Discussion: Q1 Volume 42

I think they call finalists a few weeks before emails go out, right? The highest I've gotten is semi-finalist, so I have no actual experience with that. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, even though this is my first entry I really wanted to expand into a novel. 

Is it twitching time already?

[checks the wind for a direction change]

[pulls out a calander and stares at March for a bit]

[okay, we should probably start pitching up tents]

[feel free to grab a hot beverage and tasty treat]

[afterall, the anticipation is the best part]

[stares through a telescope]

[sees the regulars packing bags to make their pilgrimage]

[exciting times!]

@annmarieinlr I think it is more like two weeks. They call finalists and ensure they still qualify, then judges read and rank, call the winners to let them know and ensure they still qualify, send out email notifications, and then post winners to the web site.

Wow, that's a lot of work.  My eyes hurt just typing it.

@physa There is a Thursday in this week, so you never know.

With the right attitude, any day can be Thursday! It's a good excuse to feel better about how ridiculously close I keep my phone.

Good luck out there, wordsmiths! 

That's good information. They work so hard. 

[The hobbit walks out of her hobbit hole, licks her finder, and sticks it in the air. Winds are a changing. But doesn't see smoke signals.]

Today is Thursday so ...

Where did I put my phone? IS it charged? IS THE ringer muted? IS SOMETHING WRONG with it? WHY ISN'T IT RINGING?

Um, let's see ... what was that Q1 story again? Was it the one about hard work? Or the one about genocide? Maybe it was the sweet lie. It's been so long, so very long, and I've been through a bunch of story ideas recently.

[looks it up]

Oh, right. THAT story. Oh, yeah, that was a good one.

[he cocks his head to the wind, listening for news]

Posted by: @amstard

↑

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!

How many times did you submit the story, if we can ask?

Are finalists and such expected to be getting contacted at this time? 

[The hobbit looks at the broken kettle, the cracked wheel of the wagon, and the bag of grain crop being consumed by bugs and thinks maybe it’s better if this Thursday is not the Thursday.]

Posted by: @craydimensional

↑

[The hobbit looks at the broken kettle, the cracked wheel of the wagon, and the bag of grain crop being consumed by bugs and thinks maybe it’s better if this Thursday is not the Thursday.]

Then let's pick up our pipes and puff patiently while enjoying the wonderful aromatic aromas that follow.

@lambenttyto [The hobbit picks up the pieces and pitches a ⛺️ and puts up a sign with the slogan everyday is thursday.]

@lambenttyto You can! I think I submitted it three quarters in a row, for a total of four times. I got it back as a SHM, then did some other things before I decided I really wanted to make it work. Got feedback, edit, SHM. Feedback, edit, SHM. Feedback, edit, SHM, please stop.

Posted by: @lambenttyto

↑

Are finalists and such expected to be getting contacted at this time? 

Hard to know for sure. When emails go out to those of us who weren't called, we will know we didn't get called and that the calls probably started two weeks ago [from when we get our email]. The folks behind the contest enjoy being mysterious.  

Posted by: @amstard

↑

You can! I think I submitted it three quarters in a row, for a total of four times. I got it back as a SHM, then did some other things before I decided I really wanted to make it work. Got feedback, edit, SHM. Feedback, edit, SHM. Feedback, edit, SHM, please stop.

Sounds like me. This is my fourth entry of the same story. The first time was an HM, the next time I got a SHM, then a rejection? The first two submissions were during Farland, and for whatever reason the story got a rejection with Nye, so I asked Joni if the story was being overlooked too easily considering it's past statuses, so after working on it again, this time I'm hopping for something even better, but really I need to write some new stories (which I'm going to do, and I have some ideas ready to go.)

Posted by: @physa

↑

Hard to know for sure. When emails go out to those of us who weren't called, we will know we didn't get called and that the calls probably started two weeks ago [from when we get our email]. The folks behind the contest enjoy being mysterious.

Let's cross our fingers. 

[The hobbit boils water her new kettle to brew the tea she brought home from Merchentile in her fixed wagon.]

[Fresh baked scones are now on the table inside the twitching tent. Note sure when to start twitching though.]

[Could be awhile.]

Is this where Kary English usually posts that Thursday is coming? If so, is that for when the finalists are being called or after they've been called? 

@annmarieinlr Last year emails came out March 16 but the previous year it was April 10 when emails went out

Posted by: @annmarieinlr

↑

Is this where Kary English usually posts that Thursday is coming? If so, is that for when the finalists are being called or after they've been called? 

We don't always get treated to a Kary and/or Martin post hinting at results coming down the pipes. I still remember the posts Kary and Martin made before they won and I seem to recall a fair amount of twitching from both of them,  

[sips on coffee]

[worries over latest Q2 draft]

[ducks out of the way of a sudden dragon flame]

[did my eyebrows get singed off again?]

[watch it buddy!]

[dragon offers a burnt marshmallow as a peace offering]

[Thanks. Adds it to the s'more I started]

[dragon waddles behind me]

[licks the back of my neck, tickles]

[can't stay mad at Dragon for long]

Conversely, if twitching becomes a distraction, try subbing as early as possible. I got in just under the wire in OCTOBER. It's been almost half a year. Easy to just let it ride.

[The hobbit pops her head out of the twitting tent.]

[Determines that today is perfect spring weather.]

[Skips out of tent to enjoy the day]

[Who knows when Thursday will come, so tucks phone into pocket and takes a walk.]

Emails are coming in!

RWC.  Good luck everyone!

(my first)

RWC for me. Results are incoming.

HM for me!