Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

A bit of good news for a change!

56 replies

Rhubarb · 22/04/2004 14:05

A while ago I entered a writing competition called the Douglas Copeland Award. £1000 for a short story 1000 words long. Anyway, I've been told that my story has made the longlist of 40 stories out of 1,500 entries!
The longlist will be whittled down to 10 stories on the 1st of May and the winner announced on 5th May.

The thing is, I got an email from them today inviting me to the awards party and asking if I'd like to read my story! Apparently all the finalists have invites, but I'm not sure if that's all 40 from the longlist, or if this is an indication that I've made the top 10!

BUT, the party is at the Poetry Cafe in London on Weds night (May 5th). I've love to go and read my story out, but how do I get there? ds is only 4 months and still breastfed. I don't think we'd be able to take them with us as the party is in the evening anyway. Yet we can't leave them with anyone as he is too young yet and sometimes still wakes at night. I could go on my own but I don't want to go to this party all by myself! Plus I've nowhere to stay!

What do I do?

OP posts:
helenmc · 22/04/2004 17:11

now girls - what we going to find for Rhubarb to wear ?

secur · 22/04/2004 17:14

Message withdrawn

kiwisbird · 22/04/2004 17:14

not at teh cafe but exp is a happy nice hippy and likes arty folks, he is always saying if I ever know anyone who is stuck for somewhere, his commune might suit... Big arty flat in Camberwell...
And ps congrats on your story

dinosaur · 22/04/2004 17:24

Rhubarb - you certainly can! And I'd love to come along with you, I'd be honoured. Get in touch by email and let me know what DH's friends say.

katierocket · 22/04/2004 18:27

and you must be through to the last 10 because they wouldn't be asking 40 finalists to read their story.

Janh · 22/04/2004 18:55

I just found this via Google and I should think you are one of the 10 too, Rhubarb! (Shortlist to appear on website on May 1 so they must have decided before then. Which one is yours? Pregnancy bloom???)

God, aren't you nervous???

Tinker · 22/04/2004 18:58

Oh well done Rhubarb Think this may call for a celebratory Manchester meet-up. Maybe?

Tinker · 22/04/2004 19:00

Which one's your Rhubarb, 'Sex on the Moon'

aloha · 22/04/2004 19:20

Just seen this...Congratulations Rhubarb! So pleased for you.

WideWebWitch · 22/04/2004 21:24

Well done Rhubarb! Let us know how it goes won't you, you must go, definitely!

bloss · 23/04/2004 00:44

Message withdrawn

CountessDracula · 23/04/2004 09:05

Wow well done Rhubarb!

(dino bloody well is lorry driver btw )

Original poster
Rhubarb · 23/04/2004 09:44

Ooooh Janh! How right you are! Although I think Sex on the Moon would have been more interesting! (Hope that one gets read out!)

Spoke to dh last night and he is up for it, very supportive. He phoned his friends but they weren't in. I think he would prefer to stay with them as he doesn't fancy an evening in a stranger's house. Just wish we could take granny to babysit! But dd is sorted, she can to to grannies. Fingers crossed now that his friends' won't think us too cheeky for asking, and that they say yes!

Tickets to the 'do' are £2 if you subscribe to the site, which is free. So if anyone else wants to go.............!

Ooh, I feel excited already!

OP posts:
florenceuk · 23/04/2004 09:48

Congrats Rhubarb - and glad to see it is all sorted with babysitting.

Tortington · 23/04/2004 10:54

congratulations my dearest friend. you are very talented and very brave. good luck.

i have met dino BTW and sheis a very nice lady. even if she drives trucks

willow2 · 23/04/2004 12:44

Wow - that is amazing, you clever thing! Hope you have a brilliant time. And win!

Caribbeanqueen · 23/04/2004 13:02

That's brilliant, congratulations! Have a brilliant time and let us know how it goes.

When do we get to see the story?

secur · 23/04/2004 13:11

Message withdrawn

tigermoth · 24/04/2004 09:21

wow rhubarb, that is such good news. Well done!!!!So glad dinosaur can help. I'd like to come too if I can manage it - is that ok?

The pulp site says the shortlist will be announced on 1 May, so then you'll know for sure if you've made it. Though I can't see the organisers inviting all 40 finalists to read, so it looks like you in that 10.

Re networking - why not do something on the computer with your contact details and print out some copies to take with you.

ScummyMummy · 24/04/2004 09:31

OOO! I wanna go! I'll check out the site and try to get a ticket for sure. Sounds ace. Well done Rhuby. Also there's always a spare sofa/floor here if other accomodation ideas break down.

ScummyMummy · 24/04/2004 09:34

Or I could try shunting the boys off to doting GrPs and offer you and dh bunk beds as slept in by your bestest yellow friend.

ZolaPola · 24/04/2004 09:58

Congratulations Rhubarb, hope you enjoy the evening! I'm doing a Skyros holiday soon, part of which is a writer's lab so should try & pick up some tips from you. Quite nervous about it as not written much since my teens & very much an amateur, if in doubt I'll stick to their other activities like yoga etc. Anyone out there done a Skyros hol before?
BTW, Poetry Cafe is in Betterton St, Covent Garden (which is nearest tube).

Janstar · 24/04/2004 10:11

Brilliant, rhubarb! I'm sorry I've only just seen this as I would have jumped at the chance to have you come and stay with me and come with you to the party! I live in Herts but it's easy to get to London for the evening by train from here.

Why aren't you in the mumsnet creative writing club then?

Original poster
Rhubarb · 24/04/2004 16:11

Sorry guys, but I don't think I'm going. I got a phone call from the editor of Pulp.net to say that unfortunately I didn't quite make it into the top ten. She said I was still welcome to go to the party, but tbh it's such a long way, would mean dh taking 2 days off work, etc, etc and if I know that I have no chance of winning, well then I simply can't justify going.

However I'm really proud that I made it to the top 40! The ed did ask me to re-submit the story for their other competitions, she said she really liked it! But the judging was out of her hands.

Thanks for all your support and offers of help, you really do know how to make someone feel special! It's given me a good boost anyway, so I think I might submit others that I have written, and even join the Mumsnet Creative Writing Club! And I will definitely spend a weekend in London before we go on our travels, I would love to meet you all! In fact, meeting some of you was one of the things I was looking forward to the most!

OP posts:
mummytojames · 24/04/2004 16:13

everything crossed for you my dear