Discussion: Q3 Volume 38

Posted by: @earthkeeper78

@craydimensional 

I can definitely understand that. It's a lot of writing to read through. I'm about 1000 words into my Q1 right now, and looking to try infusing a little humor into the story. Well, as much humor as you can put into a story with a haunted building...

Just because the building is haunted, doesn’t mean it can’t have a sense of humor. I can see haunted buildings having a wonderfully dark perspective on practical jokes. 

@lost_bard 

Oh I'm well aware of that. In fact, I chose the premise I did for this story simply because I've heard a few people in my writing groups say that they like to read humorous tales with a supernatural air to it. I'm hoping to have the first draft done before the 15th so I can do my first round of edits. Then I can have my betas give it a check to see what areas need shoring up.

Posted by: @doctorjest

When I first entered, there was a sweeping period of people receiving rejections early...

I would be happy to get ANYTHING early. It's about to be 150 days my story was sat on before being rejected.  

Posted by: @angelslayah

Posted by: @doctorjest

When I first entered, there was a sweeping period of people receiving rejections early...

I would be happy to get ANYTHING early. It's abut to be 150 days my story was sat on before being rejected.  

My longest window from entering to receiving a response was 158 days. I'm guessing I submitted early in the quarter for that one...

Just wanted you all to know that the Q3 judging is getting close. I thing about another week or so from that I can tell. The Awards gala event in the middle of the judging as well as the new portal system added some extra time, but I assure you all of the stories are still there and going through the judging process. 

We will post the blog as soon as we have them... Sorry to keep everyone waiting so long.

By the way you can see the Awards event on the hope page of the website, it was spectacular and so nice after not doing one last year to have an event.

Jason

Posted by: @jeschleicher

I got a call from Hollywood yesterday...Hollywood, Florida. That spam call got my heart racing.  

Ha! I grew up right next to Hollywood, FL—fun! 😀

~A.

Years ago, because of things *waves hand vaguely* that occasionally occurred when subbing on the very last day, I became a silly superstitious creature and began to always submit on the day before the due date.

I also wanted all the time possible to sit on the story and let it breathe, then give it one last look over with fresh eyes. Caught a lot of typos and dumb mistakes doing that. So, again, I always sub on the day before the due date.

Keeping that in mind, the longest wait I've ever had for results is 155 days, and that was back in 2016.

As of Nov 2nd my wait for Q3 has been 125 days (subbed on June 30) ... sooooo ... how's that for feeding the twitch monster—LOL  

Honestly, I like the wait. It's a bit like Schrodinger's cat. Anything can happen in this waiting space. I am the next winner and am just waiting for that phone call, or I am going to get an R and lament for a bit before I get back to writing.

It reminds of that line from Willy Wonka...

Anyway, keep on believing, ya'll! ♥

~A.

Posted by: @doctorjest

Posted by: @angelslayah

Posted by: @doctorjest

When I first entered, there was a sweeping period of people receiving rejections early...

I would be happy to get ANYTHING early. It's abut to be 150 days my story was sat on before being rejected.  

My longest window from entering to receiving a response was 158 days. I'm guessing I submitted early in the quarter for that one...

Mine's 182 days. Was the famous Q1 V.29. My first post finalist entry. I spent six months perfecting it before submitting: Flat R. That was a Hindenburg deflation.

Posted by: @axeminister

Mine's 182 days. Was the famous Q1 V.29. My first post finalist entry. I spent six months perfecting it before submitting: Flat R. That was a Hindenburg deflation.

 

Dude, I completely understand! My post Finalist entry was G-U-T-T-I-N-G. 

*fist bump*

~A.

Posted by: @axeminister

Posted by: @doctorjest

Posted by: @angelslayah

Posted by: @doctorjest

When I first entered, there was a sweeping period of people receiving rejections early...

I would be happy to get ANYTHING early. It's abut to be 150 days my story was sat on before being rejected.  

My longest window from entering to receiving a response was 158 days. I'm guessing I submitted early in the quarter for that one...

Mine's 182 days. Was the famous Q1 V.29. My first post finalist entry. I spent six months perfecting it before submitting: Flat R. That was a Hindenburg deflation.

 

I got an R the quarter after my first Finalist entry, too. It's devastating, but honestly, an R doesn't mean the story is bad--just that the opening didn't hook the way we wanted it to.

@jason Thank you. I appreciate the update.

No e-mail overnight.

But... Today is Thursday.

Posted by: @aliciacay

Posted by: @sinsyne

You know, this might be a fun enough forum game. Describe a WotF story you enjoyed, and the others have to track it down. Probably best placed in the Kitchen Sink section.

