This Thursday knows that it is a Thursday and has been flirting with us all day, letting us wonder if it is *the* Thursday in the hopes of getting some free drinks and attention out of us. Be strong, ladies and gentlemen.
well, at least this delayed announcement has perked up the forums. When it comes out early we pass it by without comment here and the forums quiet for another quarter 😉
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
I'm really grateful the forum is here. Lots of good info all over in this place.
@docmagik Yes, It's a great community.
I have heard it is getting closer, should be soon... I don't have an exact date...@Jason Greetings ! Anything coming through the pipeline yet ? What's the word ? Still waiting on the results for Q3 and I just sent in my last Q4 art entries late last night. Godspeed to all of us !
Take care,
Sanchez
@jason Does that mean they have already made the calls to finalists?
@jason Does that mean they have already made the calls to finalists?
Oh that's what it was. I thought it was those damned voices again.
Eta. No, wait. It was the voices again.
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10
You're the best Jason.
[The hobbit passes uncooked pizzas over to her dragon Scorge.]
["Dragon roasted for twitchers."]
[Then she fills mugs and slides them down the table.]
I have heard it is getting closer, should be soon... I don't have an exact date...@Jason Greetings ! Anything coming through the pipeline yet ? What's the word ? Still waiting on the results for Q3 and I just sent in my last Q4 art entries late last night. Godspeed to all of us !
Take care,
Sanchez
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
Wanted to share a nice opportunity, a free one hour Zoom workshop on Worldbuilding from a top fantasy author: Sat. Oct. 11, 2 pm to 3 pm (Eastern) - "Worldbuilding In Any Genre" - Free - Online (Zoom) - Creating unique, fully realized environments that readers will want to get lost in is a skill for all authors. Mastering fictional worldbuilding is key to transporting readers into your story. In this workshop you’ll learn techniques and strategies to engage your audience and bring your fictional world to life. Taught by award-winning author Leslye Penelope (her debut novel, Song of Blood & Stone, was chosen as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time). Must pre-register: Worldbuilding for Any Genre with Leslye Penelope - LibCal - Nova Southeastern University I've attended other Nova University Library free workshops - they're usually excellent. And good luck to all waiting for results!!
Elaine Midcoh
Winner - WotF v. 39. ("A Trickle in History")
Published Finalist - WotF v. 37 ("The Battle of Donasi")
2 SHM's / a few HM's / some R's
2025 Cannon Publishing High Caliber Award ("Don't Mind Us")
2022 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award ("Man on the Moon" - read/listen for free at Escape Pod 895: Man on the Moon )
More sci-fi stories published in magazines MetaStellar, Galaxy's Edge, Daily Science Fiction and in anthologies, "2025 High Caliber Awards" (Cannon Publishing, 2025) and "Compelling Science Fiction Short Stories" (Flame Tree Press, 2022)
ELAINE MIDCOH – Sci-Fi Author & Short Story Writer (wordpress.com)
@elainemidcoh Thanks for the link
It will give me something productive to do while we all twiddle our thumbs 😆
You're not on here much but if you come on again, let us know what *you* have been up to writing wise since the competition! I enjoyed watching your group chats on youtube after the win talking about it and Baen Memorial Prize.
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
@jason Does that mean they have already made the calls to finalists?
I don't think he would be able to answer whats going on behind the curtain even if he did know - and for that reason, if I were him, I would probably try not to know lol
That being said - my best guess would be they do know the finalists as Jody decides that. And they're waiting on one judge to get back to know the final vote for 1,2,3.
Of course, that shouldn't hold up announcing our results (and normally doesn't) so maybe Jody had a busy schedule prior to Dragoncon, or Joni, who is the one who does all the phonecalls and I think the emails, is indisposed. In which case, I just hope whoever is the bottleneck is all right.
