They say everybody has a novel in them. The problem is putting it down on paper.

Now an upcoming series of free events for would-be writers in Cork could help you get started on that manuscript – even if you’ve never put pen to paper before.

As part of the 15th annual UNESCO World Book Fest in Cork (April 23rd-27th), this year’s programme includes five informative and fun workshops aimed at helping writers to focus their work (and maybe even make some money in the process).

All five workshops are free but booking is essential so make sure you put your name down before showing up.

1. Double Agents

Saturday, April 27th, 2019

City Library, 10am-11.30am (free – booking essential, email patricia_looney@corkcity.ie)

Literary agents James Willis and Polly Nolan will chat to Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin on the current literary market and what they are looking for.

James Wills is a literary agent and Managing Director of Watson, Little Ltd, which handles a wide range of fiction and non-fiction for adults, young adults and children. “I am looking for striking, quirky, character-driven, commercial and literary fiction that is thrilling, bold and beautifully written.” he said. “At present, I’d particularly love to see narrative non-fiction with a strong hook, fiction from under-represented writers, funny writing for children and any high-concept ideas that are thrilling and executed with style.”

Polly Nolan works at the Greenhouse Literary Agency, a trans-Atlantic agency specialising in writers for children and young adults. Polly is always after a gripping story, originally told . . . but doesn’t really like Prologues or books that feature talking birds. She is actively searching for standalone, realistic Middle Grade. She doesn’t mind a touch of magic but isn’t looking for high fantasy.

2. First Page Pitch

Saturday, April 27th, 2019

City Library, 11.45am-1pm (free – booking essential – email patricia_looney@corkcity.ie)

Ten selected authors will read their first page (approx 300 words) to the agents and the room. The agents will give their feedback; the winner will receive a selection of books.

3. Story Craft Workshop with Simone Schuemmelfeder

Saturday, April 27th, 2019

City Library, 1pm (free – booking essential – email patricia_looney@corkcity.ie). Suitable for 7-12 year olds.

In this family-friendly workshop, participants will look at what makes the forests in fairy tales so magical. Is it the witch living in them? The talking trees? Or something else? In a few easy steps, each child will create their own amazing Fairy Tale Forest.

Join storyteller Simone Schuemmelfeder in this magical craft session and listen to her stories of thorny woods and mysterious creatures. She grew up in Germany near the old Fairy Tale Road where the Brothers Grimm collected tales like Hansel and Gretel and Sleeping Beauty.

4. How to Get Published

Saturday, April 27th, 2019

City Library, 1pm (free – booking essential – email patricia_looney@corkcity.ie). 

Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin is the founder of the award winning writing resources site, Writing.ie, and of The Inkwell Group publishing consultancy. She is Ireland’s leading literary scout. Writing crime as Sam Blake, the first of her trilogy Little Bones was published in 2016 and her third book, No Turning Back, hit the bestseller list in May 2018.

In this workshop, Vanessa explains the blueprint from keyboard to bookshelf and will discuss how best to submit your work, to attract a publisher and build your author platform. This workshop will give you ideas on where to submit, in an informal atmosphere where you can ask all those tricky questions.

5. Fear of the First Chapter

Saturday, April 27th, 2019

City Library, 3pm-4pm (free – booking essential – email patricia_looney@corkcity.ie). 

Paul McVeigh and Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin will discuss how to write a captivating first chapter that will get you noticed.

Paul McVeigh’s debut novel, The Good Son, won The Polari First Novel Prize and The McCrea Literary Award and was shortlisted for many others including the Authors Club Best First Novel Award and the Prix du Roman Cezam. He was shortlisted for Irish Short Story of the Year at the Irish Book Awards in 2017.

McVeigh’s stories will appear in 2019, in Kit de Waal’s Common People: An Anthology of Working Class Writers, Faber’s Being Various: New Irish Short Stories, on BBC Radio 4 and Sky Arts TV. He is associate director of Word Factory and he co-founded the London Short Story Festival. He writes for The Irish Times and his work has been translated into seven languages.