I'm delighted to be a judge of the Essence of St Kilda, 2010 WORD PRIZE. If you love our seaside neighbourhood and wouldn't mind winning some of the $7000 up for grabs, you'll want to check out the details below. Also judging are Kate Holden and Ian Bland
$4000 First Prize
$2000 Second Prize
$1000 Third Prize
For details click Here.
Congratulations, Alec - well done indeed! (Fantastic prizes too)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ash. Maybe you can give me a few pointers on how best two get through two or three hundred submissions in two or three weeks without losing my mind.
ReplyDeleteHmmm! If I was a drinker, I'd say wine - but sugar is my vice most of the time.
ReplyDeleteWhen I've been faced with a massive amount of subs & a really tight deadline, I'd do the 1 page trick - if I'm not hooked after 1 page, I move on. Which is probably about as much (or even more) than the average reader might give a book or story they pick up in a store.
A longer deadline does, of course, allow for more reader per piece though - good like with 'em!
Even with the one page trick I'll still be reading over three hundred pages! So--> wine and sugar and some sleepless nights methinks.
ReplyDeleteHey Alec,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Definitely a well deserved honour.
I've been reading each sub all the way through. Having said that, I am a little tired from it... and I'm off sugar for a bit.
Uh-oh.
Hope it all goes well mate.
Hi Laurie.
ReplyDeleteI might mention that I'll be getting two or three weeks to read all my entries. Unfortunately not at a retreat doing nothing but reading. That's two weeks of my regular paid work and looking after a baby and preparing for an imminent house move. And I mention that just so everyone sending in their submissions might, if not weep for poor old me, then understand when I say I won't reading beyond the first page unless my socks have been blown off my cold Melbourne winter feet.
Though I must confess Laurie, you're a better man than me. Even with six months to read I know I wouldn't be able to get through three hundred submissions, all about the love of St Kilda, from start to finish.
I might move houses far, far away if I tried. Either that, or call myself the King of St Kilda--> the Botanical gardens are my kingdom, and all who pass my domain, must first whistle my special national anthem.
I might give up sugar afterwards.
Thanks for the thoughts & wishes though, Laurie. I do appreciate them.
I hadn't considered the weight of reading 300 stories, all set in Saint Kilda. It will be a unique, potentially Kafkaesque experience.
ReplyDeleteWith the house move in the mix and bub as well, that's one crazy workload.
I think you do what you have to. A writer's job is to make you want to keep reading. I can appreciate your decision to stop at page two if it's not engaging. I also know you'd expect nothing less of your own work; many writers could benefit from a similarly rigorous approach to their stories.
Good luck with it Alec. Hope it goes well.
P.S You should definitely call yourself The King of St Kilda...and carry a cane for twirling or whacking, as is your wont.