So this week I’ve had two pieces of good news. The first is that I am going to have a short story published in Misspelled Magazine at some point in the near future. This is particularly pleasing because I haven’t been able to do much creative writing recently, what with all the other things I’ve had to be doing, so this will hopefully be a nice motivator to get me sending more stuff out. I had been thinking for a while that my Writing page has remained unchanged for too long, so this will make a nice edition.
Tell Me About Yourself Award
The second, and equally good, piece of news, is that the lovely folks over at Cecile’s Writers have nominated me for the Tell Me About Yourself Award (thank you, peeps). If you’re thinking “Wow, I’d love to be able to visualise those words with a bee above them”, you can realise that ambition by looking to the left of these words. As you can imagine, the Tell Me About Yourself Award requires me to tell you some things about myself.
Bit of an apology first
Before that, and whilst on the subject of awards, I need to say a massive apology to Emerald Barnes, who actually nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award many many months ago. It was the same time as my original nomination, and somehow I missed that post of hers, so it was only very recently I somehow came across it and realised. I’m very sorry, Emerald! (P.s. the only reason you’re not in the list below is that you’ve recently been given a blogging-related reward, and I thought you might like a rest from having to think up things about yourself…)
7 things about me
It’s interesting, isn’t it, how hard this bit is. There are dozens of things about each of us that make us special, yet if someone stops you and says “tell me something interesting about yourself”, or even “tell me about yourself”, you automatically resort to the most boring facts about you, responding with, “I spend a lot of time on the sofa looking at, but not reading, the TV schedule.” They then look disappointed and walk away, and someone who knows you nudges you and says, “why didn’t you tell him you beat Darth Vader in a plutonium-eating contest held on the rim of Olympus Mons?”
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that.”
Anyway, enough pondering. On with some facts.
- I have recently come to the conclusion that one day I will have to study psychology. This comes from the fact I am incredibly self-reflexive, and always try to break down my thoughts and feelings into their genesis. I think that’s a good thing – it makes for more balanced and considered opinions – but one day my pop-psychology will get me into trouble. It also comes from the fact that the main character of Politics in Blood has Derren Brown-esque powers to manipulate people’s minds, and I believe a knowledge of psychology would allow me to develop that aspect of her character.
- I don’t drink. Not for any high-and-mighty reason, I just really don’t like the taste. The amount of people who cannot accept this really baffles me. I don’t eat cheese, either (except on pizza), but while I often come across people who try and force me to have a drink, I have never been pinned to the ground and force-fed Stilton. Honestly, become teetotal for a few days. It’s amazing the extent to which alcohol is a part of our culture. That’s not me being preachy, just slightly annoyed at having to give a massive essay every time I tell someone I don’t drink.
- I have very high expectations of myself. It took me a long time to accept that it’s OK to be 22 and not yet have a book published. Having said that, I’m still not entirely sure that I’d be OK with being 23 and not having a book published. I’ll find out in six months.
- I love classic comedy. I consider Morecombe and Wise to be the greatest comedy duo that ever lived. I also love Monty Python, The Marx Brothers, The Goon Show, The Two Ronnies and Tommy Cooper. I love a lot of modern comedy too (Not Going Out, Miranda, Black Books, Father Ted, The IT Crowd) but mostly I feel that the classic age of British comedy has passed.
- I’m not entirely sure what I believe happens after death, only that I hope it involves some sort of statue of me being erected in town squares.
- I like to write my own music (only for myself), but as I am the most beginner of beginners when it comes to playing the guitar, and the only instrument I am good at is drums, I have to hum each melody/tune/part into a microphone hooked up to a guitar tuner, use that to score the song on the music software, and then learn to play it on the guitar retrospectively.
- I have a business presentation on freelance copywriting for the business course I attend that I should be writing instead of doing this.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the nominations for the Tell Me About Yourself Award are…
So thar we go, as a pirate might say. Not sure why a pirate gets to start off the last paragraph of this blog post, but what the hell. See ye all next time, mateys. (What the hell is going on..?)
Got a question or request? I’d love to hear it – thehyperteller@gmail.com
Come and Tweet with me – @RewanTremethick
The Hyperteller, and the word Hyperteller, are copyright © Rewan Tremethick 2012
Try being almost 40 with a kid on the way and not being published. I honestly thought I would have cracked it by now (I got started late). It’s tough out there so hang on tight.
Congratulations with the short story and the award. Nice to get stuff like that from time to time in order to help us keep going.
Ah well, we’re all in it together, it would seem! How long have you been trying to get published for?
Thanks
Getting the story accepted was quite surprising actually, as what with having been so busy, I’d completely forgotten I’d sent it in!
I’m not sure how long its been. At least ten years, but those weren’t consistent years. I usually get a big push and go hard at it then take a long break. I have finally made enough money on my e books to get paid for them. It’s only thirteen dollars, but it is the first time I’ve been paid for something I’ve written. I also have a local publisher who is on a read through of my novel. Still waiting on that one.
Hang in there and enjoy your youth. You have time to figure it all out. It gets a little more pressing when you get close to 40 at least you are further along at your age than I was. Bravo on that.
