Five chapters in...

Don't worry, I'm not going to fill you in on the daily details of my re-write (unless you reeeeeally want me to), except to say that it's proving to be not quite the nightmare I thought it might be and I am actually enjoying it! I've even made a pledge with someone to ge up at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning - a m0ment of over-eagerness or a new beginning? Watch this space....

The rewrite begins in earnest...

Remember me? I'm the guy who promised he would post to his blog on a regular basis...

Well in my defence, I have actually been writing. As well as the 'top secret' project that is ongoing in the background, I have just, following the feedback from a literary agent, an editor and my ever-trusted proofreader M, started another re-write of my novel 'Burning Matches'. I spent last week working on the structure and reworking the character motivation and am now apply these changes to the actual text of the book. Will let you know when my brain implodes!

End Of The Irish Film Board?

The Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild are holding an information session about the very troubling proposals recently put forward in the McCarthy Report, especially the proposition to shut down the Irish Film Board and subsume it within Enterprise Ireland.

It will take place on Thursday 20th August in the Arthouse building, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin. If you are a member of the Guild, you are automatically invited. If you are not a member and wish to attend this meeting, please contact the Guild at www.script.ie.

Normal service will resume...

For all you regular visitors to my website (Hi Mum), I must apologise for the lack of updating, I'm having a few problems connecting with the service provider to upload the updates. Hope to have this resolved very soon.

Viva La France...

Yes just back from 10 days in a villa in the South of France (no recession round here!) and am delighted to reported that I was suitably inspired to do some writing while I was there...a whole chapter! (Well it was very warm by that pool.)

Anyway, very depressingly, i am now back at my desk but am feeling suitably motivated so better get on with it! Now if I could just bring myself to turn off Ray D'arcy...

Dublin Writer's Group - First meeting

We had our inaugural meeting on 3rd June and it looks like it will be a good forum in which to try my hand at screenwriting.

I especially like the fact that each writer will have an hour dedicated to their project.

Slap on the wrist for me....

Yes, I admit it, I have somewhat neglected my blog recently. I promise to be a good little blogger from now on. And now to think of something to say...

It all begins again...

I've finally got around to starting my second book. LIVIDITY takes place in contemporary Dublin and follows pathologist Elizabeth McEntyre as she investigates a series of deaths over twenty-four hours. I have two chapters written, one of which I showed to my writers group during the week to positive response.

The plan is to write it over the summer while also trying to get my first book BURNING MATCHES published.

The Dublin Writers' Group

By popular demand, The Irish Playwrights' and Screenwriters' Guild are re-starting the Dublin Writing Group. This is for people who have written or are writing for performance. The introduction meeting took place on Monday (27 April 09) and due to to the large number of writers joining, there will be two groups. One group, who will meet every second Thursday, will be dedicated to writers who are working only on screenplays (film). The other group, meeting every second Monday, will be for writers in all disciplines of performance-writing - film, television, radio and stage.

If you wish to join one of these groups, contact the Guild. As the first meeting has taken place and there are approximately 8 people already in each group, there may be limited places left.

Getting an agent

One of the points that came out of the Wendy Goldman Rohm's recent writing retreat was how important it is to have a literary agent if you are trying to get your novel published. I have put some information on my website about approaching literary agents. Hope this proves useful.

writing.paulfitzsimons.com

Thanks Wendy...

A big Thank You to Wendy Goldman Rohm for her excellent Writers' Retreat at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin yesterday (Sat. 25 April 09). I personally got a lot from the day from the advice from Wendy and from meeting other writers on the course. I hope to keep in contact with as many of my fellow 'retreaters' as possible.

Does this guy ever sleep?

It was pointed out to me (thanks M) that I seemed to blogging at 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning. No, I don't have a sleep disorder, the time was set to crazy-US-Eastern-Time. Have fixed it now (you'll be delighted to know). And now back to our regular programming...

Trying to be 'deep'...

I've posted a poem on the Samples section of the website, would appreciate some feedback. I've put up a few Haiku as well.

New Writing Group

The Playwrights and Screenwriters' Guild is re-forming the Dublin Writers Group. It will run a series of meetings for writers interested in giving and receiving constructive feedback on their television, theatre, radio, or film script. The meetings will take place in Temple Bar either weekly or bi-monthly (this will be confirmed later).

To attend, you simply need to be a member of the guild (definitely worthwhile if you are considering writing for the stage or screen), have a project in the making and be happy to listen to feedback from others.

Talk to Cliona Ruiseil (asap - apparently it is filling up fast) about joining the guild and the writing group.

Streamlining...

I've changed the address for the website. It is now http://writing.paulfitzsimons.com. The original address paulfitzsimons.com/paulthewriter also works.

Describing the steam...

Kate Mosse (author of Labyrinth) was on BCC News this morning and she made the what-might-be-obvious point 'To be a writer, you need to write'. Basically what she meant you need to be looking for any excuse to write something. The example she gave was when waiting for the kettle to boil, instead of waiting, or doing cardio-vascular exercise, grab your notebook (any self-respecting writer alway has one to hand) and just write something - possibly, as Kate suggested, look at the kettle and describe the steam.

This 'observational writing' is a very good exercise, as catering to the senses is a crucial part of writing a novel, short story or poem.

the procrastination continues...

I've done a bit more work on the website, it's looking a bit neater now I think. Would appreciate a feedback on layout, ease of navigation and, of course, aesthetic value. Of course, like building a house, I'm sure it'll never actually be what you'd call 'finished'...

Right I'm off to catch a train (oh the joys of not having a car)...

Repetition...a writer's cardinal sin!

and it begins....

Welcome to my Blog, part of my website (paulfitzsimons.com/paulthewriter), on which I will share my joys, adventures and despairs (not too many of them I hope) that go with writing a novel...while trying to get another one published.
I will probably take the occasional break from all the 'novelling' (I know, not an actual word) with the odd short story or poem, which i will publish on the website and would appreciate your thoughts. Be kind!

I hope it will be of help to fellow writers (no, you're not alone...definitely not) and entertaining for the rest of you...hopefully, you'll be laughing with me...

Enjoy

(This is only repetition if you're reading this after coming from the website)

Right, back to procrastination...I mean, writing...