Saturday, October 20, 2012

Draw off






(Picture credit: google images)

I've had an up and down couple of weeks, as noticed in my last couple of posts, but Saturday seems to have offered a condensed version of the whole month's endeavours.

I got a rejection from The New Yorker. Having made it my goal to aim higher, I found I can fall further and still get up again. And it's a good story and it was a good rejection, so plenty still to milk from the experience. Getting a story in The New Yorker just became more appealing than ever.

I went to the Armageddon Expo, for a dose of all things comics and costume. I took my daughter, and we queued for over an hour in front of the funniest trio I have ever heard. They offered running commentary on everyone's costumes and were generally the highlight of the whole afternoon. I said hullo to Adrian Kinnaird, bought Ant Sang's graphic novel, Shaolin Burning, and the very friendly Karl Wills' Princess Seppuku and the Hunt for Robot -X. I got welted by a huge plastic weapon strapped to someone's back - as they turned, it almost took me out! And velcro'd to a large passing pseudo-soldier. And charged by a large lady who appeared to be on the brink of a crowd induced panic but had in all likelihood just caught a glimpse of a dalek and wanted an autograph, almost exterminating me in the process. And my daughter got scammed by the sweet n' salty pop-corn vendor.

I came home to find an email informing me I made the shortlist of The Royal Society of New Zealand Manhire Prize. It was a fun thing to enter because I got to choose a nom de plume - mine was Scott Falcon. I'll send a hand written poem to the person who can work out how I came up with that name. I'm thrilled to have made the shortlist, as the entries are "judged on their literary merits AND the extent to which they engage a non-scientific audience." Which is the sweetest part of all.



20 comments:

Teresa Stenson said...

Ah - brilliant news, Rachel. It's weird the timing of good news sometimes, isn't it. Sorry you've had a turbulent time lately. Can't wait to hear about it when you get in The New Yorker.

Anonymous said...

The shortlist news is BRILLIANT!!

Rachel Fenton said...

I've been like a freeze-dried pea in a cup-a-soup, Teresa ;) I'll keep you posted. And thank you!

Rachel Fenton said...

Thanks, Donna! All part of my cunning plan :)

chillcat said...

I think that good rejections - and no less than a good rejection from the New Yorker! - can really get you going. It really really makes you try with that burning wish. Go for it! And great news about the short list! Ciao cat

Rachel Fenton said...

Thank you, Cat - I'm determined to get something in TNY, but I'll settle for the shortlist this week!

Rachel Fox said...

Expo sounds like a fun adventure!
x

Rachel Fenton said...

;) Like most things, the fun was to be had in the queue!

Tania Hershman said...

Brilliant news about the shortlisting, Rachel, lovely to hear about another competition for science-inspired creative writing! Scott Falcon, hmm... Robert Falcon Scott, antarctic explorer??!

Vanessa Gebbie said...

Brilliant news. And keep plugging at The New Yorker!

Lori said...

Exciting things are happening for you! You must be doing something very right.
The expo sounds like fun also. I've never been to one of those, but I imagine a lot of craziness. I would probably like it.

Rachel Fenton said...

Thanks, Tania!

It's a crackingly good competition, and Bill Manhire is a much esteemed poet, so I am completely thrilled to have made the shortlist.

And, I should have known you'd guess in a whisker! - Email me an address if you'd like the hand written poem x

Rachel Fenton said...

Thanks very much, Vanessa! Don't you worry, I'm polishing another story already!

Rachel Fenton said...

I dunno, Lori, but as Twain said (or was it Jefferson?) the harder I work, the luckier I get.

If you ever come to NZ in October, I'll take you to the Expo. I would go as my own graphic creation, but it might get embarrassing in the queue!

Group 8 said...

Congrats on the shortlisting!! Hope you win :)

Rachel Fenton said...

Thanks very much, Nuala. I'm trying not to think too much about it! :)

Anonymous said...

Great news!
Persevere with the New Yorker.
Your Expo experience sounds like great material for a comic short story. I especially like the bit where you got velcroed to someone!

Rachel Fenton said...

Thanks, Helen. Yeah, the guy had it on his sleeve pockets, for some reason - just shouldered into me and - whoosh - took me with him!

Tim Jones said...

I had got out of touch with your blog - and now I have had just had the enjoyable experience of catching up.

Congratulations on the Manhire Prize shortlisting, and I hope you go on to win! I can say for the record that I have submitted twice to that competition (though not this year) and not made the shortlist, so you are already one long step ahead.

And as for the New Yorker, clearly they were too busy hunkering down for the pending Superstorm Sandy to know good work when they saw it!!

Anyway, it's good to hear that you are continuing to have success, and I don't have any hesitation in predicting that more is on the way.

Tania may have sussed Scottie before I did, but thinking about RF Scott has given me an idea for a short story, so I am happy regardless.

Rachel Fenton said...

I'm so happy my post.mention of RFS has inspired a story! Made my day.

And thanks for the kind words and encouragement, as ever, Tim.

I've been off the internet more than on it - reading more and writing more - it seems to yield dividends...must quit the pc more often!