Discussion Q4 Volume 38

Received my copy of my pre-ordered v37 from B&N yesterday. I have read the stories once, same as Scott, due to getting the ARC.

I'll read every story to see if I agree with the judges on the GPA.

@scott_m_sands 

A few stories in, I love what I've read! Distinct styles each, that's one of the many reasons I love this contest and anthology. 

Posted by: @jeschleicher

Vol 37 arrived yesterday in my mailbox. The illustrations are gorgeous! Now it’s time to dive into the stories to learn, to be inspired, and to be entertained!

To all that read the anthology, it really helps when you leave a review on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads. Thanks so much!

FYI 

Kary English said last night at Fyrecon's WotF discussion that she's about a week away from finishing up the slush from this quarter. Looks like Q4 results are gonna be pretty close on the heels of Q3 (She said within the week for those. Due to a technical issue, they got to manually email folks results.) 

Posted by: @jeschleicher

FYI 

Kary English said last night at Fyrecon's WotF discussion that she's about a week away from finishing up the slush from this quarter. Looks like Q4 results are gonna be pretty close on the heels of Q3 (She said within the week for those. Due to a technical issue, they got to manually email folks results.) 

If she still has a week to finish slush, then Dave has to comb through them, THEN they go to the rest of the judges; it’s still way too early to be checking my email...continuously. I might have a problem. 

In my defense, I’m waiting on other submissions as well. Does that make it any better? Hold on before you answer, I have to go check my email.

Posted by: @jvashley

In my defense, I’m waiting on other submissions as well. Does that make it any better? Hold on before you answer, I have to go check my email.

I keep checking my submissions list on Grinder and that tells me nothing at all. You think you've got problems.  

Whatever you do, don't go back to rereading your Q4 story trying to gage how it will fare. 

@scribblesatdusk NEVER. I try very hard to never read a story that’s on submission! This way lies insanity. 

Posted by: @scribblesatdusk

Whatever you do don't go back to rereading your Q4 story trying to gage how it will fare. 

I highly recommend you read Dean Wesley Smith's book on Heinlein's Rules from WMG Publishing.

Posted by: @wulfmoon

I highly recommend you read Dean Wesley Smith's book on Heinlein's Rules from WMG Publishing.

Haha are you referring to rule #3? 

Odd, I still haven't gotten my confirmation email for this quarter. 

Usually I'm good at catching these things but I've been so busy with moving and my new job that I haven't had a chance to check. Wonder if it has anything to do with the glitch Q3 sustained. Does anyone have the same problem? 

Nevermind. Found my answer in previous posts. I was hyperventilating over here for a sec. ?

Posted by: @gmanwriter

Nevermind. Found my answer in previous posts. I was hyperventilating over here for a sec. ?

Hello, I did look in the system and confirmed you story is in 38D (Volume 38 4th Quarter).

Good luck with that!

Best, Jason

@jason Thanks for checking, Jason! 

Hey, all,

I'll be done with my side of Q4 by tomorrow. We were under the tightest deadline ever, so I want you to brace for some unusual results. Speed means there was less time to overlook a few wobbles. In order to make our deadline, I had to be much harder on your openings. Stories that might have gotten an HM in a different quarter might get a rejection this quarter. If your opening was a little slow, if your spec wasn't clear up front, if you (ahem) opened your story with f-bombs or hookers and blow, there simply wasn't enough time for me to investigate the rest of the story.

If you end up with an R, check your opening and try the story again in another quarter.

Hang in there, everyone!

Posted by: @jvashley

 

If she still has a week to finish slush, then Dave has to comb through them, THEN they go to the rest of the judges; it’s still way too early to be checking my email...continuously.

Just FYI, Dave is only a few days behind me. He gave me about a three day head start, and now he's reading stories almost as fast as I can hand them over.  I'd say middle to end of next week is probably the soonest anyone will hear.

Posted by: @karyenglish

if you (ahem) opened your story with f-bombs or hookers and blow

Well there's a strategy I haven't tried yet. I'm not sure it's a great fit for my current piece, though, so I may be forced to give it a pass for now.

@pdblake 

Right, pdblake? I keep checking grinder. "Oooh, they're holding my story a long time! Wait ... they still have 137 stories pending."

Oh, well. I'll still check it again tomorrow.

Posted by: @karyenglish

Hey, all,

I'll be done with my side of Q4 by tomorrow. We were under the tightest deadline ever, so I want you to brace for some unusual results. Speed means there was less time to overlook a few wobbles. In order to make our deadline, I had to be much harder on your openings. Stories that might have gotten an HM in a different quarter might get a rejection this quarter. If your opening was a little slow, if your spec wasn't clear up front, if you (ahem) opened your story with f-bombs or hookers and blow, there simply wasn't enough time for me to investigate the rest of the story.

If you end up with an R, check your opening and try the story again in another quarter.

Hang in there, everyone!

How very thoughtful! Thank you for the feedback.

Posted by: @karyenglish

Posted by: @jvashley

 

If she still has a week to finish slush, then Dave has to comb through them, THEN they go to the rest of the judges; it’s still way too early to be checking my email...continuously.

Just FYI, Dave is only a few days behind me. He gave me about a three day head start, and now he's reading stories almost as fast as I can hand them over.  I'd say middle to end of next week is probably the soonest anyone will hear.

ACK!!!
So I DO need to check my email continuously, starting...
*checks calendar*
On My Birthday!
Fine! Fine!
*deep breathes*
Anyone in the pillow fort have some of @wulfmoon's scotch I can add to my hot chocolate, for medicinal purposes only?

@jvashley Happy early birthday!!  I'm out of town all next week, so I won't be able to post on the day of. 

@jvashley Happy early B-Day. I'll bring some lattes to your pillow fort and a birthday cake.

Thank you, @karyenglish & @craydimensional!
Everyone is welcome to share lattes and cake while we wait for results. We can celebrate and pretend we aren't twitching at all. 

So am I the only one who thinks it'd be funny if results didn't come out until after the deadline for Q1? ? I like this limbo land of unknown results. Schrödinger's cat dilemma is a comfortable place for me, as it turns out. 

For me that much of a delay would be very frustrating since there is a limited time market I'd like to submit this piece to if it doesn't win here.

@czing I hear you. I have a place I want to submit my Q4 if it doesn't win. Hoping @karyenglish is close on her estimate.

The dark side of me thinks maybe I'd sim sub it. But that would be the time I'd win just so I'd have expose my breaking of a submission rule LOL.

But now it is the middle of next week so maybe very soon I won't have to consider nefarious deeds because hopefully we are close to go go gadget Q4 results.

Posted by: @czing

The dark side of me thinks maybe I'd sim sub it. But that would be the time I'd win just so I'd have expose my breaking of a submission rule LOL.

But now it is the middle of next week so maybe very soon I won't have to consider nefarious deeds because hopefully we are close to go go gadget Q4 results.

Good luck! Still waiting on Q3 results to be posted and those of us who aren't finalists to find out what form of rejection we received... I understand it will be easier to notify the Q4 entrants of their placement so it will go fast once they pull that trigger I would imagine.

@physa Tomorrow is a Thursday. You never know. 

Posted by: @czing

The dark side of me thinks maybe I'd sim sub it. But that would be the time I'd win just so I'd have expose my breaking of a submission rule LOL.

But now it is the middle of next week so maybe very soon I won't have to consider nefarious deeds because hopefully we are close to go go gadget Q4 results.

Never simultaneous submit to this contest. I know of a recent case that did. When Joni called, the writer had to confess that they had just sold the story elsewhere. It was not a good trade, and the writer knew it.