Submission windows:
Q1: October 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026
Q2: January 1, 2027 - March 31, 2027
Q3: April 1, 2027 - June 30, 2027
Q4: July 1, 2027 - September 30, 2027
Forty-four is here! Or 44 if you're a fan of Mark Twain and obscure references.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/Dustinite
44... Mark Twain's final unfinished novel... Well, let's hope that's not portentous! (I had hoped vol. 42 would be the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything for slightly more upbeat and, in a spec fiction forum, hopefully less obscure Douglas Adams references... 😉
"...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: HM Q3: RWC Q4: P
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: 79 submitted 4 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
Well, time to start writing this Q1 beast.
2025: Q3: S-F, Q4: RWC
2026: Q1: -, Q2: RWC, Q3: R (RWC resubmit), Q4 - submitted
I am only about 500 words in and... The story was supposed to be a bit more rough and violent than what I am used to, and at first I wanted to tame that roughness for WotF, but so far it seems like letting the story go is a bit better choice. Also, there're already certain plot elements I didn't plan to focus on that much, but they might be fun to explore and weave them into the existing narrative, so it might either push 15-17k, or exceed it.
I'm hopefully gonna have tons of fun writing. But if it comes to the "worst" I might actually write TWO stories this quarter (one for fun, one for contest) 😀 .
2025: Q3: S-F, Q4: RWC
2026: Q1: -, Q2: RWC, Q3: R (RWC resubmit), Q4 - submitted
I am only about 500 words in and... The story was supposed to be a bit more rough and violent than what I am used to, and at first I wanted to tame that roughness for WotF, but so far it seems like letting the story go is a bit better choice. Also, there're already certain plot elements I didn't plan to focus on that much, but they might be fun to explore and weave them into the existing narrative, so it might either push 15-17k, or exceed it.
I'm hopefully gonna have tons of fun writing. But if it comes to the "worst" I might actually write TWO stories this quarter (one for fun, one for contest) 😀 .
I generally applaud writing what you want to write... but are you talking about a Q4 submission? If so, while I still applaud the ambition (!), the little guy on my other shoulder whispers (its only 13 days -- focus on the wotf submission IF you plan to enter!) 😉
"...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: HM Q3: RWC Q4: P
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: 79 submitted 4 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
oh scratch that... I looked one post up. You're talking Q1. Carry on! 😆
"...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: HM Q3: RWC Q4: P
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: 79 submitted 4 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
44... Mark Twain's final unfinished novel... Well, let's hope that's not portentous!
Oh man, Twain's 44 is a wild ride! I read it with a cold, and it's a fever dream all by itself. Invisibility! Skeletons! Eclipses! He has enough speculative elements there for a whole anthology, so maybe it's a good sign after all!
V38 - Q3 F, Q4 SHM
V39 - Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q3 SHM, Q4 SHM
V40 - Q1 RWC, Q2 SHM, Q3 HM, Q4 RWC
V41 - Q1 SHM, Q2 HM, Q3 HM, Q4 HM
V42 - Q1 RWC, Q2 F, Q3 R, Q4 R
V43 - Q1 HM, Q2 R, Q3 - 3rd Place
I was captivated by The Mysterious Stranger when I was little. Watched it over and over, every chance I got (on HBO). Looking at the synopsis, I'm not sure about that plot in my 11 year-old brain, but I loved the title and 44. I'll see if I can find it and watch it anew. Bet it's a whole different experience!
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/Dustinite
I was captivated by The Mysterious Stranger when I was little. Watched it over and over, every chance I got (on HBO). Looking at the synopsis, I'm not sure about that plot in my 11 year-old brain, but I loved the title and 44. I'll see if I can find it and watch it anew. Bet it's a whole different experience!
Hopefully as memorable as the Star Wars Christmas Special for you 
"...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: HM Q3: RWC Q4: P
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: 79 submitted 4 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
Some things leave memories.I was captivated by The Mysterious Stranger when I was little. Watched it over and over, every chance I got (on HBO). Looking at the synopsis, I'm not sure about that plot in my 11 year-old brain, but I loved the title and 44. I'll see if I can find it and watch it anew. Bet it's a whole different experience!
Hopefully as memorable as the Star Wars Christmas Special for you
Others leave scars.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/Dustinite
Okay, the Q1 Portal is now open!
I'm in. Looking forward to working on my novel for a while without a short story deadline hanging over my head.
SHM: 1 HM: 5 R/RWC: many
I'm in. Looking forward to working on my novel for a while without a short story deadline hanging over my head.
Warp speed no less
"...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: HM Q3: RWC Q4: P
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: 79 submitted 4 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