Congratulation to everyone! There is an immense courage to write and even greater so to press publish. Being vulnerable to share your work with the world. To submit for an award, more bravery is needed, one that often comes with an anxiety over our work and what people will say, and whether I will "win".
We all have won - being here - doing the doing and exposing to feedback.
That's why I congratulate everyone who entered!
Thank you to Gabriela Blandy and Sarah Williams for giving us this opportunity and giving feedback.
As an author returning from ill health to the profession, I value the feedback more than anyting.
So thank you for this. It has been a great learning for me.
To all shortlisted authors - wow, just wow! Your openings gave me goosebumps and I beseech you - whatever the outcome of the Award - please please keep writing and sharing your hard work, insight and beauty with the world!
What a glorious comment, Dee, I can just feel all the loving, sharing energy! I'm really glad that my feedback meant something to you, and that you enjoyed reading the opening extracts. You are right that you've all won. Really, I felt that way about EVERY entry! The courage, the insights and beauty. Thanks for your words, and well done.
Oh Dee, what a beautiful message. Standing next to you as a comrade in the joy of writing! I certainly already feel like I’ve done something completely epic. Good Luck to you and all of us shortlisted. What a special little thing to be a part of. X
Wonderful to see the shortlist, and the depth and variety of experience captured so beautifully in prose! Congrats to those who made it, would love to read more... 💚🩵
This is better than the most beautiful frosted autumn leaf through my window right now! 😉🍂Thank you. Thank you for reading our words and for the insightful and precious feedback which I’ve tucked up in my pocket.
As I said on Instagram, this feels like a kind of glorious lift off. (And yes leaves on my garden, you are being very poetic dancing about with a live as-I-write metaphor!)
And after a very (very) long time of staying on safe ground. There are treasures within us all. Good Luck shortlisters. I salute you all (pen in hand). Thank you. X
Gorgeous, Bex! I can really feel the depth of your appriciation when you say it’s better than the most beautiful leaf. Wow! I am glad the feedback been valuable enough for you to tuck away in your pocket. It really brings a smile to my face that after a very long time of staying safe you dared to lift off!
Celebrating every writer who has put their heart on the page and shared their words.
It’s been a rich and wonderful experience to read and immerse in these opening extracts, and your reflections, Gabriela, are so supportive and insightful, bringing new layers to the reading of them. Thank you. I am learning from you all and can’t wait to read more.
To be included among the long list was such an honour. To make it to the short list, I am truly blown away. It has taken a long time to find my way back to writing my heart, so this is feels very special. Thank you.
Nicky, I’m with you. Letting our words fly out onto the wind when they’ve been held tight for so long is B I G. 💚 And whatever the outcome those words fly free. And so do we. Xxxx
Thanks so much for this project and this process! It's beautiful to watch the entries unfurl slowly this way—I can't wait to see the full pieces and read more of the authors here.
For my own piece, it's an honor to be included. The summer of my essay changed the trajectory of my life, so much so that I'm now curled up with my newborn asleep on my belly as I read. I hadn't really written a reflection of the time yet, and this prompt was the impetus I needed to begin wrapping words around it.
Congratulation to everyone! There is an immense courage to write and even greater so to press publish. Being vulnerable to share your work with the world. To submit for an award, more bravery is needed, one that often comes with an anxiety over our work and what people will say, and whether I will "win".
We all have won - being here - doing the doing and exposing to feedback.
That's why I congratulate everyone who entered!
Thank you to Gabriela Blandy and Sarah Williams for giving us this opportunity and giving feedback.
As an author returning from ill health to the profession, I value the feedback more than anyting.
So thank you for this. It has been a great learning for me.
To all shortlisted authors - wow, just wow! Your openings gave me goosebumps and I beseech you - whatever the outcome of the Award - please please keep writing and sharing your hard work, insight and beauty with the world!
What a glorious comment, Dee, I can just feel all the loving, sharing energy! I'm really glad that my feedback meant something to you, and that you enjoyed reading the opening extracts. You are right that you've all won. Really, I felt that way about EVERY entry! The courage, the insights and beauty. Thanks for your words, and well done.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thanks!
Oh Dee, what a beautiful message. Standing next to you as a comrade in the joy of writing! I certainly already feel like I’ve done something completely epic. Good Luck to you and all of us shortlisted. What a special little thing to be a part of. X
😍🥹😘☺️
Wonderful to see the shortlist, and the depth and variety of experience captured so beautifully in prose! Congrats to those who made it, would love to read more... 💚🩵
Celebrating your generosity of spirit, Chloé! You are so right about the depth and variety of experience.
Thank you Chloe. My heart is fit to burst. 🩷
Congratulations to all who made the shortlist! 🎉
Thanks, Lynne. It's lovely of you to congratulate those on the shortlist.
Thank you so much xxxxx
This is better than the most beautiful frosted autumn leaf through my window right now! 😉🍂Thank you. Thank you for reading our words and for the insightful and precious feedback which I’ve tucked up in my pocket.
As I said on Instagram, this feels like a kind of glorious lift off. (And yes leaves on my garden, you are being very poetic dancing about with a live as-I-write metaphor!)
And after a very (very) long time of staying on safe ground. There are treasures within us all. Good Luck shortlisters. I salute you all (pen in hand). Thank you. X
Gorgeous, Bex! I can really feel the depth of your appriciation when you say it’s better than the most beautiful leaf. Wow! I am glad the feedback been valuable enough for you to tuck away in your pocket. It really brings a smile to my face that after a very long time of staying safe you dared to lift off!
Celebrating every writer who has put their heart on the page and shared their words.
It’s been a rich and wonderful experience to read and immerse in these opening extracts, and your reflections, Gabriela, are so supportive and insightful, bringing new layers to the reading of them. Thank you. I am learning from you all and can’t wait to read more.
To be included among the long list was such an honour. To make it to the short list, I am truly blown away. It has taken a long time to find my way back to writing my heart, so this is feels very special. Thank you.
Nicky, I’m with you. Letting our words fly out onto the wind when they’ve been held tight for so long is B I G. 💚 And whatever the outcome those words fly free. And so do we. Xxxx
Thanks so much for this project and this process! It's beautiful to watch the entries unfurl slowly this way—I can't wait to see the full pieces and read more of the authors here.
For my own piece, it's an honor to be included. The summer of my essay changed the trajectory of my life, so much so that I'm now curled up with my newborn asleep on my belly as I read. I hadn't really written a reflection of the time yet, and this prompt was the impetus I needed to begin wrapping words around it.
With a full heart,
Kelsey