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Are submissions the final version that goes to print?

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V. R. Lassmann
(@vrlass)
Posts: 77
Bronze Star Member
Topic starter
 

Hey, I have a quick question. I understand you canno’t resubmit. But, if someone gets to final 3 is it possible to make adjustments?
I just realized that the story I loved for the last month, could be improved (probably I have suddenly grown as a writer). 
It might mean I won’t get there and thus I have nothing to worry about, but still, I am just wondering. Could I still make changes after making to final 3, or is submission always the final version?

 
Posted : October 8, 2022 8:35 am
Spencer_S, Anna X, David Hankins and 1 people reacted
Preston Dennett
(@prestondennett)
Posts: 582
Silver Star Member
 
Posted by: @vrlass

Hey, I have a quick question. I understand you canno’t resubmit. But, if someone gets to final 3 is it possible to make adjustments?
I just realized that the story I loved for the last month, could be improved (probably I have suddenly grown as a writer). 
It might mean I won’t get there and thus I have nothing to worry about, but still, I am just wondering. Could I still make changes after making to final 3, or is submission always the final version?

I was asked to make a few additions by the judge. Mostly just a tiny bit more description here and there. But not sure if they will let you make any unrequested changes. But they do edit your story.

 

Preston Dennett
HM x 12
F x 1
Winner, 2nd place, Q1, Volume 35
40 stories published! (and counting!)

 
Posted : October 8, 2022 12:12 pm
Anna X, storysinger, David Hankins and 1 people reacted
RETreasure
(@rschibler)
Posts: 962
Platinum Member
 

I did several proofreading edits and received a few notes from Dave Farland on more description, like Preston. Dean Wesley Smith is the editor of the anthology now, so the notes would be from him, but yes - there are edits.

That being said, if the story were to win, they probably don't want any changes made to it beyond what the editors request. Smile

V34: R,HM,R
V35: HM,R,R,HM
V36: R,HM,HM,SHM
V37: HM,SF,SHM,SHM
V38: (P)F, SHM, F, F
V39: SHM, SHM, HM, SHM
Published Finalist Volume 38
Pro’d out Q4V39
www.rebeccaetreasure.com

Managing Editor, Apex Magazine

 
Posted : October 9, 2022 1:03 pm
(@martin-l-shoemaker)
Posts: 2183
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

My story in the anthology was a whole scene longer than the version that won. Dave felt I ended with a strong theme, but I didn't introduce it at the start. He gave me a notion of how to introduce it. I went in an entirely different direction. Mine was better.

http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North

 
Posted : October 12, 2022 4:27 pm
Morgan, Anna X, storysinger and 2 people reacted
Spencer_S
(@spencer_s)
Posts: 178
Silver Member
 

Same as the prior comments. There were a few things that needed changing, mainly a small part cut out and another expanded, plus more description at a few key points. Overall, I think it made it a better story.

“Stories are the collective wisdom of everyone who has ever lived. Your job as a storyteller is not simply to entertain. Nor is it to be noticed for the way your turn a phrase. You have a very important job—one of the most important. Your job is to let people know that everyone shares their feelings—and that these feelings bind us. Your job is a healing art, and like all healers, you have a responsibility. Let people know they are not alone. You must make people understand that we are all the same.”
Brian McDonald
2022: Second Place Winner V39 Q1
2021: HM, HM, SHM
2020: R
2019: SHM, R
2018: HM
2017: HM
Check out my fiction and more at spencersekulin.net

 
Posted : November 23, 2022 5:08 pm
Anna X and storysinger reacted
Dustin Adams
(@tj_knight)
Posts: 1423
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

I recently finished the copy editing round(s) and we dug deep into any word or words that might trip people up. For instance, I had the word deigned in there and it seemed like the right word when I wrote it, but upon studying the primary meaning of it, it wasn't quite right. So I/we changed it to dared instead which worked better.

We did that type of thing a few times, plus punctuation and capitals. I Capitalized Everything initially, so it was toned down. Figure that was better than ALL CAPS! winking

Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight

 
Posted : December 15, 2022 2:05 am
David Hankins, Anna X, James (Ease) and 1 people reacted
Spencer_S
(@spencer_s)
Posts: 178
Silver Member
 

As Dustin said, copy editing also yields some changes. For mine, a lot of it was small things, mainly grammatical, style consistency, and making some sentences clearer. I was flipflopping between Canadian and American English, but the editor caught it and we decided to go all Canadian. It's not a one-sided arrangement. I was able to disagree with a few proposed changes and offer suitable alternatives. Overall it was a good experience. It's great working with the WOTF team to improve the story before publication - a humbling experience that shows me I have a lot to learn.

“Stories are the collective wisdom of everyone who has ever lived. Your job as a storyteller is not simply to entertain. Nor is it to be noticed for the way your turn a phrase. You have a very important job—one of the most important. Your job is to let people know that everyone shares their feelings—and that these feelings bind us. Your job is a healing art, and like all healers, you have a responsibility. Let people know they are not alone. You must make people understand that we are all the same.”
Brian McDonald
2022: Second Place Winner V39 Q1
2021: HM, HM, SHM
2020: R
2019: SHM, R
2018: HM
2017: HM
Check out my fiction and more at spencersekulin.net

 
Posted : December 15, 2022 6:21 am
David Hankins, Anna X, James (Ease) and 1 people reacted
(@morgan-broadhead)
Posts: 467
Gold Star Member
 

The above comments are very interesting. It seems a story may be a winner, yet STILL require additional work before it gets published in the anthology.
Just goes to show that, if the story is really compelling enough to win, publishers are willing to work with you to whip it into final shape.

"You can either sit here and write, or you can sit here and do nothing. But you can’t sit here and do anything else."
— Neil Gaiman, Masterclass

Drop me a line at https://morganbroadhead.com
SFx1
HMx5
R/RWCx5

 
Posted : December 20, 2022 5:39 am
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