Banshee: New Literary Journal Seeking Submissions

March 15, 2015March 8, 2015Leave a comment

There’s a new literary journal on the block and, knowing the people behind it (Laura Jane Cassidy, Claire Hennessy & Eimear Ryan), this is going to be good quality stuff. Everything from the ethos, to the organisation, to the work accepted and the overall presentation, promises to be top notch – and they’re open for submissions. Personally, I can’t wait to see the results.

Over on writing.ie, Claire explains a little bit more…

“We’re all writers; we know that talking and dreaming and hoping only take you so far. We also know what anything creative in any way is like – it is almost inevitably more work, and takes longer, than you imagine it will be.

But we’re doing this anyway. In part because several great outlets for Irish writing, such as The SHOp and wordlegs, are now closed; in part because there are lots of marvellous newer outlets, like The Penny Dreadful and The Bohemyth and Colony and Gorse , going from strength to strength. In part because there are longstanding outlets like Hennessy (no relation, alas) New Irish Writing, now in The Irish Times , and The Stinging Fly , continuing to do a great job; and in part because there is always a need for new blood, for new editorial eyes, in anything creative. And mostly because we love words and language and what people can do with them.‘

Fair play to the girls. There can never be enough great journals as far as I’m concerned.

The first submissions window for Banshee is open until March 31st, and they aim to reply to all submissions by the end of May…

You can read the full details here: http://www.bansheelit.com/

Francis MacManus short story podcasts

July 29, 2013Leave a comment

Several people have asked me to post the link to the podcast of my shortlisted Francis MacManus story, The Books, they cry. Before I do, I’d like to say thank you to everyone for their support and interest – it helps make all this writing worthwhile.

The thought that someone may listen to the story and find something in it that resonates, delights, or inspires. The idea that it may give someone a few minutes of pleasure or food for thought – it’s a wonderful feeling. One I can’t describe.

For me, the experience was an exciting one. It allowed me to distance myself from the words and hear them as a story, rather than something I’d written. It gave me the chance to hear how the story could be read aloud, and I got the opportunity to pick up on how another reader might visualise the events and characters.

Finally, listening to my story confirmed my suspicion that the two stories I was hoping to submit to other competitions this week aren’t ready. They need to sit for a while and mature. For however long it takes.

The podcasts to all the shortlisted Francis MacManus stories are available here: please, listen to some of the other stories as well as my own – there’s some beautiful, funny and engaging work waiting to be discovered. Happy listening!

Poland: A holiday surprise – Francis McManus Short Story Competition

June 19, 20132 Comments

One of Katowice’s beautiful pre-war buildings

I’m back from Poland – a relaxing and interesting trip that included a big surprise…

While I was in Katowice museum, I received a very exciting phone call from RTÉ Radio 1, informing me that my story The Books, They Cry, had been shortlisted for the Francis McManus Short Story Competition.

Obviously, writing isn’t all about competitions and winning, but opportunities like this are wonderful in many ways…

Competitions ensure you challenge your writing boundaries
Deadlines make you maintain discipline
and successes act as little signposts to help you keep going.

I didn’t get any further than the shortlist, but I’m delighted that my story will be read out on RTE 1’s Book on One by a professional actor on July 26^th, 2013.

The professional actor bit is super exciting for me – I’m not very good at reading my own work and I’m looking forward to hearing how Gary Murphy will convey the characters and the story’s essence. It’s an excellent chance for me to learn yet another facet of my craft.

I’m also looking forward to the summertime routine of settling down each night to listen to all the other winning and shortlisted entries. Yes, I’m going to listen to them all – and I hope you will too!

For me, it’s a wonderful opportunity to hear some great contemporary literature and to improve an area where I’m lacking. The first broadcast features the winning entry on June 24^th, so make sure you tune in if you get chance.

(You can see RTE’s broadcast schedule for all shortlisted Francis McManus stories schedule here.)

Huge congratulations to the Francis McManus short story competition winners – Mike MacDomhnaill (1st), James Alfred Simpson (2^nd) and Sean Kenny (3^rd) – and a huge thanks to RTÉ for such a great opportunity.

Until next year!

Time to write a chain poem for the Hazara people?

April 1, 2013Leave a comment

Please note: this image is taken from & is copyrighted by the presentation, link below.

This week, here’s a little something I was forwarded via email. I thought I’d post the contents in case it’s of interest to you. I’m certainly a supporter of trying to make a difference through art.

The following email is regarding the plight of the Hazara people in Afghanistan. It is looking for poets on an international scale to help raise awareness by donating poems to an anthology and contributing to a chain poem.

I’ve copied the content completely, except for removing the sender’s personal details. Please note, the image is taken from the presentation, link below.

****

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

So far, the following poets have a) contributed to write chain poem and b)submitted poems for a Poetry Anthology dedicated to the Hazara:

Chain poem:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nlzo5IdAvXNHRaihMzLPM1Mnl72ETmaJc1X9836hX6A/edit?usp=sharing

Jessie Kleemann, Greenland
Siki Dlanga, South Africa
Irena Matijasevic, Croatia
Julio Pavanetti, Uruguay/España
Kamran Mir Hazar, Norway

Please visit the following link to contribute in writing chain poem:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RnF8NFy60R7UHJE3V6WBWER-kuXBwGypKzAPPuBW2DE/edit?usp=sharing

You can write one or more additional lines and return later to write more. Here is a link to a presentation about the Hazara geographical condition, the Hazara face and the persecutions they endure.

http://www.hazararights.com/spip.php?article23

I suggest you have a look at this presentation. The idea is to not limit you, but to use Hazara elements in this collaborative poem. You can start a new part of the poem, if you’d like.

Poetry Anthology dedicated to the Hazara People:

Please note: this image is taken from the presentation, link below

Francisco Sánchez Jiménez – Colombia
Vyacheslav Kupriyanov, Russia
Paul Disnard, Jamundi – Colombia, marzo 29 del 2013
Stefaan van den Bremt, Flanders, Belgium
Jack Hirschman, USA
Nyein Way, Myanmar
Ban’ya Natsuishi, Japan
Julio Pavanetti, Uruguay/España

Please visit the following link to submit your poem for the Poetry Anthology dedicated to the Hazara People:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RnF8NFy60R7UHJE3V6WBWER-kuXBwGypKzAPPuBW2DE/edit?usp=sharing

Here you can submit poem in your native language. It would great if you provide an English translation of the poem.

Again, thanks for supporting the Hazara.

All the best

Kamran Mir Hazar
Poet, journalist and webmaster

Website: www.kamranmirhazar.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KamranPoetry

A very short post, for poetry lovers…

December 23, 2012December 23, 2012Leave a comment

A hint never hurts…

I hope you’re having a great Christmas everyone and a well-earned break.

In case you’ve got a few extra minutes reading time, I’d like to share my poem in Southword journal with you. I’m really delighted to have been selected by Thomas McCarthy for inclusion in this issue – it’s a brilliant journal and one of my particular favourites, so being included is like an early Christmas present.

Make sure you have a thorough look through – there are some brilliant writers featured. You won’t be disappointed.

My poem is called Book of Us. I hope you enjoy it.