Discussion: Q1 Volume 43

Flat rejection for me this time! I think maybe this story is only for me, I'm still glad I re-wrote it the way I did and now I can let it go. Annnd if I want to be obnoxiously positive about things, at least I can't do any worse, like at least there's no such thing as very-personal-rejection where they berate every aspect of your writing and why it sucks and highlight every mistake you've done since childhood and how you should already be a better storyteller and frankly, a person, by now (Oh right we're writers, we do that to ourselves) lol 

Hugs to my fellow rejectees, and huge congratulations to all that placed and of course finalists!

Posted by: @ehonour

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I've been sitting here thinking that we're soooo late, and not having received Joni's call, that I'm likely not a finalist. Again. 

And back to editing on the Q2 entry. Look ahead, Doc, always look ahead. Looking behind just makes me stumble.

Well, that was timely. Three hours later, I got the email. A disappointing reject.

Just went back and read the first two pages, though, and I can see why. It was a cute alternate reality idea, but the opening was too slow. So much for last-minute writing, but at least I submitted.

Look ahead. Do better on the Q2 entry.

Posted by: @pdblake

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Just got a rejection email. I don't think I've had anything else from this current judge, so won't be bothering again. Clearly my writing isn't to her taste.

Sorry to read about the rejection. You've gotten some good ratings on other stories.

I've been very disappointed in my recent results.

With the volume of entries, I think R, RWC, and even some HM ratings are done by the slush readers. I don't have any special insight on that, but it seems logical.  

I got an HM. Hoping for better but maybe I can edit it a bit before sending it out to other markets. I had to write this once fast, so maybe a second look will make a difference.

I got an HM. Hoping for better but maybe I can edit it a bit before sending it out to other markets. I had to write this once fast, so maybe a second look will make a difference.

I submitted a rewrite of a SHM and it was awarded an astounding...Honourable Mention!   

Let this be a lesson to me. 

Rejection for me. 

Posted by: @theocarr

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I submitted a rewrite of a SHM and it was awarded an astounding...Honourable Mention!   

 

I had my SHM resubmitted before and they rejected it. 

Posted by: @pdblake

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Just got a rejection email. I don't think I've had anything else from this current judge, so won't be bothering again. Clearly my writing isn't to her taste.

I definitely noticed a difference after Dave's passing. 

HM #19

Sipping something stronger than hot coco. Then I'll hit the keyboard again tomorrow.

Best of luck to those who are still in.

Have fun

p.s. FYI: HM - 19

SHM - 5

SF - 0

F - 3

BA .540

Posted by: @theocarr

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I submitted a rewrite of a SHM and it was awarded an astounding...Honourable Mention!   

 

Let this be a lesson to me. 

I had that happen. It isn't fun to receive when you know you've made the story better.

Posted by: @lambenttyto

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I had my SHM resubmitted before and they rejected it. 

That's crazy. 

Posted by: @lambenttyto

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Rejection for me. 

Sorry to read that. You've had some good results in the past. I do agree that the current system of readers area more harsh than Dave was, but there are also a lot more entries. I think.

Posted by: @toddsjones

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That's crazy. 

A little. I was scratching my head and wondering if they don't keep track of stories. One judge shouldn't downgrade what another previously awarded a story, right? I didn't make major changes to the story, just cleaned up some of the little mistakes, and contacted Joni about it, and she said she would help me out with it. And I submitted the story AGAIN. And it got an HM, lol. 

SHM!

I'll put this one through one more revision and submit a different story for Q2.

Those with rejections, don't be discouraged. 

And congratulations to the HM, finalists, and winners!

Good luck, everyone!

HM for me...I guess I should write my Q2  

Congratulations to everyone who placed, and to everyone who entered! I hope there are a few forumites keeping quiet because they've had a phone call from Joni. If there are any, we're all rooting for you.

@lambenttyto and @theocarr I resubmitted two stories: one a SHM which got a R on the second go, and a HM that received another HM. So, I never fared better on resubmissions, though sometimes when the clock is ticking down it's still worth resubmitting versus no entry at all. You've got to be in it to win it!

Another HM! Third one in a row! Grateful but how do I climb out of here? I've already submitted to Q2, but for Q3 I'm thinking of doing some unthinkable things 😉 Cause playing safe and solid only gets me HMs....

Posted by: @szadok

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Another HM! Third one in a row! Grateful but how do I climb out of here? I've already submitted to Q2, but for Q3 I'm thinking of doing some unthinkable things 😉 Cause playing safe and solid only gets me HMs....

Imagine outside the box, write in it.

Or something clever like that. 😉 

Unfortunately a R for me. The lack of feedback is understandable but problematic in light of improving it.
Perhaps there was something objectively fixable that it was rejected on or perhaps there's something fundamental to the story that isn't liked at WofF, no way to tell.
I was close to the word limit so possibly that was it or that at least played a role (I read they have a preference for shorter stories).

I also read somewhere that stories that are read to the end generally get at least a HM so can I conclude from the outright reject that the ending likely wasn't read and therefore was not the reason for the rejection?
Just trying to learn anything I can here.

 I just got the second call and the clearance to say…  

I’m kind of glad it didn’t place, because I doubt it would have been first and I know I have a first place story in me! 

Congrats to the winners. Well, to everyone actually. Even a rejection means we’re in the game.

Straight R here.  I've been busy with my novel this quarter, so I decided to pull out an HM from several years back to give another pass with some fresh eyes for Q2.  It's clearly inferior to my recent run of RWC/Rs.  Quite baffling.

It's quiet this quarter.  Hopefully, that means all 8 finalists are forumites.

Posted by: @szadok

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Another HM! Third one in a row! Grateful but how do I climb out of here? I've already submitted to Q2, but for Q3 I'm thinking of doing some unthinkable things 😉 Cause playing safe and solid only gets me HMs....

I agree with Dustin. My strange stories (the ones my test readers don't like at first idea/draft) seem to do better.

I'm always up for an HM swap if you want. Maybe a different set of eyes on a story can help identify why it didn't achieved higher than an HM.

PM me if interested.

Posted by: @chwalter

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Straight R here.  I've been busy with my novel this quarter, so I decided to pull out an HM from several years back to give another pass with some fresh eyes for Q2.  It's clearly inferior to my recent run of RWC/Rs.  Quite baffling.

It's quiet this quarter.  Hopefully, that means all 8 finalists are forumites.

I've only resubmitted a story once, if I've identified and fixed a hole. Doing so only worked to achieve a better mark one time. Best to submit new stories each quarter if possible.

Congrats on the novel. It is a daunting task.