Discussion: Q2 Volume 37

Sorry, I have been missing. It's good to see all of you churning out stories. I am knee deep (more like armpit deep) in revisions of a novel this quarter. I am considering taking a thread from the novel--a piece I am particularly attached to--and creating a short story from it. I have done this twice in the past, and they placed as honorable mention. It would keep me in the game and also help solidify that conflict thread in the novel.

That is where I stand at the moment. Good luck to all my co-forumites.

Sorry, I have been missing. It's good to see all of you churning out stories. I am knee deep (more like armpit deep) in revisions of a novel this quarter. I am considering taking a thread from the novel--a piece I am particularly attached to--and creating a short story from it. I have done this twice in the past, and they placed as honorable mention. It would keep me in the game and also help solidify that conflict thread in the novel.

That is where I stand at the moment. Good luck to all my co-forumites.

Julia,

My 17K novelette that Kathy Wentworth said would have won if I hadn't written to the max word count was a boil down of my favorite novel chapters. Dave did it with his winner. It can be done.

Cheers!

Moon

After reading Wulf's post about the average word count for stories selected in the past, I've been slashing words in my story for Q2. Right now I'm at 12K down from 17K at the start of the weekend. Basically I'm rewriting it, narrowing it down to one POV character (did have 2 in alternating chapters).

Glad I found the forum, its helping me a lot already!

After reading Wulf's post about the average word count for stories selected in the past, I've been slashing words in my story for Q2. Right now I'm at 12K down from 17K at the start of the weekend. Basically I'm rewriting it, narrowing it down to one POV character (did have 2 in alternating chapters).

Glad I found the forum, its helping me a lot already!

Keeping a narrow POV is the only way I can keep myself to a reasonable word count. I tend to get wordy.

Okay, my story is done. Need an exchange critique for it.

After reading Wulf's post about the average word count for stories selected in the past, I've been slashing words in my story for Q2. Right now I'm at 12K down from 17K at the start of the weekend. Basically I'm rewriting it, narrowing it down to one POV character (did have 2 in alternating chapters).

Glad I found the forum, its helping me a lot already!

Keeping a narrow POV is the only way I can keep myself to a reasonable word count. I tend to get wordy.

I did rather wordy stories for a while. One I had to cut back down under their Max word count. But lately they have been rather short stories. Not flash short but still. Of course the length doesn't change the reaction from editors but interesting for me.

After reading Wulf's post about the average word count for stories selected in the past,

Where is this post? I would like to read it.

After reading Wulf's post about the average word count for stories selected in the past,

Where is this post? I would like to read it.

Right here!

After reading Wulf's post about the average word count for stories selected in the past,

Where is this post? I would like to read it.

Right here!

Thank you!

Probably should go over my story one more time before I send it to an editor to check commas etc. Amazingly enough I have time. An interesting story for me.

Does anyone else out there use polysyndeton as a literary device? I don't see this much (if any) in sci fi/fantasy. Not sure us using such a device would be frowned upon in this contest (even when used correctly)??? Any thoughts?

Does anyone else out there use polysyndeton as a literary device? I don't see this much (if any) in sci fi/fantasy. Not sure us using such a device would be frowned upon in this contest (even when used correctly)??? Any thoughts?

I don't know if it would be frowned upon, but I like using the device for emphasis.

Does anyone else out there use polysyndeton as a literary device? I don't see this much (if any) in sci fi/fantasy. Not sure us using such a device would be frowned upon in this contest (even when used correctly)??? Any thoughts?

Learned me a new word today!

At a glance, it goes against the rules of proper grammar. But it's legitimate. And, if used properly gives the great lyrical resonance.

Does anyone else out there use polysyndeton as a literary device? I don't see this much (if any) in sci fi/fantasy. Not sure us using such a device would be frowned upon in this contest (even when used correctly)??? Any thoughts?

Learned me a new word today!

Me too!

I did it in my HM and another story I submitted. I can't see it being frowned upon unless it's overdone? I used polysyndeton (now I know what it is) without thinking about it much, as it seemed to fit the style of the story and my character's voice.

Learned me a new word today!

Me too!

If used properly, it gives a good lyrical effect.

Learned me a new word today!

Me too!

In case you 2 and ChuckT aren't joking, Mark Forsyth's Elements of Eloquence is a an entertaining and informative book on terms from Aposiopesis to Zeugma.

Does anyone else out there use polysyndeton as a literary device? I don't see this much (if any) in sci fi/fantasy. Not sure us using such a device would be frowned upon in this contest (even when used correctly)??? Any thoughts?

Well (I looked it up too ) I got an HM for the story with this sentance: "They had neither nets nor sails nor paddle nor boat." I'm not a super grammer geek but I would certainly use polysyndeton in a story if I felt it added to the feel of it.

Just cut 900 words from my 3k story. Eek.
I felt like it was already too short.
Need me some Polysyndenton.

