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COURSES

Creative Writing Courses

Unleash Your Creative Potential with Diarmuid Fitzgerald
Award-winning author and seasoned writing mentor Diarmuid Fitzgerald invites you to transform your writing journey with his immersive, skill-building courses. Whether you're crafting your first story, fine-tuning poetry, or dreaming of publication, these courses are designed for aspiring and experienced writers alike.

Notebook

1. Novel & Story Course
6 weeks 12 hours online

We will look at the basics of novels and short stories, such as narration, plot and pacing, imagery, and other topics.

We will also look at your writing samples and samples by published writers.

At the end, we will have completed, edited, or worked on a novel chapter or a short story. 

 

Bonus: Real-time online feedback on your writing.

 

Bonus: Learn from others.

 

Bonus: Publication advice - Learn how to go about getting your work published

2. Poetry Course
6 weeks 12 hours online in real-time

We will look at the basics of poetry, such as form, rhythm, rhyme, imagery, development and other topics.

We will look at your writing samples and samples by published poets.

At the end, we will have completed, edited, or worked on some of your poetry. 

 

Bonus: Real-time online feedback on your writing.

 

Bonus: Learn from others.

 

Bonus: Publication advice - Learn how to go about getting your work published

Pile Of Books
Home Office Study

3. Novel & Story 
Video Courses

If you don’t have the time, no problem. Here are shorter video courses for you to complete on your own. 

 

Narrative Voice

 

Pacing and plot

 

Setting

 

Characterisation

 

Imagery in a story

 

Putting it All Together in a Story

 

Next Steps

4. Poetry
Video Courses

Haven’t got the time, no problem. Here are shorter video courses for you to complete in your own time. 

 

Form in Poetry

 

Rhythm 

 

Rhyme and sound together

 

Development (Title and Opening a Poem)

 

Imagery

 

Putting It All Together in a Poem

 

Next Steps

Researching and Writing

Awards

 

  • Glencar was commended in the Francis Ledwidge Poetry Award 2023 in December 2023.

  • Poetry Ireland awarded a grant through its Bright Ideas Scheme to fund a workshop on tarot and poetry as part of Poetry Day 2022.

  • I won an Arts Project Award from South Dublin County Council Arts Office to deliver creative writing classes in 2022.

  • The haibun Village Clean Up received an honourable mention in the Genjuan International Haibun Contest 2021.

  • An extract from my novel An Affinity for Metal was shortlisted in the Penguin Christmas Love Story Competition in 2021.

  • The haiku ‘boiling kettle’ was runner-up for the British Haiku Society Museum of Literature Award in February 2021.

  • Brú na Boinne won 3rd place in the Ballyroan Library Poetry Competition 2021.

  • Aftermath won 2nd place in the Ballyroan Library Poetry Prize 2020.

  • Silent House was long-listed in Over the Edge New Writing Competition 2019.

  • Eight poems from Camino Cantos were shortlisted as Highly Commended in the Blue Nib Poetry Chapbook Contest V in 2019.

  • Eight poems from Camino Cantos were shortlisted as Highly Commended in the Blue Nib Poetry Chapbook Contest IV in 2018.

  • My poem, Driftwood, was shortlisted for the Bray Literary Festival Poetry Award 2018.

  • I won a scholarship to attend the Yeats Summer School 2018 through the Irish Writers Centre.

  • The poem In the Bath won 2nd place in the Ballyroan Library Poetry Competition 2018, and the poem Pass was highly commended in the same competition.

  • I was awarded the Individual Artist Bursary from South Dublin County Council in April 2018.

  • The haiku ‘trees, more trees’ was a runner-up haiku for the British Haiku Society Museum of Literature Award in February 2017.

  • The haiku ‘leaves of the ash’ was the editor's choice for the Cattails haiku online journal in September 2016.

 

Panels, Mentoring and Schools

 

  • I was accepted onto the Richmond Barracks Artist Panel in 2024 for 2 years. 

