If you look down on the right hand side you’ll see a lovely new badge that tells you I’m an ‘Emerging Writer’ member of Writing.ie This is one of a few steps I’ve taken towards my efforts to ‘take this writing thing seriously’ from now on. That and buying a notebook 🙂

And my timing could not have been better! Writing.ie, in association with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature has launched a resource just for me. Well not JUST for me, I’m sure others are allowed use it as well…

The National Emerging Writer Programme consists of 3 x 40 minute videos with some of Ireland’s leading writers sharing their insights and expertise. There is supporting material on writing,ie to go with the video teaching. And it is FREE – the video clips are available on both Writing.ie & UNESCO websites. The project has been funded by Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht.

The DVD was launched in the Dublin City Library and Archive on Wednesday Jan 9th by the Minister of the DAHG, Jimmy Deenihan. In his speech he mentioned his own experience and enjoyment of writing. Minister Deenihan’s autobiography was published in 2011.

It was nice to see a couple of familiar faces and make some new writing connections. Two of the three main contributors to the DVD content, Carlo Gébler and Declan Hughes were there too. They were very nice guys who chatted with folk and stood for photos. All in all a great afternoon and afterwards I have to say I felt better equipped for the writing challenges of 2013.

It’s a real encouragement to someone like me that Ireland’s great writing heritage is still going strong, and that new writer’s are being encouraged to develop the craft. I’m hardly likely to be the next Maeve Binchy but with the help of resources like the NEWP I can certainly learn to be the best writer that I can be.

All I know is I want to be better than I am now and I want to push this thing as far as a I can. After that (and during it) I’m on God’s good grace as to whether writing becomes a career or just stays my favourite thing to do.

Either way, it’s official…. I’m emerging!