Short Story Writing Course in Ireland

If you're an aspiring short story writer, you may be interested in this. Brian Richmond, a long-time subscriber to my newsletter and blog, has asked me to pass on some information about a short story writing weekend he is running from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 March 2007 in beautiful County Donegal in the north-west of Ireland. Brian says:

It will be held in the Malin Hotel, situated in a pretty village on the way to Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland. The scenery around here is beautiful. We have long, deserted beaches; hills that are perfect for walking; standing stones; ruined castles and, of course, friendly pubs.
It's easily accessible by air; if you fly to City of Derry airport you can be in Malin in less than an hour.

The course will cost EUR 260.00. That includes 2 nights B&B, supper on Friday night; lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday Lunch on the last day. Further info and bookings are at www.malinhotel.ie

Brian also sent me the following Course Information Sheet:

After years of saying he'd be a writer someday, Brian Richmond wrote and submitted his first short story to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine in 2004. It sold. So did his next one. Since that time, his short fiction has appeared in everything from 'Bullet, the magazine of rock'n'roll noir,' to 'My Weekly.' Next year, he has 2 stories appearing in the anthologies 'Next Stop Hollywood: 15 stories that ought to be movies' in the US and in 'Read by Dawn' in the UK.

The course: Writing Stories That Sell.

This residential course is aimed at the aspiring professional, the person who wants to place their work in paying markets. Using 3 of Brian's stories in different genres that have sold to different publications, it will help give writers practical advice on preparing their work for print. It will comprise 4 sessions:
Friday evening: informal get together; course outline.
Saturday morning: 'The Good Kid.' Anatomy of a sale; choosing markets; what editors want; extending the life of a story.
Saturday afternoon: 'Like Snow.' Placing more experimental fiction; matching the material to the market; one voice or many?
Sunday morning: 'Worried about Marge.' Writing to order; what do women want?; literary ventriloquism versus the individual voice.

Additionally, the course will allow time to meet your fellow writers, compare experiences and make contacts, all in the relaxing surroundings of scenic and inspirational County Donegal.

If you can find the time (and the money), it sounds like an idyllic opportunity to immerse yourself in short-story writing, and make some new friends (and useful contacts) as well. If you have any further queries, you can email Brian at brian-richmond-at-utvinternet.com (change the -at- for the usual @ symbol).