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Hi everyone! My name is Jeanne Rhodes-Moen. I entered for the first time in Quarter 4 and am anxiously waiting so see the results. I've written 6 self published novels, The Apara Chronicles, but haven't had the energy to do much promotion because of health issues and the floods here in 2024(my jewelry study was under water). I'm in Asheville, NC. 

I'm probably a bit older than many starting authors... I'm turning 59 soon...I see so many young authors on tiktok!

I was lucky enough to have someone in my very small social circle who is not only a writer, but a major RPG designer/creator for old White Wolf/World of darkness, TSR and more. She read an early draft of my first novel and liked it enough to volunteer to help me with editing/mentoring in 2021. We're going to work on doing an RPG of my series next. I haven't sold a lot of copies of my books, but what reviews I've gotten have been great! I also did a trad published jewelry how-to book nearly 20 years ago for filigree work. I coincidentally worked in textbook production(formatting) for 10 years in Norway, and picked up graphic skills to help my late husband after his stroke in the 90's. So, all of that has helped me get my books done and out.

I've already got a new story ready to send in end of this quarter if I don't hear anything. 

Welcome!

Sorry about Ashville. That was truly horrible. Hope you were able to recover from your losses. 

How did you find the switch from novel to short story(ies)? Some folks really struggle with it. I had three novels written before I switched, and had no trouble, other than writing long-ish the first few. 

Welcome @jeannius!  I'm turning 55 in March, so you are in good company around here.

Congrats on writing, finishing and submitting a short story to WotF. 

@jeannius 

So sorry about the flooding of your jewelry studio, Jeanne. Those NC floods were shocking.

We're glad you're writing, and don't let ageism hold you back! Lots of winners are seasoned human beings, and their life experience adds tremendous power to their stories. You actually have an advantage, especially since you've been doing so much writing already!

Don't miss the WotF Online Workshop. There is always more to learn, and they have the best teaching in that online workshop. And it's FREE!

Welcome to the Forum!

Hi! I’m AJ,

I've been putting this off because I’m…not good with introductions. Or talking about myself. So…I’ll just talk about my writing instead, if that’s okay. What got me into it, my inspirations and influences, etc.

My style is experimental and deeply rooted in heritage, using prose that takes inspiration from classic literature—authors like Emily and Charlotte Brontë and Victor Hugo—but also from my cultural background.

I’m of Irish, Native American, French and Black American descent (Creole), and my worldbuilding draws on all these traditions. From Celtic myth I take the vast, mythic sweep of lore; from Native storytelling, the reverence for nature as a living, active participant in human stories. From Black oral traditions, the rhythm and musicality of language itself—stories that are sung as much as told. And from French literature—folklore in particular— the juxtaposition of beauty and brutality, with prose that seeks to demonstrate the wonder even in monstrosities of artful decay.

Because of this, my prose is intentionally rhythmic and emotional. I use beats, cadence, and poetic structures (haiku, staccato lines, broken meter) to mirror emotional states on the page. A racing heart, the surge of panic, the weight of grief—my goal is to make the reader feel these experiences through the tempo of the words themselves.

I didn’t grow up reading fantasy (my chosen genre)—I wasn’t allowed to. In fact, I still haven't read much of it. As a kid who was drawn to the fantastical but forbidden from anything with even a whiff of magic in it, I had little choice other than to turn to mythology (because I could pass it off as schoolwork, lol). Works like the Eddas, the Iliad, the Táin, the Odyssey, the Kalevala, the Mahābhārata, along with various folktales from Japan, China, Scandinavia, and the Caribbean—combined with the traditions of my own heritage—became the foundation of my imagination. My writing is best seen as a fusion of all of them.

Um...what else? Can't really think of anything else to say. Given my relative newness to just about...everything, I'd love to hear anyone's recommendations when it comes to fantasy books! I've read the first Wheel of Time and Game of Thrones books so far, and I keep meaning to pick up the second books in either series. But I get sidetracked and forget, lol.  Already got some great recommendations from some nice folks here, but more are always appreciated! I love to read. 

Awesome intro! 

You're so multi-cultural. I'm jealous. I'm white as paper and live in a podunk town. I'm open to culture and have an open mind and heart, but my experiences, my immersion is light. I just left the country (USA) for the first time this year! (Well, Canada last year. Does Canada count?) 😉 

How did you discover WotF and, well, writing itself? Looks like you've read 39 and 40? Did you enjoy those? Any older volumes on your shelf? 

I started in the low teens, though I don't remember those stories now. I bet if I read one I'd remember. I got re-started with V.25 and read The Assignment of Runner ETI. As a runner myself, that one appealed to me. Loved it! And kept going and going and here I am. 

