Discussion: Q1 Volume 41

@morgan-broadhead Or is that when your family needs stuff done, you sit down and write?

I seem to get inspired when people need something from me.  haha

Posted by: @toddjones

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@morgan-broadhead Or is that when your family needs stuff done, you sit down and write?

I seem to get inspired when people need something from me.  haha

? Good point!

I'm in for the quarter. I feel it's a good story, but not necessarily a WOTF story. Guess we'll see what Jody thinks. 

Well, I did it. My first submission anywhen and anywhere is in. No critiques. No massive rewrites. Just me sculpting and re-shaping it over the course of a few weeks. Probably way too short at 1700 words. But my first submission is behind me. Maybe I should apologize to the slush readers in advance. The sooner I can make all the mistakes, the better, I guess. 

Posted by: @eyegor

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Well, I did it. My first submission anywhen and anywhere is in. No critiques. No massive rewrites. Just me sculpting and re-shaping it over the course of a few weeks. Probably way too short at 1700 words. But my first submission is behind me. Maybe I should apologize to the slush readers in advance. The sooner I can make all the mistakes, the better, I guess.

That's good, though--congratulations on your entry! And while 1700 words is quite low, my Finalist was only 2400, so you really never know--impact trumps length every time, and if you can knock someone's socks off in 1700 words, then you should absolutely go ahead and do that. 

That's about how I felt after sending my first one in. First sub here - anywhere. I remember printing it out, putting it in the padded envelope (wanted it to arrive safe). Also remember finding a typo and reprinting that whole page.  

Posted by: @eyegor

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Well, I did it. My first submission anywhen and anywhere is in. No critiques. No massive rewrites. Just me sculpting and re-shaping it over the course of a few weeks. Probably way too short at 1700 words. But my first submission is behind me. Maybe I should apologize to the slush readers in advance. The sooner I can make all the mistakes, the better, I guess. 

Woot woot! That's how the journey begins. Now do your best to completely forget about it for the next few months while you write your next stories.

Posted by: @eyegor

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Maybe I should apologize to the slush readers in advance. The sooner I can make all the mistakes, the better, I guess. 

We all have this instinct, but no slush reader worth their salt is thinking this way. Even when they have to pass on a story, most remember the human being and effort behind the submission and do so with compassion! People you would have to apologize to for sending in something you worked hard on aren't people I'd want to work with anyway Congrats and good luck!

@tj_knight I mailed in my first entry too

Still haven't made headway with a new story that I like. Tons of ideas, just not feeling motivated. One of my dogs we just had to put down. She was adopted when she was about 10 and now she is/was nearly 18. She lived a good life, but still it saddens me.

Train of thought: My wife says I try too many things and don't focus well.  My company I started (cough ... cough) many years is called Myriad Minds.  Doesn't that give everyone a clue that I have many different ways of thought. My stories reflect that and now that I've gotten better at understanding what makes a story a complete story, I'm hoping (is that a heart's desire statement) that I'm going to get more SF or better. I just need to get the stinking thinking out of my head that is bogging me down and get back to writing.  

@toddjones there's still time!

I am in a similar boat, as I decided to put aside the story I was writing for this quarter and started with a new one that had been brewing in the back of my mind. It's a bit experimental for me and I'm a little terrified but giving it a go. At least there's no time to second guess anymore.

I hope you find an idea that compels and excites you, and I am sorry about your dog, it's always hard. 

@tiinag Thank you.

I'm actually leaning toward submitting a previous HM now. I 'fixed' what I felt was missing, and several of my readers felt its a more complete story now. 

I'll give it an out loud read and see what I catch. Then work on the new story I have going and see how I feel about that. Good thing is that by thinking of what to submit I've come across two other good ideas for stories.  Now, I just need to lock myself in my office and write. haha

Posted by: @toddjones

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I'm actually leaning toward submitting a previous HM now.

I'm in the same boat Todd. Expanding an HM by a lot, telling more story.

Sorry about your dog, we lost our Buckeye earlier this year. We had him since he was a puppy.

Just over a week remains, and the holidays officially loom.

Anyone have the whole week off?

Need eyes on your 450?

Stress must be leaving my brain.  I was stuck in traffic yesterday (augh) with my wife (yeah) and an idea came to mind for a story.

I spitballed an idea and brainstormed a short story (why not, we were stuck in traffic for an hour). I have something I can work with now.  If not, I wrote the the idea and have something for another day. 

Still on the fence about turning in a previous HM, but I'm excited about a new story and may just draft it up next week and see how it feels.

[Pops up a canopy then places a table beneath, spreading out a try of pretzel bites and dipping cheese, along with coffee and tea for the last minute stragglers.]

I'm here for last minute first page crits!

Well, I'm in for Q1. Now I need to think of something for Q2. Good luck to everyone this quarter!

I've been too busy working on the third draft of my novel, so I just entered a trimmed rewrite of the best of my RWC collection I tweaked for another contest.  Of my RWCs, this is the only one where I have no clue what the issue was, but I hope I've resolved it nonetheless.  New story coming in Q2.

Best of luck everyone!

I know we are getting close. I'm still editing an HM for submission. My A.D.D. (if that is an excuse) is really active. I've helped my wife clean our house for new years, worked on garage, and found every other excuse to not write.  Augh!  Editing is such a downer for me. I get tired of my own story and don't want to work on it.

New stories are jumping up and down in my mind.

Focus ... Focus ...

With a whole 4 days left, I finally sub'd my WIP for Q1 ? 

It's a revision of a story I first sub'd in vol 32 and got Rejected. It's been revised several times since and rejected from 39 magazines/anthologies. The latest revision followed feedback from my writing group. I added a new ending and clarified setting, theme etc. It's a 1000 words heavier now, but much better for it.

No idea what I'm submitting to Q2 yet.

When is the usual timeframe for Q1 announcements? @tj_knight?

@sade Every quarter is different, but Q1 is normally slower than the other quarters while the staff are busy putting last year's volume together. Last year results went out mid-April.

Indeed. Q1 is the longest. I've often seen results after the workshop. Occasionally prior, but only just. I'd say 50/50 April/May.

April/May? *cries in writer despair*

Posted by: @ellis

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April/May? *cries in writer despair*

Don’t make me cite V29Q1…

I am in!

Best of luck to all those who have submitted and to those still writing.

[Puts out peanut butter blossoms on table, and refills coffee and tea dispensers under the canopy. Nourishment for the stragglers.]

You can do this!

[wrote myself into a corner yesterday]

[grabs a peanut butter blossom]

[thanks @craydimensional]

[as I munch, an idea blossoms]

[this could work...]

[opens story on laptop]

[saves as a new version]

[commences to rewrite that last scene]