Ask An Editor
One-to-one session. Phone call or Zoom.
This session is a place for you to air whatever’s niggling you, and to articulate what you’re really seeking to do. It’s also an opportunity to gain practical information about writing and publishing.
As a writer, I’ve experienced first-hand the transformative effects of talking through a writing problem, and the tremendous value of a listening ear. As an editor and mentor, I’ve seen over and over again how a problem can crack open when the right question is asked at the right time.
‘I have a burning desire to write but can’t seem to get started.’
‘I’ve written 20,000 words of a novel and feel totally stuck.’
’Why can’t I seem to get close to my characters?’
‘I’m writing short stories but struggling to land the endings.’
‘I keep re-writing openings that never go any further.’
‘Should I do a Creative Writing MA?’
‘I want to apply for Arts Council funding, but I don’t know if I’m ready?’
‘I think I’ve finished a novel. What happens next?’
‘I’ve just published my first book and feel at a complete loss…’
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No!
All writers are welcome to book a session – both new and established.
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No.
Though if you or I think it would be prudent for me to look at a few pages, we can definitely arrange that.
If, however, you are seeking intensive feedback on a particular piece, I recommend taking a look at my Mentoring sessions.
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€125 per 1-hour session.
If you would like me to read any work in advance of the session, there’ll be an additional reading fee.
For concession rates, please get in touch.
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‘Every writer should have a mentor like Thomas Morris. He is reassuring, encouraging, honest, and incredibly insightful. He recognises the essence of a story, which is something every writer needs in a reader and editor. He is the perfect mentor for writers at all stages of their career.’
—Rebecca Ivory, author of Free Therapy
‘Over the past seven years, Tom has helped create an intellectual and psychological space for me as a writer that has been, and continues to be, completely transformative.’
—Chetna Maroo, author of Western Lane
'Thomas Morris helped me to re-see the short story: to examine my thoughts and convictions around the form, to let in more fun, to dig deeper into the gooey heart of what makes fiction worthwhile and exciting. A truly wonderful teacher and editor, whose insights have helped my writing tremendously.'
—John Patrick McHugh, author of Pure Gold and Fun and Games
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I have worked professionally in publishing since 2009, beginning my career at the Lilliput Press.
For twelve years, I worked at The Stinging Fly, in many capacities, including two years as Editor of the magazine. The Stinging Fly has an open submissions policy – anyone can submit work to the magazine, and it’s from these submissions that the magazine puts together each issue. During my editorship, I read thousands of short stories and worked with hundreds of writers. It was a privilege to read all this fiction and poetry, and to edit and nurture so many superb writers – a number of whom have since gone on to publish books of their own.
In later years, I became Editor at Large and ran the Stinging Fly Writer Development Programme, where I mentored a number of writers working towards their first books. During this time, I was also commissioning and editing fiction, essays, and literary criticism.
Nowadays I work with writers on a freelance basis and through state-funded initiatives such as the National Mentoring Programme.
A fuller account of my editing and publishing experience is available here.
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I have delivered workshops, talks and seminars at universities across Ireland and the UK, including University College Cork, where I taught on the MA in Creative Writing. I have also taught and given talks for institutions and organisations such as The Irish Writers Centre, The Faber Academy, The Stinging Fly, and The Arvon Foundation.
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I am the author of two books of stories: We Don’t Know What We’re Doing (2015) and Open Up (2023), both published by Faber & Faber.
My awards include the Wales Book of the Year, The Rhys Davies Trust Fiction Award, and a Somerset Maugham Award. In 2023, I was named as one of the 20 Best Young British Novelists by Granta magazine. My work has been shortlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize; and longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize, and the Sunday Times Short Story Award. My books have been chosen as a Book of the Year by The Guardian, The Observer, The Spectator, The Irish Times, and The Irish Independent.
Stories of mine have been published, anthologised, and broadcast in venues including: The Penguin Book of the Contemporary British Short Story; Best European Fiction; Zoetrope; Granta; and BBC Radio 4.
An Italian-language edition of Open Up was published by Edizioni Sur in 2026. A French edition is forthcoming in 2027.
Authors I’ve worked with