  • I have completed one 14-hour residency in two schools and a 20-hour summer course for the TAP+ (Teacher Artist Partnership Plus) scheme, which is a Department of Education Scheme. 

  • I am listed on the BLAST scheme for the Dublin West Education Centre and will be able to teach in schools from 2023.

  • I have been on the advisory committee for the Ark Theatre since 2022.

  • I have been a mentor with the National Mentoring Programme since 2022.

  • I have been a professional Irish Writer’s Centre member since 2022.

  • I am a full member of the Irish Writer’s Union since 2024.

  • I was awarded a mentorship through Words Ireland (now the National Mentoring Panel) to work on my next collection of poetry, Rainbow Street, in 2021. Amanda Bell is the mentor who worked with me.

  • Maeve O’Sullivan mentored me in haiku in 2013 and 2014. 

 

Workshops and Courses

 

  • I gave a poetry workshop online on the basics of poetry in Nov - Dec 2023 

  • I gave a poetry workshop as part of the Red Line Festival in October 2023

  • I was accepted into Kwame Dawes's Poetry Ireland Masterclass, which is part of the Kilkenny Arts Festival 2023.

  • I have been accepted onto the list of facilitators in libraries for South Dublin County Council.

  • I gave a haiku course at the Richmond Barracks Museum in January - February 2023.

  • In November 2022, I gave a poetry workshop on social justice to primary school children at Clonburris National School.

  • I gave a workshop called Write Your Star on tarot and poetry as part of the Bright Ideas scheme for Poetry Day 2022. I was one of four ideas selected across the country. Poetry Ireland funded this.

  • I was selected for the Un-roar Eco-poetry course by the South Dublin County Writer-in-Residence Jane Robinson as part of the Red Line Festival in 2021.

  • I was selected for a one-to-one mentoring session with Brian Kirk by South Dublin Library Services in April 2020.

  • I gave a workshop to the Market Lane Poetry Writers Group, Fermoy, Co. Cork, in 2018.

  • I had a one-on-one manuscript makeover session with James Harpur in 2018 as part of the Cork Spring Poetry Festival.

  • I gave a 2-hour workshop on introducing haiku as part of the Red Line Festival in 2016.

  • I completed a Teach Creative Writing Course with Dave Lordan at the IWC in 2015.

  • I had a manuscript makeover session with Mark Grainer at the Irish Writers’ Centre in 2015.

  • I attended a one-day creative writing workshop led by Eduardo C. Corral as part of the Cork Spring Poetry Festival in 2013.

  • I attended a one day creative writing workshop lead by Vona Groarke as part of the Poetry NOW festival in 2010.

  • I attended a one day creative writing workshop lead by Eamonn Grennan as part of the Poetry NOW festival in 2003.

  • I attended a one day creative writing workshop lead by August Kleinzahler as part of the Poetry NOW festival in 2002.

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Readings

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  • I read at the Cork Spring Poetry Festival in May 2022.

  • I hosted and read at Dolcáin’s Cellar Open Mic in October 2021 as part of the Red Line Festival.

  • I read as a special feature at Dolcáin’s Cellar Special Christmas Event in December 2019.

  • I read as a special feature at Ealóin, an open mic at the International Bar in November 2019.

  • I read as a special feature at the Dolcáin’s Cellar Open Mic in December 2018.

  • I read the two winning poems at the Ballyroan Library in April 2018.

  • I emceed the Library After Dark Writer’s Café readings at Clondakin Library in December 2017.

  • I was the guest poet for the Ó Bhéal Open Mic reading series in May 2017.

  • I read as part of the Experience Japan Festival 2014 - 2017.

  • I have read as part of the Red Line Festival 2016 in Tallaght, Dublin.

  • From 2015 to date, I have read at open-mic readings at Dolcáin’s Cellar, Flying South, Sunflower Sessions, Ó Bhéal, Merg Sessions, Accents Café, and Takin the Mic.

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