Big Smoke Writing Factory

Looking for a name for a character, whether meaningful or not? Take a look Behind The Name or check out BabyNames.com's tips for writers on naming characters.

(And Jack and Ava are the top Irish baby names at the moment.)

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Our favourite factories include Lumière Factories...

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Agent Nathan Bransford (at Curtis Brown) quickly runs through how a book gets published, particularly at bigger publishing houses. His blog is a useful resource generally for aspiring and practicing novelists, though sometimes a little too big-publisher and American-centric for those dealing with or hoping to deal with Irish or smaller-scale UK publishers and agents.

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Registration for BIG SMOKE courses can be done online or through the post, but we're aware that some people like to register in person - or find out where the classes will be held before they sign up for a course.

We'll be holding three open registration evenings in September before classes start:

Tuesday, 1 September (6pm-9pm)
Friday, 11 September (6pm-9pm)
Saturday, 19 September (2pm-6pm)

You don't need to let us know you're coming - though if you'd like a space held provisionally for you on a particular class please contact us and let us know which evening you'll be popping in. At each evening, members of the BIG SMOKE team will be on hand to discuss any questions you might have about the courses or about which course might suit best. Feel free to pop in even if you've already signed up if there's anything you'd like to discuss with a member of the team!

We will accept payment by cash, money order or cheque on these evenings. We regret to inform you that at present we cannot accept payment via credit card except online via Paypal.

Directions to Big Smoke Writing Factory, 7 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2.

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Thanks for this link, Christian - for fans of PostSecret, there's also this site: The Lives of Others - find out more here.

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... there still are Creative Careers out there. It's good to know.

(And internships, for that matter. Not that we're biased towards any in particular!)

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Some of these 'things to watch out for' are applicable to other kinds of writing, but it's especially useful for sci-fi, where you are more likely to call a rabbit a 'smeerp', or pen an 'Adam and Eve' story.

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If you have somehow managed not to discover the long-running PostSecret blog, updated every Sunday, have a wander on over.

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Other factories we like include chocolate factories...

"An important room, this!" cried Mr Wonka, taking a bunch of keys from his pocket and slipping one into the keyhole of the door. "This is the nerve centre of the whole factory, the heart of the whole business! And so beautiful! I insist upon my rooms being beautiful! I can't abide ugliness in factories! In we go, then! But do be careful, my dear children! Don't lose your heads! Don't get over-excited! Keep very calm!" - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

(BIG SMOKE regrets that we are not staffed with Oompa-Loompas at this present time.)

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SurLaLune Fairy Tales is one of the best places to start. Annotated editions of early versions of fairy tales (from Perrault, the Grimms, Hans Christian Anderson, et al), lists of adaptations (whether through novel, story, poem, film or music), collections of illustrations, information on academic and other non-fiction resources relating to fairy tales and folklore. For anyone particularly interested in Irish fairy tales and folklore, the e-books on Irish Fairy Tales, Myths and Folklore of Ireland and Celtic Fairy Tales might be of some use.

"In a utilitarian age, of all other times, it is a matter of grave importance that fairy tales should be respected."
-- Charles Dickens

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From ‘Open Spot’ to One-Person Show

Whether you are a complete beginner looking to write your first ‘club set’, or a more experienced comedian hoping to tour a successful one-person show, this course is for you. The course will cover such elements as structure, rapport and joke-rate, as they relate to individual students’ style and delivery. The class will be light on theory and heavy on practice, with the majority of time spent critiquing students’ own writing and performance.

Considerable attention will also be given to the practical side of successfully performing at comedy clubs/festivals and touring a one-person show: finance, contacts, selecting venues, handling the press and marketing strategies. There will be specific advice on surviving and succeeding at the world’s biggest and most competitive arts festival: the Edinburgh Fringe, as well as touring on the Irish comedy/theatre circuit and further abroad.

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Length: 10 weeks
Fee: €220
Guest Teacher: Abie Philbin Bowman

About the teacher
Abie Philbin Bowman has taught creative writing in Trinity College Dublin and at the Irish Centre for Talented Youth. He is also the writer and performer of one of the most successful Irish one-man comedy shows of the decade. ‘Jesus: The Guantanamo Years’ – his debut – took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm. It got rave reviews, completely sold out and was reported by over 30 media outlets, including BBC News, Le Monde and the New York Times. The show then sold out throughout Ireland, as well as touring London’s West End, the USA and Pakistan. (Abie is the only Western stand-up stupid enough to have performed a religious, political comedy in Pakistan during the 2007 State of Emergency). ‘Jesus: The Guantanamo Years’ has since become a top 10 hit on iTunes in Japan and across Europe. Along with his second show, ‘Eco-Friendly Jihad’, Abie has sold out and turned a profit at Edinburgh for three years running. He was dubbed “a rising star” by Time magazine, given his own radio show by i105-107, and boycotted by Ian Paisley’s DUP.

