WOWO 28 October 2021

It’s MUG OF THE MONTH time again! Reigning champion Anne Murray will be passing on the Mug to a new winner this Thursday. The competition is expected to be keen, as always!

This is our 7th session since Culture Night, and already we have enough material for 50 pages of our new Anthology 2023. Even though the deadline for the receipt of manuscripts is 1 May 2022, we ask everyone to send in stories or poems every week so that, as well as being presented on Thursday nights, the pieces can be considered for inclusion in our Anthology.

It is amazing how time flits by. Before we know it, Anthology 2023 will be chock full of stories, poems and songs. So make sure to keep writing every week!

Our Programme for Thursday:

MOTMs:

Hand Over the Mug by Richard O’Donnell

The Perfect Stick by Jutta Rosen

OMG by Elizabeth Hannon

Connemara Sculpture by Frank Fahy

Re-opening by Mary Rose Toibin

Beano by Nollaig O’Donnell

Leaving by Anne McManus

Journey by Celia Scully

In addition we will also hear:

Short Story: Minka by James Conway

Short Story: Granny Margot on the Telly by Anne McManus (read by the author)

Short Story: Halloween by Elizabeth Hannon

Short Story: A Case of Disbelief by Nollaig O’Donnell

Poem: No Tick Tock by Geraldine Warren

Poem: Symptoms by Christine Kelley

We can look forward to a wonderful evening packed with diverse and inspired writing!

WOWO 21 October 2021

Looking forward to another lively session on this Thursday, with a fine list of entries of exceptionally high standard!

And don’t forget it’s MOTM-time next week! So sharpen your pencils and charge up your PCs: the keywords are STAND and STICK, the closing date is October 24th, that’s this coming Sunday.

In the past week many of our members received the hardback issues of our anthologies and collections that they’d ordered. What a great feeling it is to hold such a beautiful book in your hands.

As you know, all of our books are now available as hardback, paperback and Kindle Ebook, an inspiring collection catering to a wide variety of tastes in reading matter. It’s worth remembering the old slogan: Shop early for Christmas!

Now for tonight’s programme: What’s On Write-On

Poem: Bog Road by Ciara Keogh

Poem: Deserted Graveyard by James Keogh

Poem: Our Lady of Thurles by James Conway

Story: Granny Margot on the Telly by Anne McManus

Story: Phone Number by Elizabeth Hannon

Poem: Easing by Christine Kelley

Tribute to Brendan Kennelly by Frank Fahy

WOWO 14 October 2021

We have another interesting session lined up for Thursday evening. Isn’t it great to have new material each week? The writers in the group never let us down and as some take a back seat, recovering no doubt from the exhaustion of having written too many poems and stories, others are ready to keep the sessions going with their offerings.

So, a question that each member might like to ask themselves: When is the last time that you wrote a really satisfying Short Story or Poem? If you have slipped out of the habit of writing, the onset of darker days of Autumn and Winter might inspire you to take up pen and paper (or laptop) again and let your mind wander into that wonderful world of creativity that you once explored.

And Song Writers! There’s no escape for you! Have you given thought to creating a musical extravaganza or a simple ballad? Don’t forget about our inaugural Write-on Song Contest which will be held in April. The prize of a fantastic Mug awaits the winner. Get composing!

And if that isn’t enough inspiration for you, what about writing your entry for October MUG OF THE MONTH?

The keywords are: STAND and STICK.

Here is the menu for What’s On Write-on (WOWO) for this week.

POEM: Lovers Entwined by Thomas MacMahon

POEM: Before the Reign by Ciara Keogh

POEM: Seasons by James Keogh

POEM: All Her World by James Conway

SHORT STORY: A Dilemma by Anne Murray

SHIORT STORY: Kingston by James Conway

WOWO 7 October 2021

After the excitement of last week where we surprised Jutta with a “physical” Write-on session in Barna, and Anne Murray won Mug of the Month for the first time, it is back down to earth this week.

We have a packed programme – no major surprises that I’m aware of!

Here is What’s On Write-on (WOWO) for this evening:

POEM: Hufflepuff by Thomas MacMahon

POEM: Grandad by Ciara Keogh

POEM: Heaney by James Keogh

POEM: The Pull by James Conway

STORY: A Latte and a Danish by James Conway

STORY: The Armadillo by Sarah Burke – A reading of The Winning Entry for The Scottish Book Awards 2021