IMPAC

I've just discovered that Little Monsters (still available from all good booksellers) has found its way onto the long list of the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. It's a very long list indeed, but it's still a pleasure to have been nominated (by Stockholm Public Library, no less) and my fingers are crossed for the next stage: the short list, announced on 14 April 2010.

Out of strength comes forth, er, strength

Grr! I don't know what else to say. Thanks to the generosity and impeccable taste of Ms Baroque, I've received the award A Roar for Powerful Words, initiated by The Shameless Lions Writing Circle in recognition of powerful writing. Naturally, I'm privileged and flattered by the award, and also, oddly, emasculated, as though everything I'll write from now on will be floppy and lamb-like and utterly unworthy. Such is honour.

And like most honours, it comes with strings attached. I have to: "list three things I believe are necessary for good, powerful writing; and then pass the award on to the five blogs I want to honour, who in turn pass it on to five others, etc etc." Hmm. I'll do my best.

Three necessary things (assuming that one has something to say) for good, powerful writing:

1. Experience of other people's good, powerful writing. By which I mean that you shouldn't just write, write, write, but read, read, read, read. Read.

2. The ability to revise, ruthlessly, and to listen to criticism (which doesn't necessarily involve its blind acceptance).

3. An awareness that what you write might have weight, might hurt or flatter, or change someone's day or invite response; in other words, that what you are doing is not solipsistic, but social, and consequential. Be brave, be honest, but listen.

Five blogs I'd like to honour? This is much easier:

Writing Neuroses
Vanessa Gebbie
David Isaak
Chancelucky
Fictionbitch

Go forth and multiply.

Gay bomb gets Nobel, sort of

This year's Ig Nobel Prize for Peace has been given to the Air Force Wright Laboratory of Dayton, Ohio, theorisers of a chemical weapon that would make soldiers sexually irresistible to one another (as if they weren't already).

For details of the other awards, click here.

For my initial, over-excited, reaction to this extraordinary device, click here.

O. Henry Prize

I've had to keep quiet about this for over six months, but now that my story is about to be performed at the University of Austin, Texas, on Tuesday (for details click here), I can tell you that THE SCENT OF CINNAMON, first published by One Story in November 2005, has been chosen as one of the O.Henry prizewinning short stories for this year.

The anthology should be coming out in May, but I'll keep you posted.

I'm delighted. And if you happen to be in Austin on Tuesday and see the show, tell me about it!