I finally finished my story. I had a beginning and an ending, but the middle left me puzzled for weeks. I knew what I wanted to happen, I just couldn't make it happen. Now that it's finished, I'm in the 'change the to a' stage. How do you all shut off the editor and let go?
Write without fear.
Edit without mercy.
......................................................................................................................
V38 1Q NA 2Q SHM 3Q R 4Q HM
V39 1Q NA 2Q SHM 3Q HM 4Q RWC
V40 1Q SHM 2Q SHM 3Q SHM 4Q HM
V41 1Q TBD
@sandy If you're confident you've corrected any grammatical or spelling errors, just give it a quick read and only change things that strike you as wrong or awkward. If you read it too closely once you have it substantively there, you're as likely to hurt the work as improve it.
That's my approach, anyway. Or you can just let the clock dictate to you - your choice! And best of luck!
(7) HM, (2) SHM
I finally finished my story. I had a beginning and an ending, but the middle left me puzzled for weeks. I knew what I wanted to happen, I just couldn't make it happen. Now that it's finished, I'm in the 'change the to a' stage. How do you all shut off the editor and let go?
When I get to a point where I'm telling myself, "You know what would really make this sentence pop? A freaking semi-colon, baby. Right there!"
Or I look at a word and spend ten minutes scouring my thesaurus.
Or I move a word up in the sentence, then back again, then no no no...back up again. No, back!
Then it's time to step away and just push the SUBMIT button.
"There are three rules to writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."
— W. Somerset Maugham
Drop me a line at https://morganbroadhead.com
SFx1
HMx6
R/RWCx6
@sandy when you get to the point you know you're just moving the deck chairs about, it's done.
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10
I'm in for Q3. Good luck everyone who has entered or is about to.
WOTF results:
Vol 42: Q1 SHM, Q2 SHM, Q3 RWC, Q4 P
running totals to date:
WOTF: 6 Rs, 4 RWCs, 8 HMs, 2 SHMs
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
I'm in for Q3. May the best story be written by forumites, 
fingers crossed anyway.
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships
I finally finished my story. I had a beginning and an ending, but the middle left me puzzled for weeks. I knew what I wanted to happen, I just couldn't make it happen. Now that it's finished, I'm in the 'change the to a' stage. How do you all shut off the editor and let go?
Mostly, I shut off the editor by moving on to the next new writing.
Write so long as words keep flowing...
http://www.DocHonourBooks.com
WotF: 16 submissions, every quarter since V38
SFx1; HMx7; RWCx6
FWA RPLA: 1st place Gold story (2022); 1st place Gold novel (2023)
Despite my insistence that I'll wait until the very last minute to submit, I'm now officially IN for Q3!
Ha, Morgan! Got you beat by a day
And now mine is in also. And it occurs to me, Morgan, that we don't really want to create a competition to be last to submit. I can too easily picture waiting until the VERY LAST MINUTE, and then accidentally watching the second hand tick past for a big oops.
Write so long as words keep flowing...
http://www.DocHonourBooks.com
WotF: 16 submissions, every quarter since V38
SFx1; HMx7; RWCx6
FWA RPLA: 1st place Gold story (2022); 1st place Gold novel (2023)
I'm in for Q3. Good luck to everyone here on the forums!
v37: Q3HM
v38: Q1R, Q2HM, Q3HM
v39: Q2HM, Q3HM, Q4HM
v40: Q1 In Progress
I'm available for critique exchanges via PM. Note: I will not be available for exchanges from 12/17/22-1/1/23.
& I'm in!
I'm proud of this one! It was one of my first submissions to WotF and earned an R. The story had promise. My abilities at the time just weren't up to snuff. I've learned a lot about the craft since and decided to go back and fix it up. Fingers crossed my efforts did the trick!
Many thanks to @ceciblack & @AliciaCay for their thoughtful critiques. You pushed me to craft a much better story.
Good luck, all!
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
For those finishing up entries, you can do it. But you might want to get back to work. 
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 8 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
Okay, I'm in for Q3. Phew!
Ceci Black
Writer, Musician
Free Album: Captains of Industry (vocals, lyrics, keys & occasional bass)
Composer: Will & Whit The Musical based on Laura Lee Gulledge’s young adult graphic novel, Will & Whit.
v38: HM,--,R,HM
v39: HM,SHM,SHM,F
in with almost 2 hours to spare...a new PR!
good luck everyone.
