And the winners are:
First Place – Lance Robinson from Canada
Second Place – Kalpana Mahendran from Malaysia
Third Place – Lisa Silverthorne from Nevada
Finalists:
Christopher Baxter from Utah
William Paul Jones from California
Kent Jones from Minnesota
KT Wagner from Canada
Mary Wilson from Kansas
Semi-Finalists:
Keshka Baron from California
Ezekiel James Boston from Nevada
Alexia Dilg from Virginia
Karissa Harlow from Arizona
Doc Honour from Florida
Eli Jones from Oregon
Irene Liang from Texas
Charley Marsh from Minnesota
Stephen Pimentel from California
J.H. Schiller from Ohio
Jonathan Worlde from West Virginia
Silver Honorable Mentions:
Ashley Agbay from Illinois
Michael Ainaire from New Hampshire
Django Mathijsen Ana Haen from Netherlands
J.D. Anthony from Texas
Andrew Armstrong from New York
Matt Athanasiou from Illinois
Stirling Avis from Oklahoma
Jen Bair from Wyoming
Rick Bennett from Utah
GL Bertram from Utah
James Blakey from Virginia
Daniel Blatt from California
T.E. Bradford from New York
Seth S. Bradford from Virginia
Madeline Byrne from Australia
R.C. Cadigan from California
Cody D. Campbell from Oregon
Jenny Perry Carr from Texas
Brandon Case from Nevada
Quiana Chase from Utah
Lauren Cipollo from California
Zaslow Crane from Washington
Jason P. Crawford from California
Kate Dane from Minnesota
James Davies from Maryland
G.L. Dearman from Florida
Fabien Delorme from France
Taskel Dillon from Sweden
Arthur M. Doweyko from Florida
P Dupree from South Africa
Daniel Elliot from California
Zary Fekete from Minnesota
Jenn Fir from California
Shannon Fox from California
J.J. Gilmore from California
Ian Gonzales from Washington
Hannah Greer from North Carolina
Alex Harford from Great Britain
Ross C. Higgins from Texas
Jennifer L. Hilty from Ohio
Morgan G. Howell from South Carolina
Drake Hughes from North Carolina
S.R. Jensen from Idaho
Erik Johnson from Vietnam
Anna Johnson from Great Britain
Zathara Jones from Nevada
Kristina Kelly from Indiana
Scott Kircher from Illinois
Bernardette Kowal from Iowa
Raj Kumar from Florida
Edward Latham from London
Darren Lipman from Wisconsin
Tonya Lippert from Oregon
Robert F. Lowell from California
Daniel Medrano from Wyoming
Don Miasek from Canada
LF Mills from Great Britain
Ashia Mirza from Great Britain
E.L. Montague from Texas
J. Needham from Canada
J. Autumn Needles from Washington
Jan Nerenberg from Oregon
Spencer Orey from Denmark
Willem Peters from Canada
Emilia Pulliainen from Finland
Michael Quinn from Maryland
Lee Rector from California
Trish Renee from Michigan
K.Z. Richards from Ohio
Glenn Rosado from Florida
Scott M. Sands from Australia
Ian Schutzman from California
L. A. Selby from Florida
Charles D. Shell from Virginia
Caliburn Shumake from Tennessee
Mary Shurtleff from Utah
Sandra Siegienski from Oregon
Michael Simon from Canada
Sandra Skalski from New Jersey
Kimberly Smiley from Mississippi
Gideon P. Smith from Massachusetts
Maria Steinmetz from Indiana
J K Stephens from Florida
Ramya Suresh from Washington
Sophia Tao from Washington
Annie Tupek from Oregon
Stephanie Turner from Canada
Jillian Wahlquist from California
Lea Waits from Georgia
Charles Walter from Arizona
J. Watt from Texas
Morgan Welch from Great Britain
Honorable Mentions:
J.J. Adamson from Colorado
Elaine Allen from Louisiana
Gregory Amato from Oregon
Shafali R. Anand from India
E.S.S. Archer from Canada
F. D. Artherhults from West Virginia
Karen Aschenbrenner from Wisconsin
Julia V. Ashley from Mississippi
Grace Ashley from Kansas
Robert Bagnall from Great Britain
Chris Balliet from Pennsylvania
Rachael Bates from Kentucky
Gary Battershell from Arkansas
Joe Benet from North Carolina
J.W. Benford from California
Ryan Benson from Georgia
A. Beral from California
P.D. Blake from Great Britain
Oliver Blakemore from Colorado
William Bleuel III from California
Seth Bohn from Washington
Victor Bondar from New Jersey
Deren Bott from Utah
