Good News: National Mentoring Programme 2023

Absolutely thrilled to be one of 37 writers, from a total of nearly 300 applicants, to be awarded a place on the Irish Writers Centre’s National Mentoring Programme 2023.

I’ve been plugging away at a CNF (creative non-fiction) book over the past year apart from a brief break for printmaking. I’m slowly making my merry own way through the edits but I can’t wait to get 1-2-1 feedback and mentoring from an established writer in this genre. More info here.

What a list I was sent, it was like perusing a literary Argos catalogue. I narrowed my choice down to those who had already published CNF / memoirs. The even better news is that my number one choice agreed to take me on so I’ll be working with Eilís Ní Dhuibhne over the coming year. I first met Eilís last October in a workshop she was giving as part of the Bray Literary Festival. We’ll meet four times and in each meeting, she’ll give me feedback on up to 10,000 words I send in advance. Our first meeting is in late Summer and I can’t wait. I hope she likes my work and if she doesn’t, I hope she can advise me on how to improve it.

Thanks to Wexford Arts Office, The Arts Council and The Irish Writers Centre for funding and supporting this scheme. I’m also looking forward to meeting fellow Wexford mentee Caroline Lawless. We’ve been in touch and we plan to meet for a dip in one of our gorgeous Wexford beaches or failing that, for some literary inspiration at the Write by the Sea Festival in Kilmore Quay in September.