Just cut 900 words from my 3k story. Eek.
I felt like it was already too short.
Need me some Polysyndenton.

Ha! Ha! Ha! Nailed it!

I recall reading an old interview with Hubbard years back. He said he got paid by the word, so frequently used characters first and last names.
I just finished reading a book where the MC's name was "John Grady Cole". But the author always referred to him as "John Grady".

WOTF Stats
(2014) V31 – R
(2018) V35 – HM
(2019) V36 – HM, SHM
(2020) V37 – R, HM, SHM, Finalist
(2021) V38 – SF, SHM, SHM, HM
(2022) V39 – HM, SHM, SHM, SHM
(2023) V40 - HM, SF, tba, tba

 

You people are prolific. I just revised a story that is 9500 words and it's my longest work of fiction, so far. well, I should say, completed work of fiction! I may submit that story for the next quarter, and my current entry is only 4500 words for this quarter, which makes me wonder if it was too short?!?!?!

The good part about being in creative writing courses in college is that I have deadlines to meet. I will have to write 3 more short stories this semester, and I need that pressure to focus. Pretty sad, eh?

You people are prolific. I just revised a story that is 9500 words and it's my longest work of fiction, so far. well, I should say, completed work of fiction! I may submit that story for the next quarter, and my current entry is only 4500 words for this quarter, which makes me wonder if it was too short?!?!?!

The good part about being in creative writing courses in college is that I have deadlines to meet. I will have to write 3 more short stories this semester, and I need that pressure to focus. Pretty sad, eh?

Nothing wrong with 4500 word stories. Joni just said in an interview the contest looks for stories between 3K and 17K. Average length in Vol. 35 was around 7976.5 words. "Moongirl" was 6100. Story determines length, but it's good to be aware of what a market is looking for. And if you write 17K stories like I used to, you're going to find there are few places to sell them after WotF, and you're going to get rejections like this even if they're good from places like F&SF: "This is wonderful, but we simply don't have the room, alas. I suspect if you wrote a few more novelettes set in this world, you could sell them as a novel."

My advice? Keep shooting toward that 6K to 7K range, it's a sweet spot.

All the beast,

Wulf Moon

You people are prolific. I just revised a story that is 9500 words and it's my longest work of fiction, so far. well, I should say, completed work of fiction! I may submit that story for the next quarter, and my current entry is only 4500 words for this quarter, which makes me wonder if it was too short?!?!?!

The good part about being in creative writing courses in college is that I have deadlines to meet. I will have to write 3 more short stories this semester, and I need that pressure to focus. Pretty sad, eh?

Nothing wrong with 4500 word stories. Joni just said in an interview the contest looks for stories between 3K and 17K. Average length in Vol. 35 was around 7976.5 words. "Moongirl" was 6100. Story determines length, but it's good to be aware of what a market is looking for. And if you write 17K stories like I used to, you're going to find there are few places to sell them after WotF, and you're going to get rejections like this even if they're good from places like F&SF: "This is wonderful, but we simply don't have the room, alas. I suspect if you wrote a few more novelettes set in this world, you could sell them as a novel."

My advice? Keep shooting toward that 6K to 7K range, it's a sweet spot.

All the beast,

Wulf Moon

Thank you. I am shooting for 50,000 words of a historical fiction (w, magical realism) collection/novella. Still, lots of revision needed!

Learned me a new word today!

Me too!

In case you 2 and ChuckT aren't joking, Mark Forsyth's Elements of Eloquence is a an entertaining and informative book on terms from Aposiopesis to Zeugma.

No. Not joking. I can't even keep common terms straight. Like "split infinitive." What the heck is that thing again?

My small brain filled up years ago - so words like Polywotsit aren't new to me, but my neural index long since failed. If you asked me the meaning, it might come to me 3 days later while I'm watching TV - or might not. I can only do TV quiz shows with multiple choice.

Hello there! New to the forums. Currently working on my first entry. I'm really excited about it, but concerned it may be too long. I guess we shall see when it's complete.
Looking forward to chatting with all of you as the quarter progresses!

Don’t worry about length in the first draft. That’s what revision is for! Good luck!

Does anyone else out there use polysyndeton as a literary device? I don't see this much (if any) in sci fi/fantasy. Not sure us using such a device would be frowned upon in this contest (even when used correctly)??? Any thoughts?

I find myself using it fairly commonly with a close point of view. Something like: "The plan could go well, or it could go poorly--or lead to disaster" sounds more like real thought and more lyrical than "the plan could go well, poorly, or lead to disaster." Competent writers are typically concise, and readers know this. As a result, verbosity can be powerful, if used sparingly. The same goes for adjectives and adverbs of course.

Today I finished what is either the first or third draft of my story, depending on how you look at it. (The first two docs were VERY rough. This one is at least legible as prose all the way through.)