Tomás Ó Carthaigh ::: File Eireannach - Irish Poet [tomasocarthaigh]

	What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote? I read magazines my mother bought, especially Irelands Own. I started to write when in First Class in Primary School, childish rhyming poems, about items such as the Titanic, Kevin Barry and the first one: Jack Frost... none of which I have today alas... My classmates were the first to read what I wrote, and my work was quite popular while free: however, my brothers birthday was coming up and I wanted to get him a present... I saw an opportunity in my young capitalist mind... and charged 20p per sheet... at which promptly the intrest dried up!!! I then learned there is no money in poetry!!! I never looked back since...
	What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it? My official website: http://www.writingsinrhyme.com My current writings: http://www.writerscafe.org/writers/TomasOCarthaigh/ (...) My blog http://my.telegraph.co.uk/tocarthaigh Back catalogue: http://www.writerstoyou.com/users/profile.asp?user=1342&ti (...) Ó Cárthaigh
	What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write? Sometimes I read somethingthat inspires me, a quote or suchlike, and the words just flow. Other times it can be a struggle. I set myself challenges: for a month I will write a poem a day at least, and often write more. I use the times of lack of inspiration as a chance to type up my writing...
	What type of reading inspires you to write? Any topic of intrest, current affairs, history, poems of other writers... anything. Of late I am using drawings and photos of other people to inspire me.
	What do you think are the basic ingredients of a story? A theme, expand it, consider the alternative, and summarise putting forward your take on it. Works every time.
	What voice do you find most to your liking: first person or third person? Third person predominantly.
	What well known writers do you admire most? The Three Roberts: Burns, Service and Frost. The classics: Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Byron Irish: Yeats, Colum, Kavanagh, Kinsella Local: Derek Fanning, Anthony Sullivan On blog: Michael Sullivan a.k.a Sulllivan the Poet WritersCafe.org - Lara Gandré International Campaigning poet: Paul Polansky
	What is required for a character to be believable? How do you create yours? It just tends to flow, and I biuld thecharachter around the story and the rhyme...
	Are you equally good at telling stories orally? Nope... unless they are ghost stories...
	Deep down inside, who do you write for? For me... I like to write, and for those who like my writing. To hell with the begrudgers...
	Is writing a form of personal therapy? Are internal conflicts a creative force? Not really, no.
	Does reader feed-back help you? Yes, for facts, feeling and finish, as my spelling can be brutal...
	Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards? Ive won a few on writers portals, but non in the real world...
	Do you share rough drafts of your writings with someone whose opinion you trust? I post on writers communitied, and edit to reflect feedback if any.
	Do you believe you have already found "your voice" or is that something one is always searching for? Yep, Im a chrinicaller of current events, a reteller of history, a bard of legends and ghost stories and a campaigner for cultural and political issues. Prehaps a poetic crank!!! Who was it said: every man must have a cause, even if its bloody ducks!" His name was Scott, a famous painter of duck scenes or something...
	What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.? I set myself for a month to write a poem a day, and often exceed this. I also try to write a poem a week in Irish, and one a month in Serbian and French. Paying to get the latter three edited is proving VERY costly... I like to try new forms apart from the usual ones, and am experimenting with Standard Habbies, Haibuns and Haikus.
	What do you surround yourself with in your work area in order to help your concentrate? I roll into bed, paper of computer in hand, and start to write as the mood takes me...
	Do you write on a computer? Do you print frequently? Do you correct on paper? What is your process? I have two systems, write on paper, retype on computer being the first. The latter is to write on computer. I print, and then correct on computer, and print again to check. Errors are best seen on the printed paper.
	What sites do you frequent on-line to share experiences or information? www.writerscafe.org www.poemhunter.com www.writerstoyou.com www.writeoutloud.com www.facebook.com
	What has been your experience with publishers? Lulu.com was easy for self publishing. YouWriteOn.com was easy to submit to, but I have heard nothing back yet.
	What are you working on now? I am catalogueing my work into subjects, to make into chapbooks, for publishing. Also translating my non English language poems at quite a cost...
	What do you recommend I do with all those things I wrote years ago but have never been able to bring myself to show anyone? Post them online on a writers community like Writerscafe.org or Writeoutloud.net