2nd Writing Workshop - Special Guest: Clay McLeod Chapman

The second session of the workshops got underway tonight at thisisnotashop, despite the miserable precipitation. Nothing can stop these pen-wielding, keyboard tapping enthusiasts! Following a brief introduction by the rest of the group to the two newest participants, Lucy and Orla, and vice-vearsa, a stimulating session unfolded.
There were readings by Blaise (an excerpt from a work-in-progress of literature) and by Gerry (a selection of poems, some published and some unpublished). Some themes which were struck upon; paranoia, nostalgia, friendship, memory, regret, diaspora, loneliness, isolation, love, death, otherness. (There were lighter moments!) Some forms which were struck upon; inner-monologue, narration, obituary.
Two exercises from the last session were read out by AnneMarie and Felicity - hopefully we will post the lot up here at some stage.

Clay then took the group through a terrific exercise - using the newspaper as the nemesis of any writers block (in the great tradition of Antony Schaffer)! Hopefully we will post these up here too. We would like to thank Clay for his excellent input into the session, his enthusiasm and approach to writing is inspiring.

Clay will be performing Selected Stories at thisisnotashop on Benburb street on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week - check out www.thisisnotashop.com for more details.

For the attention of all the participants so far, the next session will be on Tuedsay the 28th of August, looking forward to it!

PS: AnneMarie and Tim will be contributing to the next session. Also if anyone has any ideas or suggestions for future sessions and exercises please to post them, or send them via email.