Something that appealed to me in particular is how these stories aren't gotcha or twist and drop endings like I'd found in many of the "Best Of" volumes at that time. Like the author was just writing to see how clever they were at dropping the reader off a cliff at the end. I found/find WotF stories satisfying.  

Oh, and you mentioned you're looking for some fantasy to read. Do you have a favorite or two that you've recently discovered? What do you love about it/them?

@dagnir Welcome. Glad you found the forum. Tons of free aids for writing and great people you can discuss writing with and even swap for opinions.

@tj_knight Ha! Canada totally counts. 

Since I've been pretty sheltered most of my life, now that I'm out on my own I've been trying to catch up on just about everything. I've been reading not just books, but about the authors who wrote them. That's actually how I learned about this contest. I found a guy—Patrick Rothfuss—when I picked up his book, Name of the Wind, at the bookstore and I read up on him. This contest was mentioned. If I remember correctly, it said that he entered back before he published his first book. So, I started looking into it and here I am. I've never published anything in my life, and I've never entered a writing contest before, but I thought, why not? And this one doesn't charge an entry fee (thank goodness), and it lets you enter as much as you want.

I have volumes 38-41. And an older one. I forget which volume it is. Uh...it's from 2002? Or maybe it was 2003. One of those. I don't have it with me to doublecheck, but it's definitely from the early 2000s. I've been liking a lot of the stories so far; I really enjoy that there's such a wide variety of different styles and perspectives. There was one I just read recently, about a guy whose wife exists out of time, in Eternity. That was pretty trippy. I can't remember the name off the top of my head. I've been reading so much that the titles are starting to blur together in my head. 

I've got a few authors that have been great! I like Rothfuss, who I mentioned earlier, for his prose style. Since I grew up reading baroque, like the Bronte sisters, I appreciate his flourishes. But apparently the third book is never coming out? Then there's Le Guin's Earthsea books I've just started, and so far, she's been amazing, but for different reasons. She's got a more...what's the word? A more minimalist style? But I can tell every word was chosen carefully, if that makes sense. Oh! And then N.K. Jemisin! She's got a very lyrical style and themes that really resonate with me. I'm just getting into her Broken Earth trilogy, and it's been fantastic so far! Highly recommend. 

@dagnir @tj_knight Canada totally does not count

I think Rothfuss winning piece ended up as chapter 3 in Name of the Wind. It's true book 3 may never come - but you could always read RR Virdi The First Binding which has some (pick your adjective: remarkable/uncanny/troubling/unbelievable etc) 'similarities'. So if you want to know how Name of the Wind ends, just read Virdi 😉

There are other WOTF winners with books I like - JT Greathouse (JT Grottenhuis in WOTF) wrote the Pact and Pattern series. Lyrical. And Andrea Stewart wrote The Bone Shard Daughter. Also excellent.

Jemisin is interesting as her 'style' seems completely different depending on the series. All great. But all very distinct.

@gideonpsmith

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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I think Rothfuss winning piece ended up as chapter 3 in Name of the Wind. It's true book 3 may never come - but you could always read RR Virdi The First Binding which has some (pick your adjective: remarkable/uncanny/troubling/unbelievable etc) 'similarities'. So if you want to know how Name of the Wind ends, just read Virdi

Really? Ooh, that's fascinating! Of course I have to check it out. This is the first time I've ever heard of RR Virdi or The First Binding, but I can't wait to read it! Thank you so much for telling me, you're amazing!

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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There are other WOTF winners with books I like - JT Greathouse (JT Grottenhuis in WOTF) wrote the Pact and Pattern series. Lyrical. And Andrea Stewart wrote The Bone Shard Daughter. Also excellent.

Thanks to everyone on the forums I've gotten so many new books to try my head's spinning. I love it! This is fantastic. Only problem is I want to buy them all now and I can't. 🤣 

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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Jemisin is interesting as her 'style' seems completely different depending on the series. All great. But all very distinct.

Does it really? I've only gotten into her Broken Earth series so far (well, I'm on the first book). I had no idea her style shifted depending on the series. That particularly stands out to me because I do something similar. My style shifts depending on the setting, the POV, the theme. I'm not sure how best to explain it. Um...

For example, a book I'm working on, the prologue is mythic and operatic, with baroque prose that also utilizes specific poetic forms, then deliberately breaks them. How do I say it? Um...Basically, I use those constrained poetic forms at moments of psychological rupture.

Then comes the broken rhythm, when the character fully descends into a state of complete, maddened panic. The prologue functions as one bookend, while the other bookend, the epilogue, is structured in the reverse style of the prologue. Where the prologue opens with themes of grief, love and terror, the epilogue brings it to a close with fury, hatred and denial. The first chapter shifts gears because the setting is no longer mythic. It changes to match the current, gritty situation the protagonist is currently in, if that makes sense.

