All posts by Sixpenny

5 Days in Autumn

Summer Camps, Writing Retreats

Save the Date: October 29th to November 2nd!

Our July 6-Day workshop proved so satisfying and fruitful that we decided to schedule something similar for October/November. If you want to join us at the conducive and convivial Old Rectory Retreat from Monday morning (29/10) through Friday evening (2/11) get in touch.

Some responses to our workshops:

“The skills, extensive knowledge and enthusiasm of the facilitators creates a very safe writing space where work gets done.”
- Ruth (Crossmolina)

“Thanks Fiona for leading us so skillfully over the week-end”
-Annie (Belfast)

“An amazing weekend. There was a lovely chemistry and atmosphere there. I expected to feel out of place and overwhelmed…but I felt safe and supported as well as guided.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and it gave me hope that I might actually be able to do this and confidence that if I did someone might actually read it.”
- Mary (Belmullet)

“A very enjoyable and stimulating week!”
- Mary (Westport)

Call Fiona with any questions: 087 763 4339 

6-Day Writing Retreat in Westport, July 1-6

Summer Camps, Writing Retreats

When, What, Where: July 1-6, 2012: SixPens Writing Workshops at Old Rectory Retreat, Knappagh (near Westport), Mayo

Take some time to develop your story in a 6-Day Writing Retreat led by writers Fiona Keane and Fin Keegan of SixPens.com
By way of crafted prompts and choice materials, Fin and Fiona stimulate writers to produce satisfyingly intense and meaningful stories, short (flash fiction) to long (the novel). The environment is supportive and progress-orientated, with your efforts rewarded by home-cooked food and reviving refreshments from our host, Róisín. Whether you are a seasoned scribe or coming to the table for the first time, we look forward to welcoming you and your new work.
  • Sunday 1/7: 5-9pm ~ Meet and Greet / Writing
  • Monday 2/7 – Friday 6/7: 10am-1pm ~ Writing
  • Cost: €250 workshops / + €250 full board (optional)
    Contact: Róísín 087-776-4820
Afternoon slots are reserved for writers to work alone if desired.
Old Rectory Retreat is a creative venue and guesthouse. Róisín’s storied table has hosted some extraordinary characters, both real and imagined. Why not bring yourself and see if you can leave with more?

Summer Workshops (May 26th ~ 1/2 Day Dip 10-2)

Summer Camps, Writing Retreats

Take time out for your writing on May 26th and join us for a half-day Writing Workshop at Old Rectory Retreat. By lunchtime Saturday you will have pages of work you didn’t come in with – not bad for a morning. Add to that a delicious lunch and goodies from Róisín’s convivial kitchen and you can’t go wrong. So do something good for yourself and give us a call (087 763 4339).

Price: €25

Consider coming to our 6-day workshop , July 1-6. Intensive, productive and fun, it will be a fantastic week of writing, reading, listening to stories and lots of laughs.

Price: €250  (+ Full Board = €500)

Spring Weekend Writing Retreat

Summer Camps

Join us for our Spring Weekend Writing Retreat at Róisín’s convivial table at Old Rectory Retreat.

We really enjoy these workshops and never know what will be dreamt up! We do know that delicious goodies will come from the kitchen: tea, cake, and homemade lunch.

We start on Saturday at 10:30am and end on Sunday at 2pm. Contact Old Rectory Retreat to book your place.

Deadlines are Useful

Writing Retreats

Deadlines can be very useful to get you focused on completing your work. If you don’t win, you can always add the text to your inventory and submit elsewhere. Here are a selection of upcoming dates for your calendar:

  • Apr 7: Stratford-on-Avon Fringe Festival Contest: Avon Fringe Festival presents a “Realised Play- Script competition. Entries are invited from anyone of any age with a short play to offer” …MORE
  • Apr 14: Narrative Magazine are one of the best online destinations for new fiction of the highest quality. Their “free reading period” runs for the first two weeks of April …MORE
  • May 21: BBC Writersroom is the clearing-house for new writers looking to attract the BBC’s attention across all television and radio channels. They have three Calls for Scripts each year: the Spring Deadline comes in May …MORE
  • 31st May: Bridport Prize has three categories: poems, short stories, and flash fiction …MORE
  • 29th June: The McLaverty Short Story Award is open to writers born in Ireland …MORE
  • 31st July: The Sean Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition is a prestigious contest with appealing prizes …MORE

