But is this for real or is it not?
Got this note posted up on an old post about the David T.Wong fellowship.
Anonymous said...How does one ever know what's real or not on the internet? Folks pose as things they aren't all the time.hey guys, i am a fellow malaysian living in the US. a couple of days ago i received a letter saying i'm on the shortlist for the tk wong fellowship. just wanted to let you guys know that i have no credentials - not one MA, published work or competition win. it is encouraging to know that the fellowship really gives emerging writers a chance! it gives me hope!
If you are for real, Anonymous (who is not the same Anonymous as the other Anonymous, if you get my drift) please step out from behind your mask and give us some evidence!
If not, stop bothering us.
11 comments:
Nope, that's not me. :) I'm not even sure who TK Wong is. But wow, does he have an evil sense of humour.
I wonder about the letter.. improper capitalization, lots of exclamation points. This "TK Wong Fellowship" seems like a business more than anything.
The David TK Wong Fellowship is for real, as it's managed by the University of East Anglia's School of Literature and Creative Writing, the same School that Kazuo Ishiguro attended.
Anonymous I has got the Fellowship mixed up with Anonymous II, the person who posted about being shortlisted for the Fellowship.
Sharon - I'd say this is an April's Fool hoax, lah.
Have you heard of any past recipients ? anyway I still think it's a business. Like the other guy said, a fellowship that only offers a grant to it's members is strange. You don't have to be a member of anything to be eligible for a Whitbread or a Booker or any other prize. Heck, you don't even have to be a member to be eligible for a Nobel prize. But you have to pay to be a member before you're eligible for this one.
"But you have to pay to be a member before you're eligible for this one."
Where did you read the above? Can you provide a link?
Meanwhile, here's a link to more info, including info about former fellows:
David T K Wong Fellowship
I did a search for the word "members" in the above page, and came up zero. Instead, I found info about the panel of judges and what they're looking for:
"The shortlisted entries will be judged by a distinguished international panel, and since there will be no interviews, candidates will be judged entirely on the quality and promise of their writing, and the project they describe. There is no age limit, and no means test of any kind."
maybe anon is thinking of the application fee of ten quid?
Yup, I was thinking of the "application fee." So far as I know, only a business charges for the opportunity to win something.
mnay overseas writing competitions charge a reading fee eg. zoetrope
Yes, they're essentially businesses. They take in money, part of which goes to paying for the prizes. True awards like the Booker, the Whitbread, the Nobel etc. do not charge and still manage to award goodly sums of money (in many cases.)
"They take in money, part of which goes to paying for the prizes."
Well, the people behind David TK Wong Fellowship better pray for lots of participants, because they'll need a lot of "membership fees" to pay for the £25,000 grant.
For what it's worth, Whitbread is a corporate entity whereas David T K Wong is an individual.
Whitbread, "one of the UK’s leading leisure companies that provides enjoyment to many millions of customers each week in its restaurants (Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, TGI Fridays, Costa Coffee), hotels (Marriott, Travel Inn) and active leisure clubs (David Lloyd Leisure)", does not need to charge application fees.
On the other hand, if the David T K Wong Fellowship does not charge an application fee, it would have to use some of the £25,000 prize money to pay for admin costs, etc.
chet and anon - you are comparing frozen peas with digeridoos ... an award for studies is not the same thing as a major literary prize at all
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