Welcome! This is a great place to start your writing journey. Make sure you check out Wulf Moon’s Super Secrets thread. So much great content there that will improve your story. Best of luck with your entry!
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >).
Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter at www.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
New Releases:
"The Missing Music in Milo Piper's Head" in Third Flatiron's Offshoots: Humanity Twigged
"To Catch a Foo Fighter" in DreamForge Magazine
"Milo Piper's Breakout Single that Ended the Rat War" in LTUE's Troubadours and Space Princesses anthology
"The Rise and Fall of Frankie's Patisserie" in Murderbugs anthology
"Felix and the Flamingo" in Escape Pod
"The Devil's Foot Locker" in Amazing Stories
Hi! I'm Writhmic. This quarter will be my first submitting. Fantasy is my preferred genre for both reading and writing but I'm hoping to get into science fiction a little more. I've been writing for a few years but as a young author, I don't have much experience to go off of. I'm hoping the forums can help!
Welcome to the forum Writhmic. You'll find a lot of helpful people here. Best of luck for your submission.
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships
Hi! I'm Writhmic. This quarter will be my first submitting. Fantasy is my preferred genre for both reading and writing but I'm hoping to get into science fiction a little more. I've been writing for a few years but as a young author, I don't have much experience to go off of. I'm hoping the forums can help!
Welcome , Writhmic!
The Forum will help! It’s helped many, and not only do members level up swiftly after joining, two Forumites a year on average win the Contest, and Volume 38 has FIVE from the Forum including our published finalist, a record!
Do take the WotF Online Workshop. It will help—the basic rules of a working story are discussed in that workshop. And do take advantage of our critique folder—we have many experienced writers ready to help.
Welcome aboard!
Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Hi! I'm Writhmic. This quarter will be my first submitting. Fantasy is my preferred genre for both reading and writing but I'm hoping to get into science fiction a little more. I've been writing for a few years but as a young author, I don't have much experience to go off of. I'm hoping the forums can help!
Hello and welcome!
If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it. ~ H.G. Wells
If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain
R, SF, SHM, SHM, SHM, F, R, HM, SHM, R, HM, R, F, SHM, SHM, SHM, SF, SHM, 1st Place (Q2 V38)
Ticknor Tales
Twitter
4th and Starlight: e-book | paperback
Hello all.
I just started writing again now that I'm retired. I have dabbled with writing for many years for my own benefit and now I'm actively submitting stories. I've entered here before, but after reading those submissions I understood why they weren't accepted. I brushed up a story I drafted a decade ago, submitting it for the 2021 Q4, and received my first HM.
That HM inspired me to set aside time each day to write. I'm 220 pages into my first horror novel. Now for the hard part, keeping motivated...
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), Submitted, WIP
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: -, -, -, HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Welcome, Todd!
Congratulations on your retirement, on finding time to write, and on your HM! That’s a great start!
I encourage you to take the WotF Online Workshop. It will help—the basic rules of a working story are discussed in that workshop. And do take advantage of our critique folder—we have many experienced writers ready to help. May your next submission rise even higher!
Welcome aboard!
Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Hello Todd. Congratulations on the HM. Writing every day will help you place higher sooner than later. 
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships
Welcome! You’ll find a lot of great tips and advice on writing just trolling through the old threads, and lots of folks willing to help you improve your craft. Make sure you check out Moon’s Super Secrets once you finish the workshop.
Happy writing!
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >).
Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter at www.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
New Releases:
"The Missing Music in Milo Piper's Head" in Third Flatiron's Offshoots: Humanity Twigged
"To Catch a Foo Fighter" in DreamForge Magazine
"Milo Piper's Breakout Single that Ended the Rat War" in LTUE's Troubadours and Space Princesses anthology
"The Rise and Fall of Frankie's Patisserie" in Murderbugs anthology
"Felix and the Flamingo" in Escape Pod
"The Devil's Foot Locker" in Amazing Stories
@toddjones welcome to forum. I hope your enjoying your retirement. I’m a few years out still. Congratulations on you HM. I recommend to wotF online course and super secrets.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 7 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
@toddjones, I'll add my welcome to the gathering throng! I also earned my first HM for a story I'd set aside years earlier, and my first SHM was similar. Since those, the Contest has been a touchstone for me in keeping my writing habits alive, and the community rather like the virtual equivalent of stepping into the bar from Cheers--only, you know, a little more focused on writing than on drinking. I love it here, and I hope you will too!
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:2 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Pending: Q3.V42
@toddjones, I'll add my welcome to the gathering throng! I also earned my first HM for a story I'd set aside years earlier, and my first SHM was similar. Since those, the Contest has been a touchstone for me in keeping my writing habits alive, and the community rather like the virtual equivalent of stepping into the bar from Cheers--only, you know, a little more focused on writing than on drinking. I love it here, and I hope you will too!
