Aaargh! A job offer, but...

aruna · Jan 25, 2007

I have been offered the greatest job for a writer ever.
It was offered by the Royal Literary Fund in the UK, whose sole aim is to distribute money to writers to enable them to work. They pay them pensions, give them grants etc. They have already given me quite a lot of money - eg, paid my whole tax bill last year.
Now I have been offered a Writinhg Fellowship at Brighton University. This means having an office at the university, sitting there for a few hours three days a week, and making yourself available to students who need help with their writing projects of any kind. No teaching involved. Just sitting there and working one-to-one whenever someone needs you. You get a computer and can work on your own projects in-between students. And you get paid £1400 a month.

This is great. The trouble is -
I can;t take it!
I haev since moved to Germany to be with my husband and there' no way in the world I could make it back to England to sit in Brighton 3 days a week.

However, I would encourage published authors in Britain to apply. It's a great opportunity if you get it. Just wanted to mention it again!

WildScribe · Jan 25, 2007

WOW ARUNA!!! I would drag my husband back by the hair. Of course, I love England dearly and would like to live there if I could anyway, so it wouldn't be hard to convince me. What a gig!!

Susie · Jan 25, 2007

Hi, Aruna, sure would be nice if you could take it, but you sound like you're doing terrifically. Keep up the great work!

Penguin Queen · Jan 26, 2007

Oh wow, Aruna, that sounds like a great scheme! Good on you for having got it -- a shame you won't be able to make use of it now.

And MANY thanks for posting it on here... I have been trying to get funding out of the English Arts Council but unsuccessfully so far .. I will ahve a gooooood look at this scheme now!

Pat~ · Jan 26, 2007

Well, it's an honor to have been offered it at least. So sorry you can't take advantage of it. Your husband's lucky to have you.

aruna · Jan 26, 2007

Penguin Queen said:
And MANY thanks for posting it on here... I have been trying to get funding out of the English Arts Council but unsuccessfully so far .. I will ahve a gooooood look at this scheme now!

Here's the link:
http://www.rlf.org.uk/fellowshipscheme/index.cfm

Wildscribe, I'd love to drag him back but he spent 9 months in England with me last year and he didn't like it. He suffers from Parkinson's Disease and he fell into a depression. He is much better off here. Besides, we would have no place to stay in England and no point paying all that money in rent!
However, the formal offer is not coming till end of February and maybe something will happen till then.

Penguin Queen · Jan 26, 2007

Thanks for the link, Aruna. Aaaaarrgh, as you say -- they require the author in question to have published two books. Still. It's an incentive to get the novel out there!

Gonzo · Jan 26, 2007

Oh Blast! I wish you could nominate other UK writers wink wink, nudge nudge to take the money...joke. Hey, at least you got accepted, which is great.

aruna · Jan 26, 2007

Yes, it is nice. I actually applied for this year (starting September 2006) but I didn't get it that time around. And I really couldn't have taken it anyway. I can try and think things out. There may be a way yet.

Saundra Julian · Jan 26, 2007

How wonderful! Congratulations on the offer, aruna...keeping fingers crossed that you will find a way to take advantage of this opportunity.

Southern_girl29 · Jan 26, 2007

Wow, that's wonderful. Maybe something will happen so you could take it.

Cat Scratch · Jan 26, 2007

Wow, what a shame you have to turn it down. The optimist in me (she's in there somewhere) thinks that probably means there's something even better for you around the corner. Good luck!

SarahinOhio · Jan 26, 2007

What a great honor, Aruna. But it sounds like you've got your priorities straight, and I'm sure you'll achieve even better things in Germany. Congrats on such a fine acknowledgment of your talent!

Cath · Jan 26, 2007

Congratulations, Aruna. Even if you can't take it, it's a great morale boost.

aruna · Jan 26, 2007

Cat Scratch said:
Wow, what a shame you have to turn it down. The optimist in me (she's in there somewhere) thinks that probably means there's something even better for you around the corner. Good luck!

Thank you,that's what I'm hoping!

aruna · Jan 26, 2007

SarahinOhio said:
What a great honor, Aruna. But it sounds like you've got your priorities straight, and I'm sure you'll achieve even better things in Germany. Congrats on such a fine acknowledgment of your talent!

Maybe I'll land a great Hollywood deal!!!! Well, we can dream, can't we!

aruna · Jun 12, 2007

Well, I did it!
I am taking on the job and we are moving back to England. This is a result of certain developments which I won't go into here. We are going to move to Brighton.

Yesterday I took part in the induction ceremony with all the new Fellows. It was great! For the first time ever I met other working writers and it was wonderful. There was a party afterwards but I could not stay long.
I have also been to the university I'll be working at, seen my office and the fellow who was there before me, and who will be stayiing on. It's all very exciting and a great honour. All kinds of very famous authors have taken part in the scheme. Maybe it will bring me luck!

Uncarved · Jun 12, 2007

I'm so glad you took advantage of this offer. What a perk in the resume and in your career. Much good fortune to you with this.

Saundra Julian · Jun 12, 2007

Congratulations! Break a leg, aruna!

Cath · Jun 12, 2007

Wow, good luck, Aruna!

aruna · Jun 12, 2007

Thanks! Actually I have no idea how I;m going to get things organised till September but somehow....

CaroGirl · Jun 12, 2007

What a wonderful opportunity for you!! I'm so glad you're managing to take advantage of it. I'm sure you'll be a great help to all those students.

Congratulations and I hope you LOVE it!

aruna · Jun 12, 2007

I know I will!

ap123 · Jun 12, 2007

Congratulations! It's wonderful you'll be able to take advantage of this opportunity. I hope all is well otherwise, and your ability to go back to England are a result of positive developments.

scarletpeaches · Jun 12, 2007

aruna - that's the kind of job I'd sell my mother for.

Well, if I thought anyone would want her. Hmm, eBay...

Aaargh! A job offer, but...

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