All writers are vain, selfish and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives lies a mystery. Writing a book is a long, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.
Writing4all: Best of 2010 - out now!
It’s a cliché to say that writing is a lonely business, and a further cliché to talk about the looming fear of the empty white page. But these things are clichés for a reason; quite simply, it’s hard to get started, and it’s even harder to keep going.
This Writing4all anthology, therefore, is a testament not only to the obvious talent and ability that exists on the site, but also, to the perseverance and commitment of its contributors. Drawing, as they do, from such a broad range of backgrounds, it would be disingenuous to suggest that the following writers all share the same concerns for any particular issues (though, even at a quick glance, one can see that death, God and the past figure heavily) but yet, there is a common thread connecting all these people together, and it is this: each author has found the time to step outside of themselves and put pen to paper, finger to keyboard, in order to connect with other writers, other readers, other minds.
From surreal tales of childhood, to tender depictions of love and loss; from angry, poignant poetry, to funny reflections on the everyday; these stories, poems and non-fiction pieces constantly challenge the reader to think again, to question the commonplace, and to see the world anew.
The book features:
Writing Spirit Award 2010 Winners
Danielle McLaughlin, Rachael Foster, Robyn Rowland, Tony Devlin and Clare O'Reilly.
Writing4all Monthly Fiction Winners
Meeting Death by Richard Meade
Her Reflection by Catherine Day
Grow Fins by Dave Farrington
Like ducks to water by Margaret Cotter
My Santa Suit by Chris Birrane
If There Is A Future by Gerry Boland
Tigers by Dave Farrington
The Hitting Stick by Alan Barry
Ursula by Kate Williams
Tokens by Dave Farrington
Writing4all Monthly Non-Fiction Winners
Confessions of an Ex-Geek by Henry Gaudet
These are my friends and this is what we do on Mondays by Rose Kelleher
SS Ambrosio & Carlo – A Roman Sundayby Tony Devlin
Never at Home by Lauretta Scalzo
My Father Died Today by Susan Morgan
The Cognitive Dissonance of Volunteering by Kevin Conroy
Debating the Impact of Same Sex Marriage on Traditional Values by Amanda Marie Proctor
Red-Blooded Redneck by Mitch Lavender
Why I Write by Henry Gaudet
First Love by Richard Meade
Writing4all Monthly Poetry Winners
R is for Remedial by Sue Morgan
Lara by Atila Racz
Travelling by Barbara Boyd-Anderson
When I am a Deserted Island by Kevin Conroy
Morpheus (Roman God of sleep and dreams) by Chris Birrane
VI by Colm McDermott
Picture Postcard by Margaret Cotter
Dungolman River by Joe McEvoy
Remembering My Father As We Approached Gethsemene (Friday April 13th 1979) by Rachael Stanley
Village by Gordon Macleod
To Asgard by James Doyle
The book costs €11.95 and is available from the Original Writing bookstore. Just click the book!
http://originalwriting.ie/bookshop/fiction/general-fiction/writing4all-the-best-of-2010/
Comments
Friday, 3rd June 2011 | 09:20 am
Thursday, 9th June 2011 | 05:30 pm
Thursday, 9th June 2011 | 10:26 pm
Friday, 10th June 2011 | 08:58 am
Wednesday, 15th June 2011 | 12:30 am
I got my copy too. Thanks, Thomas, great job.
Why haven't I commented sooner?
I have a shoulder injury which makes it quite painful to type - for a couple of weeks it made it impossible.
And I haven't read it all yet. Why not? I'm ashamed to say that it is mostly because whenever I pick it up, I nearly always end up re-reading my own contributions.
There's something nerve-wracking about seeing your writing in a book. It can't be changed, explained, deleted. And your real name. No more hiding behind odd Germanic pseudonyms (and I really don't know where that came from - I've never even been to Germany).
I'm reminding myself of one of those actors who claim that they can't bear to watch their own movies. Always thought that was ridiculously precious.
Anyway, I'm going to take it to bed now and start reading all the other pieces properly, and I'm sure I'm going to enjoy them.
Just a couple of other thoughts. It's amazing the number of people who are curious enough to want to borrow it, compared to those who are interested in finding out where they can buy it. I also thought there would be a bit more comment by now from members of the site, after all, there are three and a half thousand of us.
Thanks again, Thomas, and congratulations to all contributors, most of whom I hope were less ambivalently thrilled.
Regards
Karl/Dave
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Thursday, 2nd June 2011 | 10:48 pm
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