Donegal arts centre launches new literary journal

 

A new literary journal being published by a Donegal arts centre will offer a new platform for emerging writers to showcase their work.

The Pig’s Back is a literary prose journal publishing new short fiction and essays from the north-west and further afield.

Founded by the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny, the journal is named after Donegal’s Muckish Mountain and for the phrase, ar mhuin na muice, to be in luck.

Editor of The Pig’s Back Dean Fee said while they have a particular interest in hearing from writers from the north-west, they are also eager to read work from all across Ireland, and beyond, for the new publication.

“Our main aim is to provide opportunities for those voices who have yet to be discovered, to help them define themselves and guide them in their careers.”

With a focus on diversity and inclusivity, Fee said a panel of professional writers will be engaged to ensure that works published within every issue of The Pig’s Back adhere to high standards of both quality and ethics.

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Fee, a graduate of English and philosophy and a master’s in writing and editing, has himself seen the benefits of being published in journals such as The Stinging Fly, The Dublin Review and The Tangerine and is now delighted to be able to offer another outlet for writers.

He said: “It’s a really good way for writers to get into the community and scene. If you get a couple of short stories published in reputable journals, then you get your name out there and through that maybe get a book deal or an agent. Literary journals are both practical, in terms of careers, but then also people want to read them, as well.

“The thing about writing is you need to be able to work with people, you need to be able to get edited and take the feedback.

“We want to give new writers the opportunity of working on a professional level with somebody who is going to take them seriously and try to produce something really good, to showcase good writing in Donegal, and bring everybody else here.

"We are going to be open for submissions and anybody will be able to send us in pieces. We have guidelines on our website on what we are looking for. For people who are interested in submitting, we would suggest reading the first issue and get an idea of what we like.”

The Pig’s Back - Issue One is available to pre-order now and features essays and short stories five writers - Will Carruthers, Molly Hennigan, Roisin Kiberd, Darragh McCausland and Tim MacGabhann writing on the topic of Turas (Irish for The Journey).

For more information and to pre-order The Pig’s Back - Issue One, click here. 

The Pig’s Back is produced by the Regional Cultural Centre with the support of Donegal County Council and Arts Council Ireland.