A major new event this summer indicates the emerging landscape of recreational and educational courses post-Pandemic. MARTIN KEAVENEY CREATIVE WRITING work with hundreds of creative writers and Irish literature enthusiasts every year. Now, after 2 years of exclusively online teaching, MKCW have designed a new option which looks like an amazing In-Person course experience.
‘We see the future of online courses to be a blend of In-person and online experiences,’ Martin Keaveney of MKCW told Nightcourses this week at the launch of their summer conference. ‘Our school is spread all over Ireland and across the continents, so the traditional weekly session in the community centre is just not feasible for us. This way writers and literature enthusiasts get the best of both worlds. People can attend weekly courses from the comfort of their home, meeting people from all over the world and still have the option of meeting like-minded writers and readers in a real location at regular intervals every year. At the moment, our conference is separate from our courses but we may well integrate them in the future. For now, we are giving a large discount to anyone registered on our online courses. We certainly believe the benefits of meeting people from all different cultures can be enriched by regular In-Person events such as Dublin 22,’ Dr Keaveney concluded.
MKCW: The Future of Courses
The conference on 1-3 July takes place in the luxurious setting of the 4-star Castleknock Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. Writers can get a novel, story, play or film script off the ground in quiet morning writing sessions, followed by creative workshops in the afternoon. Readers can catch up on that ever-growing reading list. On the schedule throughout the conference are industry insights from Ronan Colgan of Wordwell Group & History Ireland, Sean O’Keeffe of Liberties Press, Martha O’Neill of Wildfire Films and Tatjana Slijepcevic of Betimes Books. There’s even a one-to-one clinic where writers and researchers can discuss their project plans with these industry experts. There’s also a series of leading Irish authors in attendance. Owen Dwyer (The Garfield Conspiracy) will be screening a special film of his new novel while Gerry Mullins (Testosterone, Dublin 8) presents a talk on the conference theme of ‘Freedom’ and how it relates to his writing. Colin O’Sullivan (The True Story of Binderella and Other Secret Siblings) joins the conference live from Japan.
Dr Keaveney will also present three special seminars on freedom in writing and reading practice. The Conference Sunday Speaker is politician, broadcaster and author Eddie Hobbs (The First Heresy). The event concludes with special readings, performances, research presentations and screenings of participants’ writing where family and friends can enjoy the fruits of their loved ones’ work!
All levels of writer and reader can register for the conference. It promises to be an unforgettable weekend break of writing, reading and camaraderie in luxurious surroundings.
