Shortlisted!

Yesterday I discovered my memoir piece, “If…” was shortlisted for the Fish Short Memoir Prize.

I am so encouraged by this – for a couple of reasons. First, when I wrote it, I instinctively felt it was a piece of writing I could be proud of, and I submitted it unusually soon after I wrote it. It’s the first new thing I’d written since the long dry spell I had while being so unwell, too.

It also started me off writing a full length piece which is now at second draft stage. This is very new to me, although I have mined my childhood for short fiction. I’m still not altogether sure about it, so all encouragement is helpful.

Part mystery and part memoir, it’s been an odd combination of fun and torture to write. I’m well into the second draft now and I think it’s interesting – well it is about me – but I’m still not at all sure whether anyone else will want to read it.

Much like everything else I’ve written.

Onwards!