With autumn upon us, described by many as the more ‘thoughtful’ of the seasons, we’re delighted to launch our new ‘Wild Atlantic Writing Awards (WAWA) competition. Having considered various one-word themes, we felt a strong, intriguing phrase might make a better prompt. Thus, 'We Knew This Day Would Come.' The beauty of this phrase is that it is open to so many interpretations. It can be about Extraterrestrials taking over the Earth. It can be about love or loss. It can be ab

An animation artist, a former sports therapist, a retired real estate agent and a social worker were among finalists in our Wild Atlantic Writing Awards (WAWA) on the theme of ‘secrets.’ Their backgrounds, experiences and unique views of life helped them create stories we hope will inspire you. Dara Griffin Pancakes may not seem like the sexiest of subjects for a good story but Dara Griffin made them so and won a finalist spot in the flash fiction category with her story si

Settle back, have a drink and meet writers, Jane Gormley from the Republic of Ireland and Martin Barker from the south coast of England who won our latest ‘Wild Atlantic Writing Awards’ (WAWA) on the theme of ‘Power.’ Both writers win 500 euro in cash or a 1,000 euro discount to any of our week-long international writing retreats in France, Ireland or the UK. Jane Gomley Jane, born in Dublin, grew up in Wicklow and now lives on a farm in Allenwood, Kildare that has been in he

Stories in our latest ‘Wild Atlantic Writing Awards’ (WAWA) on the theme of ‘power’ proved to be both wide-ranging in terms of characters, plot and location, as well as highly engaging as reading entertainment. We at ‘Ireland Writing Retreat’ want to thank each and every person who submitted a story. It takes both discipline and emotional and intellectual energy to complete any story, and bravery to show it to someone else for judgement. In this respect, you are all winners

A software developer from Kent, a pharmacist from Cork and a publisher from New Jersey all featured as finalists in the ‘Wild Atlantic Writing Awards’ (WAWA) competition on the theme of ‘Endings.’ Meanwhile, our latest writing competition on the theme of ‘Power’ has just closed and stories have been sent to the judges, so make sure you become a Friend of the retreat (it’s free) to be the first to learn who the winners and finalists are. But right now we’d like to put the spo

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

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