Make the conference weekend a productive one for your writing, reading or research project. Enjoy the facility of our conference suite each morning and work on your project, or catch up on that ever growing reading list. The space will be a quiet one, with a luxurious reception nearby for conversations on books and writing. Still & sparkling water & mints complimentary.

Time: Every morning 7am-9am.

Receive a warm welcome to your boutique conference in Belfast! Discuss your objectives for the weekend and plan through the packed schedule of key craft sessions, industry meeting and interviews.

Time: Friday, 9.00-10.00am

Are you an architect or a gardener? Do you like to make it up as you go along, or do you prefer to have all your plot in place before you start? In this session we discuss the challenges of both approaches. Includes short writing exercises.

Time: Friday, 10.00-11.00am

In the first of 4 special seminars on writing for younger readers, we travel through the world of writing for younger children. Here we look at the early category of reader or a young-listening-audience! We explore picture books for babies and toddlers. With special exercises and discussion. Seminar style with Q&A.

Time: Friday, 11.15-12.00pm

Here we discuss techniques that can help you produce consistently high quality & publishable short fiction. We have completed the first draft. But how do we revise and rework our writing? Revision and self-editing techniques are discussed in this special session. What are the best strategies? What do we leave out and what do we put back in? We explore these and other specific questions of editorial approach in this class. Presentation style with Q&A.

Time: Friday, 12.00- 1.00pm

Share your work with other writers and receive feedback.

Time: Friday, 5.00-6.00pm

This session introduces writers to creating books for teenagers, What are the techniques need to engage this audience? How do we put ourselves into the mindset of teenage characters? With carefully designed exercises and discussion. Seminar style with Q&A.

Receive a warm welcome to your boutique conference in Belfast! Discuss your objectives for the weekend and plan through the packed schedule of key craft sessions, industry meeting and interviews.

Time: Friday, 7.00-8.00pm

In this session, we look at the challenges and rewards of writing a novel and other long form projects. We discuss techniques to sustain a longer project and achieve our ultimate goals.

Time: Saturday, 9.00-10.00am

There are several exciting industry clinics options available to writers over the weekend. Attend this session for some key tips to ensure your session with the industry professional is as productive as possible.

Time: Saturday, 10.00-11.00am

Meet Tanja Slijepcevic of Betimes Books. Betimes Books endeavour to support visionary writing and the making of great literature. They are dedicated to helping authors succeed and creating conditions in which they can continue to create. They will discuss current titles, the process of manuscript acceptance and what they are looking for at the moment. Presentation style followed by Q&A.

Time: Saturday, 11.00-12.00pm

Domhnall O’ Donoghue is an actor, journalist & novelist. In 2016, Tirgearr Publishing released Domhnall’s first novel, Sister Agatha: The World’s Oldest Serial Killer. Mercier Press, Ireland’s oldest publishing house, released Domhnall’s second and third novels, Colin and the Concubine and Crazy for You. As an actor, Domhnall appeared as Pádraig in TG4’s Ros na Rún for nine seasons. Interview style followed by Q&A.

Time: Saturday, 12.00-1.00pm

Are you ready to submit your Poetry, Film or TV project, Novels or short stories? Thinking of adapting your story or novel for screen? Get industry insights on your project through a face-to-face meeting with an industry professional. Meet Children’s Book publishers Sweet Cherry, adult fiction publishers Lilliput Press & Betimes Books, Poetry publisher Salmon Poetry and Screen producer Up on Blue Bridge Productions. Limited to 6 each, please confirm your place on registration form as early as possible to avoid disappointment. One-to one style In-Person / Zoom. Book your place as soon as possible as places are extremely limited.

Time: Saturday, 2.00-3.00pm

Leeona has held numerous production department roles in feature film, TV, corporate, and commercial projects but is mostly found in the producer’s seat.A graduate of The National Film School at IADT she holds a First Class BAHons in Film and TV Production, specialising in production and screenwriting. She has produced over 12 shorts including the multi-award winning “An Crann” and dollar-baby short “In the Deathroom” based on the short story by Stephen King.  Diligently developing as a screenwriter Leeona has been a script evaluator for various production companies and filmmakers.

Time: Saturday, 3.00-4.00pm

Meet Jessie Lendennie, founder of Salmon Poetry. Salmon Poetry, taking its name from the Salmon of Knowledge in Celtic mythology, was established in 1981 as an alternative voice in Irish literature. The Salmon, a journal of poetry and prose was a flagship for writers in the west of Ireland, and Salmon’s first books, Gonella by Eva Bourke and Goddess on the Mervue Bus by Rita Ann Higgins broke new ground for women poets. Since then over 600 volumes of poetry have been produced, and Salmon has become one of the most important publishers in the Irish literary world. By specialising in the promotion of new poets, particularly women poets, Salmon has enriched Irish literary publishing. 

Time: Saturday, 4.00-5.00pm

Share your work with other writers and receive feedback.

Time: Saturday, 5.00-6.00pm

Donald Finnaeus Mayo was born in London and grew up in Australia and South East Asia, the backdrop for his novel, Francesca. He is the author of Francesca and The Insider’s Guide to Betrayal. He was educated in England, where he graduated with a degree in Politics and Culture. At various times he has worked as a radio journalist for the BBC, a business writer for major corporations, and as a photographer. He currently lives in Hampshire with his wife and three children.

Time: Saturday, 8.00pm

In this seminar, we introduce writers to the art of writing films, TV series and other visual content. Writing movies and TV scripts is perhaps one of the most exciting areas of creative writing. Do you like the idea of your characters and scene entertaining audiences on the big or small screen? Make the first steps toward achieving high level screenplays for film or television. With  exercises and samples.

Time: Sunday, 9.00am – 10.00am

Do you want to build a career as a professional writer? One of the best places to do that is writing thriller and crime novels. Start your journey in this seminar where we look at various forms of the genre, including detective novels, action thrillers and spy dramas. What is it that that wills secure a publishing contract? What do we need to do to enthrall a commercial agent?

Time: Sunday, 10.00am- 11.00pm

It’s showtime! Read, perform or have someone else present your creative work in the company of family & friends in this special concluding item.

Time: 3.00-5.00pm