I have submitted for Q2, volume 40. Whoohoo! So excited!!
I love that Kary and Jody will see my story!! (Anonymously, of course, but still exciting)
Vol. 36: 3rd -- R, 4th -- R
Vol. 37: R, HM, HM, SHM
Vol. 38: HM, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 39: SHM, RWC, RWC, HM
Vol. 40: HM, R, RWC, R
Vol. 41: R, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 42: 1st -- pending
Amateur published stories:
"The Army Ration That Saved the Earth" -- Accepted for publication, waiting for contract
"The Tell-Tale Cricket" in The Murderbugs Anthololgy
"Follow the Pretrons" in Martian Magazine, and a Critters Award
"Eyes and Hands" in Galaxy's Edge Magazine
"The Last Dance" in Parliament of Wizards, LTUE anthology
"My Ten Cents" in Sci Fi Lampoon
Professional Publication:
"Invasion" in Daily Science Fiction
@pegeen and @jeschleicher Ooooh man yesss! Every story starts as a vivid scene in my dreamy head, most often inspired by a song, but sometimes nature and the rest of the story is a matter of figuring out how they got there and were they go from there. I usually write that scene out first then go back and do the rest chronologically. Love to hear I'm not the only one!!
PS. I've determined INFPs are basically imaginative cats. Introverted, approach humans for affection and snax, spend the rest of the day staring out the window and chittering nonsense at birds.
V39 - Q2 HM, Q3 SHM, Q4 HM
V40 - Q1 SHM, Q2 HM. Q3 SHM Q4 HM
V41 - Q1 Crafting
@time Thanks. I may take you up on your kind offer, after I do more work. The problem storynow will be for Q3. I'm tweaking an old story for Q2 and making good progress.
~~ Pegeen ~~
Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Writer
V40 - Q1 RWC, Q2 HM,
My Q2 story is done, I think. 
I just printed it for my wife to read. 
I'll let it set for a couple days and then give it re-read. 
My Mike Resnick contest submission needs some attention now. 
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: WIP
2024 V41: RWC (Resubmitted "HM"), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
My Q2 story is done, I think.
I just printed it for my wife to read.
Woot! Woot!
My wife is my trusted, first-reader, too, and I must say, she's gotten frank. She started her last feedback with "If I wasn't your wife, I'd have stopped reading." 
Website: https://www.jeschleicher.com/
Blog: https://www.jeschleicher.com/dopaminesdelight
V40: Q1 3rd Place Winner ("Squiddy")
V39: SHM, HM, HM, HM
V38: HM, SHM, HM, HM
V37: R, R, HM, HM
V36: R
My Q2 story is done, I think.
I just printed it for my wife to read.
Woot! Woot!
My wife is my trusted, first-reader, too, and I must say, she's gotten frank. She started her last feedback with "If I wasn't your wife, I'd have stopped reading."
Hey, for my Q1 submission (which was my favorite short story I'd written at the time), my wife said "Obviously I love everything you write, but I hate this."
We talked at length about why, I revised a lot, she reread it and... "Nope, I still hate all of it."
Tough to hear, but at least she's honest! Better than just being told what they think you want to hear!
VOL 40 2nd Quarter: Third Place ("Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbonfiber")
Past submissions: R - HM - HM - HM - HM - HM - SHM - SHM
www.jd-writes.com
Kindle Vella - Ashes to Ashes, Earth to Kaybee
My wife is my trusted, first-reader, too, and I must say, she's gotten frank. She started her last feedback with "If I wasn't your wife, I'd have stopped reading."
I understand.
I have some polishing to do on the story after my wife's advice. Not a lot, but some smoothing out.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: WIP
2024 V41: RWC (Resubmitted "HM"), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
Hey, for my Q1 submission (which was my favorite short story I'd written at the time), my wife said "Obviously I love everything you write, but I hate this."
We talked at length about why, I revised a lot, she reread it and... "Nope, I still hate all of it."
Tough to hear, but at least she's honest! Better than just being told what they think you want to hear!
Glad to know others are experiencing the same as me.