Kody Boye from Texas
N.S. Bradford from New York
Bryan Brady from Pennsylvania
Sierra Branham from Utah
David Bridge from Great Britain
Michael D. Britton from Utah
Morgan Broadhead from Ohio
Gabriel Burch from Oklahoma
J. C. from New Jersey
C.J. Carter-Stephenson from Great Britain
Alicia Cay from Colorado
Sheila Chambers from Utah
Samuel Chapman from Oregon
Kelly Chen from Maryland
Jan Chu from Hong Kong
Megan Cicolello from Massachusetts
D.M. Cieran from Colorado
Gio Clairval from Italy
Derek Coller from Washington
Sarah Connell from North Carolina
Troy Cooper from Texas
Strattino Crenshaw from Utah
Adrian Croft from California
James D. Crofts III from Utah
Emily Crook from Utah
Sylvia Cumming from California
James Cummins from Georgia
Joseph Cusumano from Missouri
Claire Czotter from Massachusetts
Emily Dauvin from Canada
L.A. Davis from New Hampshire
Clinton De Young from Utah
Jason D. Dempsey from Florida
Victoria L. Dixon from Kanas
Zephyr Dorsey from Iowa
Shea K. Dunlop from Vermont
Frank Dutkiewicz from Michigan
Joshua Dyer from West Virginia
Bryce Easton from Kansas
Jenna Eatough from Utah
Anna Elicano-Shields from Great Britain
Angelique Fawns from Canada
Jonathan Fesmire from California
SL Field from Maryland
Jennifer Fleck from Washington
CL Fors from California
Tim Fox from Oregon
Joseph Friesen from Canada
Krispen Frost from Michigan
J.J. Galluzzo from Montana
J.R. Garnett from California
Shelley Gaske from Oregon
Russell Giles from Utah
Cara Giles from Utah
Nate Givens from Virginia
Ed Godbois from Massachusetts
Xavier Gray from Michigan
Peter Michael Gray from Great Britain
Josh Green from Australia
Madhu Guruprasad from California
A.C. Gustafson from Canada
Ivy Hamid from Virginia
Paul E. Harmon from Arizona
Samuel C. Hasler from Indiana
Gabriel Helleren from Australia
Christopher Henckel from New Zealand
Michelle Henrie from Utah
Joshua Henson from Virginia
Carlton Herzog from New Jersey
Benjamin Hewett from Texas
Bethany Hobbs from Iowa
Joshua Hollingsworth from Texas
Yuchen Hong from Singapore
Patrick Honovich from Illinois
Eloise Hopkinson from Great Britain
C. Zven Houck from California
Scott Howard from Virginia
David A. Hughes from Arkansas
Andrew Hughes from Arizona
Cathy Humble from Oregon
Marc Hyden from Wisconsin
J.J. Ingram from Great Britain
Seraphim Isper from Canada
Raven Jakubowski from New York
Lenore James from California
Hall Jameson from Washington
Philip Janowski from Michigan
Caleb Jennison from Kansas
R.A. Johnson from Pennsylvania
Mike Johnston from Canada
Sean Jones from Colorado
Taria Karillion from Great Britain
Angela Kayd from Massachusetts
Montgomery Kelly from Australia
J Scott King from Washington
Karen L. Kobylarz from Illinois
Danielle Krage from Great Britain
Norah Kratz from Alabama
Elizabeth Ku from Nevada
Michael La Ronn from Iowa
R.J.K. Lee from Japan
Jessica Li from California
Michelle Liggons from California
Karen A. Lin from California
Akis Linardos from Greece
C.H. Lindsay from Utah
Angel Lock from Great Britain
Charlie B. Lorch from France
Benson Lucero from Philippines
Chloe Macdonald from Utah
Cameron David Mack from Northern Ireland
Helena Hovsep Mahdessian from California
Mark Manifesto from California
Parker McIntosh from Oregon
I.J. McManis from Ohio
Gabriel Meek from Washington
Luna Meurke from Sweden
Devin Miller from North Carolina
Brighid Moret from Maryland
Stanley Morewood from Illinois
Albert Morrow from Missouri
Aaron Moskalik from Michigan
Jack Mulcahy from Pennsylvania
Jack Nash from Virginia
Eric Nihil from Louisiana
David North-Martino from Massachusetts
Riley Odell from Colorado
A.C. Oliphant from Utah
Rosie Oliver from Great Britain
John M. Olsen from Utah
S.L. Ortega from Texas
James Palmer from Georgia
Barbara Patten from Minnesota
Jackie Payson from Florida
Jacob Perez from California
Hayden Perno from Australia
C.J. Persson from Sweden
Dan Peyton from Michigan
Blake B. Phillippi from Montana
