Cathy Galvin

ABOUT

and thanks for visiting my website. I am a writer with a passion for poetry, journalism and the short story.

To know more about me and my work, I hope you will find everything you need here. If not, feel free to contact me.

Hello

As an editor, I have commissioned anthologies of fiction, prose and long-form journalism and worked as an editorial consultant to a variety of magazines and organisations, including Arts Council England. I have held senior editorial positions on national and international newspapers including the Sunday Times and Newsweek.

As a literary entrepreneur, I have founded Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award; the UK national short story organisation, Word Factory, and its mentoring award, The Word Factory Apprentice Award; and curated the UK’s first literary festival focussed on citizenship: Citizen: The New Story.

The Word Factory

I founded the Word Factory in 2013 because I loved hearing great short stories read aloud by their authors and the company of writers. I wanted to share that passion - at live events and online.

Along the way, I've been joined by a wonderful team of writers keen to share that ethos. With their help, Word Factory is now the UK's leading promoter of excellence in short story writing - with linked readings, masterclasses, a short story club, opportunities to perform and publish work and mentoring.

“ Cathy Galvin has created a remarkable community of writers around the Word Factory. Inspiring.” A.L.Kennedy

the word factory

what they say

Awards

Shortlisted for the 2017 & 2019 Listowel Poetry Collection Prize. Judge, Thomas McCarthy

Shortlisted for the inaugural Goldsmiths/ Spread The Word Life-Writing Prize

Selected to participate in Disappear Here: a film and poetry project 2017

Received a Hawthornden Fellowship 2016

Writer In Residence, The Heinrich Boll Cottage,

Achill Island, Ireland 2016

Highly commended, Ilkley Poetry Prize 2014.

Judge Blake Morrison

Mentor

With a sensitivity to where writers turn for inspiration, I have curated creative writing masterclasses with leading authors including Tessa Hadley, Carys Davies, Kit de Waal, Toby Litt and Neil Gaiman for the Word Factory and Arts Council England.

I’ve given poetry workshops at festivals including the Winchester Writers’ Festival and Charles Causley Festival.

I mentor writers through the Word Factory Apprentice Award and privately.