Looking for the heat! A note from Writing Train Wednesday Workshop.

Today in the workshop we ended up using thermal imaging as a metaphor for working out the key points in a scene! Talking about how at those points it’s worth working to raise your reader’s heart rate. Talking about managing graceful manoeuvres between cool and ‘warm’ third person, and in particular referencing Cheever’s story The 9.48 as an example of same. Now I’m home to write till I pull the shutter down.: ) Out of the metaphor, and back in freezing Irish reality, let me add: ”Stay warm, everyone!”

Writing and teaching…Getting back on the Train!

Gosh I’ve been quiet, of late! Working towards getting a large chunk of my book to its editor within a few weeks – I asked a marvelously productive Irish writer what his process was, last weekend, and he said: “Deadlines!” But with crocuses in my front garden, it’s also time to get the new Writing Train term going.

So, dates at a glance for new courses are as follows:
National Library Cafe Joly Saturdays: START DATE: 18th Feb, NLI Kildare Street, D 2.
Kickstart Tuesdays, 10 weeks, START DATE: March 6, United Arts Club, D 2.
Wednesday Morning Writing Train: continuous enrollment, United Arts Club, D 2.Thursday Night Advanced Writing Train, City Arts, D. 1, new 15-week term STARTS: 29 MarchFriday Night Kick-starts, Glasthule – continuous enrollment

Write In the City Dublin writing experience – 7 week course START DATE: June, NLI.

Developing Poet 8-week Saturday workshop will start 14th April in Sweny’s Chemist’s Shop.
Monday Night Start to Write – starts April 23rd, City Arts, D.1.

Next Inishbofin Jaunt takes place on May Bank Holiday…on Inishbofin. It is good to have me on the team, isn’t it?

And on that note: prettier and more profound posts will follow when my book is done, I hope! Meantime, I urge you, too, to cut the odd corner in your admin/ worklife so that you have a few more minutes for the writing. Go on! I dare you! Or the house-cleaning… Didn’t Quentin Crisp say it doesn’t get any dirtier after the first ten years?

Contact me on writingtrain@gmail.com and at 086 1701418 for further info and to book any of the above courses.

Looking forward to hearing from and working with you!
Yvonne

Newsflash on up-coming courses.

NEWSFLASH

If you haven’t yet signed up for an autumn writing course, here are a few current options at Writing Train!

“START TO WRITE” MONDAYS: 9 session option from Nov 4th, City Arts Centre. 6.30 – 8.30. €240.

TUESDAY DEVELOPING WRITERS: Starts 8 Nov. Sweny’s, the Ulysses’ Chemist’s Shop. 8 weeks. 6.30 – 8.45 pm. Fee: €205

FRIDAY DEVELOPING WRITERS: 9 weeks’ option from 4th November, Glasthule, Sandycove, in my home, where all the books are! 9 weeks spread over 14. 7 pm- 9.15. Tuition, workshopping, support and a BYO indoor picnic venue for Friday evenings! Fee €240

DEVELOPING POET workshop, 11 weeks from Nov 5th, €295.

WRITE IN THE CITY workshops at CAFE JOLY, NLI: FOUR SPACES AVAILABLE FOR  4 weeks option from 12.30 – 3 pm running across a working lunch-break, and starting 5th November. Fee €100.

WRITE IN THE CITY writing and city culture events: 5 weeks from November 26th, see NLI tab on this blog for details

Dec 9 -12th Winter Bofin Jaunt Writing Weekend and Writing Retreat plus St. Patricks’ Weekend 2012, Inishbofin Jaunt Writing Weekend both booking now!

And if you’re not linked in with the writing train facebook page, or are morally opposed to fb ; ), here’s a thought I posted there last night:

Yvonne Cullen’s Writing Train

We’ve been talking, in the classes and workshops, about how to relax in your writing. Relaxed concentration – that’s the thing, I think, really! So try writing somewhere relaxed. Designate a comfortable old cardigan or jumper your writing uniform, and put it on each time you’re about to start writing. Write on the fly. I’ve just been writing standing at the bar counter in my kitchen. Rilke-style : ). ( The standing, not the writing, I add quickly : ). Or write somewhere so noisy that you’ve full excuse for writing badly. Then write badly and “mend it good.”

