Quarter 1 Writers and Illustrators of the Future Vol.39

Good luck to all. I'm not sure how the results will be handled this quarter, but my guess is that results will be delayed by a significant amount so in honor of Dave we should all be writing our next and forget about our Q1 entry for now. Also, is there going to be an April '22 gala for vol. 38 winners?

For some reason, quarter results seem to be on the quarter start pages now with the first entry updated as soon as results are publicly posted for the quarter. Not sure why this shift has occurred, but it's something I've noticed recently.

@physa The WIotF gala is on April 8th this year, Amy. ?

This is the first time I've entered the contest. I've had one published short story, a couple of published essays, and a handful of published poems, and getting even an honorable mention would be a tremendous feather in my cap. Either way, I'm just happy to be here. 

Posted by: @malazoth

This is the first time I've entered the contest. I've had one published short story, a couple of published essays, and a handful of published poems, and getting even an honorable mention would be a tremendous feather in my cap. Either way, I'm just happy to be here. 

Glad to have you here! Please do introduce yourself in the first folder, New Users Introduce Yourselves. It’s where we officially welcome new members. ? Cheers!

Welcome to the forum Victor. There's no better place to be for fledgling writers.

Like Wulf said, go to the new users thread and introduce yourself.

@malazoth that's exciting, good luck!

Posted by: @ease

Only a month or two until results start appearing! I notice that folk are celebrating their successes here less and less in recent quarters: have they moved elsewhere?

 

Ease,

I think we've gotten better about integrating results into the discussion thread. Way back there was some issue with them being hard to distinguish amongst the general chatter. So Brad started Jibber-Jabber threads and results threads.

But now it seems easier with the like buttons and what not to just report in the discussions since that's where we spend the most time anyway.

Hi everyone! This is my first time entering the contest. I've been following it for years and kept telling myself one day... Well, this quarter was my "one day"! The best of luck to everyone who submitted.  

Posted by: @ltorossian

Hi everyone! This is my first time entering the contest. I've been following it for years and kept telling myself one day... Well, this quarter was my "one day"! The best of luck to everyone who submitted.  

Welcome! 😀 We all have that one day--good luck with your entry!

@ltorossian 

Welcome! That's a great first step.

Best of luck to your story.   

(@ltorossian) Best wishes for your submission in the contest and welcome to the forum.

Posted by: @ltorossian

Hi everyone! This is my first time entering the contest. I've been following it for years and kept telling myself one day... Well, this quarter was my "one day"! The best of luck to everyone who submitted.  

Congratulations on your first entry to the Contest! Best of success!

When you get a chance, please do introduce yourself under the folder "New Users: Introduce Yourselves."

Cheers!

I'm also very eager to get the results from V39Q1.  Good luck everyone.

I introduced myself in the new users forum.  I'm not new to WotF, but I'm new to the forums.  I note that folks put their submission in their signature.  Is there a thread that sets a standard for that?  V39Q1 is obviously volume 39 (2021-2022) quarter 1 (October to December).  HM is likely honorable mention, and SHM silver honorable mention. R is probably rejected?

Mark

Hi Mark. Posting a signature is completely voluntary. It's also a great way to provide links to each writers' accomplishments. 

I consider the sig a great way to get to know fellow forumites.

@markwilx Yes, R is rejected. Or, as the DreamForge editor likes to say, it’s not rejected, just returned. ?

Love it!

OK, R (for me) now officially stands for Returned.

"My story was returned, so I have the opportunity to send it out again!"

Posted by: @axeminister

Love it!

OK, R (for me) now officially stands for Returned.

"My story was returned, so I have the opportunity to send it out again!"

Exactly. My kind of thinking. ?

I like R meaning returned. The question is which day of week is a results Thursday.

@axeminister I love that R for returned. That's such an important attitude. Good luck with the next place!

So... if the phone call I got yesterday is a sign of things, and I didn't just imagine that whole experience... I think I'm a finalist. What do I do now?

Posted by: @thekingsguard

So... if the phone call I got yesterday is a sign of things, and I didn't just imagine that whole experience... I think I'm a finalist. What do I do now?

Disney World?

@thekingsguard If you didn't actually speak to Joni, the first thing to do is return her call. 😉 She'll give you the details.

It will take a few weeks to hear your final results, and you're supposed to keep the title of your story a secret until you find out whether you won.

Congratulations!!

Congratulations @thekingsguard for making it as a finalist!  I'm excited for you.

Thanks @karyenglish for the insights.  I had assumed that all winners, finalists, honorable mentions, and rejections (returns?) were all announced within a few days of each other.  I did not realize finalists were notified weeks before a final determination.  Can you give us further insight into the notification order and timeframe?  For those who have not heared anything, I assume it's safe to assume they're not finalists?

Thanks and best regards,

Mark

Posted by: @thekingsguard

So... if the phone call I got yesterday is a sign of things, and I didn't just imagine that whole experience... I think I'm a finalist. What do I do now?

So is it official?!? Fingers crossed for you!

@karyenglish Eventually managed to get back with her - don't recommend getting potentially career altering phone calls on the drive home in heavy rain.

Oh, and mums the word on story title.

@markwilx

Hi, Mark,

The exact timing of how and when the results come out depends on Joni's schedule. Several years ago, results used to trickle out over the course of a few weeks. First there would be a wave or two of rejections, then rejections with some HMs mixed in, then HMs and Silvers, etc. Finalists were called around the time Silvers started coming out, but they were told not to announce it until Joni gave her permission, which usually happened a few days later. Semis usually found out last, usually because if there's any movement among the finalists (such as someone getting disqualified), the new finalist typically comes from the semis.

More recently, Joni sends all of the results out together over the course of 24-48 hours. Finalists are often called first, but not always, and placed under a gag order. Semis still tend to find out last.

The contest's software provider did a major update in the last several months, though, so Joni had to re-learn how to send out all of the results, plus she had to load and test the new DQ and RWC letters.

I'm guessing here, but our finalist who posted is most likely a real finalist who guessed his status based on Joni leaving him a message and probably didn't know he wasn't supposed to post it yet.  😉  (no harm, no foul, my finalist friend!)

So why might someone get DQed at the finalist level? Sometimes it's because they submitted and sold the story elsewhere while they were waiting for results. Sometimes it's because they didn't understand the eligibility rules and weren't actually eligible to enter. More rarely, someone doesn't realize that WOTF involves a workshop and gala and they decide they don't want to come.

In short, it varies a bit.  😉

Cheers,

Kary

@karyenglish To be clear, the workshop and gala are mandatory in order to be considered a finalist? (I suppose that makes sense given the nature of the contest.)

The reason people enter either contest is to get published in the book, win the cash prizes, attend the workshop, and the awards gala. It's not always possible for winners to attend, as in the case of the recent pandemic, or illness, or new kids, etc. But attending has been considered a good thing.

Thanks for the details on the process, @karyenglish.  Until recently, I thought it was just rejections, honorable mentions, and winners.  I didn't know there were lots of other categories.  It sounds like a handful, particularly with all the changes.

Best Regards,

Mark