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Writer Declines $175K Prize Over Promotion Demands
9 Apr
Summary
- US writer declined a $175,000 prize due to promotion requirements.
- She was asked to film a video, attend a festival, and do a podcast.
- The author was near breakdown and needed time to write.
US writer Helen DeWitt has revealed she turned down a $175,000 Windham-Campbell writing prize in February. The award stipulated extensive promotional activities, including a festival appearance, podcast participation, and a filming session. DeWitt explained that at the time, she was experiencing significant professional and personal challenges, making her close to breakdown.
She found the publicity demands incompatible with her need to focus on writing, especially after five difficult years. DeWitt conveyed that she could not drop everything for the prize's requirements. Despite some flexibility offered by the prize director, her personal participation in filming remained essential, leading her to regretfully decline the award on the given terms.