David S. Pittsenberger from Arizona
Scott Porter from Kansas
Gus Potter from California
Kathleen Powell from Missouri
Jesse Powell from Kansas
Beth Powers from Indiana
W.A. Provencher from Poland
R. Atreides Pytel from Minnesota
Harriet Radford from California
Carlos Ramirez from New Jersey
Anthony Regolino from Pennsylvania
Monte Remer from Idaho
S.C. Rey from Utah
Jared A. Robinson from California
Steve Rodgers from California
Marie Q. Rogers from Florida
Darren Rogers from Texas
M. Rojas from California
Leigh Romero from Alabama
Michelle Rose from Oregon
Heather Rutkowski from Florida
Manisha Sahoo from India
Annmarie SanSevero from Arkansas
Donna Sawicki from Colorado
Wren Scarborough from Massachusetts
Ginger Schiffmayer from Colorado
Joel C. Scoberg from Great Britain
Jacob Serena from Australia
J Broc Sewell from South Korea
Rosemary Sgroi from Great Britain
Hank Shore from North Carolina
Joseph Sidari from Massachusetts
Katlina Sommerberg from Oregon
Stephen Stein from New Mexico
Jake Stein from Oregon
Danielle Stonehirsch from Maryland
Erin L. Swann from Maryland
Kate Swenson from Washington
Aven T from Oregon
John Taloni from California
James Tanenbaum from California
Viktoria A. Tatscg from Texas
G. J. Terral from Texas
Hope Terrell from New Jersey
Niz Thomas from New Jersey
Thomas Tortorich from Missouri
Karen Townsend from Virginia
James A. Tweedie from Washington
Kenneth Urban from Maryland
Shriya Vallabhaneni from Arizona
Leif Wallsby from Sweden
Burton Weinstein from California
Addelyn Welch from Indiana
Aaron Werntz from Texas
Kevin West from Germany
Frostie Whinery from Oklahoma
Jack Wideyer from Idaho
Robert Luke Wilkins from Nevada
Jarrod K. Williams from Ohio
Cliff Winnig from California
Robin C. Wolver from Australia
Gavin Wood from California
Anna X from South Carolina
Alexis Yoo from New York
Grace Zanghi from New Jersey
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
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
I have my Q3 lined up, and just about ready to go.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Drafting for Q1 V42
@doctorjest Nice! My Q3 is thoroughly plotted. I expect the first draft to only take a couple days. It's a bit paint-by-numbers compared to Q1, but I'm excited for it nonetheless.
VOL 40 2nd Quarter: Third Place ("Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbonfiber")
Past submissions: R - HM - HM - HM - HM - HM - SHM - SHM
www.jd-writes.com
Kindle Vella - Ashes to Ashes, Earth to Kaybee
I have the draft of a possible Q3 completed & some critiques back to boot. Alas, I'm not sure if it's WotF appropriate. In the meantime, it's in the queue of another market. & so, I'm on to another story, in the thick of pantsing my way through that first draft.
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
I expect the first draft to only take a couple days. It's a bit paint-by-numbers compared to Q1, but I'm excited for it nonetheless.
Rockin' it being a manuscript factory! Something I wish to improve upon.
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
Time to stop twitching and move on to 3rd Qtr. I have an outline, but when have I stuck to the outline.
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.
Hmm, as I said on another discussion, it has been way too long since I have been here. Not sure who has changed or stayed the same. Or who won in the last two quarters. I could write a new story before June. Should be able to do it in a week but we shall see.
Louis
Working on turning Lead into Gold.
Four HMs From WotF
The latest was Q1'12
HM-quarter 4 Volume 32
One HM for another contest
published in Strange New Worlds Ten.
Another HM http://onthepremises.com/minis/mini_18.html
I have an idea for a sidekick but no story and no protagonist. The worst part is, I'm trying to make story ideas fit this sidekick and not just writing the story. I think this might be a challenge.
