tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post5759309059554605872..comments2024-03-29T05:19:53.293-06:00Comments on The Quivering Pen: The Year Without FictionDavid Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06013514596973186440noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post-43932396648572423482012-04-20T08:50:39.875-06:002012-04-20T08:50:39.875-06:00I'm not sure that "purposely" decide...I'm not sure that "purposely" decided is accurate, David. In every contest/award, judges reserve the right not to give an award if they do not feel a particular entry stands head and shoulders above the rest. We can't say, "Gee, this one isn't great, but it's not as bad as the others, so it gets the award." I think, as writers, we should all WANT to be held to the highest standards.Donna Marie Merritthttp://www.donnamariebooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post-88081218287768817132012-04-17T08:25:13.111-06:002012-04-17T08:25:13.111-06:00Craig and Sue,
You're right--perhaps the Pulit...Craig and Sue,<br />You're right--perhaps the Pulitzer board was not enthusiastic about the three final choices, but according to the prize rules they *did* have the option of selecting a different work to be awarded. The fact that they purposefully decided to leave the category blank--for whatever reason--still rankles at me.<br />And, sure, I'm probably being overly sensitive and maybe it's a molehill which shouldn't turn into a mountain. But I still feel like fiction was collectively shunned this year.David Abramshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013514596973186440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post-39144229551707078892012-04-17T05:27:32.097-06:002012-04-17T05:27:32.097-06:00Is three always the magic number for the short lis...Is three always the magic number for the short list? Although I haven't read any if these three books in full (I read a chunk of The Pale King in the New Yorker), I can imagine the judges just not being enthusiastic about these particular choices.Sue.Russellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post-62718734956541787382012-04-16T19:51:35.341-06:002012-04-16T19:51:35.341-06:00Don't know if this is true for fiction, but I ...Don't know if this is true for fiction, but I know in the journalism categories there is wide latitude for the board to arrive at its decision -- including dropping finalists and elevating work that was not put forward as a finalist. Now that would have been something!<br /><br />In any case, as it has happened now seven times dating to 1948, I'm inclined to file under "oddity" rather than "fodder for outrage." If there is also no winner in 2013, I shall reassess.Craig Lancasterhttp://www.craig-lancaster.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post-58705718993564843732012-04-16T17:03:53.226-06:002012-04-16T17:03:53.226-06:00Julie,
Though the rules are still somewhat murky a...Julie,<br />Though the rules are still somewhat murky and muddled, I do believe you are right. The jury of three makes the recommendation and the 18-member board makes the final decision. Thanks for calling this error to my attention. I've corrected it in the post.<br />Now, if only the Pulitzer board could correct *their* error!David Abramshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013514596973186440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post-48617123329098461302012-04-16T15:41:44.728-06:002012-04-16T15:41:44.728-06:00There was also no award given in editorial writing...There was also no award given in editorial writing. I think you're taking it too personally.Craig Lancasterhttp://www.craig-lancaster.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post-39799017712239117222012-04-16T15:34:29.059-06:002012-04-16T15:34:29.059-06:00Well, my 2nd post hasn't shown up yet, but I t...Well, my 2nd post hasn't shown up yet, but I think the "jury" IS the final three judges, and they take all the nominations and select three finalists. They probably make a case for each one, and they might even single one out as the one they think should win, but they don't decide the final winner. The Pulitzer Board votes on the three finalists and must have a majority to win. Supposedly, there wasn't a majority, so nobody won. <br /><br />I dunno. Every newspaper and blog says something different. Wikipedia says what I first said, but that's not completely accurate either. All I know is that someone should have won!!Julienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post-60803460689344135962012-04-16T15:24:21.770-06:002012-04-16T15:24:21.770-06:00Well, I'm wrong about part of it, at least. Th...Well, I'm wrong about part of it, at least. There are only 3 members of the jury (for fiction, anyway). But I still think they select the 3 finalists (though they may make it obvious which one they suggest should win) and the board votes on them.Julienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post-44194223320689391042012-04-16T15:24:08.296-06:002012-04-16T15:24:08.296-06:00Julie,
I do understand there's a jury process ...Julie,<br />I do understand there's a jury process before going to the final three judges, but even if the judges each ended up voting for a separate title (i.e. a three-way tie), as I'm sure is sometimes the case, don't they still deliberate over the end result? According to the Pulitzer's website, the "no award" decision is a conscious, deliberate one. If this is not the case, then I humbly stand corrected.David Abramshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013514596973186440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407679229975998493.post-61675899334772771002012-04-16T15:14:38.690-06:002012-04-16T15:14:38.690-06:00Maybe I am wrong, but I think you misunderstood ho...Maybe I am wrong, but I think you misunderstood how the prizes are given. A five-member jury selects 3 finalists from the nominees, and then the Pulitzer Board votes on those 3 finalists, and if there is a certain majority, that book wins that prize. This year, there was no clear majority for Fiction, so no award.Julienoreply@blogger.com