Discussion: Q1 Volume 39

Posted by: @jonilabaqui

@toddjones Hi Todd - we don't give out the numbers, we did in the first few years of the contest but it started to intimindate some writers so we've made a rule not to give out the full numbers.  - Joni 

And no more pies either. Sheesh.

Posted by: @jonilabaqui

@toddjones Very roughly, yes.

As in somewhere between 4073.5 and 4074.5? Roughly speaking, that is?

@morgan-broadhead Suggestion for the future: Add document number to the HM and SHM certificates in the small print area at the bottom with 'all rights reserved.' 

HM document number 3.1415

SHM the document number 3.14159

That way we can have our pie and see it too.

(Okay, that sounds like a dad joke, no offense to the dad's out there.)   

@jonilabaqui Makes sense.

I was looking at it from the flip side of getting an HM or SHM from WotF carries a lot of professional weight, due to the quantity of entries.

I am thankful for the contest and great forum support. I've never had anything to write about my writing in a submission cover letter before getting a HM and SHM from WotF.  I just sent out a short story I received a SHM on, with some updates thanks to Wulf Moon, and a new cover letter. Maybe I'll get through the slush pile and get my first sale. 

Interesting. I've never included information in a cover letter concerning the status of a story's ranking here. I guess my thoughts have run along the line that while a story's rank here is nothing to sneeze at, it still is a rejection to some extent, so why tell an editor other people have passed on the story already? Would love to hear more thoughts on this.

Posted by: @babooher

Interesting. I've never included information in a cover letter concerning the status of a story's ranking here. I guess my thoughts have run along the line that while a story's rank here is nothing to sneeze at, it still is a rejection to some extent, so why tell an editor other people have passed on the story already? Would love to hear more thoughts on this.

I'm of the same mind. Neither my HM nor my SF has sold yet in the markets. It's like tennis: those babies get returned, and I lob them back out over the submission net. Hmmm...playing tennis with babies..."Quick Robin, to the Story-Idea-Mobile!"

Posted by: @morgan-broadhead

Posted by: @babooher

Interesting. I've never included information in a cover letter concerning the status of a story's ranking here. 

I'm of the same mind. Neither my HM nor my SF has sold yet in the markets. It's like tennis: those babies get returned, and I lob them back out over the submission net. Hmmm...playing tennis with babies..."Quick Robin, to the Story-Idea-Mobile!"

I do cite these as credentials in my cover letters. It's not as good as publications, but I figure it at least shows my stories are recognized as being better than run-of-the-mill.

We that have yet to cross the finish line constantly reach for fruit waiting to be picked. Writers of the Future is the ultimate destination for many an aspiring writer. Win or not, each constant submitter will have enough polished stories to self-publish an anthology of their own. Life is good. 

Back on my 2019 3rd quarter HM it said I was in the top 2% - that is the only one that I have that said something like that. The HM before it didn't say that and none of my HMs or SHMs since then have either - I wonder if that was an experiment or if that quarter was just really different than most in some way. Because if that is true of HM percentage now the number of entries is super high

And there we go, SHM cert received in the mail today! I've tucked it into the purple clip folder that now keeps them safe and sound. Apart from the framed one, which is out on its own exploratory mission elsewhere.

Still not had mine but it usually takes longer to cross the pond. 

Mine just arrived and is already on the picture rail with all the others.