Autumn/winter 2009

FRIDAY, 6.30pm-8.30pm, starting October 16, 2009.

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Continuation courses with Nicole Rourke

All forms of writing are covered in this course. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of characterisation, voice, dialogue, plot, style and editing.

Aims:

• To equip writers with the capacity to create work which is immediate and compelling as well as structured and focused.
• To encourage writers to develope their work in new directions.

All sessions will be a combination of writing exercises, workshopping and critiquing of work in progress. The course will be fast-paced, challanging and inspiring.....and there will, of course, always be tea!

Testimonials from students:

"Nicole Rourke's writing classes are inspiring and motivating. Anyone who wishes to write in an environment that is supportive, creative and focused should join- I had my play written by the end of the course."
- Clodagh Downing

"Nicole uses diverse approaches to encourage participants to draw on their creative talents and produce written work every week. Classes are imaginative, colourful, humourous and relaxed. I have thoroughly enjoyed every session and look forward to attending more."
- Miriam Hurley

"I have attended a number of creative writing courses which have been facilitated by Nicole Rourke. I have found these extremely helpful and have no hesitation in recommending them to others. She pitches the course content at a level to suit the participants and is particularly good at unlocking your creativity - getting you to think differently.Criticism is constructive and succeeds in building realistic confidence."
- Hugh Scanlan

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Length: 12 weeks
Fee: €280
Facilitator: Nicole Rourke

Winter/spring 2010

LINE PRODUCTION (CONTINUATION)
This course is designed for those who have completed a beginner's course with Nicole, as well as those with previous writing experience.

MONDAY, 7pm-9pm, starting February 15, 2010.
Book by February 8, 2010.


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LINE PRODUCTION (DEVELOPING)
This course will be tailored to suit the group and is aimed at those who have taken several courses with Nicole, as well as those with previous writing experience.

FRIDAY, 11am-1pm, starting February 5, 2010.
Book by January 29, 2010.

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Especially in the 1950s and 1960s? The photographic exhibit If ever you go to Dublin town is open at the National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, until October this year. Open 10am-5pm on weekdays, 10am-2pm Saturdays, closed Sundays and bank holidays.

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Check out the Bookworm game.

BIG SMOKE is not responsible for any potential addictions to this game which might result from this post.

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... here at BIG SMOKE is from writer Sadie Jones in yesterday's Sunday Times:

"You can’t control the spark, but you can control the match."

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If you think writing a novel in a month seems crazy, check out this piece about writing a book in three days. Not everyone's cup of tea by any stretch of the imagination, though there's something to be said for pushing through first-page perfectionism. The Snowflake method of outlining would probably help if you wanted to go down that route, too.

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Available as a Word document or as a pdf.

A high-res photo of the Big Smoke team is available here. Our thanks to Andy Maranzi and Mark Granier.

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... and can simply laugh your way through this list of How not to impress a publisher.

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Other factories we like include piano factories...

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Fantasy and scifi writers show off their writing spaces. Meanwhile, there's also all the Guardian's Writers' rooms online.

BIG SMOKE is curious if any of its readers write anywhere weird and wonderful. Let us know in the comments.

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Short fiction writers may wish to check out, and hop onboard, Portland, Oregon's Glimmer Train.

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... the politically comedic/comedically political stylings of Abie Philbin Bowman. From a warm-up for his Eco-Friendly Jihad show...

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On time and reading from Blackrock's Raven Books.

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It's a CATcerto!

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Editor Eoin Purcell poses this question over at his blog: How many books do you need to sell to be successful in Ireland?

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For online resources to do with creative writing, including lists of local writers' groups and a forum for sharing work, take a wander over to Writing4all.ie.

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Writers with some experience, whether formal or informal, may find a writing class beneficial but feel they're already familiar with the 'basics' of writing. This course aims to suit the writer who's a step beyond 'beginning' level, by balancing writing exercises and discussions of more advanced writing techniques with workshops in which participants can share work emerging from both class exercises and their own particular interests. It is suitable for writers working in all forms, though writers with specific interests may also be interested in our specialist classes and workshops.

Length: 12 weeks
Fee: €280
Facilitator: member of the BIG SMOKE team

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Winter/spring 2010

THURSDAY, 7pm-9pm, starting February 11, 2010. (Facilitator: Nicole Rourke)
Book by February 4, 2010.


