Discussion: Q2 Volume 42

Have any SFs heard yet? Because my inbox is still quiet, despite me checking it every 30 seconds or so. Wondering if that means SF is a possibility, or HM emails still going out, or if mine is lost in the slush (too soon for me to bother them by asking).

Posted by: @stricklandia

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Have any SFs heard yet? Because my inbox is still quiet, despite me checking it every 30 seconds or so. Wondering if that means SF is a possibility, or HM emails still going out, or if mine is lost in the slush (too soon for me to bother them by asking).

Congrats to all that got an award! 
I thought I was on a roll and consistent with my writing.... and then ..... this story just didn't quite work for them. Ouch. Oh well, we all have to take some rejections at some point. And don't take for granted the Honorable Mentions You did good!

Now to re-work and resubmit. 

@stricklandia same. No results. Lots of checking

@laselby I got a call from Joni a short time ago that I'm a Finalist! I hope that's also the reason you haven't heard yet!

@stricklandia Congrats! That must feel really good! Relish in it

@stricklandia congrats! 

I guess either you didn't pick up to the first call, or they got out of order doing things early this quarter. Either way, fantastic news!  

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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@stricklandia congrats! 

I guess either you didn't pick up to the first call, or they got out of order doing things early this quarter. Either way, fantastic news!  

Apparently they're out of order due to being behind this quarter (which is also why I'm allowed to share my news now).

Posted by: @stricklandia

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@laselby I got a call from Joni a short time ago that I'm a Finalist! I hope that's also the reason you haven't heard yet!

@stricklandia, Big Congrats!! Enjoy it and best of luck!!

Posted by: @kent

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Though it may feel like it in the depths of rejection, no one is alone in the writing world. You are not alone. Take advantage of every opportunity you have to help others and help yourself. Continue your work because the world needs you. We need you

Over the years I've done far more crits than I've received here and in Scribophile, but I've gradually been doing less writing and crits

This time I helped KWQ with his entry, and got him to look at mine which I'd already submitted - to see in advance why it would get R or RWC. He was mainly positive and identified nothing that shouted RWC.

Thanks anyway.

Posted by: @stricklandia

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@laselby I got a call from Joni a short time ago that I'm a Finalist! I hope that's also the reason you haven't heard yet!

That's awesome! Congratulations! 

Posted by: @stricklandia

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Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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@stricklandia congrats! 

I guess either you didn't pick up to the first call, or they got out of order doing things early this quarter. Either way, fantastic news!  

Apparently they're out of order due to being behind this quarter (which is also why I'm allowed to share my news now).

 

Posted by: @time

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Posted by: @kent

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Though it may feel like it in the depths of rejection, no one is alone in the writing world. You are not alone. Take advantage of every opportunity you have to help others and help yourself. Continue your work because the world needs you. We need you

Over the years I've done far more crits than I've received here and in Scribophile, but I've gradually been doing less writing and crits

This time I helped KWQ with his entry, and got him to look at mine which I'd already submitted - to see in advance why it would get R or RWC. He was mainly positive and identified nothing that shouted RWC.

Thanks anyway.

All I can figure is that your writing is growing in a different direction from WOTF as a market. I've read some of your stories and you are a top-notch writer. And you've definitely helped me in the past to improve my story writing craft and break into the HM barrier. I've been analyzing the stories that have made it into the recent anthologies and there is a definite shift in what they seem to be looking for. It's a whole different team of first readers and coordinating judge. I think that it's hard to adjust sometimes. Anyway, don't be discouraged. Believe in your stories and your writing. Sending you hugs and positive writing energy.

@stricklandia Congrats

@physa 

Thanks Amy

@gideonpsmith Thanks for the support. It is at least nice to have folks who understand the ups and downs...

Well, I'm officially stupid. I decided to take a look at my story and see if I could work out what was wrong with it and... I didn't double-space. I screwed up the formatting, and I wonder if that was a big reason. Since the story I've been working on for the next quarter is definitely not going to be ready by midnight, I just resubmitted this one. If it gets another RWC, then I'll know for sure the issues run deeper than my own stupid mistakes.

@morgan-broadhead  Yup. I feel the same way. Sometimes you just feel rundown and burned out from entering constantly and getting nowhere. I think that the W&IOTF should value and keep us in mind more- especially when you've been a contest participant for many years. NOT just give the prize away to just anybody but at least recognize our hard work and show us a little more recognition from time to time. A tiny bit more of incentive would be nice.  Don't you think ?

