Discussion: Q1 Volume 41

@sandy Hugest of congratulations! A winner, and first place to boot! I'm really looking forward to reading your story. I'm sure Joni already told you, but as a First Placer, make sure you don't share any identifying details about your story with anyone!

Posted by: @clfors

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I…I won illustrators!   Four times a charm! I am so giddy right now. Thanks you everyone that was rooting for me to get it this time 🥹✨

That's awesome! I used to draw a ton, but I don't think I'd ever win a contest like this with my crappy art. Pat yourself on the back!

So excited for all of you! @clfors, @adrian, @gideonpsmith, and @sandy. 

I can only imagine what that second phone call is like: so nerve-wracking, carrying the phone around, dreaming about it, not being able to sleep... [I know the first phone call must be out of this world crazy exciting!].

Super Congratulations to @sandy [WOTF Q1 first place winner!] and @clfors [IOTF Q1 winner]

And Congratulations to both @adrian and @gideonpsmith for being among the finalists for WOTF Q1 [may your wait to winning be shorter rather than longer -- keep submitting... you've got this!]

Congrats to all the SFs [I know at least one of them, congrats Annmarie San Servero], may your critique be that thing that helps you advance in your writing.

Congrats to all the SHMs [maybe one day I'll join this august club]

Congrats to all the HMs [happy to be among you!]

To the RWCs, may you figure out that missing piece and submit your story where it will get to shine [I submitted an RWC after an edit to Q2 and we'll see... As you know, it IS a guess as to what on the list is the issue and then what to do to fix it. It's the only time I've sent in a repeat story, but it was a story I spent a great deal of time on and I THINK I know what on that list held it back. And also, I was strapped for time and looking for a way to remove some of the stress January, February, and March put me in].

To the Rs, remember WOTF is a market and you may have the perfect story for a different market.

And... to all of us, may your next submission be a fresh story that makes it past the first readers up to Jody and on upwards.  

@clfors and @sandy - well done to both of you. Jealous - me?

Posted by: @sandy

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It still doesn't feel real.  

Thank you all for your good wishes.

 

I'm over the moon. My sincere thanks to the judges and all those who work so hard running the contest and helping us all learn. Everything I've learned on the Forum, the online workshop and from all of you is a prize in itself. 

 

@adrian and @gideonpsmith I so wished to see both of you there as well. The next story could be the one. I know you'll get there. 

 

 

Posted by: @preston-e-dennett

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Posted by: @sandy

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It still doesn't feel real.  

Thank you all for your good wishes.

 

I'm over the moon. My sincere thanks to the judges and all those who work so hard running the contest and helping us all learn. Everything I've learned on the Forum, the online workshop and from all of you is a prize in itself. 

 

@adrian and @gideonpsmith I so wished to see both of you there as well. The next story could be the one. I know you'll get there. 

 

 

So truly happy for you @sandy. First place! Wow! I'm super-excited to read your story, and am sure you're gonna love your week in LA! Start writing that acceptance speech! Yay!

 

Thank you! Still pinching myself.

Congratulations to all that entered—it’s not easy to put your work out there, especially when you’re starting out. If it’s your first time doing so, you passed a significant hurdle! Keep running the race you have now begun!

To those that placed, you’ve proven you’ve got some decent writing chops! Keep honing your skills and writing fresh stories!

And super-duper kudos to @clfors and @sandy !!! I’ve actually known both of you for some time, one from my Facebook friends, the other from my Twitter friends. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to meet our clfors (Cherrie) at Superstars Writing Seminars, and her art is as colorful as her hair! 😁 We both share a love for watercolor, and I look forward to seeing what she creates to illustrate a winning story! Fourth time IS the charm! 💖

Sandy, I recognized your name immediately as I read the results announcement and cried out with joy. You know why. I hope we get the chance to meet one day as well. It’s a thrill to see your success, but even better when I get to meet winners like you in real life. Godspeed to your career as a speculative fiction writer!

My very best to all of you as you advance through your apprenticeship and gather your skills to make your writing dreams come true. Enjoy the journey!

All the beast! 

Wulf Moon

@wulfmoon Thank you so much Wulf Moon for cheering me on! It was great meeting and chatting at Superstars.  I love that as another watercolorist you can understand how excited I am to have won with watercolor so that I can be one of the artists to lift it up as an illustration medium that is still relevant and beautiful.

@time thank you! Your time will come!

@physa thank you!! And congrats on your HM! The first phone call I was numb but pleased because it was my fourth finalist. The second phone call O cried my eyes out and had to ask Joni, “Really?!” A few times.

@shounenbat thank you! I want to see your art! Winning or not, never stop drawing!

@sandy a million congratulations on your win! I can’t wait to read your story!

@preston-e-dennett thank you so much! I can’t wait!

@adrian thank you!!! I can’t wait to see you win!

@storysinger thank you! This forum is amazing! I love getting to know people here in the forums and then seeing them win.

@kz_richards thank you!! Huzzah! I cannot wait until 2025!

Posted by: @clfors

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@sandy a million congratulations on your win! I can’t wait to read your story!

Thank you!

Your art was amazing. The competition on the illustrator's side must be fierce. 

@sandy congrats on your win!  

I can’t wait to read your story!  

@clfors  

Can't wait to see your art in Vol 41!

The "holy grail" of Illustrators and Writers win is on! The WotF equivalent of an EGOT?!

@sandy  

Brilliant news, and it's always great to see someone from the forum place in the winner's circle (triangle?!). Can't wait to read your story in Vol 41.

@sandy thank you! It sure is!

@joel-c-scoberg 

Thank you!

@toddjones 

Thank you!