@ian1109 Big congratulations on winning 2nd place! 🏆 That's amazing! Very nice to meet you and a delayed, warm welcome to the Forum 😊
Vol 42: Q1 - R Q2 - P Q3 - I/P
Vol 41: Q1 - HM, Q2 - SHM, Q3 - RWC, Q4 - HM
Vol 40: Q4 - DQ
@404-found Jason Wu Welcome to the Forum and nice to meet you! 😊
In addition to the Forum and the workshop that you already mentioned, I really recommend the WotF podcast too if you haven't already listened to it! That is an amazing resource as well!
Best of luck with your writing! 😃
Vol 42: Q1 - R Q2 - P Q3 - I/P
Vol 41: Q1 - HM, Q2 - SHM, Q3 - RWC, Q4 - HM
Vol 40: Q4 - DQ
@alix Nice to meet you, welcome! 😃 That's really great with your SHM, congrats! 👏
Vol 42: Q1 - R Q2 - P Q3 - I/P
Vol 41: Q1 - HM, Q2 - SHM, Q3 - RWC, Q4 - HM
Vol 40: Q4 - DQ
@landgrant Welcome, nice to meet you! Best of luck with your entry! 😃
Vol 42: Q1 - R Q2 - P Q3 - I/P
Vol 41: Q1 - HM, Q2 - SHM, Q3 - RWC, Q4 - HM
Vol 40: Q4 - DQ
@landgrant welcome. Congrats on the seven published stories.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, (HM Resubmit), Editing, ?
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 everyone,
I'm Simon, a writer based in Vienna, Austria.
I’m really enjoying this contest and the Volume 40 audiobook! Most of the stories were fantastic—I was pleasantly surprised by their quality. These days, too many magazines seem to publish empty vignettes instead of truly engaging stories, so this was a refreshing change.
That said, I feel the audiobook could use longer pauses—several seconds of silence—between stories to give listeners a moment to process. I’d like to share this feedback but wasn’t sure where to post it. The forum is huge, and I might be missing the right thread.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Cheers,
Simon
@simon welcome to the forum.
Not sure where the constructive criticism should be.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, (HM Resubmit), Editing, ?
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--
Heya guys! My name is Brandon. I’m a big sci/fi, fantasy, horror fan. I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I’ve been reading. This will be the first time that I’ve written something with the intent of submitting. We’ll see what happens. I hope to meet many of you, and I’m always down to read someone’s work.
Thanks
Hey @brandonspradlin1980 welcome to the forum 
Pretty friendly space here. Poke around a bit and join us over in the quarterly contest area which seems to be our most active posting section, especially feel free to join the different annual/monthly and/or daily goals/updates threads and the quaarterly one!
People are usually up for exchanging crits close to the deadline in the exchange
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: HM Q2: P Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 52 submitted 3 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
@brandonspradlin1980 welcome.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, (HM Resubmit), Editing, ?
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--
Thank you!! @patricia-a
"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." ~Hemingway (maybe)
V41 Q2:RWC Q4:R
V42 Q1:HM Q2:P Q3:WIP Q4:TBD
Wow. So many new writers are joining the forum. Welcome to every one of you, and may your efforts be rewarded with a win.
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships
Hi everyone,
I'm Simon, a writer based in Vienna, Austria.
I’m really enjoying this contest and the Volume 40 audiobook! Most of the stories were fantastic—I was pleasantly surprised by their quality. These days, too many magazines seem to publish empty vignettes instead of truly engaging stories, so this was a refreshing change.
That said, I feel the audiobook could use longer pauses—several seconds of silence—between stories to give listeners a moment to process. I’d like to share this feedback but wasn’t sure where to post it. The forum is huge, and I might be missing the right thread.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Cheers,
Simon
Welcome aboard, Simon! We’re glad you’ve found us!
l’m not familiar with the audiobooks, but I’m sure Jason Toth knows the right people to share your feedback with. You can look him up in the directory.
Cheers!
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 been 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!
Heya guys! My name is Brandon. I’m a big sci/fi, fantasy, horror fan. I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I’ve been reading. This will be the first time that I’ve written something with the intent of submitting. We’ll see what happens. I hope to meet many of you, and I’m always down to read someone’s work.
Thanks
Welcome to the Forum, Brandon! We’re glad you’ve started writing and are ready to submit. You’ve taken one small step for Brandon, one giant leap in your career!
Do take the WotF Online Workshop if you haven't already. It’s free, and it’s taught by the best in the biz. You’ll be off to a great start!
Welcome aboard!
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 been 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!
@simon Nice to meet you, welcome to the forum! 😊
I love the audiobooks too! I listened to both Vol. 39 and 40, they are great!
Funny you should mention that, I always took a break after a story was done to kind of reflect on it, process the impression. A few seconds more would be too short for me, because I would first reflect on my experience as a reader/listener, then I’d analyze in terms of craft. I think I did minimum 5-10 min break after each (which also says something about how good those stories are, leaving that kind of an impression 😊)
Best of luck with your submissions!
Vol 42: Q1 - R Q2 - P Q3 - I/P
Vol 41: Q1 - HM, Q2 - SHM, Q3 - RWC, Q4 - HM
Vol 40: Q4 - DQ
@brandonspradlin1980 Welcome, nice to meet you! 😊
Good luck with your submissions! Hope you’ll be able to send something for Q2! 😊 This is an amazing contest.