Having done this competition a few years now I've learned there are 'usual' procedures, but that it occasionally deviates. Sometimes results are way earlier. Sometimes, they are way later. Mostly they tell finalists before non-finalists. But as with Mike Stricklands quarter - not always! All we can do is sit and wait. Eat some scones. Do the Q4
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
Having done this competition a few years now I've learned there are 'usual' procedures, but that it occasionally deviates. Sometimes results are way earlier. Sometimes, they are way later. Mostly they tell finalists before non-finalists. But as with Mike Stricklands quarter - not always! All we can do is sit and wait. Eat some scones. Do the Q4
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Summary - We don't know, and any day can be a "Thursday."
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
Having done this competition a few years now I've learned there are 'usual' procedures, but that it occasionally deviates. Sometimes results are way earlier. Sometimes, they are way later. Mostly they tell finalists before non-finalists. But as with Mike Stricklands quarter - not always! All we can do is sit and wait. Eat some scones. Do the Q4
![]()
Summary - We don't know, and any day can be a "Thursday."
![]()
Or even shorter summary:
"Do the Q4"
😆
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
Emails are out...congrats to everyone!
"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." ~Hemingway (maybe)
V43 Q1:In Progress Q2: Q3: Q4:
V42 Q1:HM Q2:SHM Q3:RWC Q4:Submitted
V41 Q2:RWC Q4:R
Yes, all Q3 for Volume 42 (Cycle 42C) are all programmed and going out. I see a few that are bouncing due to bad addresses, so if anyone didn't get the email, you can DM me, and I can check into it as needed.
Congratulations to everyone!
Well, I only got an HM. I'm hoping to finish up my next entry soon.
Well, I only got an HM. I'm hoping to finish up my next entry soon.
ditto
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: TBD Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: P
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
Well after 2 unknown callers earlier with my broken phone, I discovered it was not Joni. But I am happy to announce that I received an HM. And I am pretty happy with it, because it means for the 2nd time in a row, I am back to placing. My scrapbook is ready for another page.
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
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
for my last minute story. Maybe I should always write fresh two days before the deadline. (No, I should not. That was painful lol) Congratulations to everyone who placed!
V39: - - - HM
V40: SHM, HM, SHM, HM
V41: HM, SHM, SHM, F
V42: DQ, HM, SHM, P
Stories published in Triangulation: Hospitium, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, and others.
https://kzrichards.com
I was reasonably pleased to get a SHM for the story. Not that I seem to be a terribly good judge of where my stories will land.
F x1
SHM x5
HM x13
RWC x1
R Dozens
HM for me! I suppose I should sort out what I'm doing for Q4 now...
Beth Powers
-----
Silver HM x 6
HM x 24
Entries x 72
-----
Collected Stories:
Sorcery & Widgets
Runes & Rivets
I'm a SEMI-FINALIST!!!! I honestly thought that this story would barely get an HM, as the first draft was written in around a week, I tend to have a LOT of issues with grammar, and the story itself was REALLY short. I actually sent it only to see if I have it in me to publish something, and would've considered even an HM as an encouragement and a sign.
Also, I did consider this story barely unpublishable, and the one I'm working on (hopefully I'll be able to finish it in time) is actually more in "publishable" category and I absolutely LOVE it, as well as my idea for the Q1 story.
@bethpowers Don’t rush the Q4 story, you still have some time 😛
that's the fourth HM in a row for me 😎
I'm hoping my Q4 entry does a bit better.
Writers of the Future stats:
V32: Q3 - R
V33: Q3 - R
V39: Q4 - RWC
V40: RWC, R, HM, HM
V41: R, HM, RWC, HM
V42: Q1 - HM, Q2 - HM, Q3 - HM, Q4 - sub'd
V43: Q1 - Revising
All markets submission stats:
254 Submissions
243 Rejections
31 Personal Rejections
1 Acceptances
Well, I only got an HM. I'm hoping to finish up my next entry soon.
"Only"? That's in the top ten percent. Mine was another disappointing RWC. Sigh.
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)
@ehonour My apologies, Doc. This one hit me harder because I wrote it in honor of my Superstars tribe. I should not have said only.