“Norm!” ?
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Hello all.
I just started writing again now that I'm retired. I have dabbled with writing for many years for my own benefit and now I'm actively submitting stories. I've entered here before, but after reading those submissions I understood why they weren't accepted. I brushed up a story I drafted a decade ago, submitting it for the 2021 Q4, and received my first HM.
That HM inspired me to set aside time each day to write. I'm 220 pages into my first horror novel. Now for the hard part, keeping motivated...
Welcome, Todd! Glad you're getting back into the game. 
If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it. ~ H.G. Wells
If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain
R, SF, SHM, SHM, SHM, F, R, HM, SHM, R, HM, R, F, SHM, SHM, SHM, SF, SHM, 1st Place (Q2 V38)
Ticknor Tales
Twitter
4th and Starlight: e-book | paperback
Thank you for the welcome and suggestions. I will look at the Online Workshop and other areas. Hope to chat with you all more once I get familiar with the forum.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), Submitted, WIP
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: -, -, -, HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Hi Writhmic. And welcome!!
This is a great forum with heaps of helpful people.
Good luck with your submission!
"If writing is easy, you're doing it wrong." -Bryan Hutchinson
V36-37: R x6
V38: R, HM, R, HM
V39: HM, HM, HM, HM
V40: HM, HM, SHM, HM
V41: RWC, P
Hey, Todd!
Welcome to the forum. There are loads of really helpful people and things to improve your writing. Great that you made a few changes to your story and got a HM. Congrats!
Keep on writing. 
"If writing is easy, you're doing it wrong." -Bryan Hutchinson
V36-37: R x6
V38: R, HM, R, HM
V39: HM, HM, HM, HM
V40: HM, HM, SHM, HM
V41: RWC, P
Hello everyone, I’m Jentina Grey from Los Angeles County. I’m a fantasy/scifi writer and artist working in acrylic and multimedia. I’ve been submitting my short stories to WotF for a few years now, and I’ve gotten as far as Silver Honorable Mention. I’ve recently re-written the ending to the story I would most like to win, to be more gripping and tie up loose ends. I’ve also nearly finished polishing my next submission, it was finished until I realized there was something I could do with my protag’s abilities that would be *really cool* so I had to add it. I submit every quarter, and I’m trying to take the advice of writing two stories per quarter. I look forward to chatting with everyone.
Hello everyone, I’m Jentina Grey from Los Angeles County. I’m a fantasy/scifi writer and artist working in acrylic and multimedia. I’ve been submitting my short stories to WotF for a few years now, and I’ve gotten as far as Silver Honorable Mention. I’ve recently re-written the ending to the story I would most like to win, to be more gripping and tie up loose ends. I’ve also nearly finished polishing my next submission, it was finished until I realized there was something I could do with my protag’s abilities that would be *really cool* so I had to add it. I submit every quarter, and I’m trying to take the advice of writing two stories per quarter. I look forward to chatting with everyone.
Welcome to the forum, Jentina! It's a pleasure to meet you.
If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it. ~ H.G. Wells
If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain
R, SF, SHM, SHM, SHM, F, R, HM, SHM, R, HM, R, F, SHM, SHM, SHM, SF, SHM, 1st Place (Q2 V38)
Ticknor Tales
Twitter
4th and Starlight: e-book | paperback
@jentinag Welcome, Jentina!
Thanks for introducing yourself! A Silver HM is an excellent achievement! You were in Dave's top tier stack, and then he was forced to whittle it down. It does say much about your writing level, so keep up the good work!
I trust you've taken the Writers of the Future Online Workshop, but if not, you'll find great instruction on how to create a working story there. And there's a critique swap folder here as well if you'd like to get some eyes on your submission. Do post in the quarter you are submitting--most of the chat and support goes on there as everyone preps their entries.
Welcome aboard!
Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@jentinag Yay!!! I’m so happy you’ve taken the plunge into the writing forum now! I think you’ll find the water is nice ? I look forward to seeing the changes you’ve made to your Silver story because it was already so good! Now we just need to entice Jason and Ang into the forum and our whole group will be here!
Volume 41 Q1 Illustrator Winner!
4x Finalist Illustrators
5x Semi finalist Illustrators
1x HM Illustrators
7x HM Writers
3x SHM Writers
https://clforsauthor.com
Author of the Primogenitor series: Cradle of Mars, Adaptation, Reunion, Schism: Available on Amazon under CL Fors
@jentinag Yay!!! I’m so happy you’ve taken the plunge into the writing forum now! I think you’ll find the water is nice ? I look forward to seeing the changes you’ve made to your Silver story because it was already so good! Now we just need to entice Jason and Ang into the forum and our whole group will be here!
