Submission windows:
Q1: October 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Q2: January 1, 2025 - March 31, 2025
Q3: April 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025
Q4: July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025
Q2 of Volume 42 shall be the Ultimate quarter in the Ultimate volume in the Universe.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
Four months from now Q2 will close, the stories will be in, and there will be three winners going to Hollywood.
I'd love to see all three come from here.
Does that make me selfish and greedy? Yup!
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
Four months from now Q2 will close, the stories will be in, and there will be three winners going to Hollywood.
I'd love to see all three come from here.
Does that make me selfish and greedy? Yup!![]()
100% agree! Just can't believe it's Q2 V42 thread time 😧
How is time passing this quick???
"...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
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
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:
2025: 19 submitted 0 acceptances
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
Already? Wow. I better get going on my Q1 story. Augh!
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: Submitted, 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 have a flash-fiction piece that I've teed up to be my Q2, but it is in severe need of story flesh. I'll certainly have some work to do.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Pending: Q1.V42, Q2.V42 / Q3.V42 in limbo while I work on other things...
Fighting with an 8600-word story right now, and my previous longest was 6800. Executing the 10% Solution is painful with 5000 words. This is excruciating. But it might be good. Just don't ask after I've finished.
V38: HM, R, R, HM
V39: RWC, HM, RWC, HM
V40: RWC, HM, SHM, R
V41: R, RWC, R, R
V42: P, WIP
Onward to QTR2 brainstorming.
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.
Onward to QTR2 brainstorming.
I can't agree more! I need to start Q2 brainstorming too. Onward!
~ I honestly believe that good stories write themselves. You can always start writing a story, but the characters tell their own tales and if you're lucky enough, you get to merely be in the audience watching everything unfold. ~ 8/1/2022
***
WotF - 2022, V39 Q4: R
WotF - 2022/2023, V40 Q1: HM; Q2: HM; Q3: HM; Q4:HM
WoTF - 2025, V42 Q1: P
The submission portal for Q2 is now open! This is cycle 42B (Volume 42, 2nd quarter). Good luck to everyone!
In other words, it's groundhog day 🤣
"...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
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
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:
2025: 19 submitted 0 acceptances
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
Editing and rewriting my first submission. I know there's a good story in there, but I wrote it so quickly the first time that it didn't get a proper editing or even proofreading. I moved on to my next story for the next quarter so that I could go back with fresh eyes later regarding that first one. That second story sucked. Interesting concept, but I didn't have much faith in it. It was too long too... nerdy? Is that the word I'm looking for? I don't know, but the first one I had a stronger gut instinct about, so that's the one I decide to work on.
I had an idea for a Q2 story about 2 months ago and had started writing it. The beginning went well. The ending fine. But the middle was a messy morass. Even I couldn't find writing it exciting and it was my story, so I couldn't imagine anyone reading it would. So my writing on it stalled. After a few attempts to re-start that project I think I have shelved it for now, and started instead on a different from scratch story. Here's hoping this one doesn't stall out too!
"...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
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
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:
2025: 19 submitted 0 acceptances
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
^ Probably a good call. Step away, take a look, wait to be called back. If not, put your energy toward something new.
I started and stalled two novels last year, at last settling in on a third. They're still there if I get a spark, if not, like you, I'll come up with something entirely new.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
I have the meat and bones of a short story that I wrote the majority of over Christmas break, though I will have to make a few passes through it to remove any stray references to other IPs I may have left in there. I also have another idea for a story that is entirely original, with an outline for some of its plot progression already, though it needs more work on figuring out the full flow of events before I can start writing.
If I end up feeling ambitious and write out the second plot idea I will commit with it. If not, which may be possible given the responsibilities I have, I will fall back to the draft I already have.
So how does the FTL drive work?
Splendidly.
- exchange between a layperson and a Martian High-Energy Physics fabricator
@tj_knight so my latest q2 also stalled out. clearly this is a *me* issue not a *story* issue right now.
I did push this latest one all the way to the end of the first draft (ish) so we'll see if its rescuable in edits or if it really is time to start a third q2 effort!
"...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
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
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:
2025: 19 submitted 0 acceptances
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
I've drafted up a fairly unexpected Q2, but it's reached a conclusion, and is ready for edits. Not typical fare for my entries, and I'm not going to run it through my usual checks and balances, as I really don't want to do too much to change its shape. But it does need some spit and polish before it'll be ready for prime-time, so to speak, and that's going to be next on my radar for this week. My goal is to polish, dust off, and sub before the end of January, after which will come the final stretch of novel outlining--and that, and the subsequent writing of said novel, I plan to stick with until late Q3, with a view to any third-quarter entry being drafted quick and submitted late in that window.
That's the plan, anyway. We shall see how well it holds up against the relentless press of reality...
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Pending: Q1.V42, Q2.V42 / Q3.V42 in limbo while I work on other things...
I've drafted up a fairly unexpected Q2, but it's reached a conclusion, and is ready for edits. Not typical fare for my entries, and I'm not going to run it through my usual checks and balances, as I really don't want to do too much to change its shape. But it does need some spit and polish before it'll be ready for prime-time, so to speak, and that's going to be next on my radar for this week. My goal is to polish, dust off, and sub before the end of January, after which will come the final stretch of novel outlining--and that, and the subsequent writing of said novel, I plan to stick with until late Q3, with a view to any third-quarter entry being drafted quick and submitted late in that window.
That's the plan, anyway. We shall see how well it holds up against the relentless press of reality...
But Q3 won't be necessary when you win Q2 or Q1
"...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
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
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:
2025: 19 submitted 0 acceptances
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
@gideonpsmith Same boat for me. I have first scene and most of last scene done, but the middle is giving me trouble.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: Submitted, 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--
But Q3 won't be necessary when you win Q2 or Q1
![]()
Love the optimism.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: Submitted, 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--
Edited, polished, and submitted, leaning into the raw just a little, but with some polish and changes to tighten and improve things in places. So, I guess my by the end of January goal is safe, even if the rest is still potentially suspect...
Definitely would have flunked some checklist checks, but hey, so what? I like it just how it is. Sometimes, you've just gotta ignore those railroad tracks.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Pending: Q1.V42, Q2.V42 / Q3.V42 in limbo while I work on other things...
@doctorjest go, go, go you!
I wish I felt confident in my stories right now to call them 'done'
Also, every time I see the profile pic I think the cat is a snowy Santa beard!
"...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
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
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:
2025: 19 submitted 0 acceptances
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
Hmm, she does look somewhat like a beard, now that you mention it...
About the stories, though--sometimes, I just bite the bullet on something that I like, keep my edit cycle short, and roll with it as quickly as I dare, trusting that I'm doing the story its best service by trying to preserve as much of its raw quality as I can. Not every story feels like it will work that way, but sometimes, I get the feeling that what I like most about the story is something that's in that early state, and that I risk losing it entirely if I go too deep into editing and revisions (not a groundless fear--I have killed stories by doing this before).
Some stories definitely don't suit that approach, though. It really does depend on the particular tale.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Pending: Q1.V42, Q2.V42 / Q3.V42 in limbo while I work on other things...
I am working on the first draft of a second story. I hit a block on the first story that I have not been able to overcome.
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.