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Behind the Writing: “Sunday on the Boulevard with my Pet Lobster”

January 14, 2023 No Comments

Reflecting on my most recent piece of published work, Sunday on the Boulevard with my Pet Lobster.

A couple of years ago, after a massive over-indulgence in Looney Tunes cartoons and QI clips, I was inspired to tell a bizarre little tale about a lobster that liked to smoke cigars. I was already toying with ideas of human-animal co-existence; one such story got developed during my Master’s degree into what’s currently known as The Bloody Zoologist. But after reading about the writer Gérard de Nerval, who infamously had a pet lobster that he took for walks on a lead, I knew I had to play around with this idea some more. I can’t tell you the exact process. All I know is that somewhere down the line, we decided this lobster would be a smoker. That he’d have a smoker’s cough. And that asparagus would be the only cure. The end result: Sunday on the Boulevard with my Pet Lobster.

Writing Sunday on the Boulevard with my Pet Lobster

Admittedly, this short story’s surreal tone came off the back of misunderstanding absurdism. I learned more about that when I interviewed Great Ape‘s Dale Hall and Nels Challinor for my podcast. Indeed, I submitted the story for their publication’s first issue, and naturally, they rejected it. But having had excellent feedback from readers, who praised the style and the humour, I knew it’d have a place somewhere.

I modelled the comedic style on a couple of my favourites from childhood. Looney Tunes, for one, and also the Muppet Show. Both of them arguably surreal and witty in equal measure. Then I added my own voice, injecting my personal loves for luxurious settings, such as the restaurant Chez l’Armoire, and fine food.

Publishing Sunday on the Boulevard with my Pet Lobster

As I mentioned, I first submitted this story to the absurdist literary journal Great Ape. They rejected it, and rightfully so. But no longer really knowing what the story was, beyond weird, I just decided to fling it anywhere and everywhere. Hoping that at least one competition would take it on.

Eventually, I thought it’d be worth a submission to the Bournemouth Writing Prize. This is an international competition that Fresher Press runs annually, in association with my alma mater Bournemouth University. I submitted it in the January and then didn’t hear anything for months. With that in mind, I didn’t expect to hear anything at all.

Until, that is, I got tagged in a Facebook post in May, which told me that my story had made it onto the “immensely competitive” longlist for the short story category! A much-needed bit of good news! While that meant that I hadn’t made the shortlist, I later found out this story was getting published in two anthologies. Namely, Strange Encounters and Pick Me Up. It’s an added little ego boost that the covers of both books mention or allude to the lobster in some way.

I can’t argue with the competition judges and I’m very honoured to have made the longlist. However, if the audience reaction to a reading at the anthology launch event, and the enthusiastic discussion that came afterwards, were anything to go by, I feel like the story could’ve gone even higher. If you haven’t seen the video yet, just have a look below.

What’s next for the Bournemouth Writing Prize?

While I’m happy to leave my little lobster story alone now, I’m not done with the Bournemouth Writing Prize. In fact I already have my entries for the 2023 competition ready for submission. Just waiting on a bit of last-minute feedback before I enter. But let’s keep everything crossed that there’ll be another short piece published this year.

If you liked this, find out what else I got up to in 2022. Also keep up with my news and other content on my social media channels. I’m on Facebook and I’m especially active on Instagram.

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Written by: Dale Hurst
Blog

A 2022 End-of-Year Progress Report

December 26, 2022 No Comments
A man sits in an armchair with a notebook in his lap

Otherwise known as my Author End-of-Year Newsletter. Bringing 2022 to a close with some updates from the professional life.

First of all, hello! I realise I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus from the website. For several reasons, 2022 has been a bit of a rollercoaster of a year, in both my personal and professional lives, for good and ill. There have been battles with my ongoing latest novel, a podcast to work on… I’ll go into that in a bit more detail now.

You can STILL hear Chopin from the attic

My current project, a World War II novel set in a hotel in Berlin, is still very much in the works. The readers I’ve spoken to throughout 2022 have all told me how much they’re looking forward to this or how they’re excited to read it. But it’s been a bumpy ride with the writing process. Call it the artistic temperament, call it self-doubt, or whatever else. Shortly after surpassing 100,000 words, I decided I was fed up of the constant series of back-and-forths through doors and into rooms that my characters were taking. In short, it was getting a bit dull to write, and I didn’t feel like it was going anywhere. And so I made the insane decision to start from scratch at that point.

However, after I’d started the re-draft, I discovered I wasn’t actually doing anything different from the last time. And then I read a few posts from fellow authors reminding me that, when it comes to the first draft, you should just get it down on paper. Leave it to the editing process to wheedle out anything you don’t like, to catch out anything a bit lame or boring and do something about it then.

And so with that in mind, we picked up where we left off. You Can Hear Chopin edges steadily towards its halfway mark. So could 2023 be the year we see a finished draft at the end? It’s possible…

If you’re totally unfamiliar with the novel, why not catch up with the story so far?

A phenomenal second season

Of all my projects this year, I’m probably proudest of the second season of my podcast, The Dale Hurst Writing Show. When I launched it last year, I only had it in mind to be for a bit of fun. Just to talk about writing and storytelling with a few likeminded individuals.

In 2022, something felt different. I’ve had people find me on LinkedIn and tell me how much they’re enjoying it. Authors have messaged me on Instagram, asking me if they can feature on an episode. PR reps have emailed me inviting their clients onto the show. While our listenership is still fairly small, we are seeing some definite growth, with key audiences not only in the UK but also the USA and Canada.

