Discussion: Q1 Volume 39

2 weeks. 14 days. I can get this story finished. I can. I will.

I feel another last minute submission coming on.

Posted by: @babooher

2 weeks. 14 days. I can get this story finished. I can. I will.

 

I feel another last minute submission coming on.

Snap!

Posted by: @babooher

2 weeks. 14 days. I can get this story finished. I can. I will.

 

I feel another last minute submission coming on.

I'm right there with you. We got this.

@morgan-broadhead 

Same thing has been happening to me quite a bit lately - waking up early in the morning with ideas in my head that I just have to write down. I don't fight it. I don't want to - these always turn out to be my most insightful concepts. I keep a journal nearby, get up and write it down. That process normally lets me go back and sleep in peace. Until that dratted alarm comes on.  

was pretty well into a story for this q, but hit all sorts of plot problems and was really struggling to make the conclusion not be pages of over-explanations etc ... may revisit for future quarters, but for now, working a story that i fear might be a bit too similar to another past one (which received an HM). feel like i'm not getting out of my comfort zone enough so i don't have high hopes for this q...but for now, i just want to finish something! and then maybe i can figure out why i struggle to think outside of the box when writing in general...

@foxed 

I understand how you feel completely. I tend to have trouble stepping out of my comfort zone when writing, but it can be done. I did something a little outside my normal fare for this quarter. Considering its satirical tone I'm not expecting much, but who knows? Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. I just wanted to do something with a different flare that I've never done before.

I got my first 1k down yesterday, and I think I'm in the pocket for my guess at how long it will end up being for the first draft. I think when it's done it should be either the second or third shortest story I've submitted. That being said, I haven't hit the hard part of the writing yet...so I could yet be wrong.

I should have draft 1 complete before the weekend is over, though, so on track for submission as intended. The story is very different to anything else I've submitted before, so I'm curious to see how well it does--I'll be able to submit with hopes, but no expectations, which is always a nice place to be in.

First draft done, great suggestions from my critique group, and rewrite complete. Letting it sit for awhile and awaiting a little more feedback. But it's basically ready, and I'm really pleased with my work. All this in a quarter where I didn't think I'd get anything in. 

@dommichaels  You got a nice string of HMs this past contest year. You're consistently hitting the target! Keep up the good work and that bullseye will be yours!

Cheers!

I'm in for this quarter

@babooher Me too.

Posted by: @earthkeeper78

@foxed 

I understand how you feel completely. I tend to have trouble stepping out of my comfort zone when writing, but it can be done. I did something a little outside my normal fare for this quarter. Considering its satirical tone I'm not expecting much, but who knows? Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. I just wanted to do something with a different flare that I've never done before.

nice! fingers crossed for ya. satirical is rare-r i feel, for submissions, which could definitely play to your favor. and good on you for trying new things! just experimenting in itself shows growth, imo. hoping to do something similar next q.

I’ve just submitted my first ever attempt. My fingers are crossed for all of you guys! I’ve learned so much already from reading everyone’s discussions, thanks for being such an inclusive and supportive group!

@twdad 

Excellent, and welcome! Best of luck!

Posted by: @rschibler

I'm in for this quarter

The rest of us need you to win so that a finalist place gets cleared!

Barely any need for this, but good luck.

Posted by: @twdad

I’ve just submitted my first ever attempt. My fingers are crossed for all of you guys! I’ve learned so much already from reading everyone’s discussions, thanks for being such an inclusive and supportive group!

Good luck! That was an incredibly brave thing to do Regardless of the outcome, congratulations!

And, of course, welcome

@time Every story, and therefore every quarter, is a new journey. That I've gone on the journey before doesn't preclude me falling on my butt!

@foxed 

To be honest, I was feeling like 'if it's going to have a good shot at getting picked, Q1 is probably my best shot.' I'm not surprised that satire (especially with the sword and sorcery genre) is a bit harder to come by, but I got a burst of inspiration halfway through the quarter that had me say 'fluff it' and we'll see what happens. I love looking for writing prompts just so I can try and think of ways I can flip them around for something fresh.

Good luck to you as well this Q. You got this!

A burst of inspiration and mine's finished. I'll let it breathe, decant it and serve it to the first readers soon.

I'm in, phew! Now I can get a 12 day head start on my next project. Keep at it, fellow Forumites. I know you'll get there if you press on.

Posted by: @rschibler

@time Every story, and therefore every quarter, is a new journey. That I've gone on the journey before doesn't preclude me falling on my butt!

True, but with your track record, I think that's unlikely!  

Less than two weeks to D-day for Q1.
Stay on target, and May the Force be with you!

Glad I'm already in. I've had an ear infection for the past week and today I had my covid booster jab and feel horrible. 

Just started world building for the next winning entry though  

(What happened to that wink? It's gone from cheeky to creepy)

Posted by: @wulfmoonalmosy there

Less than two weeks to D-day for Q1.
Stay on target, and May the Force be with you!

Almost there, almost there. Damn another HM. 

Posted by: @pdblake

Posted by: @wulfmoonalmosy there

Less than two weeks to D-day for Q1.
Stay on target, and May the Force be with you!

Almost there, almost there. Damn another HM. 

Just like shooting womp rats in Beggars Canyon back home!  

  December is going by too fast!

Okay, my story has been sent in. 

@ldwriter2 Awesome! Now forget about it and start on your next one.

Write on, write on, write on.

So I have my first draft done now, and it's come out...rough. Some I'm happy with, but there's some serious work to be done here--time to pull out the big hammers.

Posted by: @doctorjest

So I have my first draft done now, and it's come out...rough. Some I'm happy with, but there's some serious work to be done here--time to pull out the big hammers.

Good work! There's nothing wrong with a rough first draft, because that still gives you a baseline to work from. I've had (and continue to have) far more rough first drafts than clean ones.