SATURDAY, 1pm-3pm, starting March 13, 2010. (Facilitator: Maggie Smith Hurt)
Book by March 6, 2010.

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This introduction to creative writing explores a range of topics, from character and plot development to voice and style. Through writing exercises and examples from literature, participants will develop an awareness of various poetic and literary tools and techniques, and become more comfortable putting pen to paper to express themselves creatively. This class provides space for the beginning writer to share their work in a supportive workshop environment, and is suitable for writers working in all forms (poetry, drama, fiction, etc.).

Beginning To Write FAQ

Length: 10 weeks
Fee: €240
Facilitator: member of the BIG SMOKE team

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Spring 2010 (evenings)

MONDAY, 6.30pm-8.30pm, starting February 1, 2010.
Booking still available for this course.


THURSDAY, 7pm-9pm, starting February 4, 2010.
Booking still open.



Spring 2010 (daytime)

TUESDAY, 10.30am-12.30pm, starting February 23, 2010.
Book by February 16, 2010.



Spring/summer 2010 (evenings)

Dates/times TBC.

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Writing Train Advanced Workshops with Yvonne Cullen

These advanced workshops invite in a small number of new members each term, to join a number of continuing group members. The benefits of this approach include the facility for members to come into a warm supportive environment from the very first session, and existing members can return from one term to the next, for as long as the facilitation by class tutor and the group dynamic and group learning are benefitting them.

Yvonne Cullen is the pioneer of this workshop approach in Ireland. Workshops moving to BIG SMOKE with Yvonne have been running consistently for five years and include many of the writers with work in ALL GOOD THINGS BEGIN, a critically acclaimed anthology published by Yvonne's workshops in 2006. Workshop participants also have access to the online forum at dublinwriters.net. This advanced workshop will also offer participants the opportunity to be involved in the running of a new Irish writing journal, to launch in association with BIG SMOKE in 2010.

Yvonne says that, second only to her mission to teach marvellously and facilitate like a dream, comes her mission to make these workshops really really good fun. The phrase 'Learning Parties' comes to mind, with a teapot on the table at all times!

Some places open up in these Writing Train workshops each term. To ensure that newcomers are placed in the group best suited to their abilities and needs, anyone interested is asked to email Yvonne with: a sample of their writing, a short summary of their writing experience, and their contact details. We will also be holding open registration days for those who would like to discuss the workshops (and our other courses) in person.

Length: 17 weeks
Fee: €395
Facilitator: Yvonne Cullen

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Spring 2010

WEDNESDAY, 7pm-9.30pm, starting March 3, 2010.
Book by February 23, 2010.

THURSDAY, 6.45pm-9.15pm, starting March 4, 2010.
Book by February 24, 2010.

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Intermediate writing course with Yvonne Cullen

Part class, part workshop, and the best of both worlds if you want taught inputs on areas of special interest to you alongside an intermediate level writing workshop. If you would like an intermediate level course with access to all the benefits of Yvonne’s Cullen's Advanced Writing Workshop, then this weekly session is for you.

Bonuses of membership of Writing Train course group are: access to Yvonne’s Online Writing Forum, dublinwriters.net, a bonus Sunday Saloon Writing Workshop, plus the chance to participate in the creation of a new online writing journal this term with Yvonne’s advanced workshop members.

Some places open up in these Writing Train workshops each term. To ensure that newcomers are placed in the group best suited to their abilities and needs, anyone interested is asked to email Yvonne with: a sample of their writing, a short summary of their writing experience, and their contact details. We will also be holding open registration days for those who would like to discuss the workshops (and our other courses) in person.

Length: 14 weeks
Fee: €315
Facilitator: Yvonne Cullen

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Winter/spring 2010

TUESDAY, 6.30pm-8.45pm, starting January 26, 2010.
Students may still join this workshop.

WEDNESDAY, 10.45am-1pm, starting January 27, 2010.
Students may still join this workshop.

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This workshop is aimed at those who are working on a novel, whether writing a first draft or at the revising/editing stages. Although some writing exercises will be suggested to individual participants or the group as a whole where appropriate, the emphasis is on receiving constructive criticism from both peers and the workshop facilitator, and on providing a supportive and productive environment for novel writers facing the specific challenges involved in long-term creative projects.

Length: 12 weeks
Fee: €280
Facilitator: Claire Hennessy

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Spring/summer 2010
Day/time of next term of Novel In Progress TBC. (Please note that so far this workshop has always run on Monday evenings.)