@gideonpsmith  You make a really good point about "the mental happiness scenario" and letting things just naturally happen BUT I only have one quib with that. How do you absolutely know that the date of selection changes every year ? Are there actual facts that can substantiate that theory ?

And, maybe its also part whim and luck that the judging keeps getting moved around like that ? Besides the fact that people have lives and they are busy. I get it. I also am usually very busy too. Im just saying that there should be a more 'stable' selection process because yeah I may not think about it too much and the results will eventually come out, but artwork is WORK and It doesnt come easy either so Im just expressing my feelings about it. 

@jose77sanchez I understand the sentiment Jose - I would love to win this -  but I guess I don't really feel that way (that I should win or get special consideration just for being here)

For one - the forum is about the competition, but its not the competition itself. There are plenty of people who enter and never even know about this forum. I don't think they should be penalized because they lack that knowledge, or maybe the resources, time or ability to interact here. Its a competition of writing. If they can do that well, they deserve to win.

Second, I think everything I send out is great. (well, not really 'great' but if I didnt think it could win, I wouldn't be entering it.) At least I do when I hit 'submit'. Some of those pieces I have since reread and decided maybe they weren't quite so good as I thought. And I've trunked them. The advantage of being judged purely on the skill and delivery is that - these pieces will form a permanent part of the published anthology and as such a long term representation of my art/work. I only want the very best of that out there. Being judged purely on its merits therefore is a safety against having a dull piece selected just because I've entered a lot of times. 

It does sting when people who appear less experienced or haven't 'put in their time' win. But there is an element of luck here. Hitting the right story or theme at the right time. Connecting with the right judge. Thats true of all markets. And while that person may seem new to us, we don't know anything about their journey. our writing skills are the sum of all our writing and reading over a lifetime. So maybe they did other hard graft elsewhere that got them there. Either way, I remain happy for them, and happy to be judged purely on merits of my piece

Posted by: @jose77sanchez

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@gideonpsmith  You make a really good point about "the mental happiness scenario" and letting things just naturally happen BUT I only have one quib with that. How do you absolutely know that the date of selection changes every year ? Are there actual facts that can substantiate that theory ?

And, maybe its also part whim and luck that the judging keeps getting moved around like that ? Besides the fact that people have lives and they are busy. I get it. I also am usually very busy too. Im just saying that there should be a more 'stable' selection process because yeah I may not think about it too much and the results will eventually come out, but artwork is WORK and It doesnt come easy either so Im just expressing my feelings about it. 

I have no deep insight to the operations of the competition but the announcement date changes every year, and I suspect thats due to changes in the decision timeline. The former is certain (both from my own experience or looking at things like submission grinder or duotrope). 

I agree that having a specific date results would be released would make things easier in some ways. But I don't know any market that I submit to that does that. And here they use different judges in different quarters and I am certain that 'things come up' and some of them are also probably just less date-sensitive/reliable in meeting a deadline than others. So I understand your desire, and I relate to it, but I'm afraid I don't think its likely to happen. I do think many of the people that work on this competition work very hard and people like Joni Labaqui and Jason Toth have always been kind and responsive when I have asked questions. Judges and slushers have done extra online zooms for us trying to help. So I do think everyone does their best

@jose77sanchez What I really love about this contest is that it's totally anonymous, which helps lessen the sting a bit. If my stories aren't progressing, it's because of the stories themselves and has nothing to do with me personally. It does make me face myself though as a writer and ask where I might still be lacking. Obviously I still have some growing to do.

WOTF is just one short story market among many out there. I've been rejected enough by the markets to have grown some fairly thick skin, so I don't feel the need for any kind of special recognition or treatment just for trying. With each rejection, I keep reminding myself the work is its own reward, or at least it should be.

How much we write, how well we write, how much we enjoy it — those are the only things we control as writers. Once a story lands in someone else's hands, it doesn't belong to us anymore, and other people are free to do whatever they like with it. Rejection definitely sucks and often stings for a while, but it's all part of the process; it's what we signed up for when we decided to become writers and put our work out there. It's painful, but it's also the bravest thing we can do.

