Writing Workshops

"Not every inspiring author is an inspiring teacher – but Niall Williams teaches with the same combination of sensitivity and precision with which he writes."
The next Kiltumper Writing Workshop will take place in Autumn 2025.
The three-day workshop begins with a Meet & Greet on Friday evening and the first session starts on Saturday at 9:30 and finishes on Monday at 4 pm.
Each session is devoted to a different aspect of the craft of fiction, Character, Setting, Plot, Dialogue, Point-of-View, and Style, and divided into three parts. In the first part of each session, Niall gives a directed talk on the chosen topic, using examples from classic literature, and outlining his understanding of how this aspect of fiction works, and why. In the second part, he assigns a writing exercise, tightly focused on the topic, and gives participants to 30 mins to complete it. In the third part, some participants are asked to read their exercise assignment, and Niall gives directed feedback. 
Places for the weekend will be on a first-come basis, as places are limited to 20 writers. Payment of a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of €200 will be required once the workshop is officially announced to secure your place. The total cost of the workshop is €485. Please use the contact form linked below to express your interest and have your name added to the next workshop announcement/email. Thank you!
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST →
A writer who attended one of the workshops in Kiltumper, secured an agent, got a publishing deal and was nominated for the Costa Awards for debut novel! 
"I’ve just got back from an extraordinary three days of deep learning at one of Niall Williams’ workshops for writers. Not every inspiring author is an inspiring teacher – but Niall Williams teaches with the same combination of sensitivity and precision with which he writes. Over the carefully planned sessions, his insight into the craft of writing penetrated sharply, giving us the tools with which to sculpt our own work. Niall gave tirelessly of himself in every session, creating an atmosphere of profound acceptance and respect into which we wrote and critiqued with clear and transformative goals. He and his wife, Christine, provided a backdrop of warm hospitality, peppered with delicious convivial meals in their home. You will come away changed as a writer."

Joanna Glen, London
Bestselling author of the Costa Nominated The Other Half of Augusta Hope

Workshop Testimonials

"Imagine if your favourite writer walked into your book, opened its windows, baked some cinnamon buns in its kitchen, re-hung its paintings so you saw them afresh, laid a turf fire and set it a-smoulder, lit all the candles and dusted all its hunched-up corners with a goose-wing. Imagine if your favourite writer then took your elusive protagonist for a walk in the snow and came back with all the secrets you never knew, even though you made that character, plus a bunch of hellebores. That’s what it’s like bringing a work-in-progress to Niall at Kiltumper. Except it’s also uproariously funny and touching. And that doesn’t even touch on the grace and kindness that Christine brings to it all. It’s actually quite hard to write this, because frankly I’d prefer for Niall and Christine were there exclusively for me and my book. But I fear the secret’s out, so I’m rising above my natural begrudgery to advise anyone who cares about their writing to take their book to Kiltumper as soon as possible."
Michelle Lovric, London
Author of several bestselling novels
"I have just arrived home from a magical three days in Kiltumper and feel that my writer self is utterly rejuvenated. Through the insights, encouragement and care of Niall and Christine, I feel I will now return to the page a more conscious writer. I am so much more aware now of my own writerly habits, able to see my own blind spots, and to hear my own writing with clearer ears. Even more importantly, however, than this newly refined ability to spot my own weaknesses, I also feel hugely strengthened in my potential to overcome them. After just these few days, I know my next book will be a stronger work as a result of my time there. I could not recommend this workshop more to writers at any stage in their writing lives - it will illuminate your craft in the most inspirational of ways."
Helen Cullen, London
Author of the acclaimed debut novel 'The Lost Letters of William Woolf'
"Writing has been my career for nearly 30 years, but in just three days with Niall I learned more than I would ever have thought or dreamed was possible. He is, quite simply, a genius at imparting how a book could be better, and more importantly, helping you to believe that it will"
Lucy Coats
Bestselling Children's & YA author
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