A Laois author is set to host a series of free webinars and online workshops for Brunel University of London.
Helen Cullen, from Portlaoise, has curated the programme of events that are open to all.
The aim of the series is to support as many aspiring writers as possible by offering publishing insights, craft advice and preparing work for submission to publishers, publications, agents and competitions.
This is including the new Nero New Writers Prize in association with Brunel University of London that will be launched later this summer.
Helen said: “We have an incredible line-up of publishing experts and award-winning writers all ready and willing to share their advice and support.
“We hope that this series will demystify the publishing process, and encourage anyone who has an instinct that they may like to write the confidence to give it a go.”
Daughter of Frank and Margaret Cullen, Helen and her six elder siblings, Patricia, Mary, Lynda and twin brothers, Frank and Ger, grew up on Harper’s Lane Portlaoise.
Helen released her debut novel ‘The Lost Letter’s of William Woolf’ in 2018.
And followed that with ‘The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually’ which she released in 2021.
Her debut novel also garnered Helen a Best Newcomer nomination at the 2018 Irish Book Awards.
She is also a literary critic for the Irish Times newspaper and a writer for the Sunday Times Magazine.
All of the events will be introduced and moderated by Helen and you can check them out below:
Programme of Events:
June 25 (7pm-8pm): Meet the Editors: A live panel with editors from three wonderful publishing houses – Fourth Estate, Galley Beggar and #Merky Books, a publishing imprint founded by Stormzy and Penguin Books.
July 8 (7pm-8pm): Meet the Agents: A live panel with three top literary agents from RCW, PFD and Madeleine Milburn literary agencies sharing tips on submissions, finding the right agent and industry insights.
July 10 (7pm-8pm): Submitting to Literary Journals: A live panel with editors from three fantastic literary journals – Stinging Fly, Wasafiri and the London Magazine.
Workshops:
July 23, 6.30pm-8.30pm: Writing Children’s Fiction with Liz Hyder, winner of the Children’s Fiction Prize at the Nero Book Awards.
July 28, 6.30pm-8.30pm: Writing Creative Non-Fiction Hannah Lowe. This workshop is for anyone interested in writing memoir, short or long. Using V.S. Pritchett’s quote — “It’s all in the art. You get no credit for living”— we’ll explore how to shape life into story through memory, reflection, and craft. No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to write. Hannah Lowe won the Costa Book Awards in 2021 for her poetry book, The Kids.
August 6, 6.30pm- 8.30pm: Writing Short Stories with Booker prize nominee and award winning Irish writer Elaine Feeney.
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