So -
It's funny, I have an uncomfortable feeling of wanting to tell people that I have had some good news, mixing with huge embarrassment. I didn't tell many that I was on the short list, I wasn't going to mention it in fact. So when I won I had this conversation with my mum and a few others. "Oh, erm, there was this thing..." mumble, mumble. I was squirming, not sure why. Haven't heard a word from my dad (who lives with my mum) and when we spoke on the phone he didn't mention it. Both my brother's are on facebook but they haven't mentioned it either. My husband is pleased but hasn't read a thing I've written for years. Anyway, I decided to brave this out and announce publicly that this is quite the nicest thing that has happened to me in ages.
I am thrilled with my prize. Thank you to Waterstone's for being so incredibly supportive of the many writers it employs, and thank you to the judges from Simon & Schuster, Arvon and United Agents. I'll shut up now and hope you can forgive the showing off.
19 comments:
Whoop! Huge congrats. That's brilliant to hear - and well done for saying us. Us readers are here for the ups as well, you know!
Nik
Dear S
I am so pleased. I'm so pleased. I'm so pleased. I'm SO... oh shut up woman. Get the picture? I AM SO PLEASED.
And I know exactly what you mean about the good news thing... you sort of feel you are crowing when you arent, and its just saying... and why the f*** is it that we can share grotty stuff happily, but not happy stuff willingly? Being Brits, thats what.
Well, your brothers may not even notice. Or say anything. if they are like my brother, anyway! But for what its worth, there's loads of peeps out here who are thrilled and very proud of you. So effing there.
Book in post
x
Good. Good good good that you are sharing the great stuff with us as well as everything else!!! And what great stuff!!! Re family, if you mumbled they probably didn't get it at all... but family is annoying, anyway, so let us go WHOO-HOO for you instead!!! Sara rules!
Huge congrats. What fun! Champers!
Fantastic :-)
wow, brilliant, very well done to you x!
Weeeeeeeheeeeeeeee! Well done. Enjoy!
Aww, you are all lovely! I feel unfamiliarly warm and fuzzy.
Vanessa - yeah, weird how we can say oh we got rejected and it really hurt and so on, but saying we won kinda sticks. Let's be loud and proud!
And thank you for the lovely things you said on your blog about my writing. I may well swipe them and use it as a quote here! Not gonna comment on that thread though, suffice to say I heartily disagree with the Guardian article.
Tania - I am loving those Whoo-hooo's!
Congratulations Sara and enjoy your spoils, especially the Arvon course. Keep writing, writing, writing...:-)
Dear Sara,
I hope that this finds you well!
I’m a literary agent at McIntosh & Otis, an agency in New York. I've just read your piece, "Wheelbarrows (Too Many)" and greatly enjoyed it. I noticed that you said you were working on a novel. I would be very interested to take a look.
I look forward to being in touch!
All best,
Rebecca Strauss
Rebecca Strauss
McIntosh and Otis, Inc.
353 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10016
Email: rebeccastrauss@mcintoshandotis.com
So glad you did share this. It's inspiring to read. Well done you!
You show off as much as you like. You have won this by talent and determination. It is inspiring for other writers, especially with us slogging on the NaNoWrMo path.....
Congratulations Sarah :-)
On ya!
x Emma (in NZ)
I have been neglecting you and I haven't even congratulated you on winning this award. So warmest congratulations, and I do hope that I will be able to walk into a branch of Waterstone's one day and buy a book written by you. That would be so great.
Sara, I'm sorry for coming to the party so late, but I am thrilled for you.
Honestly, any writer's good news, particularly a woman writer from our community, feels like good news for me too. It's inspiring and exciting all round, so good for you for sharing and for allowing us to celebrate with you. Enjoy. Enjoy!
Funny, I too feel like I have so few people to share my writing with, my family and husband never read my work. Thus there's few with whom to share the odd high of recognition and the many lows. That is one of the greatest gifts this community has given me: I don't now feel like it's just me and the writing and the walls.
Congratulations again.
Beth - thank you. Yes, must write, write, write!
Rebecca - thank you for dropping by. I will email you.
Fia, Julia, Emma - thank you so much. It's so nice that people have been happy for me. And it's lovely to share good news. I want more good news!
Ethel - thank you! Yes, this writing community is so important isn't it. Interesting to hear that your family don't read your work either. It can be incredibly solitary as you say, so hurray for online writing chums.
Congratulations! I am a little behind on my blog reading due to professional obligations. But I am very happy for you. That has to be a shot in the arm. There is nothing quite like positive feedback.
You show off as much as you like: it's well-earned! And Vanessa's right - in fact, I'd say it's even more important to share good news than bad (but am ex-Brit ...!).
Congratulations, Sarah.
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