Bridget Pelkie, who recently earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Emerson College, also recently earned third place in Bukowski Tavern's Pint and Pen Writing Contest (co-sponsored by Harpoon and the Dig). The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday; Pelkie won a large boot-shaped pint glass filled with a set of steak knives. In between bouts of enjoying her prize, Pelkie took the time to answer a few of our questions. (Disclosure: this Bostonist also attends Emerson College and knows Pelkie, who lives with another Bostonist. But it's not like we judged the contest.)
So how does it feel to win (third place in) the Bukowski Pint and Pen story contest?
It feels like a cascade of beer into a sea of glory. Actually, I wasn't present for the announcement. Somebody texted me the news as I was walking up Prospect St. I was doing the Emerson Thesis Reading, so I was late. Once I finally got to Bukowski's, I got in line behind a guy who was reading a copy of my story. He chuckled at the end, so I figured it was a good sign. They almost didn't give me the prize, though, since I was late.
How much beer did you drink to celebrate, and what kind?
I only had a couple Harpoon Summers. Since they sponsored the contest, it seemed appropriate, although there's a good chance I would have gone with Harpoon, anyway.
What will you do with twelve steak knives?
I'm thinking of becoming a steak mercenary. Because I certainly wouldn't be willing to invite 11 people over to eat with me.
What's even better, though, is that they came in this enormous boot-shaped pint glass (quart glass?), which I plan to use constantly. I'll wake up in the morning, think, "I could go for a boot of orange juice." And it will be waiting for me, assuming I already poured orange juice into the glass the night before.
What is your story about?
It's about a woman who writes corrections for the newspaper. Eventually, it sort of takes over her life.
Do you ever use the spinning beer choice wheel at Bukowski's, or is that only for people who don't know what they want?
I have to be honest: I've only been to Bukowski's twice. The first was when I turned in the story. I drank an Ommegang Three Philosophers, which is like 9% alcohol, and then went next door to tipsily buy some ice cream at Christina's before meandering my way home. To answer your question, I fear that such a roulette wheel of booze could be either really awesome or really disastrous. What if they put a bottle of milk on there, just to surprise you?
Finally, how does it feel to graduate from Emerson College?
It's like getting paroled from an institution where your every need is met. They tell you what to read, what to write, when to write, and yet you can't help feeling like you'd do so much better if you were out roaming the streets on your own. "It's so stifling," you complain to your fellow inmates. Then when you get out, you find yourself adrift, wondering when you'll ever be able to write again, on the verge of committing a crime just to get back in.
Otherwise, it's pretty great.
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