WRITERS' Week devotees can look forward to master classes in a range of literary forms from some of the country's top novelists, shortstory writers, poets and broadcasters, as announced by the festival this week. But be warned, if you're intending to take part in a class you're advised to book early as demand is at an all-time high for 2010. That's according to Writers' Week Chairman, Michael Lynch, this week on the announcement of some of the exciting details about the forthcoming word fleadh.

Roddy Doyle, Terry Prone, novelist Seán O'Reilly, celebrated short-story writer, Eilís Ní Dhuibhne, crime master Declan Hughes, novelist Sheila Flanagan, songwriter Mick Hanly and playwright Michael Harding are among the first-class tutors already lined up to take participants through the fundamentals of their craft. Workshops will be given in the novel, memoir, songwriting,

Meanwhile, Writers' Week has a considerable prize-fund of €30,000 for its many writing competitions, most notably, the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award with a €15,000 fund for the best Irish novel of the year — the most valuable fiction prize in the Irish literary calendar.

Other competitions include the Bryan MacMahon short story, Duais Foras na Gaeilge, the Eamon Keane play and the Kerry County Council Writing for Youth.

"There is unprecedented demand already for these much sought-after writing master classes and intending participants should book as early as possible to avoid disappointment," stated Chairman Michael Lynch.