentatively, taking small cautious steps like a frail old woman. But she was dressed in her favourite things -- flowing black lace skirt, black and beige ruffly blouse, with a black sequinned jacket, black stockings and black suede ankle boots -- feminine through and through. You could feel her clothes delivering comfort and a touch of glamour in an uncomfortable setting. Her hair was perfectly styled, softly framing her face in reddish tinted swooshes. She made me smile.  An old woman comfortable in her skin and her presentation of it.