Finding another writer who also shifts style is great! I look forward to seeing more of her work.

@dagnir 

Welcome to the Forum, AJ. Algis Budrys, the founding WotF coordinating judge, was known as AJ. You're in good company!

I'm glad to see you are reading in the genres you enjoy writing in. It will guide you in how to write successful fiction. Another great guide is the WotF Online Workshop. Listen to some of the best as they show you how to write your best. And when you complete the workshop you'll have a story to submit as the result!

Lots of great advice here. If you seek to win this contest, start reading the WotF Volumes. "Know Thy Judge." It's a Super Secret of Writing that I teach, and it's important. You can't hit the target if you don't know where it's at. 

Best of success!

Moon

Posted by: @wulfmoon

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Welcome to the Forum, AJ. Algis Budrys, the founding WotF coordinating judge, was known as AJ. You're in good company!

Obviously missed the episode of IT crowd with Jen's boyfriend Peter!

Posted by: @wulfmoon

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You can't hit the target if you don't know where it's at. 

Eh, just napalm the whole darn area, bound to hit something.

Also, you don't want to get too involved in appeasing certain judges, as you'll need to stay flexible for the ones who come later. Plus the judges can change.., unexpectedly.

Posted by: @dagnir

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I'd love to hear anyone's recommendations when it comes to fantasy books!

Maybe try Goosebumps and similar kids books from the 90-2000s.

Well written and published.

Many of those readers are now our intended readers. Or even their kids.

Even tv adaptions. I used to read the X files, for example.

Going a little older, the obvious trendy books, Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger games and the like. 

Remember, women are big readers.

Probably more female leads in novels than movies.

Personally, I'd just catch the film anyway.

Have been collecting Alissa Callen.

Not SciFi and Fantasy, but fom the few pages I've read, seems very well written.

@nova Thanks for the recommendations, I appreciate it. I don't know much about Goosebumps, but I'll take a look. There're quite a few books to it, I think. Is it a series that covers one story, or is each book different?

I have a few friends who are really into Harry Potter and Hunger Games, if only the movies. I think I'll give the books a try!

I'm not sure Twilight is quite my speed from what little I know, but I'll still look it up. Maybe read the first few pages to see if it'd be my kind of thing. 🙂 

Posted by: @dagnir

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Thanks for the recommendations

Twilight was written by a student (I think that's the right term?) of the late WOTF coordinating judge David Farland.

The author wanted to write the most successful young adult book and he helped her.

3 books, 4 films later...

Goosebumps are 100 page individual stories, less a few sequels. 

They typically centre around a kid and their siblings or friends in an American typical town/suburbs. And some type of monster/alien/goo/ghost or what not.

They came around the time of the X files, so it's like that for kids.

They made a tv show from it and a (2?) films with Jack Black acting as the author.

It was a big deal in the early to mid 90s with all the merchandise and associated paraphernalia.

Much like the X files.

It should be a good time to buy Twilight, as it's popping up in second hand and thrift stores a lot. Goosebumps and others should also be there. You don't need to spend much money. Also check your library availability.

PS

David Farland also worked for a publisher where he was asked to pick a kids book to push for Christmas.

So, he's likely also responsible for children getting concussions at railway stations.

(Psst, it was Harry Potter)

Hi, everyone! Just introducing myself. Longtime writer, learning everyday, and hoping for professional publication someday.

I've submitted twice to the WotF, earning two Honorable Mentions.

Outside of WotF, I have more rejections than I care to share and one contest win.

Hoping for positive Q1 results!

@zetarra 

Hi! Welcome to the forums! It's nice to meet you. I'm new as well.

Grats on your win in another contest getting the two HMs here! Two HMs are nothing to scoff at, though I understand everyone hopes for more. ^_^

Good luck in Q1!

@zetarra 

Welcome to the Forum, Zetarra! Great job on getting HMs on your first two entries. That’s a good sign!

Keep leveling up. You’ll note in people’s signatures that’s often a matter of time and growth in one’s craft. To speed the process up, don’t miss the WotF Online Workshop!

Best of success to you!

Moon

Posted by: @zetarra

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I've submitted twice to the WotF, earning two Honorable Mentions.

Welcome! Getting an HM on your first submission is no mean feat! Congratulations. 

I noticed you're a self-professed numbers person, so thought you might enjoy these analyses of V39 and V40. I won't pretend that I found some magic formula, but the studies have impacted my storycraft. Hopefully for the better.

Thank you for the warm welcome and encouragement! 

I have completed WotF Online Workshop and have a few methods I heavily incorporate into all my stories because of it, also bearing all that in mind when revising some of my older pieces. Very helpful.

