Big Smoke Writing Factory
There's no fire without smoke...... Big Smoke Writing Factory offers creative writing classes, workshops and resources at 7 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Course list spring 2010
Next open day: February 16th, 5.30-8pm.
-- Courses starting soon: Beginning To Write; Line Production; Stand-up Comedy.
Looking for a gift for the writer in your life? Gift certificates are now available!
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Bubblegum Book Bash
Ireland's first literary lunch for kids and teens is on this weekend in Dun Laoghaire - adults interested in listening to authors and publishers discuss their work and the market may want to find a child to drag along, however!
Labels: resources
Monday, 28 September 2009
For nitpickers...
... and those at revising/editing stages of a project: Ten words you may be spelling incorrectly.
Labels: resources
Friday, 25 September 2009
This week's Friday Factory...
... well, it being a BIG SMOKE READING NIGHT tonight, it would be remiss of us not to have writing factories as among our very favouritest of factories.
Drop in any time between 6.30pm-9.30pm. Entry is free. All are welcome.
A selected group of writers from long-running advanced workshops will be reading their work. Refreshments and music will be provided - just bring yourself!
With a Hop, Skip and Jump (Gramophone DJ set): Big Smoke's favourite 78s played by DJ Sartorial James.
Find us on Google Maps.
Find the event on Facebook.
Drop in any time between 6.30pm-9.30pm. Entry is free. All are welcome.
A selected group of writers from long-running advanced workshops will be reading their work. Refreshments and music will be provided - just bring yourself!
With a Hop, Skip and Jump (Gramophone DJ set): Big Smoke's favourite 78s played by DJ Sartorial James.
Find us on Google Maps.
Find the event on Facebook.
Labels: factory
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Speedwriting!
Seven Ways to Write a Book Faster: some tips, and especially useful for those who work with detailed outlines.
Labels: resources
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
On the Big Smoke gramophone at the moment...
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Birds on the wire...
Stories we are liking at Big Smoke today: a musician who composed a piece based on the position of birds sitting on telephone wires.
Labels: factory
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Big Smoke Reading Night
Big Smoke Writing Factory presents its first Reading Night, this Friday (September 25th), from 6.30pm-9.30pm. Entry is free. All are welcome.
A selected group of writers from long-running advanced workshops will be reading their work. Refreshments and music will be provided - just bring yourself!
With a Hop, Skip and Jump (Gramophone DJ set): Big Smoke's favourite 78s played by DJ Sartorial James.
Find us on Google Maps.
Find the event on Facebook.
A selected group of writers from long-running advanced workshops will be reading their work. Refreshments and music will be provided - just bring yourself!
With a Hop, Skip and Jump (Gramophone DJ set): Big Smoke's favourite 78s played by DJ Sartorial James.
Find us on Google Maps.
Find the event on Facebook.
Labels: events
Friday, 18 September 2009
Things to do over the weekend:
Books 2009 children's events, today and tomorrow.
The Dublin Bookfair, 2009, at Freemasons Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. Today (12pm-7pm) and tomorrow (10am-5pm).
And of course... Big Smoke open registration day, tomorrow, 2pm-6pm, 7 Lower Hatch St, Dublin 2.
Have a good weekend, all!
The Dublin Bookfair, 2009, at Freemasons Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. Today (12pm-7pm) and tomorrow (10am-5pm).
And of course... Big Smoke open registration day, tomorrow, 2pm-6pm, 7 Lower Hatch St, Dublin 2.
Have a good weekend, all!
Labels: resources
This week's Friday Factory
We here at BIG SMOKE are generally a positive bunch. And we love factories, we do. Except for factories we dislike.
And this week, all of us (but mostly fabulous Big Smoke team member Yvonne Cullen) are disliking factories which make leaky teapots.
We know, you see, that tea is utterly essential to the creative process. (This is our secret. Shhh, don't tell anyone.) We also know that teapot-makers must want to bring joy into the world, and ensure that tragic spilling is kept to a minimum rather than being a fact of life. They must understand the need for tea, but are somehow being thwarted by the Powers That Be.
We don't know where these leaky-teapot factories are. We don't know who might be responsible for the flaw in standard teapot-design that leads to leaking. But we don't like it, teapot factories, and we're on to you...
Labels: factory
Death of the Book
Apparently its death has been exaggerated, for those of you interested in publishing, the book industry, and technology.
And just for fun, dating manuals for vampire lovers.
And just for fun, dating manuals for vampire lovers.
Labels: resources
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Autumn courses at Big Smoke
Just a reminder that some of our courses are starting next week: some places are still available, but do book soon if you're interested - either online, through the post, or at our Open Day this Saturday (19th September), between 2pm and 6pm, to have a chat and sign up!
Labels: events
"...artistry, in the end, will ultimately lead to anguish... are you guys all cool with that idea?... I'm not..."
Monday, 14 September 2009
In need of inspiration?
Today's Irish Times asks, "How did 2,000-year-old feet find their way to a Dublin attic?" while the Guardian talks about "a luxury hotel for bats".
If you find yourself stuck for something to write about, take either of those headlines as your starting point, write for ten minutes, and see what happens.
If you find yourself stuck for something to write about, take either of those headlines as your starting point, write for ten minutes, and see what happens.
Labels: resources
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Share your Chair. Hot desk it in the Writing Factory!
Special offer for advanced workshops with Yvonne Cullen... all the benefits of an ongoing workshop at a discount!
We know you’re run off your creative legs. We know our courses and workshops can be the bright spot in the crazy week, and a true step forward for those creative legs besides. We also know that getting to a class or workshop every week and also getting some writing done isn’t possible for everyone. We’re in this business long enough to know even more than that. We know that attempting to do everything when it isn’t possible isn’t good for you.
