My fourth finalist with no win
the bonus is that after the 4th time I'm now immune to the wave of overwhelming disappointment that comes from the "you didn't win" phone call hahaha it's all part of the journey. On to the next one!
And congrats to the winners and all who placed!
I get the disappointment, but to me this sound like you’re talented and produce stories of a very consistent quality. So this sounds amazing for the future career.
@theocarr I totally get the disappointment, but you are doing something right. Huge congrats!
This is by my count and is not official (and possibly not complete):
Cliff Winnig: 6 NWF
KD Julicher: 5 NWF + 1 win (includes one PF)
Scott Parkin: 4 NWF + 1 win
Theo Carr: 4 NWF
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
@tj_knight Wow, poor Cliff (even if that is an extraordinary achievement)! Here's hoping for a Scott Parkin situation haha
4 F, 1 SF, 6 HM, 4 RWC
And congrats to the winners and all who placed!
That is awesome news, but also deflating. Sorry you didn't win. 4 finalists on your record. Wow!
Writers of the Future:
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, Submitted
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), 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, -, -
Other Achievements:
2025 SWA: Crime Fiction Contest - 1st Place, The Lighthouse Prompt - 3rd Place
Todd S Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
That's awesome. Congrats
And congrats to the winners and all who placed!
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
And congrats to the winners and all who placed!
Congratulations and commiserations too! And great attitude. Just echoing what everyone else has said, you must be consistently writing great stories to have x4 finalists! Is there still the chance of getting published finalist? You could get the Hollywood experience twice then, like a fair few winners have before.
I don't know how much Scott Parkin would agree with this statement, but I'm glad he won with his fifth finalist because that story is one of my WotF favourites. Hopefully we'll be saying that about your fifth (and winning) finalist story too.
3rd Place Vol 41 Q3 ("The Stench of Freedom")
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.
Find out more on my website (www.joelcscoberg.com) or sign up to my newsletter for updates on my writing journey.
Scott has said he appreciated his fifth finalist being a story he wrote in five-word sentences - and exactly five to the fifth power words - being his winner.
Oh, he had 9 semi-finalists.
Nine.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
Scott has said he appreciated his fifth finalist being a story he wrote in five-word sentences - and exactly five to the fifth power words - being his winner.
Oh, he had 9 semi-finalists.
Nine.
Wow!
Writers of the Future:
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, Submitted
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), 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, -, -
Other Achievements:
2025 SWA: Crime Fiction Contest - 1st Place, The Lighthouse Prompt - 3rd Place
Todd S Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
Any idea when the 3rd quarter winners will be posted? Inquiring minds want to know.
Vol. 36: 3rd -- R, 4th -- R
Vol. 37: R, HM, HM, SHM
Vol. 38: HM, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 39: SHM, RWC, RWC, HM
Vol. 40: HM, R, RWC, R
Vol. 41: R, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 42: R, RWC, RWC, 4th qtr. Pending
Amateur published stories:
"The Army Ration That Saved the Earth" in For Glory and Honor, LTUE 2026 anthology
"The Tell-Tale Cricket" in The Murderbugs Anthololgy
"Follow the Pretrons" in Martian Magazine, and a Critters Award
"Eyes and Hands" in Galaxy's Edge Magazine
"The Last Dance" in Parliament of Wizards, LTUE anthology
"My Ten Cents" in Sci Fi Lampoon
Professional Publication:
"Invasion" in Daily Science Fiction
I want to know, too. Haha. I'm waiting to update the original post.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
@theocarr wait, you were NWF in Q2 as well? Daaaamn. That doubles your shot at PF anyway, if there is one this year. One more and you're tied for NWF in one volume.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
The judging results are in! And here are the 3rd Quarter 2025 Writers of the Future Contest winners for Volume 42. Congratulations to you all!
https://writersofthefuture.com/writers-of-the-future-3rd-quarter-winners-announced-for-volume-42/
Congratulations everyone. Whether you got a straight reject, a RWC, an HM, a SHM, an SF or an F...congratulations. Just keep entering, don't give up and you can win this contest! Looking forward to reading the latest volume.
Preston Dennett
HM x 12
F x 1
Winner, 2nd place, Q1, Volume 35
42 stories published! (and counting!)
Congrats to everyone who submitted. Keep up the work and write new stories for the next quarter.
Writers of the Future:
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, Submitted
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), 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, -, -
Other Achievements:
2025 SWA: Crime Fiction Contest - 1st Place, The Lighthouse Prompt - 3rd Place
Todd S Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