You’re further ahead than me in terms of how much money you’ve received from your creative writing! I guess the good thing is that the more we write, the better we get. So technically every year we’re more likely to be published/successful than the last
Dear Hyperteller, Thank You so much for nominating me for the Tell Me About Yourself Award. I will make sure I’ll reveal some new details about myself to the world. And am I glad somebody had nominated you with this above mentioned Award as well. Cause now I know we have Music in common:). Have a beautiful one:). Talk later!
You’re welcome
Looking forward to what comes to light! Indeed we do, although, as I said in the post, I’m not exactly a musician, unless you count drums, which most people seem not to for some reason! But I love music in general (don’t know what I’d do without it).
Congratulations on getting your short story published!
My minor concentration at uni was psychology. It seemed natural for me to study it since I spend most of my time in my head or trying to figure out other people’s. People watching is one of my top favourite hobbies.
I am not a drinker either. I have found that people find this even harder to cope with here in the UK. I did not have as many people try to open my mouth and funnel it in back in the states. I think so many of the things people enjoy doing here for fun involve drink that it is a big part of the culture.
As for being 22 and not published yet, don’t sweat it. The novel is good and time is on your side.
And thank you for passing the award torch to me.
Thanks Billie!
I’m the same. I spend so much time going “Ah, well I’m probably feeling this way because of X”, or “maybe my opinion on this is based upon the fact that Y”. Would make sense to do it all properly, plus the way our minds work fascinates me, and I’d love to be able to write on the subject in some depth.
Drinking definitely is a big part of English culture, and I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. But it is so built into our social psyche here that for some reason someone who doesn’t drinking is this weird phenomenon. In the US they have the Abstinence movement, don’t they? That sort of thing doesn’t really exist over here, so we aren’t really aware of the idea of not liking alcohol.
Thanks for the encouragement. That point wasn’t really meant to be a “please give me confidence” type statement, but all the support and “yeah, me too”‘s is appreciated!
And you’re welcome!
I think drinking is a big deal in certain circles in the US (particularly some rural and suburban teens with little else to do). We do have our fair share of alcoholics there. I think there are so many other things people can do socially for fun there, even in smaller towns or cities. It is more acceptable if you abstain from drinking and do something with another focus such as go bowling, see a film or eat out. I used to get harassed a little from time to time but some of my friends actually admired that I did not drink. My closer friends liked having a sober pair of eyes and a designated driver around.
I expect once I learn to drive I’ll be in very high demand with my friends! It just seems a little like in the UK we’ve forgotten how to have a good time without being drunk. Like this whole issue of ‘pre-drinks’ – like the thought of even leaving the house without being smashed is horrendous.
Yeah, I don’t quite get that either.
Good luck learning to drive. I got my provisional last year and took a few lessons. It is so much harder to drive over here than it was back home.
Speaking as an un-(novel)-published 23-year-old who’s also unfairly tough on herself and bound to be a good 3x as detrimentally dramatic as you, there’s a good chance you’ll live. I certainly hope you will, at any rate. As your beloved arch-nemesis, nothing gets to kill you but me, savvy?
“Yay!” for your good news, and thanks for my lovely nomination. I was totally gonna use my plutonium-eating contest with Darth Vader story, but as that appears to be a little less unique than I’d once supposed, I guess I’ll have to scrounge up seven other things to say about myself. I’m off to give the matter thought. Say “hi” to the pirate for me.
I guess a good chance of living is better than nothing
Plus I’m not getting into a detrimental fight with you. Not when the real battle is for the world! And you’ll never kill me, not unless you somehow found out about my weakness for rockstar-eqsue boots that happen to be on sale… Damnit!
Thanks, and you’re welcome. Who wouldn’t want to know more about the person I fondly refer to as Hey, you!? Yeah, well these days everyone has a Darth Vader story. That man’s a total attention seeker. And he can’t hold his plutonium. What a waster.
Pirate says ‘Argh’, although in pirate that could mean anything from ‘hello’ to, ‘help, an octopus has stolen all my important travel documents’…
Being nominated for this was such a lovely surprise – thank you! I echo atothewr’s sentiments about being 40 and still no published novel… It has me in quite a funk at the moment. But I keep reminding myself that everyone’s journey is different. This writing gig is hard! Now I go to think up seven interesting facts about me… Thanks again.
You’re welcome Ellen
Agree with you there; ‘This writing gig is hard’! But as we all seem to be aware, the key is perseverance. We’ll get there one day!
Dear Hyperteller,
I am very excited to let you know that I have accepted Tell Me About Yourself Award that you had so generously nominated me for. I am very honored. Thanks so much!!
http://nyparrot.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/you-think-you-know-me-but-you-dont-writing-a-blog-is-rewarding/
Thanks for inspiring me! May inspiration be always present in abundance in your life!
Thanks for the shout-out nomination! Very kind. More exciting is your upcoming story publication. Huzzah!
I am also not a drinker, but fortunately I have rarely gotten much flak for it.
So many years ahead of you for publication. Maybe give yourself a little more line from that hook.
No worries, you have a nice blog! That’s lucky, but I guess I don’t get much actual abuse for not drinking, what I do get is a lot of people thinking it’s some sort of game, and saying to me throughout the night ‘You will have a drink by the end of the night’ or ‘we’re going to get you drunk’, thinking it’s a laugh, but really I’m thinking ‘sod off’!