Deadline: Thursday October 31st.

Find Out More: https://www.chambersofdistinction.com/the-paul-mcveigh-residency-2024

Opportunity from: Paul McVeigh

Contact: paulmcveighwriter@live.co.uk

Details:

The Harrison has become a mecca for visiting artists, musicians and writers to stay at while in Belfast. When Paul McVeigh enjoyed a stay here at the beginning of lockdown, he spoke with our owner Melanie Harrison about doing something literary here and the seeds of the residency were planted. Once a residency was settled upon, Paul made a list of everything he thought would help emerging writers go to the next level and went about getting it for the lucky writers and The Paul McVeigh Residency at The Harrison was born.

The residency will take place from Sunday 26th January until Sunday 2nd February. It is open to emerging writers living in Ireland and the UK.
What’s new this year?

There are three places available at The Harrison.

One place reserved for Writing West Midlands region.

There will be an event at the end of the residency.

The residency is open to applicants in Ireland and the UK.

There is a £15 application fee which entitles all applicants to;

An hour-long group zoom session on self-editing with Aki Schilz, Director of The Literary Consultancy.
A 30 min group zoom session on reading your work live with actor Tony Flynn.

The Residency

Standard class return travel to The Harrison from within Ireland or UK will be arranged.

Pay Now
Welcome

Wendy Erskine will greet the three winners on arrival and talk to them about getting the most out of their residency.

Melanie Harrison and Paul McVeigh will be on hand to answer any questions.

Residency Week:

1.   The residents will receive breakfast, lunch and dinner. *Drinks are not included.

2.    Residents will get one-hour sessions with an array of experts. Kit de Waal’s session will be on editing, Mel Giedroyc on using humour, Cate Kennedy will give feedback on their writing, and Ingrid Persaud will focus on voice. Most sessions will take place online and some will be with all three residents together.

3.     There is also a session with stage and screen actor Tony Flynn who will work with the writers individually on reading their work in public for those future launches and festival appearances.

4.     There will be a session with David Torrens of the legendary No Alibis Bookstore who will talk to the writers about books to read and will even give some for free.

5. On the last evening, the winners will read their work in a public event hosted by Mel Giedroyc.

After Care:

1.     Free membership of writing.ie which will last until the writers are published.

2.     Anna Burtt will give each writer a half-hour publishing consultancy by zoom.

3. Author Sophie Haydock will give a group zoom session on her experience as a debut novelist – getting an agent and a publishing deal.

4. All three residency winners will also receive a copy of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and a bundle of W&A Writing Companion Guides. They’ll receive a year’s free subscription to the Writers & Artists Listings Subscription (a digital database of publishing industry contacts), which also includes access to Agent Pages – individual profiles for over 500 literary agents – to help writers personalise their approaches when submitting to literary agents.

What we expect from you?

You should be serious about your writing.  It is hoped that you will share your experience at the residency in The Harrison with the public where able. This is not just as a thank you to our sponsors but also in the hope that you will inspire other writers.

Entry Eligibility & How to apply

Send an email to pmcveighresidencyatharrison@gmail.com attaching 2000 word extract of your prose – fiction and non-fiction accepted. Include in the body of the email a short bio outlining your publication history, if any. Attach proof of application payment, *We are not looking for poetry at this time.
Applicants must be 21 or over at time of residency.
Please put in your subject heading UK, or Ireland (if on the island of Ireland).
You can have had some short works published but not a solo book. *Self-published, essays and poetry books can still apply.
You must be available on the full dates of the residency – no changes possible.
Residents are responsible for food consumed outside of their provided meals.
One place is sponsored by Writing West Midlands who will have their own application process. If you are from that region please follow West Writing Midlands social media and news will be forthcoming in November.
Deadline – October 31st. Longlist announced Nov 15th. Shortlist announced Nov 30th. Winners announced December 13th.
Applications will be judged by Anna Burtt, Cathy Galvin and Paul McVeigh.