NEW USERS! INTRODUCE YOURSELVES!

The key is to be arrogant enough when you're submitting to think that your work can stand against the best out there, but have enough humbleness after you hit the "send" button to re-examine your work to find out how you could do better next time.

The key is to be arrogant enough when you're submitting to think that your work can stand against the best out there, but have enough humbleness after you hit the "send" button to re-examine your work to find out how you could do better next time.

THIS!!!!!

+10

So you mean this incredible peak-and-valley roller coaster ride I've been on is a good thing? Oh, thank heavens.

Yes, Grayson. And it never ends

I wish there were "like" buttons here

Hey, there!

My name's Kate. I'm an art student, but have a love for writing that rivals my love for art.

I'm afraid I'm not as accomplished as most of the other users here, but I'm not discouraged; I only thirst all the more desperately to improve my work, and this looks like a good place to do it.

Very nice to meet everyone, and I'm looking forward to the outcome of the contest so that I can read your beautiful entries!

Greetings to you, Ramhcheol Kate !!! Another double threat joins us!

Welcome, Kate, and don't stress about how you feel you compare to everyone else here. Winners have considered themselves unworthy, and there are those who consider themselves genius whose work never gets past an immediate rejection. Do your best, and best of luck with it!

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Humility is the key to success, in my opinion. One of them, anyway.

One learns so much less when one is arrogant.

I'm rummaging through the more-or-less "advice" forums on this site. They've been very helpful.

Have you both submitted to WotF before, then?

I entered every quarter for a long time in the late '80s. I've been "back" for two quarters now. It's a very different contest now than it was then.

WOW.

I had no idea this contest has been going on that long! Damn, I'm out of the loop.

Different in a good or a bad way? Or just different in a different way? : )

Welcome, Kate!

Thank you!

Welcome, welcome, welcom!

WOW.

I had no idea this contest has been going on that long! Damn, I'm out of the loop.

Different in a good or a bad way? Or just different in a different way? : )

Well ... going on 27 years, since this will be anthology volume 27! I think the Illustration contest started about 6 years (?) after that? I even think I may have the first illustrated one, where (again, trying to recall) they'd gone out and found working artists (at least they had pre-existing track records in art) to get the idea going (so that probably wasn't the year of the IOTF contest starting, just beginning the ideas of illustrations for the upcoming IOTF contest) ... Maybe they hired illustrators from the very start, but that's the oldest one I have to go by.

We keep hearing how much the quality of the submissions keep improving, and that's no doubt true in general (though some Big Name Quality writers / winners were obviously getting started in those early years too!)

ART-wise, the earlier volumes (remember, we're going back as far as 20 years) I've seen have a greater gap between AMAZING artwork and ... yeah, I'll say it ... actual clunkers. You don't see that gap anymore, imo: all the art is pretty durn impressive and has been for years, imo.

Again, some great artists' careers were being launched even from the start and early on (um ... Mr. Shaun Tan, wonderful children's books and now recently Oscar-winning animator!) ... but the fewer writers and artists who KNEW about it, the fewer the Judges had to select from, no doubt, and the bigger the contests become NOW the better the quality of entry! (By the way, the contests have a half-page advertisement in the latest issue of SCI-FI magazine -- so imagine what THAT will bring in to the Judges!)

Do many of us see Contest ads or info, out amongst the genre magazines? Or writers' websites and forums?

I know it's a two-edged sword, wanting the world to know about the contests: more glamour means more writers and artists pouring in, more competition, versus more glamour means a bigger career boost when folks know what a Big Thing the contests are!

So that's a long-windy answer to your pondering. Different in a different way, but far better I'd guess.

Hi I'm Evan, for a long time I've been writing fantasy and science fiction stories and just recently I've embarked on a quest to get myself published before i go to college this coming fall. it was during this search i discovered this site and scholarship and i decided to see if my writing was up to the challenge of facing up against the best and the brightest writers around. Well, heres hoping that on my journey I can improve myself, my writing and meet new people that love writing just as much as i do.... i think im in the right place for that any how, thats me!

Welcome Evan!

Yes, welcome, Evan!

Hi, Evan! : )

@soulmirror: Shaun Tan got started through this contest?! Wow, that's frackin awesome.

I guess you've been here quite a while. Respect!

Welcome, Evan, and, yeah, I think this contest is a great way to challenge yourself.

Zoomzoom to you, Highspeedlimo! Rocketships on the autobahn to you.

I guess you've been here quite a while.

Couplah years (2009 my info sez): It may just seem longer to anyone trying to wade through one of my ... oh nevermind. But early on I did try to hunt for older WOTF books at used book stores and a few off Amazon, to get a feel for what sorts of stories win, so that's why I tried to answer your wondering whether the contest has changed.

It'd be interesting to learn how long the average perp is involved in the contests before pro'ing out, winning, or calling it kweets.

Folks tend to agree everyone should just keep trying, and those stories that don't win ... just try to sell elsewhere. How can you beat the contests ... unless you have a specific other, non-contest project that needs 100% focus (another novel etc)? Some are good at juggling projects (obviously a best skill to have!) but some I suppose (like myself) might work best totally submerged in one thing at a time (real life sometimes sort of demands that either-or approach)

Hello, long time lurker, first time poster here. I just submitted my first entry to the WotF contest yesterday. One of my New Year's goals is to enter a story every quarter until I place or pro-out, so I figured I better get started. I'm glad I found a whole community of people with like-minded goals . After all, it's easier to eliminate your competition when they all gather in one place- ur, I mean, it's very nice to meet you all .

Welcome, Sai!

I just started my entry yesterday...

Welcome to the site. c:

Hi.

People say I'm a sure-ified, glorified gift from God.

"I just like candy and I take it to the extreme!", is my response-in-return.

"But you are delicious like Strawberries and Whipped Cream." replies on non-closeted Dandy Apple.

"Why yes, yes indeed" I say. "But for at least the thousandth damn time, or so: I don't do showtunes and my idea of decorating is piling empty soda cans upon each other. Leave me alone!"

And...that..is..half the problem right there.

And if you can find a message or two in all of that, then you're most likely a Genius..or at least someone very, very special.

**The Crows Roars**

Hello, Sai and Exopod! Welcome to the conversations!

Welcome, Exopod!

Long time since I've been to this thread. Welcome everyone. Don't hesitate to participate in the rest of the forum. In this business, you learn most from interaction with other writers.

I am a retired drafting/engineering instructor. I have always read science fiction and have entered the contest in the past but have not had the talent to win. Right now, I'm attempting to write a decent story wherein a UFO lands and ET invites me into his ship and takes me for a ride and...
13,000 words so far.

I wish you all the best of luck.

jotro

Welcome, jotro, and good luck to you!