Discussion: Q1 Volume 39

@amstard congratulations again on your honorable mention ? I still think your quarter one story was fantastic and they do say that an honorable mention means that! Your Q2 is even better I think so fingers crossed…

I didn't get the news until today. When I think I've written a winning story I get nada. Then I look at the calendar and see that it's Friday the 13th.

Congrats to all that placed.

Congrats to the winners and to all who participated!

It takes courage to enter and persistence to keep on submitting.

(fun to see so many forumites on "the List")

This...was not good.

David Farland gave me an HM for a story that's really close to my heart. I touched it up, sent it to him again, and he gave me another HM. So I knew what I had to do. I put on the training montage music. I started beating that story into shape. I spent hundreds of dollars on edits. Wulf Moon was great. I followed his suggestions. I pored over it with a fine tooth comb. I made it do pushups until all the fat was gone. Somehow, after all this, my story slid backward from an HM to an R.

I'll admit, I'm confused. I'm upset. Not upset in a "Jodi doesn't know what she's doing, I'm done with this contest" kind of way. I was just blindsided by this. No matter how I look at it, the story got better...but the result is worse. To be fair, I haven't gotten the email yet. Maybe I got a Dairy Queen instead of an R because I somehow sent the wrong file even after checking it over a dozen times. It could happen. I just know I'm not on the list.

Problem for me is, WotF isn't really my kind of market. I'm self-publishing a collection soon titled "Vile Visions." It's just as it sounds. The stories I write are dark. They're violent. They're vulgar. They're drowning in pessimism and despair. Everything WotF isn't. Out of all the stories I've ever written, all of two of them are even a fit for the contest, and the other one--currently pending for Q2--is pushing it. I'm not good at writing stuff that can even be considered in the same universe as words like "uplifting" or "inspiring." I did everything I could to make this one count. I can still improve it even more, of course, but if it's not even an HM as it is now, I don't know how it could ever be a winner. I'm just not sure, right now, what kind of future there is for me in this contest.

@amstard HM is great news when you consider how many entries there are for this contest.  To distort a famous quote from Dory, "Just keep writing."

BTW: Is your writing group online?  I am looking to get into a group to keep me inspired.  PM me with info, if you don't mind.

I didn't place, but I got my first finalist placing story.

Won't lie, a little bummed it didn't place - so close! - but it's my first time making it out of Honorable Mentions.

I have so many questions. Bear with them, please.

I told Joni on the phone that I'm okay letting WOTF hold onto it for now - knock on wood for a possible slot in Volume 39 - does this mean I can't take it over to the workshop in the forum? I'd love some extra feedback on it if possible.

Even if I can take it to the forum workshop, should I? 

I know past entries can be polished and re-entered... does that exclude finalists? 

Do I just write "finalist" in my signature?

Oh, and can I mention the title yet?

Posted by: @thekingsguard

know past entries can be polished and re-entered... does that exclude finalists? 

Do I just write "finalist" in my signature?

Oh, and can I mention the title yet?

Finalist entries can't be re-entered. I think even SF can't be. 

I think about workshopping it (meaning sending it to others for crits?) there's no reason you can't but I'm not sure how many changes you can make to it if it does wind up being chosen for inclusion in V. 39. 

I'd be happy to give yours a read! Even just to see what made it to finalist with the new judge! Congrats on your finalist again. Fingers crossed for you being a published finalist!

@thekingsguard awesome news

Did some emails get released or were all held.

Posted by: @prestondennett

It's Thursday! Congratulations to the winners, and all those who have placed in the various categories, and all those who have entered! 

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

Preston, thanks for your signature line. I see the progression there and it renews me, gives me hope. I'm rather later in life, and I have no idea whether I have enough years yet to see 40 stories published, but I love seeing it for you.

@storysinger Same. At least we know we're not alone.  

@empressed not alone. Just curious what type of R..

Glad to step up one level. It was a fantasy/sci-fi holiday story and I've since done a rewrite on it, so I think it's pretty solid. Anyone know of any magazines that have a holiday edition? I'd love to submit it if there is such a thing!

