About Some Blind Alleys
Some Blind Alleys is a Dublin-based literary organization that supports brave and vital new writing and translation through events, grants, publication, and creative writing courses. It was founded in 2008.
Some Blind Alleys, as a literary organization, promotes the personal essay, unorthodox fiction, translation, and criticism. Though it’s based in Dublin, its outlook is international. SBA organizes lectures, debates, and exhibits in Dublin and elsewhere.
As a provider of creative writing courses, Some Blind Alleys offers a demanding and reading-intensive experience for aspiring writers who love to read, or wish they could make more time to read. Small classes are led by young and enthusiastic tutors – all of whom are fine writers – who are dedicated to helping students realize, or better articulate, what’s so wonderful about great books. SBA courses change the way students read in order to make them perpetual self-teachers and more formidable, and less forgiving, self-editors. The workload is intense and the criticism is honest, but encouragement is plentiful. You can read more about the creative writing courses on the About the Workshops page.
Some Blind Alleys began life in late 2008 as an online journal of new Irish writing, and its focus was on the personal essay and unorthodox fiction. It was officially launched in 2009 by Anne Enright, and published hundreds of essays, stories, and pieces of critical writing in the years that followed. It received funding from the Irish Arts Council and paid out several thousand euro over its lifetime to emerging and established writers in Ireland and elsewhere. Some Blind Alleys also briefly published visual art, news, and reviews of theater, music, film, comedy, and more. Some Blind Alleys published writers such as Philip O Ceallaigh, Kevin Barry, Carlo Gébler, Victor Balcells, as well as numerous new voices from Ireland and elsewhere. The journal was discontinued in December 2011.
Workshops
In spring 2009, the Creative Writing Workshops at Some Blind Alleys were founded. The Workshops were unique and challenging creative writing courses that offered a rigorous and demanding alternative to more typical courses. Hundreds of students have taken part since SBA’s inception. The Workshops have received numerous accolades and secured a reputation as the best and most demanding courses available in Ireland, at any level.
Events
In addition to providing creative writing courses, Some Blind Alleys began to host lectures, events, and competitions. Scattered in small venues throughout the city centre, SBA events combined lectures and talks by established writers and readings by up-and-coming essayists and fiction writers. The writers who gave talks included Brian Dillon, Molly McCloskey, Philip O Cealligh, Kevin Barry, and Carlo Gébler.
Some Blind Alleys, as a literary organization, promotes the personal essay, unorthodox fiction, translation, and criticism. Though it’s based in Dublin, its outlook is international. SBA organizes lectures, debates, and exhibits in Dublin and elsewhere.
As a provider of creative writing courses, Some Blind Alleys offers a demanding and reading-intensive experience for aspiring writers who love to read, or wish they could make more time to read. Small classes are led by young and enthusiastic tutors – all of whom are fine writers – who are dedicated to helping students realize, or better articulate, what’s so wonderful about great books. SBA courses change the way students read in order to make them perpetual self-teachers and more formidable, and less forgiving, self-editors. The workload is intense and the criticism is honest, but encouragement is plentiful. You can read more about the creative writing courses on the About the Workshops page.
History
The JournalSome Blind Alleys began life in late 2008 as an online journal of new Irish writing, and its focus was on the personal essay and unorthodox fiction. It was officially launched in 2009 by Anne Enright, and published hundreds of essays, stories, and pieces of critical writing in the years that followed. It received funding from the Irish Arts Council and paid out several thousand euro over its lifetime to emerging and established writers in Ireland and elsewhere. Some Blind Alleys also briefly published visual art, news, and reviews of theater, music, film, comedy, and more. Some Blind Alleys published writers such as Philip O Ceallaigh, Kevin Barry, Carlo Gébler, Victor Balcells, as well as numerous new voices from Ireland and elsewhere. The journal was discontinued in December 2011.
Workshops
In spring 2009, the Creative Writing Workshops at Some Blind Alleys were founded. The Workshops were unique and challenging creative writing courses that offered a rigorous and demanding alternative to more typical courses. Hundreds of students have taken part since SBA’s inception. The Workshops have received numerous accolades and secured a reputation as the best and most demanding courses available in Ireland, at any level.
Events
In addition to providing creative writing courses, Some Blind Alleys began to host lectures, events, and competitions. Scattered in small venues throughout the city centre, SBA events combined lectures and talks by established writers and readings by up-and-coming essayists and fiction writers. The writers who gave talks included Brian Dillon, Molly McCloskey, Philip O Cealligh, Kevin Barry, and Carlo Gébler.