Posted by: @ease

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I noticed you're a self-professed numbers person, so thought you might enjoy these analyses of V39 and V40. I won't pretend that I found some magic formula, but the studies have impacted my storycraft. Hopefully for the better.

@ease this is absolute gold! Thanks for sharing. I've always thought sensory details were important to really ground the reader. I'd be interested in seeing more of your data in the future. All of that is really quite insightful and is certainly worth keeping in mind. Thanks again! 

Posted by: @zetarra

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Thanks for sharing.

Your very lucky.

I'm doing some work myself.

The mighty algorithm has sensory guff in check.

I feel it may supercede most of what I've learnt by other methods.

Like a short cut for everything, I guess.

It's kicking my bottom at the moment, so I'm needing to do more research to clear up a few issues.

May be required to actually read a book.

I haven't finished the course yet, I fear at the end they will just drop the curtain and go, "or there's this whole algorithm thing that can get you there in half the time."

A bit like the disturbing car Mr Garrison made in South Park.

Do not look up, Do not look up

"Or you can just use the manual controls."

Hey, I warned you.

Jokes aside, if you have any issues here and you don't know where to turn, let me know, and I can point you in the right direction.

PS

Three Asterix (*) either side make it red.

Sweet!

Posted by: @Anonymous

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Jokes aside, if you have any issues here and you don't know where to turn, let me know, and I can point you in the right direction.

Thanks for the welcome!

Hello, this is Mirelly, but I would like to go by my pen name, Relly Rajas. I'm new to this contest, and I want to enter mostly for feedback.

Do you have to submit 1 story entry for every quarterly contest to be selected by someone? Also, is it possible to try again for the following year's contest if not selected?

What I mean is this:

4 times (1 entry to 1 Quarterly Contest)

4 different entries to 4 different quarters contests?

Regarding the online workshop, do you have to complete the workshop before proceeding with the contest? 

I know I missed the first quarter contest, and I want to do something I've never done before. I'm new to this contest, by the way. I do have a few story ideas, but I don't know which one to start with.  

@rellyrajas Greetings!

Lots of good questions there. I'll go in order.

There are 4 entry windows per year. The deadline for each can be found here on the forum in the quarterly threads, or all at once on this webpage. You can enter 1, 2, 3, or 4 times per year. Completely up to you! As long as you don't enter twice in the same quarter, you're good to go. 

Yes, you can keep trying until you win. I famously (I'm famous to me anyway) entered for twelve years before winning. Just like above, there were years I entered only once. Some years, twice, thrice, or frice (I don't think those words mean what I think they mean). Some folks enter, then life takes them a different direction, then they come back and enter again. That's one of the beautiful things about this contest - for forty-three years it's been here, every quarter, ready to accept stories from hopeful writers.

Nope, you don't have to finish or even start the online workshop in order to enter. I wholeheartedly believe your entry will be improved if you watch an "episode" or two of the workshop, and improved even further by completing it, but is it a prerequisite to entering? No. 

The contest administrators want you to enter with your favorite/best story. They want you to grow and improve if you don't win. They want you to try again. They want you to win. And they want to meet you in LA. I know these statements as facts because I have personally lived each of them.

Best of luck!

Welcome @rellyrajas!

Dustin explained it well.

Take the free workshop, it is full of helpful info.

Also, use the forum. There are helpful people you can discuss ideas with and swap stories. Wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.

@rellyrajas You don't even need to enter to get feedback! You can go to the "Story Critique Exchange" board on the forum, and find some people to swap stories with to get some feedback from other writers, which might help push your story to be good enough to get to semifinalist/finalist/winner territory to get professional feedback!

@tj_knight @toddsjones @bootzenkatzen

Oh, okay, cool! 😎 Thanks! Also, can we submit the same story for every quarterly contest, or is that not allowed? If it's the same story, then can it be a continuation of the same story, but in different parts of it, in every quarterly contest? Also, does the story have to be finished under 17,000 words? Is it only one story per quarterly contest? Not the same in parts? 

@rellyrajas The story must be complete within the 17,000 words. Some few have had success submitting a chapter of a novel, which might take some restructuring so that it comes across as a complete story, including the amazing Patrick Rothfuss (V16). But your submission must be a complete standalone story, with a start, middle, and end all contained within those 17,000 words.

Ideally you want it much shorter, like 7,000 words, as there are very few other markets out there that will take a 17,000 novelette if you happen not to win. And I don't say that to be negative: with thousands of entries every quarter, even if you're the next Stephen King you're unlikely to win on your first attempt.

To be explicit, don't submit different parts of the same story in different quarters. Submit one whole story, this is below 17,000 words, each quarter. Ideally a new one for each quarter, too. Resubmissions are allowed, but are rarely rewarded.

Best of luck!