"Celebrate rejections, because rejections make you a working writer..." -Mur Lafferty
V38: SHM, R
V39: SHM, RWC, HM, HM
V40: —, HM, SHM
So, did everyone make it?
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10
I'm in with another last minute submission! Phew. Good luck, everyone!
V37: -, -, R, SHM
V38: R, SHM, HM, HM
V39: SHM, HM, HM, ?
I made it in around quittin' time EST yesterday.
Onward!
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
Phwew. Got my story in just under the wire last night. It's a rework of my story from Q1 that got the new rejected with comments category. I sped up the pace a little and got the story moving much sooner from the start. I threw in what I hope is a cool hook. Hopefully that does the trick! I need a nap.
Congratulations to everyone who submitted!
V34: R,HM,R
V35: HM,R,R,HM
V36: R,HM,HM,SHM
V37: HM,SF,SHM,SHM
V38: (P)F, SHM, F, F
V39: SHM, SHM, HM, SHM
Published Finalist Volume 38
Pro’d out Q4V39
www.rebeccaetreasure.com
Managing Editor, Apex Magazine
& I'm in!
I'm proud of this one! It was one of my first submissions to WotF and earned an R. The story had promise. My abilities at the time just weren't up to snuff. I've learned a lot about the craft since and decided to go back and fix it up. Fingers crossed my efforts did the trick!
Many thanks to @ceciblack & @AliciaCay for their thoughtful critiques. You pushed me to craft a much better story.
Good luck, all!
You are such a talented writer, John Eric. The absolute best of luck to you! 
~a.
V32: HM (Q4)
V33: HM, HM, SHM, HM
V34: R, R, HM, HM
V35: HM, HM, R, HM
V36: R, R, SHM, R
V37: SHM, FINALIST, HM, SHM
V38: SF, X, SHM, SHM
V39: SHM, tbd, tbd
https://aliciacay.com
I submitted to Q3 a few days ago, but forgot to check in here 
Beth Powers
-----
Silver HM x 6
HM x 24
Entries x 72
-----
Collected Stories:
Sorcery & Widgets
Runes & Rivets
I just realized I put the word count on my Q3 submission (top right of the first page). Is that a DQ?
V39: -- / SHM / SHM / RWC
V40: HM / SHM / SHM / SHM
V41: RWC / HM / SHM / --
V42: -- / SHM / P / WIP
A labor of love: www.starspunlit.org
My last two SHMs had the word count on.
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10
@writhmic Standard manuscript format requests word count. Identifying information would be a DQ.
V34: R,HM,R
V35: HM,R,R,HM
V36: R,HM,HM,SHM
V37: HM,SF,SHM,SHM
V38: (P)F, SHM, F, F
V39: SHM, SHM, HM, SHM
Published Finalist Volume 38
Pro’d out Q4V39
www.rebeccaetreasure.com
Managing Editor, Apex Magazine
I just realized I put the word count on my Q3 submission (top right of the first page). Is that a DQ?
Hello, word count on the manuscript is not a problem, in fact it is good to have this. Good luck with your story!
Ok phew. Thank you!
V39: -- / SHM / SHM / RWC
V40: HM / SHM / SHM / SHM
V41: RWC / HM / SHM / --
V42: -- / SHM / P / WIP
A labor of love: www.starspunlit.org
Now that results from Q2 have been announced, just wanted to get this post back in the spotlight. Hoping to hear results by Thanksgiving!
"There are three rules to writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."
— W. Somerset Maugham
Drop me a line at https://morganbroadhead.com
SFx1
HMx6
R/RWCx6
Now that results from Q2 have been announced, just wanted to get this post back in the spotlight. Hoping to hear results by Thanksgiving!
Well it is Thursday tomorrow ?
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10
Sadly, I don't have high hopes for my Q3.
Bowstring drawn, target Silver.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
My Q3 is an odd one for me. I really want it to do well--I think it's one of the better stories I've written and it's very different to most of the rest. But I'm not certain that it's a perfect Contest fit. That being said, it is entirely without any of the big fat no-no details that might get a story disqualified, which is a good thing at least...
I'll just cross my fingers and hope, same as usual. I have a lousy track record at guessing how well any story of mine will perform once it's been entered...
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:3 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
It's a wonder I got anything in for Q3 at all so at least no twitching for me when results are near at hand for this quarter.
V36:Q3 HM V37: Q3 R, Q4 SHM V38: R,HM, F, HM V39: HM, SHM, SHM, SHM V40: SF, RWC, ?
