Creative Writing - Thursday Afternoon Option

Tutor: Tanya Farrelly

Tanya Farrelly is the author of five books: three short fiction collections: When Black Dogs Sing (Kate O’ Brien Award 2017), Nobody Needs To Know, and The Marionette and the Maestro (Arlen House, 2025) and two psychological thrillers: The Girl Behind the Lens and When Your Eyes Close (Harper Collins) She holds a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from Bangor University. She teaches at numerous institutions and was appointed Arts Council Writer-in-Residence at NUI Galway in 2021.

Each term runs for 12 weeks.

In the first term attendees will look at the key aspects of fiction writing. We will explore how to create intriguing characters, the importance of point of view, and how to write believable dialogue, as well as considering the importance of conflict, and how to effectively use setting. With the aid of writing prompts, and through analysing the work of many leading short story writers, participants will have the chance to put into practise what they have learned, and will receive feedback on their work in a fun and supportive environment.

In term two we will explore the world of creative non-fiction and how writers use the skills of the fiction writer to draw the reader into their true stories. Participants will try their hand at writing personal essays/memoir, travel writing and factual essays. We will also return to fiction writing: exploring the subtle differences between writing for print and writing for radio. We will read and discuss previous winning entries to the RTE Short Story competition in honour of Francis MacManus with the aim of writing and editing stories to get competition ready!

*Term two in the Spring can be done as a follow-up or independently of term one*