A bit different for me, my wife feels my Q1 submission is the best I've written. Whereas I feel my semi-finalist achievement piece is my best work. After I made the updates from receiving a review from WotF, of course.
I would love to tell my wife she was right 
by having my Q1 do better than semi-finalist. Seriously, I would gladly tell her she was right. Please be right, honey. Fingers crossed.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: WIP
2024 V41: RWC (Resubmitted "HM"), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
I’m in for Q2 v40. Now I have to figure out how to not twitch on my Q1 v40 entry. Guess I should start brainstorming Q3 v40.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 4 RWC, 6 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
"Experimenting with the Dance of Death" in Love is Complicated LUW Romance Anthology.
I’m in for Q2 v40.
Website: https://www.jeschleicher.com/
Blog: https://www.jeschleicher.com/dopaminesdelight
V40: Q1 3rd Place Winner ("Squiddy")
V39: SHM, HM, HM, HM
V38: HM, SHM, HM, HM
V37: R, R, HM, HM
V36: R
And my Q2 is submitted. Good luck everyone! 
WOTF results:
Vol 41: Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q4 HM
running totals to date:
WOTF: 6 Rs, 3 RWCs. 8 HMs
IOTF: 4 Rs, 3 HMs
Check out my new website: https://www.amyrwethingtonwriterofspeculativeworlds.com/
According to Winston Churchill, "success is going from failure to failure with enthusiasm"
Somehow I lost my Guthington profile, but it's me. Amy Wethington = Guthington = Physa
,@physa!
Website: https://www.jeschleicher.com/
Blog: https://www.jeschleicher.com/dopaminesdelight
V40: Q1 3rd Place Winner ("Squiddy")
V39: SHM, HM, HM, HM
V38: HM, SHM, HM, HM
V37: R, R, HM, HM
V36: R
I’m also in for Q2. 
V39: - - - HM
V40: SHM, HM, SHM, HM
V41: HM, SHM, SHM, F
V42: WIP
Stories published in Triangulation, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, and others.
https://kzrichards.com
I’m also in for Q2.
Yay! It's a lovely, emotionally powerful story!
Website: https://www.jeschleicher.com/
Blog: https://www.jeschleicher.com/dopaminesdelight
V40: Q1 3rd Place Winner ("Squiddy")
V39: SHM, HM, HM, HM
V38: HM, SHM, HM, HM
V37: R, R, HM, HM
V36: R
@jeschleicher oh thank you so much!
V39: - - - HM
V40: SHM, HM, SHM, HM
V41: HM, SHM, SHM, F
V42: WIP
Stories published in Triangulation, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, and others.
https://kzrichards.com
@elainemidcoh WotF as a market doesn't favor political stories. I think it would be a harder sell if it gets into real-world politics at all.
Author of MG Fantasy Adventures:
Gold Dust
Phoenix Down
Author of an English/Japanese bilingual fantasy for 4-6 year-olds:
Ray and Mia's Adventure
I'm a professional copy editor and also a trained mime. Please don't hold either of these against me.
V37 Q2 HM
V39 Q2 HM, Q3 SHM, Q4 HM
V40 Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q3 RWC, Q4 HM
V41 Q1 HM
https://catherineweaverauthor.com/
And I'm in for Q2!
Author of MG Fantasy Adventures:
Gold Dust
Phoenix Down
Author of an English/Japanese bilingual fantasy for 4-6 year-olds:
Ray and Mia's Adventure
I'm a professional copy editor and also a trained mime. Please don't hold either of these against me.
V37 Q2 HM
V39 Q2 HM, Q3 SHM, Q4 HM
V40 Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q3 RWC, Q4 HM
V41 Q1 HM
https://catherineweaverauthor.com/
@cweaver can't wait to see your story in print.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 4 RWC, 6 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
"Experimenting with the Dance of Death" in Love is Complicated LUW Romance Anthology.
@craydimensional 
Thank you! I look forward to sharing a TOC with you some day. 
