Ulla’s Nib

Welcome to the summer 2008 issue of ulla’s nib, the magazine of the Northern Ireland literary community. Apologies for the delay in producing this issue, which was necessitated by the usual issues of funding rounds and sequencing. We will endeavour to keep a tighter schedule in future, with more organisational hours dedicated to the magazine.

Things certainly have been developing apace at the network, with a packed spring programme which has included visits by american writers richard bausch and Loren Niemi, masterclasses in scriptwriting and writing for radio, and a new regular poetry evening at bookfinders café in partnership with Poetry ireland. we have acquired new production equipment which will allow us to produce our own novel sized books for the first time and the system which allows us to print this magazine ourselves is being developed into a short run production facility.

Coming up in the next few weeks we have a new community writing anthology being produced as part of our development and outreach programme. after that, it’s straight into the creation of ulla 5, so try to send your submissions to us by the end of June to reach the autumn issue.

In this issue, we feature a selection of writing from the Queen’s writers group, a new short story by James meredith, some features on the highlights of the cwn spring programme and the usual round of reviews and notices about literary life in Ulster you’ve come to expect. we hope you enjoy this compendium of what’s new in Northern Ireland writing.

Click Here to Download: Ulla’s Nib #4

Welcome to the third edition of Ulla’s Nib, produced by the creative Writers Network to showcase new writing from Northern Ireland and focus on our local literary arts scene. This issue sees the launch of our Brian Moore short story Awards, judged by award winning local author Glenn Patterson, whose new book The Third party has recently been released to critical acclaim.

We also have an interview by Derek Landy, whose new skulduggery pleasant series is tipped to be the new harry potter, with a million pound advance and film rights already snapped up by Warners. Derek appeared at our spooky stories showcase of children’s writing at Belfast central Library on october 30th.

We also have an interview with the BBc Queens Writer in Residence, Ian Sansom and reviews written by kids of popular horror fiction. Our halloween theme is reflected in some of the poems and stories published in this issue. A big thank you to all our contributors, and keep ‘em coming.

Congratulations to holywood writer Ian McDonald, who has won a hugo Award for best novelette for The Djinn’s Wife, at a recent awards ceremony in Japan. Congratulations also to cWN member Frances Thompson, whose poetry has just been published in the new oxford poet’s Anthology. Thanks and congratulations also to our first star prize contributor, Anna Marshall, who receives fifty pounds for her short story The Pendant.

Click Here to Download: Ulla’s Nib Issue 3

Welcome to the second issue of Ulla’s Nib, the new magazine which focuses on new writing from the North of Ireland and on the literary scene here. We are still finding our feet, and welcome your feedback and views on the sort of articles and stories you would like to see. With a print run of a thousand, distributed throughout Northern Ireland libraries and other outlets, and through our members and writing groups, as well as a downloadable version available at www.ullasnib.co.uk, we hope to create a showcase and common space for all local writers.

We welcome all submissions from Northern Irish writers, resident or born, and it is your work that will ultimately create most of the magazine. From now on, we will have a fifty pound prize for the best submission
we use in each issue, whatever its nature or genre. The closing date for submissions to the third issue is September 18th, but please send in your work as soon as possible to help our production schedule. It also helps a lot if we can get your submissions electronically; we can use hard copy, but cannot accept hand written work. The next issue will come out around Halloween,
and we would particularly welcome submissions which have a seasonal flavour or something of the night about them. Thanks to everyone who helped make Ulla’s Nib what it is, and to those who spoke kindly of issue one.

Mark Madden - Editor

Click here to download Ulla’s Nib #2