Discussion: Q2 Volume 41

Alright, now that Q1 is out of the way, time to start on Q2. Good luck to everyone!

Okay, the submission portal is now open for Q2 (Cycle 41B).

Good luck to everyone! If anyone has any issues let me know, but should be all good to go. 

I have a question! I realized that we are supposed to give word count separately when we submit, but I couldn't find where that could be done when submitting electronically? Did something change in the portal and it used to have place to put that in and no longer does? Or am I just not looking properly? I want to clarify so I know for future submissions. Also, if I actually missed the spot to put it in, will it matter for my submission not to have it?  Thanks!

@tiinag if you follow Shunn format, word count goes in the top right of your story, right justified.

@physa Thank you for the reply! I see, I've been trusting Scrivener, but realize it doesn't add the word count automatically even though it formats otherwise as needed. I am not good with this stuff, so gotta check out if I can automate that too!

When it comes to instructions I am a very literal person, so it bothers me that in this case the rules say that the approximate word count should be separately stated (along with your name etc) and not on the header like the title and page count. I think the portal maybe changed and the instructions didn't? Sorry for being a nuisance, but I rather be sure than guess. 

Weird. I finished my story that I believe will be my entry for Q2, and yet it isn't even March, let alone 11:59 pm on the 31st. What is happening? Gonna let my writing group look at it tonight, and then I'll get started on Q3, I guess.

Lack of word count won't disqualify your story. Shunn format is recommended, but slush readers report they get submissions in a wide range of formats. By virtue of being in this Forum, you're already more aware of the Contest rules and culture than 90% of the entrants. Many of them have no clue about the Contest's formatting preferences. If it's readable and consistent (they say some manuscripts have formats that shift randomly), it won't be automatically rejected.

@martin-l-shoemaker Thank you for your points. According to Shunn: Still, you should always check a market’s
submission guidelines before sending your work. If their rules differ from these, follow theirs.

Since the "market" is WotF and section of 6 of the contest rules states: Electronic submissions will separately include the author’s legal name, pen name if applicable, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and approximate word count.

Then according to both Shunn and the contest rules, do not include a statement of word count in the manuscript. Right?

@pspasovnexicom-net My understanding is that WotF requirements are essentially the same, however, the Shunn format calls for all the identifiable information to be on the first page of the manuscript.  WotF wants to take all that identifiable info and place it somewhere in the body of the email, not in the attached document file (manuscript).  wc probably isn't all that important to WotF because the software the readers are using probably already count pages and words.

Posted by: @babooher

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Weird. I finished my story that I believe will be my entry for Q2, and yet it isn't even March, let alone 11:59 pm on the 31st. What is happening? Gonna let my writing group look at it tonight, and then I'll get started on Q3, I guess.

Wow! Nice work! I'm still zero drafting! LOL

Posted by: @pspasovnexicom-net

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@martin-l-shoemaker Thank you for your points. According to Shunn: Still, you should always check a market’s
submission guidelines before sending your work. If their rules differ from these, follow theirs.

Since the "market" is WotF and section of 6 of the contest rules states: Electronic submissions will separately include the author’s legal name, pen name if applicable, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and approximate word count.

Then according to both Shunn and the contest rules, do not include a statement of word count in the manuscript. Right?

Word count is not required, but slush readers report that sometimes it’s helpful. It’s your call.

Submitted! Now to finish writing Q3's story.

@crlisle I'm new to the forums and have been reading through a lot. Can you tell me what the letters next to your WotF subs mean? HM=honorable mention I assume (congrats!). Is R rejected and RWC rejected with comments? 

Thank you! Also, nice work having Q2 submitted already!

Posted by: @bookkerri

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@crlisle I'm new to the forums and have been reading through a lot. Can you tell me what the letters next to your WotF subs mean? HM=honorable mention I assume (congrats!). Is R rejected and RWC rejected with comments? 

Thank you! Also, nice work having Q2 submitted already!

That's right. Plus SHM is silver honourable mention, SF is semi finalist and F is finalist. 

@bookkerri thank you! Welcome to the Forum! Lots of nice folk and help here. Pending means that I have submitted, but it hasn't been judged yet. WIP means work in progress. I just updated my signature.

I think it's so funny that we are all working towards getting an "F". 😆 

Are there any stats related to % of entries receiving HM, SF, etc.? I see lots of HMs in your post signatures, which is great!

I'm new here -- this is my first post, other than my intro -- and I'm looking forward to jumping in (and hopefully submitting every quarter!).

Finalists are always 8 per quarter. No more, no less.

Semifinalists are when there are more than 8 worthy of being Finalists, but Jody only gets to choose 8. The rest are Semifinalists, a handful at most per quarter.

Silver Honorable Mention are really good, but in some way fall short of winner quality. A few per quarter.

Honorable Mention was good enough for Jody to finish, even if she doesn't think it's ready for publishing. It did something right, but not enough. These make up roughly 10% of all entries.

Rejection With Comment means your story failed in one of several specific ways (I think I counted 16), but might be worth considering if it weren't for that. Note that this means failure for this market, and might be fine in another market. I have no estimate for the count of these.

Disqualified means your story cannot be considered for some reason. By far the most common is including your name in the story. Do not include your name. The Contest must be kept anonymous.

(@stricklandia) One of the best ways to get a feel for what wins the contest is to take the free online workshop Michael. 

Good luck to you.

@storysinger Thank you -- yes, I'm about halfway through the workshop, and I also bought the package of past volumes of WOTF books and have started reading them.

@hyperion88

Ok so now if Q1 has been taken care of or selections made, then when will the list be put out ?

I just entered already for Q2 and am in the planning stages for Q3. But still waiting for the results of Q1. Thanks.

@jose77sanchez last year Q1 results came out April 11th.

That was a typical year.

Some years are different but not by much unless something significant happens to delay the contest

I'm curious about the total number of entries sent in each quarter. Would it be possible for that information to be shared with us in this forum?

@stricklandia I'm still reading through some of the "past volumes of WOTF books." There is a wide range of topics and styles, even a 2nd person POV. 

@emlouviere The precise # of entries is not released. However, you might extrapolate the HMs and SHMs being 10 - 20% of all entries received.

For my part I never looked at the total because there's more Returns than not. What I mean is, if there's 400 good/great stories, that's the number to beat. Not the total total. And there's three winners, so it's 8/400 for finalist, and 3/400 for the win. That's good odds.

Ultimately it's: Write the best story you can this quarter and submit.
Then repeat until you win or pro out.  

@tj_knight lies, damned lies, and statistics 🤣 

Everything Dustin says is true - and I am as guilty as any trying to figure this kind of data out. I would add that what I came to conclude is that knowing the numbers doesn't actually give you any information that's going to change your outcome, or equip you to do better in the competition. However, focusing on creating your best work will.

So these days my approach is: Focus on words, not numbers, as those are what will make you win.

Before the LTUE conference, I was debating on whether to submit or not. But, after meeting some of my writing group, wulfpack, and going to the WotF sessions, I decided to give it another go like the heros in my story. I may be a little late to writing a fresh story, but I'll get there.

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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So these days my approach is: Focus on words, not numbers, as those are what will make you win.

Great advice Gideon. For me just telling a story is satisfying. The less one stresses, the more enjoyable the process.

My Q1 entry was my shortest for ages. Just finished my Q2 entry, it's my longest for ages. Perhaps that reduces its chances, but hey, i've enjoyed writing it.

Well I've submitted my Q2 submission! It is done.