Winners and placers!
https://writersofthefuture.com/writers-of-the-future-1st-quarter-winners-announced-for-volume-42/
And the winners are:
First Place – Zach Poulter from Utah
Second Place – S.J. Stevenson from Great Britain
Third Place – Kathleen Powell from Missouri
Submission windows:
Q1: October 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Q2: January 1, 2025 - March 31, 2025
Q3: April 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025
Q4: July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025
Volume 42 shall be the Ultimate volume in the Universe.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
I might already be done with a story for Q1. Finished a draft I'm pretty happy about yesterday. Now all the tabs (story bible tab, each version's tab, research tabs, etc) are finally being closed. There should be a name for that. Like, Tab Harvesting or Putting the Prewriting to Bed, or something. The Beginning of a New Age. Something.
2012 Q4: R
2016 Q3: SHM
2019 Q2: HM, Q3: HM
2020 Q2: HM, Q4: SHM
2021 Q1: HM, Q2: SF, Q3: SHM, Q4: SHM
2022 Q1: SHM, Q2 RWC, Q4 RWC
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3:Nope Q4: WIP
The submission portal for Q1 is now open! This is cycle 42A (Volume 42, 1st quarter). Good luck to everyone!
@jason thank you jason!
V41 is done. Long live V42!
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 159 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
Aaaand, Gideon is in.
Kidding.
How about now?
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
Aaaand, Gideon is in.
Kidding.
How about now?
it's with trusted critique readers 😉
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 159 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
Aaaand, Gideon is in.
Kidding.
How about now?
it's with trusted critique readers 😉
What a beast.
V39: - - - HM
V40: SHM, HM, SHM, HM
V41: HM, SHM, SHM, F
V42: DQ, HM, SHM, P
Stories published in Triangulation: Hospitium, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, and others.
https://kzrichards.com
I haven't even decided which idea to run with for Q1.
Writers of the Future:
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, Submitted
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: -, -, -, HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2025 SWA: Crime Fiction Contest - 1st Place, The Lighthouse Prompt - 3rd Place
Todd S Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
Moving over next quarter's writing tent with my trusty laptop in hand.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 8 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
I have a question, not sure in which thread to ask but this seems like as good a place as any. I see a lot of people talk about resubmitting stories that got disqualified, or rejected, or even an honorable mention. Is that a common thing here? Because I've got two versions of a story, one that is kinda bold and runs a very real risk of being rejected, and one that stays perfectly within the lines, but just doesn't work as well... So I was thinking of submitting the first version for Q1, see how that goes and if it bombs, resubmit the second version for another quarter. Could I do that?
HM x2
@marius you can do it. There is even a thread somewhere here where Jody asks that if you do you keep the same title.
Different people entering have different opinions on this kind of thing. I tend not to resubmit things because (a) something is only seen for the first time by Jody once. You can never reclaim that new experience with a resubmit. (b) I write fast so I always have a new story ready anyway.
That being said, maybe the 'fresh eyes' I'm wanting is not so necessary as there definitely are multiple winners who won on a resubmission. So clearly there is also something to be said for that approach. But if you were going to do that I would still make sure the second version 'worked' as you put it before considering submitting it.
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 159 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
Resubmitting stories that got disqualified, or rejected, or even an honorable mention. Is that a common thing here? Because I've got two versions of a story, one that is kinda bold and runs a very real risk of being rejected, and one that stays perfectly within the lines, but just doesn't work as well... So I was thinking of submitting the first version for Q1, see how that goes and if it bombs, resubmit the second version for another quarter. Could I do that?
Yes, you can resubmit any story that received an award/notification lower than semi-finalist. My understanding, especially over the last year, is that it is best if you submit a new story each time.
Although, I have resubmitted after reworking a story and received a higher ranking (ref my signature).
You could also ask forum members to test read each version and give an opinion on which version to focus on.
Writers of the Future:
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, Submitted
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: -, -, -, HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2025 SWA: Crime Fiction Contest - 1st Place, The Lighthouse Prompt - 3rd Place
Todd S Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
Thanks guys. I've had some test readers. Half of them loved the original version and the other half hated it, so that didn't really help me. I think I will go with that one though and if I'm ever short on material, I'll have version 2 as a back-up.
HM x2
I need to get back on track writing. Nit sure what will help.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 8 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
I need to get back on track writing. Nit sure what will help.
I'm right there with you. I've been experiencing a health crisis that has impacted my ability to write fresh stories. I'm just now getting back into it. All I know is to make myself stare into a computer screen for a set period of time and see what develops. My fingers are crossed for both of us that we can get back on a happy writing track. 
WOTF results:
Vol 42: Q1 SHM, Q2 SHM, Q3 RWC, Q4 P
running totals to date:
WOTF: 6 Rs, 4 RWCs, 8 HMs, 2 SHMs
IOTF: 4 Rs, 3 HMs
Check out my new website: https://www.amyrwethingtonwriterofspeculativeworlds.com/
According to Winston Churchill, "success is going from failure to failure with enthusiasm"
Somehow I lost my Guthington profile, but it's me. Amy Wethington = Guthington = Physa
@craydimensional @physa - still so early in the quarter, I believe in both of you, still plenty of time! I always find dicing up big projects into small managable bits and setting small weekly goals helps - as long as you do sit down to eat, you can always eat the elephant one mouthful at a time! 👍
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 159 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
@physa We will get there.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 8 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
@gideonpsmith what an interesting phrase.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 8 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
Just thanked a reader for an inciteful critique. Freudian much? 
