WIS Writer Criteris

Criteria for Eligibility to the Writers in Schools Directory

Literary Criteria

Fiction/ children’s writers/ poets:

Writer should have at least one book published by a commercial publisher or a publisher funded by the Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon

Indicative Guidelines for commercial publisher:

• Publishes no less than 5 books of that genre annually or less if they are an imprint
• Has national distribution
• Does not charge writer for publication
• Book of no less than 48 pages

or

Poems/ stories published in at least 6 reputable journals/ periodicals

Indicative Guidelines for reputable journals/ periodicals:
A journal or periodical which is sold and circulated nationally or internationally eg:

Irish: Poetry Ireland Review, Cyphers, The Stinging Fly, Dublin Review
International: Agenda, Poetry Review, Stand, Poetry Wales, Poetry London, TLS, PN Review. (This is merely a list of indicative samples)

• A journal or periodical which has been published with the financial assistance of The Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaoín, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland or a comparable international, national or regional funding agency.
• An anthology which is published by a nationally or internationally recognised publishing house or university press.
• A published anthology which is edited by a writer-in-residence appointed by a third-level institution, arts centre, or local/regional authority.
• An online journal which regularly includes new work by established writers.
• A nationally broadcast programme which regularly includes new writing e.g. Sunday Miscellany, The Poetry Programme, The Arts Show, Arts Extra etc.

Dramatists:

Must have had a work staged by a commercial theatre company or a company funded by the Arts Council

Storytellers:

Must supply details of work to date, and any books/ CDs

Screenwriters:

Should submit a list of screenplays produced and WIS will confer with Film Officer of the Arts Council

General Criteria

• All applicants should supply details of any experience gained in an educational setting

The following recruitment procedures are based on Writers in Schools Guidelines for the Protection & Welfare of Children & Young People in the Arts Sector

• All applicants must agree to an interview process
• Undergo a mentoring training programme:
  The WIS Mentoring Programme is a training and support service for writers and storytellers seeking to join the Writers in Schools Scheme. The programme involves the writer shadowing and receiving feedback and advice from one of a group of mentors, who have extensive experience of working with Writers in Schools.
• Agree to garda vetting
• Commit to a professional development/ training seminar

  Note: Applicants should note that literary criteria fulfil only one element of the recruitment procedure for Writers in Schools