Mini Writers-Retreat for Carers

The Oxford Dictionary defines a carer as “A family member who regularly looks after a child or a sick, elderly, or disabled person.”

The Mini Writers-Retreat for Carers Bursary aims to support writers who, due to their role as carer, find it difficult to find time to write.

If you feel you would benefit from a three-night writers retreat at Greywood Arts as well as the other supports listed below (to be taken up in 2023), please consider applying for this opportunity. We have two up for grabs.

Awardees will receive the following:

  • 3 nights residency at self-catering artist’s retreat Greywood Arts, Killeagh, Co. Cork www.greywoodarts.org  (Sponsored by Greywood Arts).
  • €100 stipend to assist with costs of travel/food etc… (Sponsored by the Irish Writers Centre).
  • An online or in-person workshop of your choice at the Irish Writers Centre www.irishwriterscentre.ie
  • 1:1 mentoring with award-winning writer Niamh Boyce (virtual or in-person) on three chapters of novel/three short stories/creative non-fiction Niamh’s Bio
  • Editing of piece of work/ etc (approx 15hrs) with editor, Sally Vince www.editorsal.com
  • One year membership of the Irish Writers’ Union (Full or Associate, whichever best fits the awardee) www.irishwritersunion.org
  • 1:1 creative coaching with Marie O’Halloran of Soul on Fire Coaching. Soul on Fire Coaching

GREYWOOD ARTS is a welcoming creative space to explore your process. Please familiarise yourself with our website, particularly The Residency at Greywood Arts page, before applying.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please complete the online form below, including the following;

  • A cover letter outlining your ‘caring’ life, why you feel you would benefit from a short writers retreat and a brief description of the project you would like to focus on during your time at Greywood Arts (maximum 500 words).
  • CV or Bio (max. two A4 pages).
  • Three short samples from different works (up to 400 words each). As these will be given blind readings by the selection panel, please ensure your name is not included on samples.

Note: Please compile all documentation into a single PDF or Word doc.

CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION FORM

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday November 11th 2022 (5pm).

Important Information:

  • Awardees will be notified by Tuesday 13th December 2022.
  • Decisions are final.
  • This award is open to persons resident in the island of Ireland only.
  • Mini-residencies consist of 3 consecutive nights to be taken in 2023. To check available dates, contact Greywood Arts.
  • Greywood Arts provides accommodation in a private bedroom, shared bathroom and self-catering kitchen facilities, and sole access to the writer’s room, overlooking the Dissour River. Accommodation and writing space are located on the first floor. 

THE SELECTION PANEL

Kit de Waal is the author of My Name is Leon ,The Trick to Time, Becoming Dinah and Without Warning and Only Sometimes. She is also the editor of Common People, an Anthology of Working Class Voices. Kit co-founded The Primadonna Festival and The Big Book Weekend. She has also sponsored places on the Galley Beggar Short Story Prize, the National Centre for Writing, the Bath Novel Award, the Bare Fiction Prize, a scholarship at Birkbeck University of London and the Greywood Arts Mini Writers-Retreat for Carers.

Photo Credit: Paul Crowther

Sharon Thompson is a published novelist and short story writer who runs writing events and workshops. She has a deep interest in the perspective of carers in medicine and palliative care. As a voluntary moderator with online support forums for parents in UK and Ireland, Sharon decided to produce a podcast called What’s It Really Like (to care for a child with complex care needs). She co-founded The Victoria Thompson Foundation to promote awareness of children’s palliative care and provides scholarships for nurses doing a Masters or Post-grad in CPC and Complex Care, at Galway University. 

Michelle Walshe is a full-time carer. Her writing has been published in newspapers, magazines and literary journals. She was awarded an Agility Award and an Emerging Artist grant in 2021 sponsored by the Arts Council of Ireland. She has won awards, residencies, and bursaries. She volunteers for the International Literature Festival and Roddy Doyle’s Fighting Words.

The Mini Writers-Retreat for Carers was founded by author Rose Servitova.

The first iteration took place in 2019 and we are delighted to once again offer this much-needed support for creative carers. We are grateful to the Irish Writers Centre, Irish Writers’ Union, Niamh Boyce, Sally Vince, and Marie O’Halloran for their contributions to the 2023 bursary.