At the end of the first series, I put it out to my followers to decide if they wanted to see a new season. This time around, I didn’t bother. I know there will be a Season 3 in 2023. Plans are already in place and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

The Dale Hurst Writing Show is now available to listen on Spotify and Google Podcasts.

Making the longlist

One of my 2022 New Year Resolutions was to enter at least one writing competition per month. And unlike most of my New Year Resolutions, I actually kept it up for seven months of the year! As usual, these entries proved mostly fruitless. Mostly, not totally.

Earlier in the year, I received confirmation that a short story I’d written – a surreal tale called Sunday on the Boulevard with my pet lobster – would be published in not one, but two anthologies by Fresher Press. But even more fantastic news; the story had been longlisted for the Bournemouth Writing Prize (also run by Fresher and Bournemouth University). It may not have won or even made the shortlist, but I still regard it as a professional victory. Especially when my reading of the story was so well-received at the anthology launch event in November.

Signing off for 2022

In other news, I joined the award-winning marketing team at Arts University Bournemouth earlier this year. Providing me an outlet for both creative and administrative talents. But also an academic setting that’ll hopefully prompt me to start looking into a Ph.D. properly, as I plan to enter the world of lecturing and research if I can manage it. Within the fields of Creative Writing and/or English Literature, of course.

What else could be on the cards? A play? A film? …I should be so lucky to have the time!

Keep up with my news and other content on my social media channels. I’m on Facebook and I’m especially active on Instagram.

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The Berylford Scandals (1. Lust & Liberty, 2. Sin & Secrecy) 📚
Podcaster | The Dale Hurst Writing Show🎙️

Dale Hurst | Author
Another frequently asked question from friends and Another frequently asked question from friends and family - where exactly do I get my ideas for my stories? New blog post explores a few of my usual places of inspiration, plus some hints about the ideas on the back burner! Link in comments 📚📖📝🖊️✍️
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#writingwisdom #writerinspiration #mondaymotivation #authormotivation #writingcommunity #ignovelist #authorsofinstagram #writersofig #creativewriting #amwritinghistfic
Why do a lot of aspiring authors gravitate to the Why do a lot of aspiring authors gravitate to the fantasy genre? One of the few topics discussed with @dpride_877 on that first episode of the podcast 🎙️📚📖🧌🧜‍♀️🧙‍♂️🗡️🛡️
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#writersofinsta #podcastaddict #writingpodcast #podcastsofinstagram #thedalehurstwritingshow #listennow #amwritingfantasy #fantasywriting #writingcommunity
It's a podcast post! But not my own for a change. It's a podcast post! But not my own for a change. I had the pleasure of joining the Seven Questions segment on this week's edition of the @twoindieauthors podcast, getting to talk about my experiences – good and bad – of being an indie author 😁😁😁 I appear at around 41:00 but it's well worth listening to the whole thing! Link's in the comments 📖📚📝🎙️
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#indieauthor #podcastsofinstagram #igpodcast #writingwisdom #writersofinsta #writingcommunity #writinglife #podcastaddict #selfpublishedauthor #authornetwork
As this love/hate relationship with my new book co As this love/hate relationship with my new book continues, I've come to a few conclusions about the story that I'll probably need to address in the redrafting process, plus one point that a follower raised for me! For catharsis, I've noted a few down in this latest blog post on my website (link in comments 🔥) ✍️📝📚📖
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#amwritinghistfic #historicalnovelist #historicalfiction #writinglife #creativewriting #novelist #newblogpost #youcanhearchopinfromtheattic #writingcommunity #authorsofinstagram #authornetwork
The fantasy genre seems to be a go-to for a lot of The fantasy genre seems to be a go-to for a lot of new and aspiring authors. And many of the stories draw inspirations from ancient mythologies, legends and cultures. 
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If you think you might have a fantasy novel in you but want a little inspiration, try looking into some of the suggestions in this post... 🧜‍♂️🧌🧙‍♂️🗡️🛡️
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There's more on fantasy writing in Episode 1 of my podcast (link in comments)
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#amwritingfantasy #fantasywriting #epicfantasy #highfantasy #mythsandlegends #writingwisdom #writingcommunity #authorsofinstagram #authornetwork #amreadingfantasy
Little advice post to end the week. 5 ways of insp Little advice post to end the week. 5 ways of inspiring your own #histfic efforts.
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‼️ DON'T FORGET ‼️ I'm hosting a Genre Breakfast for Historical Fiction writers as part of #bournemouthwritingfestival on 23 April – looking forward to seeing some of you there 😉
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#amwritinghistfic #historicalfiction #writingwisdom #bournemouthwriter #writersofig #writersofbournemouth #authornetwork #writingcommunity #historicalnovelist
A bit of journalistic work business took me to Bri A bit of journalistic work business took me to Bridport the other day - West Bay, specifically, which people may know as a place they filmed the series Broadchurch. Strange how nature can inspire... I couldn't resist taking a few shots of the coast, and a cheeky landslip at the end 😆... (I only look so uncomfortable in my portrait because I still had shingle in my shoes 😅)
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Does nature inspire you to be creative? If so, how? 🌊⛱️📖📝
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📸 Richard Tarr (portrait)
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#mondayinspiration #amwriting #westbay #dorsetwriters #writersofinsta #coastphotography #bridport #authorsofinstagram #writersofig #writingcommunity
Happy World Book Day 📚🎉 What's everyone curr Happy World Book Day 📚🎉 What's everyone currently reading? I'm currently working through Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen 😀 
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By the way, make an author's day and share their work around 😊
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#bookday #worldbookday #booknerd #booklover #currentreads #amreadingcomedy #amreadingcrime #authorsofinstagram #writersofinsta #indieauthor
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Dale Hurst

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