We want you to access the Big Smoke experience. And so, this term, for the first time, in this crazy time in our crazy little economy, we have a special deal to offer you.
If Yvonne's intermediate or advanced Writing Train Workshops appeal to you but you would find it more appropriate right now to attend every second week, due to the temporary little matter of your pesky Life getting in your creative way, just let us know. We hope to able to accommodate the first six people we hear from for each course in the Writing Train Workshops with this Share Your Chair deal: letting them benefit from everything a Writing Train workshop offers at a 40% discount!
We can offer this option because each workshop session with Yvonne is a self contained unit. And unlike hot desking at work, you don't have to worry about overwatering the plant, or filling anyone in on what you’ve gone and done. And in this hot desk arrangement you don’t have to spend half a week staring at someone else’s photos on YOUR cubicle wall either. Write, turn up fortnightly, and have a great and inspiring time, in this part of your working life. And go on benefiting from all the add-ons the Writing Train contains.
Email Big Smoke to follow up this offer. (We’ll help you get your pesky Life in a headlock later.)
We know you’re run off your creative legs. We know our courses and workshops can be the bright spot in the crazy week, and a true step forward for those creative legs besides. We also know that getting to a class or workshop every week and also getting some writing done isn’t possible for everyone. We’re in this business long enough to know even more than that. We know that attempting to do everything when it isn’t possible isn’t good for you.
We want you to access the Big Smoke experience. And so, this term, for the first time, in this crazy time in our crazy little economy, we have a special deal to offer you.
If Yvonne's intermediate or advanced Writing Train Workshops appeal to you but you would find it more appropriate right now to attend every second week, due to the temporary little matter of your pesky Life getting in your creative way, just let us know. We hope to able to accommodate the first six people we hear from for each course in the Writing Train Workshops with this Share Your Chair deal: letting them benefit from everything a Writing Train workshop offers at a 40% discount!
We can offer this option because each workshop session with Yvonne is a self contained unit. And unlike hot desking at work, you don't have to worry about overwatering the plant, or filling anyone in on what you’ve gone and done. And in this hot desk arrangement you don’t have to spend half a week staring at someone else’s photos on YOUR cubicle wall either. Write, turn up fortnightly, and have a great and inspiring time, in this part of your working life. And go on benefiting from all the add-ons the Writing Train contains.
Email Big Smoke to follow up this offer. (We’ll help you get your pesky Life in a headlock later.)
Labels: courses
Friday, 11 September 2009
Reminder
We have another open evening tonight (6-9pm) at Big Smoke Writing Factory, 7 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Hope to see you there - drop in to register for one of our courses or to discuss with one of the Big Smoke team which course might be right for you!
Labels: events
This week's Friday Factory...
This week Big Smoke is appreciating glass blowing factories and the beautiful things that emerge from such places...
Labels: factory
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Does Big Smoke offer a discount for students or the unemployed?
Our recession/unemployment discount is already folded into our price for our courses. We offer a high quality of teaching and student support at Big Smoke, while at the same time keeping our operational costs low in order to keep our courses prices reasonable for our students. Our prices have been set deliberately to accommodate the current economic climate; unfortunately any further discount would render us non-operational.
Please contact us with any queries relating to this matter.
Please contact us with any queries relating to this matter.
Labels: faq
Bookshops blogging
Parnell St's Chapters have a regularly updated blog here, including book recommendations and a regular '5 Questions With...' writers section.
Blackrock's Raven Books keeps a ramblings page about books and life.
Wonderful online bookshop the Book Depository have a blog about book news.
Got a bookshop blog to recommend? Leave a comment or drop us an email.
Blackrock's Raven Books keeps a ramblings page about books and life.
Wonderful online bookshop the Book Depository have a blog about book news.
Got a bookshop blog to recommend? Leave a comment or drop us an email.
Labels: resources
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
PI: sometimes Private Investigator, sometimes something else entirely...
Aspiring and developing poets should certainly be familiar with Poetry Ireland, but even for those with a general interest in writing, the online newsletter is worth subscribing to. Also check out their fabulous resources for getting published.
Labels: resources
Monday, 7 September 2009
In the Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown area?
The Mountains to Sea book festival is on this weekend (with some events mid-week too). Tons of events for all ages and interests. Take a look!
Labels: resources
Friday, 4 September 2009
This week's Friday Factory...
Our favourite factories include typewriter factories. This image is from The Virtual Typewriter Museum.
You may also want to take a look at information on Typewriter factories in the US or the Fresh Ribbon blog.
BIG SMOKE wishes you a good weekend!
You may also want to take a look at information on Typewriter factories in the US or the Fresh Ribbon blog.
BIG SMOKE wishes you a good weekend!
Labels: factory
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Have a musical autumn...
Plenty of stuff on at The National Concert Hall (just around the corner from us at BIG SMOKE) this autumn. Also take a look at the 2009/10 season from the RTE National Symphony Orchestra.
Also take a look at the music on offer at the Dublin Fringe Festival (5-20 September), which of course has a whole range of events going on. One asks, What is the value of art in Irish society? Any thoughts?
Also take a look at the music on offer at the Dublin Fringe Festival (5-20 September), which of course has a whole range of events going on. One asks, What is the value of art in Irish society? Any thoughts?
Labels: resources
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Books 2009
If you haven't done so already, take a look at what's on for Books 2009, 10-13th and 19-20th September. There are discounts for buying multiple tickets, and some great events, particularly readings and discussions, happening over the two weekends.
Labels: resources
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Reminder: Big Smoke open registration evening tonight!
Reminder that our first open registration evening is tonight, 6pm-9pm, if you want to pop along to Big Smoke and sign up for a class in person - we will have course lists available there but you can also take a look at our course list for autumn/winter '09 here. Hope to see you there!
Labels: events
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