2012 Q4: R
2016 Q3: SHM
2019 Q2: HM, Q3: HM
2020 Q2: HM, Q4: SHM
2021 Q1: HM, Q2: SF, Q3: SHM, Q4: SHM
2022 Q1: SHM, Q2 RWC, Q4 RWC
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3:Nope Q4: WIP
I just finished my story for the Mike Resnick Contest so in the next couple days I'll start my Q3. I have four documents labeled with story ideas I've had waiting in the wings so my plan is to write all four and pick my favorite for Q3.
Volume 41 Q1 Illustrator Winner!
4x Finalist Illustrators
5x Semi finalist Illustrators
1x HM Illustrators
7x HM Writers
3x SHM Writers
https://clforsauthor.com
Author of the Primogenitor series: Cradle of Mars, Adaptation, Reunion, Schism: Available on Amazon under CL Fors
I have an idea for a sidekick but no story and no protagonist. The worst part is, I'm trying to make story ideas fit this sidekick and not just writing the story. I think this might be a challenge.
Without knowing about the character, it's difficult to say for sure, but that feels a lot like something I'd say to set aside for now, though by no means to discard. I'm a fan of keeping my character and story ideas stashed when they don't work out by themselves, because sometimes, you'll find yourself with a good idea that isn't quite complete, and one of those old characters or story pieces that was set aside just naturally seems to fit. I believe Orson Scott Card talked once about how it's not always one good idea by itself, but that point where two or more good ideas cross over, that makes for the best and most interesting stories.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Drafting for Q1 V42
I have just opened up the new submission portals for the 3rd Quarter 2023 for volume 40. (Cycle 40C)
Good luck to everyone. If anyone has any issues let me know, but all looks good on my end.
Fantastic! I'm now entered for Q3. ?
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Drafting for Q1 V42
@doctorjest I hope to see you win in volume 40. How are you feeling about your Q1 and Q2 entries?(edit) Oh and Q3 now that you have that in.
Volume 41 Q1 Illustrator Winner!
4x Finalist Illustrators
5x Semi finalist Illustrators
1x HM Illustrators
7x HM Writers
3x SHM Writers
https://clforsauthor.com
Author of the Primogenitor series: Cradle of Mars, Adaptation, Reunion, Schism: Available on Amazon under CL Fors
@doctorjest I hope to see you win in volume 40. How are you feeling about your Q1 and Q2 entries?(edit) Oh and Q3 now that you have that in.
In terms of how they'll do, well...I don't really have any particular feeling at all. I think they were all in pretty good shape when I submitted, and while I could say this story is strong because of X, or this one's weak because it's missing Y, I am historically very bad at guessing my placing, so I gave up trying.
These days, I just put them out there, wait, and look forward to the results, without any particular expectation of what they'll be.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Drafting for Q1 V42
@doctorjest that seems as wise way to go about it. I haven’t proven to be good at guessing how mine will do either.
Volume 41 Q1 Illustrator Winner!
4x Finalist Illustrators
5x Semi finalist Illustrators
1x HM Illustrators
7x HM Writers
3x SHM Writers
https://clforsauthor.com
Author of the Primogenitor series: Cradle of Mars, Adaptation, Reunion, Schism: Available on Amazon under CL Fors
I'm debating on whether I should work on my last submission to see if I can make it a winner—or submit something new. What do you guys think - is it worth taking an HM work and trying to make it better? Or just move on and write a new one?
2022 vol 39 Q4: HM
2023 vol 40 Q1: HM
Congrats on your HM, @bbnickell!
There's much to writing fresh stories, developing the muscles needed to get a kernel of an idea into a full fledge, satisfying tale. Then when your new story is done you can revise your HM with time to look at it more objectively. Personally, sometimes it takes a while to see the flaws in my stories.
In the meantime, you can send your HM to another market, maybe find it a home. You got the time.
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
Send the HM somewhere and write fresh. 
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships
Orson Scott Card's Bean is one of the best sidekicks ever.
Agreed! Ender's Game is one of my favorite books but I have to say there was something about Ender's Shadow. I still remember it more than Ender's Game. Poor Bean.
V39 - Q2 HM, Q3 SHM, Q4 HM
V40 - Q1 SHM, Q2 HM. Q3 SHM Q4 HM
V41 - Q1 Crafting
I'm debating on whether I should work on my last submission to see if I can make it a winner—or submit something new. What do you guys think - is it worth taking an HM work and trying to make it better? Or just move on and write a new one?