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This course is designed for those beginning a novel, and will guide them through deciding what they want to write about, what sort of genre they’re interested in, any potential research that might be needed, and what sort of structure and viewpoint they will use. Students will look at character and plot development specifically in the context of novel-length work, and discover what method of outlining best suits them. By the end of the course students should have some idea of what they want to write about, and have completed the first draft of at least one chapter and/or have a developed outline.

Length: 10 weeks
Fee: €250
Facilitator: Claire Hennessy

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Spring/summer 2010
Date/time TBC.

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Strengthen your voice as a writer. Extend its range!

This class will take your poems to a new level, with its combination of taught inputs on craft and form, copious reading and exercises tailored to your writing’s current strengths and difficulties, along with expertly facilitated writing workshops.

Whether you are starting to send work out for publication, or would like to, whether you are working towards a first collection, or would simply like constructive and expert feedback, this course will meet you where you are right now, as a writer of poems, and will help you move a big step closer to fulfilling your potential!

Some places will be available in the ongoing Developing Poet workshop each term. Anyone interested in joining this workshop is asked to email Yvonne with: a sample of their writing, a short summary of their writing experience, and their contact details. We will also be holding open registration days for those who would like to discuss the workshops (and our other courses) in person.

Length: 12 weeks
Fee: €280
Facilitator: Yvonne Cullen

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Winter/spring 2010

SATURDAY, 3pm-5.15pm, starting January 23, 2010.
Book by January 16, 2010.

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This course explores the creative process in a fresh and unique way. A wide variety of activities involving movement, storytelling games, text exploration, mind mapping and writing exercises will be used to spark creativity and get ideas flowing. We will look at building character and developing plot using visual techniques such as body sculpture and storyboarding. This course is all about letting the imagination run away with itself!

Suitable for beginners as well as more experienced writers, as well as anyone wishing to further explore their creativity.

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Length: TBC
Fee: TBC
Facilitator: Nicole Rourke

Spring/summer 2010
Day/time to be confirmed. Please contact us with enquiries.

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Start your researched writing project!

Whether you’re starting a memoir, a research-based novel or non-fiction work, a screenplay or a collection of poems with a researched element, this course will get you going.
From History To Story combines the basics of an all round Beginning To Write course with guidance on planning, carrying out and marshalling your research. Crucially, this course will also set you tasks bringing writing and research together in a way that is tailored to your project.
You will leave this course with a plan for your project and greatly sharpened writing and research skills. You will also leave with a wealth of feedback from regular in-class workshop sessions and an equal amount of relevant reading to take with you.
The course includes two guided research trips to useful resources in Dublin, e.g. Gilbert Archive, Photographic archive, National Library.

Length: 10 weeks
Fee: €250
Facilitator: Yvonne Cullen

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Spring/summer 2010
Day/time to be confirmed. Please contact us with enquiries.

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At BIG SMOKE we aim to provide quality teaching and a safe, creative, fun, and rewarding environment for people to take classes and workshops with us. Here are some things we'd like you to note before signing up:

ABOUT BOOKING

1. We ask that all students sign up for courses, and pay in full, 1 week before the course start date. Students may in certain circumstances be admitted to a course after this date at the discretion of the facilitator. Please note that many of our courses fill up quickly, so prospective students are advised to book early.

2. Our Beginning To Write and Beyond Beginners are offered at several times during the week. To ensure the smoothest possible transfer of students in case of one session being oversubscribed, or in the unfortunate event that one set of classes is cancelled, we request that you list suitable alternative days/times on the registration or Paypal form where possible.

3. BIG SMOKE cancellation policy:

• Up to our sign-up cut-off date, i.e. 1 week before course start date, cancellation will entitle you to refund of your course fee, minus a 20% administration charge.
• Those who have registered online or via the post are entitled to a refund (minus administration charge) within 1 week of their payment, in accordance with distance selling regulations.
• The BIG SMOKE team regrets that we cannot refund fees in respect of cancellation after this cut-off point.
• We cannot offer partial refunds to participants who do not finish a course or who miss sessions. In cases of illness or other emergency, please contact us. In these cases, credit towards further BIG SMOKE classes/events may be offered.

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ABOUT THE COURSES

1. We want to make sure that participants are in the best environment for them. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your specific needs and goals with one of the BIG SMOKE team so we can be sure you are getting the most out of your BIG SMOKE experience.

2. Refreshments will be provided during each class/workshop.

3. We request that where possible participants arrive on time and stay for the duration of the class/workshop to minimise disruption to other participants.

