Shortlists

[The Lady]

Pardon me for I know in advance this post will ramble.

I got a phone call today telling me I was shortlisted for The Francis McManus short story competition. (Huge short story comp here in Ireland. Top prize of 3000 euro) I've also been invited to the Awards Ceremony in April.
Now the thing is the coverage was brutal where I was at the time and I heard the conversation something like this,

Francis **&^%88& Comp ^^)(*%^&%$^ twenty%^^&%% shortlist ***Award Ceremony%^^&^% Dublin etc. Then I managed to get a spot of better coverage and she asked me would I be able to attend and all that.
Apparently I'll receive a letter next week with the invites but here's the thing,
I don't really know if she meant you have been shortlisted, well done, that's as far as you're going, or you've been shortlisted and we'll see if you've won on the night.

What is the usual protocol, does anybody know? Are the winners told in advance, or do people turn up genuinely not knowing who's won.
Next week when I get the invite and probably a name to inquire of, I'm definitely going to ring and find out but in the meantime does anyone have any idea how these things are done.

Thanks.

[Penguin Queen]

Well done for getting this far in any case. :)

I'm not getting the second para of your post. I'm afraid.
Re short story competitions & shortlists -- Ive been shortlisted twice & invited to an award ceremony once (nothing near 3000 euros tho!), & in both cases I didnt know & wasnt told until afterwards.
I would guess in the case of an award ceremony poeple arent told beforehand. (Not sure this is a good comparison, but at the Oscars there's always somebody who's won but not turned up. One would assume that, had they been informed beforhand that they'd won, they'd have bought a new frock and attended with their hair in a braid.)

I know that a poet published by my publishers was recently shortlisted for the Costa (ex Whitbread) prize, and both he & the publishers
had been informed before it was announced. I'm not sure the Costa has a ceremony though or whether simply an announcement is made & a press release, er, released.

I think my answer, in short, is that I dont know. But hell, go! It'll be an adventure & an experience, won't it?

[The Lady]

Yes, I suppose, I'm just stressing about the missing portion of the phone call, because I truly missed close to 80 % of the first half of it. Maybe she was like, well you have only shortlisted but you can attend the ceremony if you like. I know I'm not making sense. I Hope the letter clarifies things.

Last year, on their website, they had a picture up of the winner receiving the trophy. It would be quite weird if they didn't get their publicity shot. I know once before I won a prize in a competition and they rang me up to make sure I'd be there. There wasn't a short list then though, just prize winners so I guess nobody went home disappointed.

It's quite a long way though to bring twenty people if only three can win prizes.

Oh, I don't know. But thanks for your input. You've cheered me up a bit. I don't know why but I feel better about it now.

[Penguin Queen]

Glad you feel better. :)

I get it now -- I was confused by the brutal coverage bit -- I assumed it to refer to press coverage of the event in previous years or something.
You were on a mobile and it had a sh!t signal so you couldnt hear what was said.

Don't stress. What if you win first prize and you're not there? You'll feel a right fool then, won't you? ;)

[Judg]

OK now, repeat after me: I'm sorry, ma'am (or sir), the signal broke up and I didn't catch what you said. Could you repeat what you just said please?

:D Won't do you any good this time, but do have it memorized for future reference.

[pdr]

I can understand you were too flabbergasted to ask for a repeat. Congratulations.

From what I remember of the McManus - I bet you've thrown your comp details away haven't you? - all the short listed writers have to attend and the winner is announced on the night.

[The Lady]

OK now, repeat after me: I'm sorry, ma'am (or sir), the signal broke up and I didn't catch what you said. Could you repeat what you just said please?

:D Won't do you any good this time, but do have it memorized for future reference.

:D Yeah, I know. I know. Duh!

[The Lady]

I can understand you were too flabbergasted to ask for a repeat. Congratulations.

From what I remember of the McManus - I bet you've thrown your comp details away haven't you? - all the short listed writers have to attend and the winner is announced on the night.

:hooray: I hope you're right. It would make the night that bit more interesting.
And yes, I was too flabbergasted.

[Judg]

I doubt if I would have done any better. It's so easy to be wise on somebody else's behalf with the additional benefit of hindsight. I just hope I have an opportunity to be equally flabbergasted some time.

[The Lady]

Well you've written the script for flabbergasted situations. All you have to do is memorise it. Or write it on the back of your hand so as to be always prepared. :D