Discussion Q2 Volume 39

Posted by: @cedars

Congratulations to all who placed! 

 

Another HM for me; I'm seeing a definite pattern. ? Now I'm just tempted to rework and resubmit my story that got the R just so I can make my signature a fully matched set!

I know, I was almost hoping for an ‘R’ this time to get a full flush when I get Finalist next quarter (jk ;p) 

Posted by: @lost_bard

Posted by: @physa

[dances around the tent]

[party confetti and streamers everywhere]

[huge cake, huge congrats, and lots of pats on the back for the finalists]

[Well done Brandon and David!!!]

[and well done to all who placed!]

[everyone looks like they could use some sleep]

[thank goodness it's way too early to twitch for Q3]

[I don't think my little heart could take it]

[So happy for David and his win and his upcoming trip to Hollywood!!!]

 

Thanks for the confetti and streamers! Ooooh, and cake! Congrats on your HM!

<realizes that almost every sentence today has exclamation points>

<doesn't care! it's time to party!>

[Exclamation marks are completely called for in this case!!!]

[and the party goes on into the night]

[tomorrow will sort itself] 

Another HM here.

Congrats to all!  To the winners especially.  ?   On to the next quarter!

Posted by: @wahlquistj

Posted by: @cedars

Congratulations to all who placed! 

 

Another HM for me; I'm seeing a definite pattern. ? Now I'm just tempted to rework and resubmit my story that got the R just so I can make my signature a fully matched set!

I know, I was almost hoping for an ‘R’ this time to get a full flush when I get Finalist next quarter (jk ;p) 

Here's the plan for you then; go ahead and win this next quarter. You'll be a finalist by default, so you'll get both the F and the W. Then, submit a story for the next quarter which will get you an automatic R since you'll be disqualified by virtue of your win.  

Boom! You'll have every possible badge, and a trophy besides!

After three successive HMs in three submissions, I went down to RWC for Q2. I fully understand why; my story, although intended for an anthology based on a future world, could just as easily have been placed here on Earth today. The anthology will very clearly be science fiction, but this one story doesn't have much in the way of speculative nature. On the other hand, it's a story I'm still very proud of and it's still in the running for the 2022 Royal Palm Literary Awards.

Unfortunately, that doesn't completely ease the disappointment. 

So ... on to writing the next story. Writers write.

@cedars ???

Congrats to everyone for all results this quarter. It is always nice to see people on here reporting wins, Fs, SFs, SHMs, HMs, RWCs - and yes even the did not place is worth celebrating because it means you submitted (unlike me for Q2 despite my early expectations of finishing a new story for it).

For all of you who aren't winners may your results improve for Q3!

Another great showing for the WotF Forum! Some achieved their first HMs, which is hitting the target by writing well. Others hit even closer to the bullseye with Silver HM or Semifinalist. And some hit the bullseye with Finalist, and four blue ribbon judges took out their measuring tapes and debated which arrows hit closest to center. It’s tough at the top. The wins are by fractions, but those judges have keen eyes, proven by their own success. Just know when you hit the mark, you can do it again…and win, as many here have proven. The next Q is always waiting for your winner.

Congratulations to our David Hankins, who has proved himself a winner in more ways than one. See you in Hollywood, David. Enjoy all the benefits that come with smart practice, dedication, determination, and a desire to learn all you can to improve. This is the way.

To all that submitted, congratulations! Your writing grows with every new story you write and submit. If you didn’t place, you still learned by writing a story and sending it in. Do this every quarter, never giving up. That will create the habits that yield a professional writer in the end, whether you ultimately win this Contest or not.

Stay the course, and congratulations to all of you.

You are on the path.

All the beast!

Wulf Moon

Forum Moderator 

Posted by: @lambenttyto

Bah! I don't do critique groups and all that, and I've never read a volume of WotF (though I probably should), I just write what I write and submit. I love novelettes, so I just submit when I have one. No one understands my genius!!! Haha, just kidding.

There's nothing wrong with writing what you believe in. I never tried to write for the Contest, I just wrote what I wanted to write and sent it out to markets, including the Contest. It worked for me.

Posted by: @lambenttyto

Bah! I don't do critique groups and all that, and I've never read a volume of WotF (though I probably should), I just write what I write and submit. I love novelettes, so I just submit when I have one. No one understands my genius!!! Haha, just kidding.

I joined Critters 15 years ago, shared one story that I can’t even remember what it was about, ended up not being too involved as I’m actually very introverted and I’m perfectly fine with my own company, forgot about it all until I joined WotF two weeks ago or so. 15 years ago was my first attempt at being more involved in writing. It didn’t happen for its reasons. I’m trying again because I love writing. And one day, I would love to share all these stories with others. Most importantly, I’d be able to read my own stories. 

