Discussion: Q3 Volume 42

[Quiet settled over the tents]

[collective breaths held]

[Another Thursday has passed by]

[like a cold, clammy fog]

[no emails yet]

[no idea if any have received phone calls]

[In summary, NNINN]

Just a quick note for those of you who are new. Just a few facts gathered over the years.

1. results can happen on days that are not Thursday

2. usually emails notifying folks of what their story got: DQ, R, RWC, HM, SHM] come first [and the batches come in the order as indicated above]. Calls to finalists happen at some point [usually before the bulk emails, but apparently not always]. Emails to SF folks are made at some point [perhaps after that first call to finalists, perhaps along with the other emails]. After that second call [finalists are usually sworn to secrecy during that first call], more results are posted F, winners [1st, 2nd, 3rd].

3. the timing of results depends on the number of entries for that quarter and the schedules of first readers, Jody, Joni, and the judges Joni picks to judge the top eight entries.

4. Given the level of variation in timing, twitching tents are set up to help blow off steam and commiserate with fellow entrants.

5. Used to be when Kary was first reader she'd pop in and warn us of pending results [and I understand that meant finalists were about to get calls]. Sometimes Martin will make a cryptic post to indicate results are imminent. But of late, results seem to appear out of nowhere before proper twitching can occur. Like I check my email and there's an email from Joni with my result. I hadn't even really begun to twitch yet.

6. Last year the stars aligned and Q3 results were released August 23 [which is insanely early]. Who knows how this year will go. Every year is different.

[sets out a fresh batch of scones and hot beverages]

[grabs a marshmallow and a stick and heads to the dragon s'more station]

[wishes everyone the best of luck]

Posted by: @physa

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[Quiet settled over the tents]

[collective breaths held]

[Another Thursday has passed by]

[like a cold, clammy fog]

[no emails yet]

[no idea if any have received phone calls]

[In summary, NNINN]

Just a quick note for those of you who are new. Just a few facts gathered over the years.

1. results can happen on days that are not Thursday

2. usually emails notifying folks of what their story got: DQ, R, RWC, HM, SHM] come first [and the batches come in the order as indicated above]. Calls to finalists happen at some point [usually before the bulk emails, but apparently not always]. Emails to SF folks are made at some point [perhaps after that first call to finalists, perhaps along with the other emails]. After that second call [finalists are usually sworn to secrecy during that first call], more results are posted F, winners [1st, 2nd, 3rd].

3. the timing of results depends on the number of entries for that quarter and the schedules of first readers, Jody, Joni, and the judges Joni picks to judge the top eight entries.

4. Given the level of variation in timing, twitching tents are set up to help blow off steam and commiserate with fellow entrants.

5. Used to be when Kary was first reader she'd pop in and warn us of pending results [and I understand that meant finalists were about to get calls]. Sometimes Martin will make a cryptic post to indicate results are imminent. But of late, results seem to appear out of nowhere before proper twitching can occur. Like I check my email and there's an email from Joni with my result. I hadn't even really begun to twitch yet.

6. Last year the stars aligned and Q3 results were released August 23 [which is insanely early]. Who knows how this year will go. Every year is different.

[sets out a fresh batch of scones and hot beverages]

[grabs a marshmallow and a stick and heads to the dragon s'more station]

[wishes everyone the best of luck]

This is the best summary of twitching I’ve ever read! If you’re new, 👀👆

[approaches twitching tent]

[s’mores do sound good…]

An additional comment about Thursday announcements.

It's an inside joke that every day can be a Thursday when announcements are concerned.

Posted by: @annmarieinlr

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@gideonpsmith ...I was just more curious as to whether Q3 had consistent results.

well, consistently so far I haven't won it 😉

@gideonpsmith It looks like you've received Finalist before, though, which is fantastic. The closest I've gotten is semi-finalist.

@annmarieinlr That still is an immense achievement, though.

@haganenoedward Thank you! That is true. I'm a tiny bit worried I'm going to pro out next year, though. I'm feeling the pressure to get that win.

EDIT

Every Day Is Thursday 😉 

@annmarieinlr I get this! I named the MC in my winning story after a friend, who then passed away a month after I submitted the entry (long before results came out). I'm dedicating the story to him.

i hope you win! Good luck!

@stricklandia Oh, Mike, I am so sorry! I'd love to hear about your friend sometime.