We take our creative discussions seriously, here at Writing Train…

 

A great little out-take from a session on Bofin. You’ll note some group members and friends avoiding the cross-fire between Annie on the left and myself on the right!

And if that doesn’t scare you – the next Bofin Writing Jaunt is on 14 October!

A note to add to the new timetable also just gone up here: WEDNESDAY MORNING WRITING TRAIN workshop start-date is 12th October!

And finally, because I want to mention it everywhere: Helena Nolan, longtime Writing Train workshop member, has won the Kavanagh Poetry Prize. Joint Second Prize went to another longtime Writing Train participant and equally gifted poet – Cliona O’Connell. I’m absolutely delighted!

 

 

 

 

Write In The City launches at the National Library!

Creative writing classes with Yvonne Cullen at Cafe Joly, National Library of Ireland

Introducing the most central, the most culturally located, the most caffeinated, and the tastiest creative writing classes, writing workshops and ‘Dublin- inspired’ creative writing experiences in town!

 

Autumn courses, classes and events:

Beginning on 22 October, for five consecutive Saturday mornings: Writers’ Workshop at Cafe Joly, National Library of Ireland 10 a.m. to noon. Fee: €125

 

Also from 22 October onwards for five consecutive Saturday lunchtimes: Teen Writers’ Workshop at Cafe Joly 12.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. built around a short ‘working lunch-break.’  Fee: €125

 

All classes are capped at ten participants.

 

WRITE IN THE CITY: The creative writing course inspired by the culture and fabric of Dublin city and by your Dublin stories. Comprising five Saturday sessions taking place on 26 November; 3 and 10 December; 7 and 14 January from 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Tuition, discussion and readings of Dublin-inspired writing, visits to inspiring Dublin cultural locations, and convivial lunch at Cafe Joly accompanied with further creative writing guidance. You will also be given additional challenges to take away each week during this inspiring, fun and surprisingly intensive course. Fee for the five-week course: €250.  Also on offer for groups (by arrangement) are ‘Write in the City’ one-day events.

 

January 2012 plans:

Ten-week Saturday Morning Writing Workshop for Adults with some experience of writing. From 10 a.m. to noon. Fee: €240. Ten-week Saturday lunchtime Teen Writing Workshops from 12.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. Fee: €240. These courses will run from 28 January until early April 2012. Details of additional one-off, short afternoon sessions for Spring 2012 will be announced on the NLI website and on www.yvonnecullen.wordpress.com. Details also available by contacting writingcity@gmail.com or by calling 086 170 1418.

 

All classes are ‘capped’ at ten participants.

 

“…the best creative writing teacher in Dublin: her mission not to produce one Nobel Prize-winner and eleven nervous wrecks, but a happier, healthier relationship with your creativity.” Abie Philbin Bowman, The Dubliner Magazine. “Writes beautifully, and can pass on the skill.” Grace Garvey, The Irish Times

 

 

About Yvonne Cullen

Yvonne Cullen has taught writing in Ireland for twenty years. She is an award-winning poet and screenwriter.  Her first non-fiction book, SHOWTOWN is a love letter to Ireland’s Travelling Shows,  and the story of a unique Showpeoples’ neighbourhood here in Dublin.  SHOWTOWN will appear early in 2012. Yvonne is also working on a related TV documentary called WANDERING STARS.

 

THE WRITING TRAIN DIFFERENCE: Beginners’ and specialist courses from

tutor with outstanding track record and results.  A long-term writing  workshop option for developing writers. Stay as long as you need to!

A focus on your potential.

Regular writers’ parties and reading events where everybody makes the party!

Always-fair fees.

Lovely city centre venues plus

further classes in core tutor’s welcoming and book-filled home in Glasthule beside Sandycove Dart Station.

 

Next Inishbofin Jaunt writing holiday runs 14 – 17 Oct!

What was it like on your Inishbofin Jaunt?

The next WRITING TRAIN Inishbofin Jaunt will take place on 14-17 October. A fiction and non-fiction Jaunt for beginner and developing writers – a  small number of places are still available, with self-catering and B and B accommodation options. Please get in touch soon if interested!

To contact Writing Train

You can email me at Yvonnesworkshops@gmail.com. If you are enquiring about courses, it’s writingtrain@gmail.com. And you can phone me, Yvonne, about anything related to Writing Train classes, workshops and events at 086 1701418 or at 01 2806431.