You make sense in your introspection. Merit should be rewarded on the work itself and not the sole creator. But, what when you REALLY send in your very, very best and absolutely nothing happens ? THAT hurts and (if you're human) can be quite frustrating. So, I understand everything that you said but at the same time, I don't agree that because someone else doesn't see the "magic" or "merits" in your best work, that that should be the final and absolute word. I have been praised for artwork of mine that for me completely sucks but then for other stuff of mine that I consider EPIC, no one else (other judges) see it the same way. So, sometimes it can feel like no matter what you do or go the extra mile, it's never enough. And then others selected, just seem to drop in from the sky.

I have been at this since 1998, and last year another artist with my exact same name won. AND I'd never, ever saw his name in any previous results and I've been here for a long, long time. I have tried other contests but most of them charge you an entry fee and it's usually hefty. From my experience, no less than $30-$40. That's part of the reason why I stay the course plus the fact that I'm a very persistent and positive individual. But, unless you are made of stone or live in an alternate universe-these experiences can hurt.

@jose77sanchez Hey Jose, I'm sorry if it sounded like this contest doesn't hurt sometimes - it absolutely does. I also hurt from rejections from submissions elsewhere. I think a lot of what I say - things like don't think about when the results are coming - are exactly because there is a huge emotional investment in the results and building them up and thinking about when they will come, for me, just makes me more anxious, and the let down even worse. 

I don't have wise words. As Morgan said - 'rejection definitely sucks and often stings for a while", A sentiment I echo. So you are definitely not alone. Thats whats good about here as we are all in it together

While not my original thought, I think it's always valuable to think of rejections in terms of the market, not in terms of our abilities or talents. You might send one of the best stories of the year, but if it's not what a particular editor is looking for at that time (whether the theme doesn't connect with their preferences, or they might have just bought a similar story, or any number of other reasons), then it'll be a rejection. Doesn't mean your story isn't great or that you're not a great writer. That's why I immediately resubmit rejected stories to other markets when rejections come in—and you should too.

The same is true for this contest—they're generally looking for "good" SF and fantasy stories, but they still have preferences for what they believe "fits" the contest/anthology. So there are any number of reasons why an otherwise "good" story might be rejected here also. 

As for timing of results every quarter, keep in mind that the same staff running the contest also manages the workshop (spring) and the anthology publication (winter). I assume that's why there is some inconsistency with the timing.

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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Posted by: @jose77sanchez

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@gideonpsmith  You make a really good point about "the mental happiness scenario" and letting things just naturally happen BUT I only have one quib with that. How do you absolutely know that the date of selection changes every year ? Are there actual facts that can substantiate that theory ?

And, maybe its also part whim and luck that the judging keeps getting moved around like that ? Besides the fact that people have lives and they are busy. I get it. I also am usually very busy too. Im just saying that there should be a more 'stable' selection process because yeah I may not think about it too much and the results will eventually come out, but artwork is WORK and It doesnt come easy either so Im just expressing my feelings about it. 

 

I have no deep insight to the operations of the competition but the announcement date changes every year, and I suspect thats due to changes in the decision timeline. The former is certain (both from my own experience or looking at things like submission grinder or duotrope). 

I agree that having a specific date results would be released would make things easier in some ways. But I don't know any market that I submit to that does that. And here they use different judges in different quarters and I am certain that 'things come up' and some of them are also probably just less date-sensitive/reliable in meeting a deadline than others. So I understand your desire, and I relate to it, but I'm afraid I don't think its likely to happen. I do think many of the people that work on this competition work very hard and people like Joni Labaqui and Jason Toth have always been kind and responsive when I have asked questions. Judges and slushers have done extra online zooms for us trying to help. So I do think everyone does their best

 

 

The number of entries varies significantly from one quarter to the next, rendering set announcement dates unlikely and perhaps impossible. WOTF is a writing lottery. Submit often and change your storytelling approach each time to increase your chances of winning.

I got Finalist whoo hoooooo!!! 

Time to write the next story!!!

Love it <3    

@laselby congrats!  

Also, don't miss out on this chance to use the Finalist emoji (click on the smily in the bottom right of the box and find you flag!)

I got Finalist! This is now my third finalist with no win and I shall try not to have a big cry about it. It's a big achievement for me either way onto the next one we go.

And a huge congrats to the winners! 

@gideonpsmith thank you great idea and done!