@annmarieinlr Thanks—hopefully next April in Hollywood! 🙌🏻

Out of curiosity, is the phone number from the contest a 1-800 number?

@stricklandia That would be lovely.

@knyghtstyk For me, it came through as "No Caller ID." So, the kind of call I would typically ignore or send to voicemail.

[The Hobbit adds some cookies on the table in the twitching tent]

[then gets her computer]

[The QTR 4 story is not going to edit itself.]

Two days and not a flutter. No fear-filled dreams of desire spoken from the safety of mythical tent walls, the insides of which are filled with platters of delectable victuals, and mugs brimming with luscious libations. One could fear that declarations had already been established. Say it isn’t so.

Is it Thursday yet?  

@crlisle, It is Thursday...but is it THE Thursday?

[The hobbit hears the hungry howls of the twitchers.]

[What should serve tonight?]

[Seeing that tonight is the big game between the teradactls and dragons, hot wings, cheese fries, and poppers are in order.]

[Today is a Thursday, but maybe not the Thursday.]

Is my phone on? Is it charged? Where is it?  

Oh, in my hand.

Why isn't it ringing?  
 
Wait ... Nope, just CVS calling.  

@toddjones I’m waiting for the call AND the terrifying “we reject your story and you should never write again” email at the same time 😅.

@haganenoedward Reject is just a way of saying, keep writing. Also, review the story if rejected, but send it out to other markets.

I had a story RWC Q1 that I didn't change and sent out and it took 3rd in another contest.  It could just be that it isn't WotF's thing/topic or the slush reader didn't see something that other markets may see.

I just noticed that Thurs this week is 9/11. Not a good day for the Thursday for sime  Maybe Tue, Wed, or Fri this week would be better. Anyway snacks need replenishing.

@craydimensional I have a slightly different perspective on this. I lost two family members in 9-11. I think they'd be incredibly proud of me if I won and having the finalist call on that day would be awesome. Sort of a way of honoring them.

@annmarieinlr I can see how that would be a powerful motivator for you. It's like the day I got my first HM email from Joni, which was the day Granny passed away. The title of that story fit her well, and I wish I could add it here, but I want to be able to enter it into a contest in future.

[The hobbit inspects the snack table in the twitching tent]

[She pulls out her leather sack full of cats eye marbles]

[Any day can be Thursday, and good news is welcome on Thursday]

[Back to task on hand.]

[coffee, lattes, tea, doughnuts, scones, chocolate all in place]

[extra powercords and batteries for twitchers working on qtr 4 stories.]

@craydimensional One day I'd love to read it.

[quiet week]

[96 day Rejection, Form from Writers of the Future Contest on Sep 8 posted on The Grinder]

[blink and you'd miss it]

[that was two days ago]

[no further indication of results pelting us like hail]

[yesterday, I get an email from Writers of the Future]

[20 days left to enter Q4]

[19 days now]

[last night, just as I fell asleep my phone rings]

[it NEVER rings]

[I jump out of bed thinking no way! is that Joni? am I a finalist?]

[it was a wrong number]

[another Thursday looms]

[thanks the hobbit for all the goodies and power cords]

[heads to my tent to write]

[I'm NOT twitching. Really!]

@physa I was literally just about to post what I saw on the Submission Grinder, too! My wife thinks I'm crazy. "Really, honey? Really? Well, what about this fine lady on the internet here? She's keeping an eye out, too!"

"Then you're both crazy!"

Well, fine. We can be crazy together. Crazy awesome!

Hey, all. Been a long time. Haven't written anything in nearly 2.5 years due to a lot of life events (cross-country move, new job, new children), but I'm finally clawing back the writing time. Submitted something to Q3 and am trying to wrap up something for Q4. Glad to be among your company once more!

Posted by: @lexington

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@physa I was literally just about to post what I saw on the Submission Grinder, too! My wife thinks I'm crazy. "Really, honey? Really? Well, what about this fine lady on the internet here? She's keeping an eye out, too!"

"Then you're both crazy!"

Well, fine. We can be crazy together. Crazy awesome!

Hey, all. Been a long time. Haven't written anything in nearly 2.5 years due to a lot of life events (cross-country move, new job, new children), but I'm finally clawing back the writing time. Submitted something to Q3 and am trying to wrap up something for Q4. Glad to be among your company once more!

Yes... crazy together! I'm happy life has settled down again for you. I for sure know how that is. Fingers crossed for you, 😉