2012 Q4: R
2016 Q3: SHM
2019 Q2: HM, Q3: HM
2020 Q2: HM, Q4: SHM
2021 Q1: HM, Q2: SF, Q3: SHM, Q4: SHM
2022 Q1: SHM, Q2 RWC, Q4 RWC
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3:Nope Q4: WIP
I'm still trying to figure out what I want to write for this quarter. I dug deep for my Q4 story and now I'm scrambling for ideas in Q1.
V33- SF
V38- SHM, HM
V39- HM,R
V40- HM
V41- Q2-SHM, Q3-SHM, Q4-SHM
@wahlquistj I've heard of various SFF authors giving variations on the facetious comment when asked "where do you get your ideas":
"People ask me where I get my ideas. I always tell them, “Schenectady.” They look at me with confusion and I say, “Yeah, there’s this ‘idea service’ in Schenectady and every week like clockwork they send me a fresh six-pack of ideas for 25 bucks.” Harlan Ellison
Stephen King "Warehouse in Utica"
Robert Jordan "Trenton New Jersey"
Isaac Asimov "Idea farm in Wisconsin"
All I can say is, mines must be shipped from the other side of the planet and arrive by ground mail, as they sure take a long time to arrive sometimes 🤣
Struggling to come up with ideas does no more to fire my creativity than struggling to make something come through the regular mail does. 😉 However, thinking of it this way and just trusting that the ideas are on the way does usually help. And having read some of your work I know you are def not short on creativity!
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 159 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
@marius I actually have experience with this. I had a story reach SHM that I really wanted to win, so I trimmed it, sent it for more critiques, got great feedback, trimmed it again, adjusted some things...and as I was doing this, I resubbed it to the Contest. Too many times. I actually got an email asking me to knock it off (gently, of course). So I'll be submitting fresh stories from now on, even if I really like something!
Jason P. Crawford
Author of Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi (for now!)
Finalist for 2024 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award
3rd Place Winner for 2025 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award
Q3 V31: HM Q2 V39: SHM Q2 V40: SHM Q2 V41: HM Q2 V42: RWC
Q3 V38: HM Q3 V39: SHM Q3 V40: SHM Q3 V41: HM Q3 V42: P
Q4 V38: R Q4 V39: SHM Q4 V40: SHM Q4 V41: RWC
Q1 V39: HM Q1 V40: RWC Q1 V41: SHM Q1 V42: SHM
@wahlquistj I've heard of various SFF authors giving variations on the facetious comment when asked "where do you get your ideas":
"People ask me where I get my ideas. I always tell them, “Schenectady.” They look at me with confusion and I say, “Yeah, there’s this ‘idea service’ in Schenectady and every week like clockwork they send me a fresh six-pack of ideas for 25 bucks.” Harlan Ellison
Stephen King "Warehouse in Utica"
Robert Jordan "Trenton New Jersey"
Isaac Asimov "Idea farm in Wisconsin"
All I can say is, mines must be shipped from the other side of the planet and arrive by ground mail, as they sure take a long time to arrive sometimes 🤣
Struggling to come up with ideas does no more to fire my creativity than struggling to make something come through the regular mail does. 😉 However, thinking of it this way and just trusting that the ideas are on the way does usually help. And having read some of your work I know you are def not short on creativity!
All my ideas come from my chickens.
"Well girls, what shall we write today?"
"Book!"
Admittedly, they sound a tad repetitive but you need to read between the lines.
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10
@amstard I've resubmitted stories, some with upward movement, but I've committed to working on new tales. If I really like a story and understand why I messed it up, I will resubmit it once. Line in the sand has been drawn for me.
Writers of the Future:
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, Submitted
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: -, -, -, HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2025 SWA: Crime Fiction Contest - 1st Place, The Lighthouse Prompt - 3rd Place
Todd S Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
@toddjones I agree. New stories are better, but if I felt I had a really good story, that should be a really good fit for this competition, and I felt sure I (a) knew what the issue was that had held it back - and (b) those changes were substantive, I would consider one further submission after those were implemented.
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 159 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
@gideonpsmith I believe I committed to my folly after hearing from someone that they had won after revising/resubmitting a piece several times. I really loved the story I had, and several trusted people (including a contest winner) had said that the story was excellent and had a real shot, so I committed too hard.
Jason P. Crawford
Author of Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi (for now!)
Finalist for 2024 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award
3rd Place Winner for 2025 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award
Q3 V31: HM Q2 V39: SHM Q2 V40: SHM Q2 V41: HM Q2 V42: RWC
Q3 V38: HM Q3 V39: SHM Q3 V40: SHM Q3 V41: HM Q3 V42: P
Q4 V38: R Q4 V39: SHM Q4 V40: SHM Q4 V41: RWC
Q1 V39: HM Q1 V40: RWC Q1 V41: SHM Q1 V42: SHM
Grabs a steaming pumpkin drink, turns on the computer, and starts writing with the magical stylus after checking for smoke signals.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 8 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
I may need something stronger than pumpkin to help motivate me. haha
Writers of the Future:
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, Submitted
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: -, -, -, HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2025 SWA: Crime Fiction Contest - 1st Place, The Lighthouse Prompt - 3rd Place
Todd S Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
Raising my glass of butter beer 🍺 in a toast to @jasontoth for correcting my mistake of accidentaly deleting my account.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 8 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
