Dublin hums differently in September. Tucked away in hotel conference rooms and cozy reading spaces, the city comes alive—one pitch, one passage, one perfectly timed pause at a time.
The International Dublin Writers Festival (IDWF) is back from September 19–21, 2025, and this year’s lineup promises to stir imaginations, strengthen storytelling, spark connections, and explore new ways to share your work with the world.
At its heart, IDWF isn’t just a gathering; it’s a living, breathing story in motion. Writers, poets, editors, and dreamers from around the world will gather at Academy Plaza Hotel for a weekend of workshops, readings, and the kind of informal chats that can turn strangers into collaborators.
Tom Donnelly: Behind the Scenes of Great Characters
One of the most anticipated sessions this year features Tom Donnelly (T.D. Donnelly), a Hollywood screenwriter turned novelist, known for blockbusters like Sahara, Conan the Barbarian, and Dylan Dog: Dead of Night. Donnelly’s career has spanned over two decades in the film industry, where he’s worked with major studios and adapted works from authors like Ray Bradbury, Clive Cussler, Stan Lee, and Robert E Howard. Now, he’s stepping into the literary spotlight with his debut thriller novel, Year of the Rabbit.
At IDWF, Donnelly will lead an immersive session on Deep Character Toolkit that explores the art of crafting characters. It’s a rare chance to learn from someone who’s spent years shaping screen legends and now brings those skills to the written word.
In this session, he’ll break down characters as function, theme, and journey. Whether you’re building heroes, villains, or the perfect sidekick, Donnelly’s toolkit promises to leave writers with fresh angles and sharper tools to bring characters to life–ones that stay with readers long after the story ends.
Voices of the Festival
This year’s festival is packed with voices you’ll want to hear. It’s a chance to level up, stay current, and get inspired.
- Lindsay Sedgwick kicks off the festival with a practical, step-by-step guide to selling your story to the screen industry. Perfect for authors dreaming of that big screen adaptation.
- Tom McBrien tackles the age-old struggle between passion and commercial viability, offering strategies for balancing creative freedom with market expectations.
- Keith Carreiro introduces mind mapping, a powerful prewriting tool to help writers organize ideas and unlock their next blockbuster.
- Katherine Mezzacappa explores writing historical fiction through the senses—how to bring the past to life with authenticity while keeping modern readers hooked.
- Greg Fields delves into the essential question: Why do we write? His session bridges the personal and the universal, helping writers connect their own experiences to stories that resonate with others.
- Jeremy Strozer leads an improv workshop that is a creative playground, using applied improvisation to help writers get past mental blocks and rediscover the joy in storytelling.
- Afric McGlinchey shares key editing strategies, turning first drafts into polished gems by learning to read like a reader.
- Peter Merrens will demonstrate the imaginative use of AI in world-building, showing how technology can support, rather than replace, creative storytelling.
- Geraldine Walsh will offer her insights on Writing for a Living—how to pivot, sustain momentum, and build a writing career that’s both creative and financially viable.
Ready, Set, Pitch!
If you’ve ever wanted to test your story’s hook, the Public Pitch Session is your chance to step up and pitch your project live to a panel of industry professionals. Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, or a work-in-progress, this session offers instant, constructive feedback that could shape your next steps.
Beyond the Workshops
Of course, a festival isn’t just about what happens on stage. IDWF 2025 is brimming with opportunities to connect, whether it’s the casual buzz of the dinner and networking sessions, morning meet-ups, or impromptu coffee chats that spark new collaborations.
The festival also offers hybrid access, with a selection of prerecorded and live online sessions. Writers from around the world can tune in, ensuring that the storytelling community stretches well beyond the hotel walls.
Your Story in the Making
From building unforgettable characters to mastering the publishing process, from the mechanics of editing to the delicate art of writing for a living, IDWF 2025 is a celebration of stories in all their shapes and stages.
Whether you’re pitching, publishing, or just finding your voice, there’s a seat waiting for you. And who knows? You might just walk away with your next big idea, and a few new friends too.
Pack your notebook. #IDWF25 is coming!
Bring your best questions. Dublin’s ready to write its next chapter. Are you?
Find out more at internationaldublinwritersfestival.com