Five Day Workshop Starts January 2nd

Summer Camps

The New Year is coming: want to make your book-writing dream a reality? Sign up for a Five Mornings Writing Workshop starting on January 2nd. Including delicious lunches at the charming Old Rectory Retreat, cost is €200. Hosts Fiona Keane and Fin Keegan of SixPens.com are experienced at stimulating diverse groups of people both to produce and develop their writing. Non-judgemental approach. Call Fiona at 087 763 4339 or hq@sixpens.com

Upcoming Writing Workshops

Summer Camps

Weekly Writer’s Group Meetings = 10 x Thursday Evenings
When: October 6-December 8, 2011 ~ 7.30-9.30pm
Where: Sharkey Hill Community Centre in the Fairways.
Cost: €120 (10 weeks)

Call Fiona 087 763 4339 or email: hq@sixpens.com

In addition, the following workshops will take place this Autumn at Old Rectory Retreat:

  • The Evening Starter: Thursdays 7-10pm (July 28th, Aug 25th, Sept. 29th)
    Cost: €20 per eve (Tea and cake included)
  • The Half-Day Dip: Saturdays 10am-2pm. (Oct. 29th, Nov. 26th)
    Cost €35 (Book 3 weeks in advance – €30) Home cooked Soup/salad included.
  • The Weekend Experience: Fri. 6pm- Sunday 2pm (Aug.12th -14th, Sept.16th-18th, Oct.21st-23rd, Nov.18th-20th) .
    Cost €95 with delicious lunch.
  • Week-Long Writing Retreat: July, 2011, Jan. 2-6, 2012.
    Cost:  €250 with delicious lunches.

Fiona is experienced at stimulating diverse groups of people to put pen to paper in response to well thought-out writing prompts. The aim is to create richly connected characters who may form the genesis of story however short or long (from flash fiction right through to the novel). Your hours will be sweetened by tea and cake (or lunch and dinner for the longer sessions) and good company. Whether you are a seasoned scribe or coming to Róisín’s famously convivial (and productive) table for the first time, we welcome you.

Call Fiona at 087 763 4339 or email hq@sixpens.com

“The Green, The White and The Orange… 3 Tales from Imagined Irish History”

Writing Retreats

Fin and Fiona have short plays being put on by Current Theatrics as part of “The Green, The White and The Orange… 3 Tales from Imagined Irish History” at 3pm July 23 & 24, Abbey Hall Theatre, in Cleveland.

From Fin’s short play Hibernia Rising:

SECOND TREASURE-HUNTER (thinking aloud): What does an Irishman keep under his bed?

SECOND TREASURE-HUNTER takes the gun from the REBEL’s hands, inspects it closely.

FIRST TREASURE-HUNTER: Pot of gold maybe?

GUIDE: Pot of tea?

SECOND TREASURE-HUNTER: [Returning rifle to REBEL] Pot?

Thanks to director Ruth Pe Palileo, producer Tommy Costello, and actors Matt, Boomer, Amanda, Liz, and Corey.

From Fiona’s play History Lesson:

Two characters jump out of their books in the library:
HISTORY WOMAN: The state always had its nose in the wrong business. It should stay out of the bedroom, unless it’s underage business, which they seem good at turning a blind eye to. Condoms or no, I still see a fair amount of unwanted babbies around today. 

HISTORY MAN: Sure they’re all ‘wanted’ at some level. Haven’t you heard of the unconscious?

HISTORY WOMAN: Are they ‘wanted’ just by the mammies or are they ‘wanted’ by those fellas in the hedges whispering sweet coochie coo’s as they’re pulling leaves out of their arses?

- Thanks to all above too and to Leah Cassella for directing.

Summer Writing Workshop July 7-12, 2011, Old Rectory Retreat, Knappagh

Summer Camps

We are running a workshop from July 7-12, as follows:

~ Thursday 7th: 6pm meet and greet / intro followed by a writing session at 7.30pm
~ Friday 8th: 10-1 writing session
~ Saturday 9th: 10-1 writing session
~ Sunday 10th: 10-1 writing session
~ Monday 11th: 10-1 writing session
~ Tuesady 12th: Group Reading of work (optional)

Call Fiona at 087 763 4339 for more information or email fmk10@columbia.edu

Spring Writing Workshop March 25-27, 2011, Old Rectory Retreat, Knappagh

Summer Camps

Weekend workshop meeting Friday evening for food, chat and writing exercises, followed by a day of writing on Saturday, breaking for a delicious home-made lunch courtesy of Róisin.
On Sunday morning we will gather again at Róisin’s kitchen table to read the work produced. Reading is optional, but nobody ever declines!

Call Fiona at 087 763 4339 for more information or email fmk10@columbia.edu