Vol 42: Q1 - R Q2 - P Q3 - I/P
Vol 41: Q1 - HM, Q2 - SHM, Q3 - RWC, Q4 - HM
Vol 40: Q4 - DQ
Hello everyone! After 23+ years in the Army, I decided to finally be serious about writing. I made the mental commitment last year and pushed out around 50,000 words. I had a few things accepted for an Army publication, and that fueled the fire even further. I doubled the goal for this year and have submitted to Q1 and Q2 so far. I am looking forward to learning from everyone here and enjoying shared experiences along the way. I don't have an official retirement date yet, but writing excites me more than any other future I can imagine.
Writer of the Future Stats
V42: Q1: R Q2: TBD Q3: WIP Q4: WIP
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 22 submitted 2 accepted (x1 fiction, x1 nonfiction), Writing Battle 0-2
2024: 19 submitted 3 acceptances (x1 poetry, x1 fiction, x1 nonfiction), Writing Battle: 0-3 with x1 HM
2023: 1 submitted 1 acceptance (nonfiction)
2022: 1 submitted 1 acceptance (nonfiction)
2021: 0 submitted
2020: 0 submitted
2019: 2 submitted 0 acceptances
@davidjvowell Welcome to the forum! Nice to meet you!
Great job that you already got your Q2 in, wish you best of luck with it! 😃👍
Vol 42: Q1 - R Q2 - P Q3 - I/P
Vol 41: Q1 - HM, Q2 - SHM, Q3 - RWC, Q4 - HM
Vol 40: Q4 - DQ
@davidjvowell welcome! You are already doing better than me as I am yet to write my Q2 Lots of great information here, and come join us in the daily progress thread!
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: HM Q2: P Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 52 submitted 3 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
@davidjvowell Many if not most of my favorite stories were written by soldiers. Excited to see your work!
"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.“ -C. S. Lewis
//
V40: RWC, HM
V41: HM, HM
V42: P
//
All my prior HMs are here.
"4 Laws of Storytelling" (YouTube reflections on the craft)
@davidjvowell welcome to the group.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 6 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
"Experimenting with the Dance of Death" in Love is Complicated LUW Romance Anthology.
Hello everyone! After 23+ years in the Army, I decided to finally be serious about writing. I made the mental commitment last year and pushed out around 50,000 words. I had a few things accepted for an Army publication, and that fueled the fire even further. I doubled the goal for this year and have submitted to Q1 and Q2 so far. I am looking forward to learning from everyone here and enjoying shared experiences along the way. I don't have an official retirement date yet, but writing excites me more than any other future I can imagine.
Hi David!
We're glad you've found us. When I've done signings, I've been impressed by all the SF readers on military bases and on nuclear submarines. They love their SF and are avid fans. If you write space opera or military SF, you could add the realism it needs to feel authentic. And I know just the place to send your stories to! Oh wait, you've already been doing that! Well done!
Do check out all the folders and share in the chats. That's how you'll get the support of this powerful group! And don't forget to take the WotF Online Writing Course. It's free and it's taught by the best.
Welcome aboard!
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 been 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!
Welcome @davidjvowell
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, (HM Resubmit), Editing, ?
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--
@wulfmoon thanks for the advice and I look forward to diving into everything this community has to offer.
Writer of the Future Stats
V42: Q1: R Q2: TBD Q3: WIP Q4: WIP
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 22 submitted 2 accepted (x1 fiction, x1 nonfiction), Writing Battle 0-2
2024: 19 submitted 3 acceptances (x1 poetry, x1 fiction, x1 nonfiction), Writing Battle: 0-3 with x1 HM
2023: 1 submitted 1 acceptance (nonfiction)
2022: 1 submitted 1 acceptance (nonfiction)
2021: 0 submitted
2020: 0 submitted
2019: 2 submitted 0 acceptances
@krqueen_writes thank you for that. I enjoyed what I've experienced so far and look forward to the journey.
Writer of the Future Stats
V42: Q1: R Q2: TBD Q3: WIP Q4: WIP
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 22 submitted 2 accepted (x1 fiction, x1 nonfiction), Writing Battle 0-2
2024: 19 submitted 3 acceptances (x1 poetry, x1 fiction, x1 nonfiction), Writing Battle: 0-3 with x1 HM
2023: 1 submitted 1 acceptance (nonfiction)
2022: 1 submitted 1 acceptance (nonfiction)
2021: 0 submitted
2020: 0 submitted
2019: 2 submitted 0 acceptances
@davidjvowell Hello 
and welcome. I've been here for about 5 years (ish) and this is my first post. I haven't yet done an introduction.
@kingmidas well, that's one barrier knock over with the strike of an Enter key. Nice to meet you.
Writer of the Future Stats
V42: Q1: R Q2: TBD Q3: WIP Q4: WIP
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 22 submitted 2 accepted (x1 fiction, x1 nonfiction), Writing Battle 0-2
2024: 19 submitted 3 acceptances (x1 poetry, x1 fiction, x1 nonfiction), Writing Battle: 0-3 with x1 HM
2023: 1 submitted 1 acceptance (nonfiction)
2022: 1 submitted 1 acceptance (nonfiction)
2021: 0 submitted
2020: 0 submitted
2019: 2 submitted 0 acceptances
@davidjvowell Hello
I know how you can fix that. 😊
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 been 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!
@kingmidas Well, delayed welcome to you.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, (HM Resubmit), Editing, ?
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--