4. Intimidating or threatening behaviour towards other course participants, the facilitator, or other member of the BIG SMOKE team will not be tolerated.

5. We value and appreciate your feedback and will have anonymous evaluations for participants to fill out at the end of each term. Please also feel free to discuss any issues you may have relating to the course with one of the BIG SMOKE team throughout the term.

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Please consult our classes/workshops policy and note in particular that payment must be made in full one week before the course start date.

Payment may be made in three ways:

• cash (only at Big Smoke open registration days)
• Paypal (links for each time/date a course is running follow the particular course description)
• cheque or money order sent through the post (to be postmarked at least 1 week before course start date)

Cheques/money orders:
1. Download and complete the registration form (also available as a Word document)
2. Make out cheques or money orders to: Big Smoke Writing Factory
3. Post to: Big Smoke Writing Factory, 7 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Within 10 working days of receipt of payment, BIG SMOKE will email you with confirmation of payment and enrolment. If we haven't been in touch by then, please email us.

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This workshop is designed for anyone, beginner or experienced writer, interested in writing for older children (10+), or the teenage/young adult audience.
Please note that it may not suit those writing for younger children or those working on non-fiction projects, though they are welcome to contact the course facilitator to discuss this further. Please also note that this is not a course for young writers but for those writing for a young audience!

Participants will examine selections of recent (published within the last 30-40 years) children’s and young adult fiction, and begin or continue work on their own project aimed at a younger audience (short story, novel, graphic novel, play, collection of short fiction). While concentrating on topics common to all kinds of fiction (character development, plot, viewpoint, description, language, etc.) the class will also focus on issues such as writing for different age groups, developing authentic child/teen voices, taboo topics and censorship, how to research, and the ‘crossover’ novel.

Class time will be divided between covering particular topics, brief writing exercises, and workshops in which participants will share their works-in-progress and receive constructive feedback from both facilitator and their peers.

Length: 12 weeks
Fee: €280
Facilitator: Claire Hennessy

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Spring/summer 2010
Start date for the new term of A&A yet to be confirmed.

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A developing poet can often struggle with definitions of or how to employ the craft of poetry. This course aims to instruct on the basics of form, device and technique while offering a workshop environment to encourage participants to use, and experiment with, these elements of craft.

Former student Leanne Quinn had this to say about the workshop:

"Demystifying Poetry is an ideal workshop for anyone wishing to get beyond the often daunting perception that surrounds the genre of poetry. As a first time workshop participant I found the course a hugely encouraging and enriching experience. In a nurturing and friendly environment it helped me to look to the nuts and bolts of poetry; to see how and why a poem works, and gave me the confidence to write with a newfound sense of knowledge. This course is perfect for those willing to put shape, voice and sound to their ideas, whether they come with work in progress or merely an inkling to put pen to paper. For those interested in exploring poetry and their own relation to it, I really couldn't recommend this course enough."

Length: 12 weeks
Fee: €280
Facilitator: Maggie Smith Hurt

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Winter/spring 2010

TUESDAY, 6.30pm-8.30pm, starting March 9, 2010.
Book by March 2, 2010.

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Email us:
bigsmokewritingfactory AT gmail DOT com.

Phone us:
086-086-3646 (Maggie Smith Hurt)
086-857-6705 (Nicole Rourke)

Write to us:
Big Smoke Writing Factory,
7 Lower Hatch Street,
Dublin 2,
Ireland.

Find us elsewhere online:
Facebook
Twitter
MySpace

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What’s the difference between a class and a workshop? At BIG SMOKE one of our priorities is to ensure that participants are in the environment most suited to them and their writing. If you’re a beginning writer, returning to writing after a break, or interested in concentrating on a new form, a class is a good place to start.

A class is where the process of identifying your own strengths and interests as a writer begins. In a class environment, there’s a little more guidance for participating writers, whether it involves new exercises or exploring new areas of technique and craft. Classes will, however, usually involve some kind of workshop element, with participants honing their abilities to offer supportive and constructive criticism to others in the class.

Workshops are best suited to those with some writing experience. Participants will be involved in setting their own writing goals and be comfortable sharing their work with the group as well as offering feedback to others. It is important that a workshop environment caters to all members of a group, and that participants are in a position to learn from others in a group and the facilitator as well as help others develop their own writing. With this in mind, please feel free to discuss with one of our facilitators which workshop might suit you best for developing your writing.

Sometimes, of course, it can be difficult to establish when a class turns into something closer to a workshop, so some of our courses will be described as both class and workshop at various times! If you feel you need clarification as to the format of a particular course, please get in touch.

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