On Tuesday 13th March, our sixth classes hosted the first of our visiting authors, James Butler, who delivered an exciting and interactive ‘Writer’s Workshop’ as part of our Ready Steady Read Festival.
James Butler’s background is in education and drama. He holds an MPhil in Creative Writing from Trinity College Dublin. For many years he taught in a school in Tallaght. In 2005 his first play for children, Stuck in the Mud, was nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award. In 2011 his play for teenagers The Teen Commandments was included in the Trinity College London Anthology of Award-Winning Plays. In 2016 his radio play The Carpet Clown was produced by RTÉ Drama On One as part of The PJ O’Connor Awards. Mr. Butler's novel 'Dangerous Games' was received with much acclaim and he has further novels which will be published later this year.
The writer's workshop allowed our pupils to explore ways to ‘find the story’ in everyday life and learn how to use setting, character development, plot, conflict and resolution as the essential building blocks to craft an engaging tale. The workshop culminated in a share session where pupils could share the results of their creative endeavours, and a Q &A session where they asked Mr. Butler about his career and the realities of what it is like to be an award winning writer.
Many thanks to Mr. Butler for taking the time to share his love of books and writing with our pupils. It was a very special event and one that our sixth classes will not soon forget.