I mean ... ngl ... that sounds awesome!

I'll head over to kitchen sink and start a thread up over there asking about a different story. I'm going to keep it the 30's volumes, only because I know those are the ones everyone mostly has.

A little treasure hunt, ya'll! ♥

 

~A.

 

Well, guess I was faster than you ^^ Here it is.

Posted by: @sinsyne

Well, guess I was faster than you ^^ Here it is.

 

Oh, you're awesome, thank you! I got distracted by shiny objects and sock puppets (sorry!).

~~scampers over to the kitchen sink~~

Thank you, @sinsyne! ♥

~A.

@aliciacay 

I understand that feeling all too well. I'm way too easily distracted by fuzzy things. I have what I like to call ADOK. Attention Deficit...Ohh Kitty!

Thanks for the update, Jason.

How interesting that a number of people wrote a Finalist story, and then got a R on their next attempt. Fascinating.

Posted by: @scott_m_sands

Thanks for the update, Jason.

How interesting that a number of people wrote a Finalist story, and then got a R on their next attempt. Fascinating.

One of the reasons I chose this contest to hone in skills with is the fact that it is anonymous. Each story stands on its own. I like that.

@craydimensional 
Definitely. And this kind of thing shows the judges do what they say. 
Looking at several of the writers who have been finalists, I also note that they have many F, SF, SHM and HMs. Their finalist stories weren't 'flukes', they regularly turn in great stories. 

Posted by: @scott_m_sands

@craydimensional 
Definitely. And this kind of thing shows the judges do what they say. 
Looking at several of the writers who have been finalists, I also note that they have many F, SF, SHM and HMs. Their finalist stories weren't 'flukes', they regularly turn in great stories. 

True. You can also note in their signatures that most worked their way up to finalist, and their eventual wins. The more we write, the better we get. It’s what that million words saying is really talking about. You can’t master a skill just by talking about it. You have to do the work. You have to practice your craft.

Another great gift of this Contest—setting a goal of writing fresh stories each quarter to submit to the Contest forces you to write. When you commit to submitting each quarter and meet your goals, things really start to change for most. That’s because we learn from every story we write.

May fortune favor the brave … and the diligent!

Posted by: @scott_m_sands

Thanks for the update, Jason.

How interesting that a number of people wrote a Finalist story, and then got a R on their next attempt. Fascinating.

I can't speak for everyone, but in my case it was probably at least partly the fact that I opened my story with a character using healing magic, because either that quarter or the next Dave posted a tip that mentioned he dislikes healing magic strongly. XD (The beginning was also probably too slow when I sent it to WotF--I got real experimental with that story at first because my brain wanted to fit a novel's worth of story into a short. That, uh, doesn't tend to work. Once I simplified it, it sold elsewhere.)

@disgruntledpeony

I have that same issue with some of my work. I want to fit so much information into the story, when there isn't anywhere near enough space to put all of it. It tends to end up like those overfilled closets where, the moment you open the door, everything buries you like an avalanche. 

@disgruntledpeony I'm just glad you can enjoy this twitching party with us without twitching yourself this quarter. I'm passing around some lattes as I hide under blanket fort and try my stylus on Sci Fi. Twitching to start back up on Tues.

Posted by: @disgruntledpeony

my brain wanted to fit a novel's worth of story into a short. That, uh, doesn't tend to work

Ha, ha, ha, Disgruntled. I've already done this on MANY occasions. I'll be writing, a few chapters in (or sometimes right to the end of the story) with some nice background/history, secondary and tertiary characters, sub plots ...

Then I read it and it's like, "Maaaaaan. No way this is gonna fit nicely into 7000w." And it's goes into the novel folder. Still, I've had a few wonderful novel ideas this way. 

If y’all were curious, staring at your phone has no effect to whether Joni calls or not. Though it does cause minor concern with your significant other.  

@disgruntledpeony I thought you won the contest already. 

@jeschleicher That's some major league twitching! Hopefully your phone will ring at some point with good news,

@physa Thanks! The same for your phone! 

Posted by: @corbin-maxwell

@disgruntledpeony I thought you won the contest already. 

She did. She's offering moral support for the rest of us twitchers. What dedication.

@jeschleicher Here goes the rushing to the phone to pick up robo calls. Honestly though, I am expecting an email. I am just hoping for HM this quater.

Posted by: @corbin-maxwell

@disgruntledpeony I thought you won the contest already. 

I won last quarter, yeah, but I've got a lot of people I'm rooting for (more than can possibly win in any one quarter, sadly), and also I empathize pretty heavily with the twitching, so I like to help where I can.