Not content with attempting suicide once, Sheryl Aronson tried it twice. Both times she failed. Which is how she ended up being a finalist in our creative non-fiction category with her heartfelt story, ‘ Down to the Grave .’ Born in North White Plains, New York, Sheryl moved from east coast to west to live in Los Angeles, then right back again to Boston where she attended university there, with a goal of working in the entertainment industry. Now having just entered her seve

‘You’re the man, but I got the, I got the, I got the power You make rain, but I'll make it, I'll make it, I'll make it shower You should know, I'm the one who's in control I'll let you come take the wheel, 'long as you don't forget, yeah, yeah.’ Who got the power? I got the, I got the power.'   These verses are from a snappy hit song entitled simply ‘ Power ’ by a group called Little Mix. This is also the theme of our next Wild Atlantic Writing Awards (WAWA) with a deadline

Living in Marino, a suburb of Dublin, close to where Bram Stoker, author of the well-known Gothic vampire novel, ‘Dracula,’ grew up and lived, it should come as no surprise Patricia Wall is an accomplished writer. In fact, we’re proud to introduce Patricia to you as the winner of our ‘ Wild Atlantic Writing Awards ’ flash fiction category on the theme of ‘ secrets ’ with her impressive story, ‘ Writing Material .’  Married to Stephen and mother to four-year-old daughter, Heat

Tired of winter already? The rain, the cold, the snow, the dark clouds overhead.  Together we flourish. Why not treat yourself to some warm sunshine and blue skies at the South of France Writing Retreat . And fine wines, fine company and delicious artisan chocolates. Plus Catalan dance and music performances in full traditional costumes.  And, not to forget of course, daily creative writing workshops with published authors, including a former publisher and foreign corresponde

Hearing she was a winner of our recent ‘Wild Atlantic Writing Awards’ creative nonfiction category on the theme of ‘secrets’ could not have come at a better time for Jillian Godsil - just as she prepares to undergo live-saving surgery this week. After sharing the sad news with Ireland Writing Retreat about her recent diagnosis of breast cancer, Jillian, from Arklow in Ireland, said reading the good news about her erotic story ' Research Purposes Only' had lifted her spirits

Creative nonfiction finalists and winner announced on theme of 'secrets' Sex in one way or another was a key subject in many of the stories submitted for the creative nonfiction category of our ‘Wild Atlantic Writing Awards’ on the theme of ‘secrets.’ From a clandestine love affair to erotic literature, from herpes to an undercover policeman posing as a prostitute. Why sex? Good question. Let’s delve into sex in literature a little. First of all, sex is considered ‘the forbid

Flash Fiction finalists and winner announced on theme of 'secrets' Fortune-telling, murder, love affairs, roaming ghosts, a wily bird, authors, organ donations, photographs, even tattoos and silver earrings - such were some of the topics in stories submitted for our Wild Atlantic Writing Awards (WAWA) on the theme of ‘ secrets .’ Wanna know a secret? Some stories were filled with angst, others with surprise and still others with intriguing drama and poignancy. There was also

Danger often wears many disguises: a gunman on the loose hiding in a hotel, the fury of white-water rapids or the smile of a stranger on a lonely roadside.  Three writers, Kathy Judge, Brenda Lightle and Judy Holm, used such varied scenarios to create their stories and become finalists in our Wild Atlantic Writing Awards (WAWA) competition on the theme of ‘danger.’ Brenda Lightle A stranger’s kindness can sometimes hide menace.  For Brenda Lightle who lives near Seattle, it s

"I have come home, not only to this dramatic, stunning, land, but to myself, claiming once again, 'I am a writer.'" This is how Sheryl...

A Canadian woman who survived an experimental bone marrow transplant, an Austrian researcher who studied polar bears and...

2026 writing retreats announced with early bird discount

Two retired Canadian mounted police, an English scientist, an American pastor and a nurse were among interesting participants at our two...

Ever enjoyed creative writing workshops in an ornate 300-year-old library surrounded by valuable vintage books including a rare first...

Meet Julia James Burns , who once lived on an exotic island in the Indian Ocean and VJ Bauer , a proud great-grandfather - winners of our...

Growing up in Belfast and living through what is colloquially termed ‘the Troubles,’ the decades-old war in Northern Ireland, co-founder...

You could win the next WAWA competition . It's on the theme of 'secrets.' Secrets mean many things to many people but one thing is...

Murder, love, family break-up, abortion, dementia, revenge, depression, even ghosts and moonwalking - these were some of the diverse...

Many were sad, some bittersweet, others held a hint of humor. Still others, hope. With the theme being ‘ endings ,’ it was only natural...

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, succulent chocolate blended with sweet Banyuls wine from vines cultivated on the terraced slopes of the...

A retired clinical biochemist in Dublin, a freelance journalist in Belfast, a poet in Oxford and a pharmacist in Cork are among ....