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Hi, I’m Dermot Rock

I write about memory, movement, solitude, and the quiet moments that stay with us longer than we expect. Most of my work lives somewhere between literary fiction and personal reflection — stories about distance, belonging, routine, and the emotional texture of everyday life.

Over the years, I've filled notebooks with observations, unfinished drafts, highlighted passages, and fragments of conversations I didn't want to forget. Some eventually became essays, short stories, or books like The Shape of Quiet Things. Others remain unfinished, waiting quietly in old folders and margins.

This website is a place to collect that work — books, essays, notes, and occasional reflections on writing and creativity. You can explore the writing archive, read the latest essays, or subscribe to the newsletter where I share new work and behind-the-scenes notes more personally and less formally.

Find out more about me

Notes on creativity, stillness, literature, and the emotional details of everyday life.

Early access to upcoming books and writing projects. Read previews, excerpts, and works in progress before they appear anywhere else.

Carefully curated reading recommendations and literary notes. Discover meaningful books, essays, and ideas that continue to influence the work behind the scenes.

Behind-the-scenes insights into the creative process. Reflections on routine, observation, storytelling, and the slow work of shaping ideas into finished pieces.