Wasting My Time?
February 7, 2022
It had been one of those mornings. I had checked the submission requirements for several publications, sorted out the pieces of work that I thought would appeal to them, and formatted them according to the instructions. I went back online and filled in the submission forms, and in each case when I clicked on submit I received a message that submissions were closed for the time being. It was all the more frustrating because putting the message at the top of the submissions page instead would have saved the wasted effort. It left me not quite knowing what to do next.
There were plenty of things I could have done (hence the irritation), but I wasn't in the right frame of mind to begin anything. The upshot was that I wasted even more time, as I thought, looking up various things online and finally googling my name. This might make me seem like a sad individual, but in the past I've discovered short-listings, mentions and unauthorised use of my work this way.
On this occasion, I found Discord's Shadow on the long-list for the Best Novel category of the British Science Fiction Association Awards. I thought it must be a mistake, so I've checked it several times since just to be sure, and yes, Discord's Shadow really is on the long-list. That means at least one member of the BSFA liked it more than the vast majority of other SF novels that came out last year.
The awards have run since 1970 with winners including John Brunner, Ian Watson and Christopher Priest. Members of the association are not allowed to nominate or vote for their own work, but they can nominate up to four works in each category. They then vote for their choice from the long-list with the five works receiving the most votes being short-listed. Further voting determines the eventual winner. I don't expect to see my name on the short-list, but then, I never expected to be nominated at all.
So, googling myself turned out to be rather a good move. In fact, it turned a dispiriting morning into a day that made me feel like dancing. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to check that list again–just to be absolutely sure!
There were plenty of things I could have done (hence the irritation), but I wasn't in the right frame of mind to begin anything. The upshot was that I wasted even more time, as I thought, looking up various things online and finally googling my name. This might make me seem like a sad individual, but in the past I've discovered short-listings, mentions and unauthorised use of my work this way.
On this occasion, I found Discord's Shadow on the long-list for the Best Novel category of the British Science Fiction Association Awards. I thought it must be a mistake, so I've checked it several times since just to be sure, and yes, Discord's Shadow really is on the long-list. That means at least one member of the BSFA liked it more than the vast majority of other SF novels that came out last year.
The awards have run since 1970 with winners including John Brunner, Ian Watson and Christopher Priest. Members of the association are not allowed to nominate or vote for their own work, but they can nominate up to four works in each category. They then vote for their choice from the long-list with the five works receiving the most votes being short-listed. Further voting determines the eventual winner. I don't expect to see my name on the short-list, but then, I never expected to be nominated at all.
So, googling myself turned out to be rather a good move. In fact, it turned a dispiriting morning into a day that made me feel like dancing. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to check that list again–just to be absolutely sure!
Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Coming Soon
