WORKSHOPS OFFER INSIGHT INTO AUTHORS’ LIVES
A wealth of Irish literary talent was to the fore at the Wexford Literary Festival on Saturday at the Church Institute as authors of the calibre of Louise Hall, Andrea Hayes and Shane Dunphy shared their experiences and advice as non-fiction writers with moderator Sheila Forsey. All three of them felt that honesty and confidentiality are the key ingredients in non-fiction writing, and the very clear message from each was: ‘Write because you want to write, not because you want to be published’.
The Crime Writers Panel was moderated by new author and Festival Committee member Adele O’Neill, who spoke with two of Ireland’s leading crime writers, Alex Barclay and Michael O’Higgins. The topics of killer first lines and harrowing research were discussed with both authors saying that killer first lines are not their main focus but rather characters and place. Michael O’Higgins says that he is immersed in his research all day everyday being a practicing Barrister. Alex said that because her books are set in the USA she goes to the head of the Violent Crime Squad at the Denver Office of the FBI. Nothing like going straight to the top, she laughed.
Vice Chair Caroline Busher did a Publisher Q&A session with Lisa Coen and Sarah Davis Goff of Tramp Press who are welcoming submissions from everyone.
At the Bailey, readers and writers sat side by side and enjoyed delicious repas with renowned authors – another feature of the festival which is proving to me a huge attraction. The programme for the afternoon was a masterclass with Sue Leonard in ghostwriting where she explained that a good ghostwriter needed was good writing skills, good clarity and a huge amount of confidence. They will also need the ability to structure their writing, they need to be curious people, they need to have passion and good people skills and as Sue Leonard said, ‘you have to be good sometimes with grumpy old men’. And lastly she said to be a ghostwriter you must bury your ego – none if any of the credit for the book will go to the ghostwriter.
The afternoon concluded with Gaby Smyth who dealt specifically with the business of being an artist - author, painter and sculptor.