Posted by: @chezecaek

Problem for me is, WotF isn't really my kind of market. I'm self-publishing a collection soon titled "Vile Visions." It's just as it sounds. The stories I write are dark. They're violent. They're vulgar. They're drowning in pessimism and despair. Everything WotF isn't. Out of all the stories I've ever written, all of two of them are even a fit for the contest, and the other one--currently pending for Q2--is pushing it. I'm not good at writing stuff that can even be considered in the same universe as words like "uplifting" or "inspiring." I did everything I could to make this one count. I can still improve it even more, of course, but if it's not even an HM as it is now, I don't know how it could ever be a winner. I'm just not sure, right now, what kind of future there is for me in this contest.

I think we can all understand your disappointment. I'd say, just keep on writing the things that you love to write. If an idea comes up that fits WotF, write it! If not, write what comes to you and put it in your collection. WotF is just one contest and one path. But I'm sure even if what you're writing isn't a good fit for this particular contest, there are plenty of writers here who would be glad to critique/offer suggestions on what you're doing.

Hang in there, and if you love this particular story, submit it to some appropriate markets or indy publish it to get some readers. If it's totally different from your usual style, you might consider using a different pen name for it ... don't want to confuse your audience as you build that all important list of followers!

@thekingsguard 

Congratulations, that's a fantastic achievement! Definitely put "Finalist" in your signature. You've earned it!

@thekingsguard First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! What a great feeling, huh? And then, yes, the disappointment is real. I can certainly sympathize with both!

When they held my story for Published Finalist, I didn't edit it (or even look at it) until I found out it had been selected. You can, of course, but if they select it and have edits, your work on it might have been a waste of time. My advice? Set it aside and write the next

Finalists cannot be resubmitted.

Since your story is out of the running, there would be no harm in discussing it as far as I know.

Joni confirmed this one for us before--neither finalists nor semi-finalists can be resubmitted to the contest, in order to avoid any unfair advantage in subsequent quarters. Anything from SHM down is fair game for revision and re-entry, though.

Posted by: @thekingsguard

I didn't place, but I got my first finalist placing story.

Won't lie, a little bummed it didn't place - so close! - but it's my first time making it out of Honorable Mentions.

I have so many questions. Bear with them, please.

I told Joni on the phone that I'm okay letting WOTF hold onto it for now - knock on wood for a possible slot in Volume 39 - does this mean I can't take it over to the workshop in the forum? I'd love some extra feedback on it if possible.

Even if I can take it to the forum workshop, should I? 

I know past entries can be polished and re-entered... does that exclude finalists? 

Do I just write "finalist" in my signature?

Oh, and can I mention the title yet?

Congratumisserations, the Kingsguard. It's awesome you made finalist. If you made Finalist, the judges have said it doesn't need polishing, and that it's a professionally written story that deserves to be published as is. I hope you get to be a published finalist. Just keep entering. Many people who win this contest were multiple finalists. And yes, you're allowed to give the title once judging has been completed. And I think saying that you're a WOTF finalist is a good thing for your resume. Fingers crossed for next time!

Posted by: @ehonour

Posted by: @prestondennett

It's Thursday! Congratulations to the winners, and all those who have placed in the various categories, and all those who have entered! 

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

Preston, thanks for your signature line. I see the progression there and it renews me, gives me hope. I'm rather later in life, and I have no idea whether I have enough years yet to see 40 stories published, but I love seeing it for you.

My pleasure, Doc Honour. I love looking at the entrants' contest history in their signature lines. BTW, I think I hold the record for most entries before winning. I kept hitting HMs, but couldn't get past it. But on my 46th entry, I finally made finalist. And it won! The trick is definitely persistence. If you're making HM or higher, you are in the consideration pile. Keep at it. You'll either win or pro-out. Either is awesome. 

Posted by: @chezecaek

This...was not good.

David Farland gave me an HM for a story that's really close to my heart. I touched it up, sent it to him again, and he gave me another HM. So I knew what I had to do. I put on the training montage music. I started beating that story into shape. I spent hundreds of dollars on edits. Wulf Moon was great. I followed his suggestions. I pored over it with a fine tooth comb. I made it do pushups until all the fat was gone. Somehow, after all this, my story slid backward from an HM to an R.

