tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post5098308537622232668..comments2024-02-25T10:06:20.056-08:00Comments on The Literary Pig: BBC National Short Story Award 2015: the shortlistTracyFellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10224475173136774530noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-62441026393095126822015-10-11T08:11:45.116-07:002015-10-11T08:11:45.116-07:00I'm really pleased you liked Briar Road, Joann...I'm really pleased you liked Briar Road, Joanna. Beautifully read by Maxine Peake.TracyFellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224475173136774530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-81775815549388656562015-10-11T08:10:33.236-07:002015-10-11T08:10:33.236-07:00The free entry makes it worth a punt, Patsy. And y...The free entry makes it worth a punt, Patsy. And you never know ... I usually don't have a story long enough.TracyFellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224475173136774530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-69380328201623945292015-10-08T05:24:19.585-07:002015-10-08T05:24:19.585-07:00I have just listened to Briar Road and my coffee w...I have just listened to Briar Road and my coffee went cold too. Looking forward to the rest.Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10346863303904973315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-65646550983897463972015-09-29T07:46:09.726-07:002015-09-29T07:46:09.726-07:00I did enter. I wasn't shocked not to be on the...I did enter. I wasn't shocked not to be on the shortlist even before I saw who is on it, but as I blog about free entry writing competitions I feel I should enter some.Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-73253175178726763352015-09-29T01:37:11.724-07:002015-09-29T01:37:11.724-07:00I find the whole thing a bit odd. Started with goo...I find the whole thing a bit odd. Started with good intentions, but muddled. If they want the best short story of the year, it should be irrelevant if it works on radio. If they want to make it an award, they should do that, having a panel select the shortlist from stories published in the given year - that's how big book awards work. If they want it to be a competition, they need to have the same transparency about the judging process as any competition, whether or not there is an entry fee. This, in summary, is why I don't enter. Not because I don't think I can compete with the big names, but because the playing field is not level.Rachael Dunlophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867623861097641597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-72294931514829377152015-09-29T01:26:11.858-07:002015-09-29T01:26:11.858-07:00That's a really good point, Rachael, which doe...That's a really good point, Rachael, which does make you wonder on the selection process. Perhaps this competition should be renamed as it's really about selecting a short story that works on radio - much like the Opening Lines competition ... though that has no cash incentive oddly.TracyFellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224475173136774530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-87133699626385278852015-09-29T01:24:20.420-07:002015-09-29T01:24:20.420-07:00Well you have to be 'in it' etc, Wendy, bu...Well you have to be 'in it' etc, Wendy, but have to agree it's not one to pin your hopes on! Let me know your favourite story.TracyFellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224475173136774530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-22175020541023548742015-09-28T14:09:44.830-07:002015-09-28T14:09:44.830-07:00The stories can be up to 8,000 words, but that'...The stories can be up to 8,000 words, but that's still too long for a 30 minute broadcast - for the 15 minute slots they ask for 1,800 words. Many of the NSSA shortlisted stories get abridged for broadcast, which seems crazy to me as it's already short form and very, very carefully structured as such by the writer.Rachael Dunlophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867623861097641597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-22917027873745751102015-09-28T07:57:45.245-07:002015-09-28T07:57:45.245-07:00Thanks for the links, Tracy - will listen to them ...Thanks for the links, Tracy - will listen to them when I have a quiet moment. I entered in 2014 when I was blissfully ignorant of who else might enter this sort of competition!Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-61809611804157445022015-09-28T07:29:11.053-07:002015-09-28T07:29:11.053-07:00Er, yes, oops. Thanks for that, Helen - have now c...Er, yes, oops. Thanks for that, Helen - have now corrected the blog. Yes, definitely WOULD read him again. It was sweet wasn't it, yet still had all the qualities of a really good short story. Always a good sign when you sit in the car and keep listening.TracyFellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224475173136774530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-39260439055781637232015-09-28T07:27:44.103-07:002015-09-28T07:27:44.103-07:00Hope you enjoy them, Joanna. Would be good to know...Hope you enjoy them, Joanna. Would be good to know your opinions on these.TracyFellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224475173136774530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-15387262878406561062015-09-28T05:29:20.541-07:002015-09-28T05:29:20.541-07:00Tracy, I assume you mean that you would definitely...Tracy, I assume you mean that you would definitely (as opposed to 'wouldn't'?) read more by Jeremy Page, having listened to his story? I agree with you - I loved this. I started listening to it in the radio when it was on Radio 4 last week and it was only a couple of minutes in, when I drew up at my house. Normally I'd have turned the engine and radio off but I was so absorbed that I sat on the drive and listened to it right through to the end and it really made me laugh. Sweet story - loved it (although I agree with you that the reading/voice of the narrator does make a difference and can definitely enhance a story). But I thought it was great. Helen Yendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01493990755233872479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323608100391663677.post-70005968737852740032015-09-28T05:12:12.939-07:002015-09-28T05:12:12.939-07:00I'm looking forward to listening to these, Tra...I'm looking forward to listening to these, Tracy. Many thanks for mentioning it and I enjoyed reading your thoughts very much. I've not entered this particular competition and it will be interesting to hear what the standard is like. xxxJoannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10346863303904973315noreply@blogger.com