I think joining critique groups are important. Having writer friends and people who can cheer you on and help motivate you is important. It’s also very important that you get to critique other’s works and cheer them on as well. 

I’m very apprehensive about actually sharing what I’ve written. I know it makes no sense since I intend to share stories with the world, but I have a lot of fear about whether people will like what I write. I think I’m really good at writing. But it’s terrifying in a way because I hold most of those stories so close to my heart. They’re not just words on a page. Somewhere, out there, they breathe and they’re alive. 

The wonderful people here are actually helping me to share more. The wonderful people of Moon’s Wulf Pack is doing the same. It’s been 15 years since anyone I’ve talked to has read anything I’ve written. It’s good to be able to see improvement and to know where to use it. That’s what critique groups are all about.

And if you don’t feel comfortable in a group setting, I’m here. I’ll be happy to read and critique and encourage and share with you. No matter how amazing you are, no one will know if you don’t share, if you don’t join. 

So join us. ?

Posted by: @martin-l-shoemaker

Posted by: @lambenttyto

Bah! I don't do critique groups and all that, and I've never read a volume of WotF (though I probably should), I just write what I write and submit. I love novelettes, so I just submit when I have one. No one understands my genius!!! Haha, just kidding.

There's nothing wrong with writing what you believe in. I never tried to write for the Contest, I just wrote what I wanted to write and sent it out to markets, including the Contest. It worked for me.

I've done both, and I find I get broadly the same success both ways--the stories I've written deliberately for the Contest and solicited critiques for have come in SHM/HM, and stories I've written off the cuff without ever showing anyone and without the Contest in mind have, likewise, earned me a mix of SHM/HM results.

In the end, I write how I write, and I write what I like. I don't change it significantly for the Contest, though knowing some of what the Contest prefers may sometimes help me choose which story to enter when I have more than one to choose from.

(Also, my one single Finalist belonged to one of those groups, but I'm not saying which, because it's currently a statistical outlier. ?)

@martin-l-shoemaker Writing about what you want to write about makes the writer happy to write and the reader happy to read. I think forcing it in any which way makes everybody unhappy.

I honestly can't remember how long it's been, but has anyone had a certificate yet?

Posted by: @pdblake

I honestly can't remember how long it's been, but has anyone had a certificate yet?

None here yet. Just posted that question to Joni. Will let you know once I hear back.

Posted by: @dragonchef

Posted by: @pdblake

I honestly can't remember how long it's been, but has anyone had a certificate yet?

None here yet. Just posted that question to Joni. Will let you know once I hear back.

I'm looking forward to holding my first WOTF HM certificate in my hand.

@dragonchef 

There's been postal strikes over here recently so I thought it might just be delayed. 

Posted by: @pdblake - I honestly can't remember how long it's been, but has anyone had a certificate yet?

 

Posted by: @physa - I'm looking forward to holding my first WOTF HM certificate in my hand.

I heard back from Joni yesterday . . . the Certificates are on the road and we should receive them soon.

@dragonchef all these smilies and I couldn't find a thumbs up

Posted by: @pdblake

@dragonchef all these smilies and I couldn't find a thumbs up

You mean like this: ?(It's small, I know, but it's there in the . . .)

You can increase the size by highlight it and changing the font size to something like 24 pt.

?

? Got it. I was using the smiley button at the bottom of the text box. Totally different.

Got my cert today.  

I got my certificate today. 

Looks like the Q2 certificates are making their way to various mailboxes all over the world. I got mine yesterday. So cool to see in person! Provides fuel to get my Q4 story polished and submitted.  

Got mine, too!

I got my certificate too!

Weird question: but was Jody's autograph crossed out on anyone else's? Is there a hidden meaning to crossing out a signature in the writing business than I'm unfamiliar with?  

Mine has an X through her name. Maybe that's her signature move.  

Still waiting here, but then there's been no postal service today. 

Posted by: @storysinger

Mine has an X through her name. Maybe that's her signature move.  

In close examination, I see the X across Jody's signature as well. My thoughts are that a. it's on purpose and b. kindof looks like crossed blades. and c. YAY! I finally got a certificate for a story I submitted to WOTF!!!

Posted by: @physa

YAY! I finally got a certificate for a story I submitted to WOTF!!!

I know where you're coming from. That unexpected email from Joni that said your story earned an honorable mention, your first one EVER! That moment is priceless. Now go get another.  

I actually conspired to mess up my Q2 cert confirmation, so I might not get one for this (boo).