I'll admit, I'm confused. I'm upset. Not upset in a "Jodi doesn't know what she's doing, I'm done with this contest" kind of way. I was just blindsided by this. No matter how I look at it, the story got better...but the result is worse. To be fair, I haven't gotten the email yet. Maybe I got a Dairy Queen instead of an R because I somehow sent the wrong file even after checking it over a dozen times. It could happen. I just know I'm not on the list.

Problem for me is, WotF isn't really my kind of market. I'm self-publishing a collection soon titled "Vile Visions." It's just as it sounds. The stories I write are dark. They're violent. They're vulgar. They're drowning in pessimism and despair. Everything WotF isn't. Out of all the stories I've ever written, all of two of them are even a fit for the contest, and the other one--currently pending for Q2--is pushing it. I'm not good at writing stuff that can even be considered in the same universe as words like "uplifting" or "inspiring." I did everything I could to make this one count. I can still improve it even more, of course, but if it's not even an HM as it is now, I don't know how it could ever be a winner. I'm just not sure, right now, what kind of future there is for me in this contest.

Feeling the same, I've only been farming rejections in this contest, but I remain unrepentant and audacious and think my stuff is better than the average published sci-fi.

It just appears to be unsuitable for this contest.

It's hard sci-fi which means that even with uber-tech, the social problems don't magically go away. Most humans just choose to behave like trash even when presented with an alternative, people with power are still machiavellan by neccessity.

The naive moral high ground girl that can be considered the main protagonist will get stomped on hard until she stops being silly and naive, rather than magically upending the firmly established status quo by virtue of being a special do-good individual supported by a boatload of plot contrivances.

Got nearly 200k words of stories in this universe and have exactly zero interest in writing in any other setting.

Still, being rejected sucks.

@wulfmoon Thanks Wulf! I'll be here a lot!     Joni 

@chezecaek I write new every time. Some stories make it, and some do not. This time I didn’t make it. I am waiting to see if it’s a DQ, R, or RWC. Hopefully, the new categories help.

@jonilabaqui Welcome

@cs_hadebe Congrats on your first HM! It's the start of something great, I'm sure. Happy writing!

Posted by: @cs_hadebe

MY VERY FIRST HONORABLE MENTION!????????? It's true when they say 3rd time's the charm. ?????

That's awesome, C.S. Hadebe. Congrats!   

Congratulations to the winners, finalists, semi-finalists, SHM, HM, and frankly everyone who took time to polish and enter a story. It's work and you did it. Be proud because you're a writer.

My goal was HM and I'm thrilled to see my name on the list. Since this was my first entry, and I haven't spent much time on the forums, I don't know if I can ask for feedback on my entry. I know with hundreds of SHM and HMs that's probably far too much work, but if there's any opportunity to get hints for improvement I'd love to hear.

Posted by: @monjoh

Congratulations to the winners, finalists, semi-finalists, SHM, HM, and frankly everyone who took time to polish and enter a story. It's work and you did it. Be proud because you're a writer.

My goal was HM and I'm thrilled to see my name on the list. Since this was my first entry, and I haven't spent much time on the forums, I don't know if I can ask for feedback on my entry. I know with hundreds of SHM and HMs that's probably far too much work, but if there's any opportunity to get hints for improvement I'd love to hear.

HM's don't get feedback from the judges. Only Semi-finalists do. But you can ask others here to critique your story, or email the contest director for "helpful hints." An HM on your first entry is awesome. You made it into the top ten percent out of thousands of entries. You're close! Keep entering!

Posted by: @spencer_s

@cs_hadebe Congrats on your first HM! It's the start of something great, I'm sure. Happy writing!

Congratulations on your second place win, Spencer. Looking forward to reading your story.

I tried something new with this one by significantly revising a SHM, and as it turns out, it is still a SHM! I'm not sure what to make of this yet, but I have my next few quarters planned out with other stories, so I'll be sending this one somewhere else in the meantime!

Thank you @spencer_s and @scott_m_sands ?? It feels so surreal to have gotten so far in such prestigious writing contest.  ? I feel truly honored. I didn't even get the time to celebrate yesterday because I had an avalanche of writing and editing to get done, so I only did a little booty shake and got back to work. But this means a lot. Already thinking about Q3! Let's keep writing, good people! ?