A friend of yours is a friend of mine. Come on in, the water is fine!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@jentinag Welcome! This is a great place to practice your writing and find those things that will help you level up. Lots of tips and hints throughout, especially in Wulf Moon’s Super Secrets. Glad you decided to join the conversation!
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >).
Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter at www.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
New Releases:
"The Missing Music in Milo Piper's Head" in Third Flatiron's Offshoots: Humanity Twigged
"To Catch a Foo Fighter" in DreamForge Magazine
"Milo Piper's Breakout Single that Ended the Rat War" in LTUE's Troubadours and Space Princesses anthology
"The Rise and Fall of Frankie's Patisserie" in Murderbugs anthology
"Felix and the Flamingo" in Escape Pod
"The Devil's Foot Locker" in Amazing Stories
Hi Everyone. My name is Annmarie Worthington. I plan on writing under my maiden name SanSevero. I am excited to be in this group and learn from all of you. My hope is to make my first entry this quarter, though it is my first short story, so we'll see....
About me...I'm a single mom. I live in Arkansas. I love writing, computers, and classical music. I'm a total nerd and embrace it, much to my children's dismay.
Hi Everyone. My name is Annmarie Worthington. I plan on writing under my maiden name SanSevero. I am excited to be in this group and learn from all of you. My hope is to make my first entry this quarter, though it is my first short story, so we'll see....
About me...I'm a single mom. I live in Arkansas. I love writing, computers, and classical music. I'm a total nerd and embrace it, much to my children's dismay.
Welcome, Annmarie!
Thanks for taking my advice to join us! You'll find lots of support to submit in this group! It's what we do! Winners happen here, every single year!
Don't miss the Writers of the Future Online Workshop. You actually craft a story as you go through the course, and it's taught by masters of the craft--recordings by David Farland, Tim Powers, and Orson Scott Card. It also helps to post your goal in the quarter you intend to enter so everyone can cheer you on. And don't miss our critique swap folder, where you can get input on your finished product before you send it in. There are many here that can help, and are ready to answer any Contest questions.
Thanks for introducing yourself. Welcome aboard!
Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Hi Everyone. My name is Annmarie Worthington. I plan on writing under my maiden name SanSevero. I am excited to be in this group and learn from all of you. My hope is to make my first entry this quarter, though it is my first short story, so we'll see....
About me...I'm a single mom. I live in Arkansas. I love writing, computers, and classical music. I'm a total nerd and embrace it, much to my children's dismay.
Welcome! It's always nice to see a new writer join in. And as Wulf said, there are a lot of great resources here! As a way to get started writing short stories, I don't think I know of a better one...
(And writing, computers, and classical music is a pretty wicked mix if you ask me. It's my Dad, for one thing, and I think my Dad's awesome--so you're in solid company as far as I'm concerned.)
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:2 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Pending: Q3.V42
@annmarieinlr Welcome
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), Submitted, WIP
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: -, -, -, HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Welcome Annmarie. I think all offspring wonder what's up with their guardians.
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships
@wulfmoon Thank you. That is fantastic advice. I can't wait to dig in!
Welcome, Annmarie! How fantastic that you'll have your first story read to submit! Well done! I know it can be really addictive, this writing gig. So good luck with your submission - and have fun writing your next!
Wulf Moon is also too modest to mention how amazing his Super Secrets thread is. The other things he talked about, the online course and critiques thread, are terrific resources. As is the Super Secrets. They are a significant list of things Wulf made to check your story against. Even if you only use a few points/secrets (and you'll probably want to use them all!), I'm sure you'll feel like you're story is so much richer for doing so.
Again, welcome!
We'll see you around!
"If writing is easy, you're doing it wrong." -Bryan Hutchinson
V36-37: R x6
V38: R, HM, R, HM
V39: HM, HM, HM, HM
V40: HM, HM, SHM, HM
V41: RWC, P
Hello Everyone,
I’ve been a teacher and writer for 26 years, with three picture books to my credit, short-stories, various articles, including an analysis on American students’ writing published in the Spring 2016 issue of Journal of Literary Innovation, and of over 250 book reviews. My investigation on whether love can really exist between a man and a woman led me to also write my first fantasy novel called, ASIMA, SPECIAL FORCES DREAM-GUARDIAN FOR EARTH’S CHILDREN. It's really a blend of SF and Fantasy though because it's about aliens who come to Earth to help them out. I open with a one page introduction about the situation of the other planet. I call it an introduction instead of a prologue because I'm worried a prologue isn't acceptable these days. What is everyone's thoughts?
Christina
