Thursday, February 28, 2013

Small Glimmers of Light

Although life is tough right now and nothing can help me through the loss of my beautiful Zac, there has been some nice news: I found out today that I am the winner of the Fiction Desk's first flash fiction contest, with my flash story, A Call to Arms. Now, it is no exaggeration to say that just this week I had decided to give up on finding a home for this story. I came to the conclusion that it's a story only its creator could love. Hmm. The universe had other ideas, and for that I am very grateful. Huge congratulations too to the finalists:
  • Gavin Cameron, with ‘A Big Leap’
  • James Collett, with ‘The Clever Skeleton’
  • Damon King, with ‘Simmo!’
  • Paul Lenehan, with ‘For Joy’
  • Matt Plass, with ‘Invisible Them’
  • Ian Shine, with ‘Love Stops at Ten Metres’
We will all be published in the Fiction Desk's next anthology, in the spring.

I also found a home for another story (a long one, almost 2000 words...) that I thought was perhaps too strange to get anywhere: The House of Meat was a finalist in the Words with Jam short story contest and will be published in their anthology. It takes place in a laboratory where they grow artificial meat. I said it was strange.

So, small glimmers at a time when I was having a few wobbly moments about writing in general. Wobbles are okay. Taking a break is okay (I spent a great deal of my recent writing retreat st. It's good to see if the yearning is still there. It's good to let the universe provide you with a few hints. Thank you, Universe. I think I'm getting the message.

Addendum: Another message
Today I found out I won 3rd prize in Salt's Flash Fiction contest, my story, A Song for Falling, will be published in their prize anthology. I hear you, Universe.

14 comments:

I Must Be Off said...

Congratulations, Tania!

Rachel Fenton said...

Many congratulations, Tania - you've got to keep on keeping on!

Frances said...

Congratulations from me too, Tania!

Vanessa Gebbie said...

Well there you go - there's no shutting up that universe!

Caroline M Davies said...

Hooray for small glimmers and well done Tania. Of course you shouldn't stop - your writing is unique and I mean that in the best possible way as Ian McMillan might say.

Teresa Stenson said...

Congratulations, Tania. Artificial meat - topical!

So sorry to hear about Zac, what a beauty. I love his little white socks. Take care.

Tania Hershman said...

Thanks, everyone.

Teresa, thank you, he was gorgeous, a tiger. x x

Lauri said...

Congrats on your contest wins. The beginning of this year seems to be particularly rough on my writing friends. So many are wondering if it might not be time to take a job and give it all up, myself included. I'm crossing fingers the universe piled everything bad in Jan/Feb to see who among us would hold in there.

I've only had one day of March but already it rained (which we haven't had in ages) and I baked brownies by accident (meant to have been a cake but brownies are even better) and earned a bit of money with a reader's report and re-sold an old article about the history of my village. So maybe it's all turning around? I hope so for both of us.

Dan Purdue said...

Three-fold congratulations, Tania!

It's really encouraging to hear from both you and Jon Pinnock that you've recently found homes for 'tricky' stories that have been hard to place. I have a couple of those and each time I send them back out it feels like I'm one of those terrible pushy parents, forcing my offspring to do something it's really not cut out for. You've convinced me to keep going - somewhere, somebody out there will appreciate them!

All the best,
Dan.

I Must Be Off said...

Just saw the Salt win. Congratulations!

Sarah Hilary said...

Wonderful, affirming universe! I know you probably won't have been inviting it to "amaze and delight" you this last week, as you have done in the past, but sometimes you don't need to ask - and that's wonderful. Congratulations! I'm so thrilled and happy for you. x

Group 8 said...

Thrilled for you on all counts. Well done. Never give up!
Sorry about Zac. Hugs (())

chillcat said...

I'd saying the universe is smiling down at you! Great work Tania Xcat

Dora Dee said...

Congratulations Tania! Glad you've had such wonderful news to lift your spirits. I've neglected Your Blog of late bcs my Android has been acting up. Everytime There's an update they fix one thing and Screw Up Something Else...

I'm Still Trying To recuperate From boston.