There's a major Irish Short Story competition held every year.
Last time I entered - about 5 years ago - I made the Long List.
This time I made the Short List.
There were 1,575 stories submitted and the Short List was 103 which included my story. I made that magical 6.5% of all submissions - you can see that my accountant mind lives on, ha.
The reason I am posting this here is that it is a very weird feeling to make it to the Short List. Weird and wonderful.
I want to celebrate this - you know - but it sounds foolish to other than a writer's ears and self-laudatory. Actually, pathetic is the word. Not the achievement but the desire to blow up the balloons and throw around the sparklers and streamers.
Who would possibly understand that I would want to celebrate an overall non-win as I didn't make the final cut of 11?
I know where you are coming from, I had that feeling with the Irish Blog awards several times - total amazement that people would vote for me. Between 2007 and last year, I once got no nominations at all, another year I I made the long list, and the the others I made the list of finalists and the high point was 2008 when I was a winner.
ReplyDeleteHang in there, Girl, your time will come!
I think congratulations are in order. Are you going to post your short story so we can enjoy it?
ReplyDeleteYes, what Tom said. If you want to, of course. I'd love to read it.
ReplyDeleteWell I sure as hell get it! I am having a big gulp of wine right now, in your honour. It's no small feat to make the shortlist and it's worth celebrating and telling all your friends.
ReplyDeleteyes I get it big time! I am reading through Penelope Fitzgerald's novels in order and she published the first one in her 60's. I'm looking forward to reading yours.
ReplyDeleteYou SHOULD celebrate it - go you!
ReplyDelete.Go on with you! Don't be so modest. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI do! Celebrate away! It is wonderful that your work has received recognition ~ that is no small thing:)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful writing, so worthy of recognition. Congratulations!
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