I recently read a great editing resource by Jeni Chappelle and she says to let a story "rest" in order to gain objectivity in your edits. So I think you should move on, write something new for this quarter, then for Q4 come back to this HM!
V39 - Q2 HM, Q3 SHM, Q4 HM
V40 - Q1 SHM, Q2 HM. Q3 SHM Q4 HM
V41 - Q1 Crafting
@bbnickell I'd come back to it later, like others have said. Giving it some time to rest will give you renewed perspective on it. I did the same with my winning story - wrote it around August 2020, sat on it for over a year while garnering rejections galore for it, gave it a renewed treatment late 2021, and submitted it for Q1 of 39 because I didn't have anything else to send. Surprise surprise.
“Stories are the collective wisdom of everyone who has ever lived. Your job as a storyteller is not simply to entertain. Nor is it to be noticed for the way your turn a phrase. You have a very important job—one of the most important. Your job is to let people know that everyone shares their feelings—and that these feelings bind us. Your job is a healing art, and like all healers, you have a responsibility. Let people know they are not alone. You must make people understand that we are all the same.”
Brian McDonald
2022: Second Place Winner V39 Q1
2021: HM, HM, SHM
2020: R
2019: SHM, R
2018: HM
2017: HM
Check out my fiction and more at spencersekulin.net
Im looking for a writer-buddy if anyone is interested. ?
I ain't cut out to be no Jesse James.
I don't know about you all, but I'm reading the blog posts from the workshop and it makes me want to get there so badly. It sounds brilliant, and provides even more inspiration to write a winning story so I can travel to Hollywood next year.
3rd Place Q3 Vol 41
Submission record: R x 2 / HM x 7 / SHM x 2 / W x 1
Stories published in Daily Science Fiction, Every Day Fiction, 365tomorrows, and Gwyllion Magazine.
@joel-c-scoberg It's an awesome experience. Keep writing, I hope to see you among the future winners! 
“Stories are the collective wisdom of everyone who has ever lived. Your job as a storyteller is not simply to entertain. Nor is it to be noticed for the way your turn a phrase. You have a very important job—one of the most important. Your job is to let people know that everyone shares their feelings—and that these feelings bind us. Your job is a healing art, and like all healers, you have a responsibility. Let people know they are not alone. You must make people understand that we are all the same.”
Brian McDonald
2022: Second Place Winner V39 Q1
2021: HM, HM, SHM
2020: R
2019: SHM, R
2018: HM
2017: HM
Check out my fiction and more at spencersekulin.net
3rd Place Q3 Vol 41
Submission record: R x 2 / HM x 7 / SHM x 2 / W x 1
Stories published in Daily Science Fiction, Every Day Fiction, 365tomorrows, and Gwyllion Magazine.
I'm feeling it's about time to start my next novella, since I feel like I need a break from my longer stuff. Hopefully this will be the quick, and easy story, that doesn't take 3 months and hours upon hours of revision. Or maybe I'll just pretend it will be so I'm not so scared to start.
Here's the question though, should I do some outlining, since I barely know anything about the story, (I kinda only know what the one-line elevator pitch would be) or should I just dive in and see what happens?
Wish me luck.
@m-norris have you tried both ways with different stories? I do t think there is one right way. I am mostly a pantser. But my stories do usually percolate in my head for awhile so I know either a beginning, an ending, a character, or a core idea at least. Then I tend to let it build on the page and ideas come to me either while writing or in between sessions. But plenty of writers prefer plotting. If you’re struggling with anxiety some plotting could help. The other option is to sit down without distraction and force some words onto the page until it starts to flow.
Volume 41 Q1 Illustrator Winner!
4x Finalist Illustrators
5x Semi finalist Illustrators
1x HM Illustrators
7x HM Writers
3x SHM Writers
https://clforsauthor.com
Author of the Primogenitor series: Cradle of Mars, Adaptation, Reunion, Schism: Available on Amazon under CL Fors
@clfors I have done both ways a little, I'm mostly an outliner/architect/plotter myself. The thing is, I don't really have an outline right now, or at least not a good one. I don't really know where I'm going to take my story. So it kinda sounds easier to just go and see what happens. But that also sounds a bit less effective (because I've proven to be not super good at that.)