Author of MG Fantasy Adventures:
Gold Dust
Phoenix Down
Author of an English/Japanese bilingual fantasy for 4-6 year-olds:
Ray and Mia's Adventure
I'm a professional copy editor and also a trained mime. Please don't hold either of these against me.
V37 Q2 HM
V39 Q2 HM, Q3 SHM, Q4 HM
V40 Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q3 RWC, Q4 HM
V41 Q1 HM
https://catherineweaverauthor.com/
@cweaver Thank you. Maybe volume 40 ?
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 4 RWC, 6 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
"Experimenting with the Dance of Death" in Love is Complicated LUW Romance Anthology.
@jeschleicher right there with you all. My husband's my last reader because it needs to be clear for him. Otherwise, I get comments like, "this sucks!" The good news is, his frankness helped. Once I got over it. LOL
Victoria Dixon
Author of Mourn Their Courage
a 2010 Sandy Writing Contest Finalist
A Tribble Ate My Lunch: a Star Trek Cookbook (unpublished)
R=24
HM= 8
SHM=4
Finalist=1
@empressed Where do all these opinionated spouses come from? My husband reads all my stories, and his reaction is exactly the same every time. He says, “It’s good,” and nothing else. No compliments, suggestions, questions, or anything. Just those two words. I’m tempted to write something really terrible one day and see if his response changes. ?
V39: - - - HM
V40: SHM, HM, SHM, HM
V41: HM, SHM, SHM, F
V42: WIP
Stories published in Triangulation, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, and others.
https://kzrichards.com
@kz_richards My wife used to do the same, but that's changed over the last year. She's not a writer, so I give her a couple things to focus on. Are there any clunky sentences? Is the flow/pace of the story good? Would you like more or less info in areas to slow or speed up the story?
She's a great first reader and has helped with pointing out areas that are slow in the story. I don't always see those, since I'm cutting and pasting all the time to move stuff around.
There are people in the forum willing to trade reviews. Take advantage of the forum.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: WIP
2024 V41: RWC (Resubmitted "HM"), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
My Q2 story is done, I think.
Okay, after a few suggestions to help smooth out the story, I'm giving it a final read and planning on submitting tomorrow.
I'm ranking this one in the top 3 stories of mine. We will see what the WotF judges think. Crossing my fingers.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: WIP
2024 V41: RWC (Resubmitted "HM"), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
@toddjones I’ve had a few people from the forum read my stories, and it’s been so helpful!
V39: - - - HM
V40: SHM, HM, SHM, HM
V41: HM, SHM, SHM, F
V42: WIP
Stories published in Triangulation, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, and others.
https://kzrichards.com
My husband is my last reader. Sometimes I wonder if he just likes every thing.@empressed Where do all these opinionated spouses come from? My husband reads all my stories, and his reaction is exactly the same every time. He says, “It’s good,” and nothing else. No compliments, suggestions, questions, or anything. Just those two words. I’m tempted to write something really terrible one day and see if his response changes. ?
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 4 RWC, 6 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
"Experimenting with the Dance of Death" in Love is Complicated LUW Romance Anthology.
@kz_richards I lucked out with having people on forum comment. I think the Super Secrets thread has some wonderful advice.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 4 RWC, 6 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
"Experimenting with the Dance of Death" in Love is Complicated LUW Romance Anthology.
@kz_richards I lucked out with having people on forum comment. I think the Super Secrets thread has some wonderful advice.
Hear, hear! Much gratitude for this community and contest.
Website: https://www.jeschleicher.com/
Blog: https://www.jeschleicher.com/dopaminesdelight
V40: Q1 3rd Place Winner ("Squiddy")
V39: SHM, HM, HM, HM
V38: HM, SHM, HM, HM
V37: R, R, HM, HM
V36: R
I'm in and feeling good about this one.
Website: https://www.jeschleicher.com/
Blog: https://www.jeschleicher.com/dopaminesdelight
V40: Q1 3rd Place Winner ("Squiddy")
V39: SHM, HM, HM, HM
V38: HM, SHM, HM, HM
V37: R, R, HM, HM
V36: R
