Bernie McGill

I’m going to be missing from here for a while. From around the end of February, I’ll be doing a bit of moonlight blogging over at Libraries NI (come on over and say hello). This is because during Creativity Month in March 2013, I’m going to be the Writer in Residence there. (Yeehaa!) This is just about the best job I can think of doing. I get to hang out in libraries, do a bit of writing, and talk writing to other people who want to talk about writing. I can’t actually think of anything I’d rather do. I may invest in a kaftan, I don’t know. Too much? A cape, maybe? Anyway, I’ll be out and about leading workshops, giving talks, the odd reading, and facilitating one-to-one writing clinics (that’s writing clinics – don’t be bringing me your bunions or your boils please, unless they’re of a literary nature) and generally having a time of it. The full programme will be available soon from Libraries NI, but in the meantime, here are the details of where I’ll be and when I’ll be there and what I’ll be doing while I’m there. All the events are free but numbers are limited so to book a place, please contact the individual libraries directly. And please note: you need to secure a place for the writing clinic(s) before submitting your work. Here goes.

Saturday 2nd March 2pm-4pm at Bangor Carnegie Library

e: bangorcarnegie.library@librariesni.org.uk; t: 028 9127 0591

A creative writing seminar on The Butterfly Cabinet: a short talk on the novel and a discussion on different approaches to writing and structuring longer fiction.

Tuesday 5th March 6pm-8pm at Banbridge Library

e: banbridge.library@librariesni.org.uk; t: 028 4062 3973

Creative writing workshop: a practical writing session for those getting started as well as for those who have been writing for a while. Bring pen and paper and prepare to get writing!

Thursday 7th March 3pm-7pm at Belfast Central Library

e: Belfastlending@librariesni.org.uk;  t: 028 9050 9162

Creative writing clinic providing one-to-one advice and feedback. Participants should in the first instance book a place and then submit up to 2000 words of their work (short story or novel extract) by Thursday 21st February to ciara.gault@librariesni.org.uk. Meetings will be arranged for Thursday 7th March between the times indicated in 30 minute slots.

Sunday 10th March 1.30pm-4.30pm at Coleraine Library

e: coleraine.library@librariesni.org.uk; t: 028 7034 2561

Creative writing clinic : providing one-to-one advice and feedback. Participants should in the first instance book a place and then submit up to 2000 words of their work (short story or novel extract) by Thursday 21st February to ciara.gault@librariesni.org.uk. Meetings will be arranged for Sunday 10th March between the times indicated in 30 minute slots.

Monday 11th March 7pm-9pm at Derry Central Library

e: derrycentral.library@librariesni.org.uk; t: 028 7127 2310 

Seminar: How to get Published. A short talk on the publication process for The Butterfly Cabinet and an invitation to participants to share their own experiences of traditional, digital and self-publishing.

Tuesday 12th March 6pm-8pm at Omagh Library

e: omagh.library@librariesni.org.uk; t: 028 8224 4821 

A creative writing workshop: a practical writing session for those getting started as well as for those who have been writing for a while. Bring pen and paper and prepare to get writing!

Thursday 14th March 1.15pm at Belfast Central Library

e: Belfastlending@librariesni.org.uk t: 028 9050 9162

I’ll be giving a lunchtime reading followed by a question and answer session.

Tuesday 26th March 6pm-8pm at Newry City Library

e: newrycity.library@librariesni.org.uk; t: 028 3026 4683

Creative Writing Workshop: Writing Short Stories. A practical writing session focussing on short story writing which looks at the form and how to get started. Hopefully participants will leave with, at the very least, an idea for a story and a sense of how to develop it.

Thursday 28th March 6pm-8pm at Ballyhackamore Library 

e: ballyhackamore.library@librariesni.org.uk; t: 028 9050 9204

Creative writing workshop: a practical writing session for those getting started as well as for those who have been writing for a while. Bring pen and paper and (yes, you guessed it) prepare to get writing!