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
Spider monkey. 
Yup. Have fun.
It is an artified macro photo of the eye of a Green Darner.
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
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: R Q2: P Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
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:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month
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
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: R Q2: P Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
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:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month
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, SHM
V43: HM, P, WIP
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:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
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, 10 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
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: R Q2: P Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
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:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month
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:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
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, 10 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 43: Q1 R, Q2 pending, Q3 ?
running totals to date:
WOTF: 8 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
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: R Q2: P Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
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:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month
@physa We will get there.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 10 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, 10 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
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: R Q2: P Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
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:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month
@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!)
Grand Prize Winner of the Ozma Award for Fantasy Fiction, 2025
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: HM
Q4 V38: R Q4 V39: SHM Q4 V40: SHM Q4 V41: RWC Q4 V42: NS
Q1 V39: HM Q1 V40: RWC Q1 V41: SHM Q1 V42: SHM Q1 V43:
@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:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
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
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: R Q2: P Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
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:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month
@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!)
Grand Prize Winner of the Ozma Award for Fantasy Fiction, 2025
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: HM
Q4 V38: R Q4 V39: SHM Q4 V40: SHM Q4 V41: RWC Q4 V42: NS
Q1 V39: HM Q1 V40: RWC Q1 V41: SHM Q1 V42: SHM Q1 V43:
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, 10 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:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
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, 10 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology