Discussion Q4 Volume 38

Congratulations all!

Reporting a Silver HM this time out.

Back to the trenches!

At least I'm consistent, although maybe that means I'm not taking enough risks! Kary English said this would be an unusual quarter - because they were operating on a compressed timeline. 

Remember, all these entries are going through one first reader. Imagine 4,000 twenty-five page stories sitting on your desk or in DOC files in your inbox. That's 100,000 pages of material to get through in four weeks. You're not going to read all of that. Not sure how Kary does it, but I surmise she looks at the opening paragraph. If it doesn't get her attention, off to the "R" pile. If it seems OK, read the first and last page. Does it look like it all ties together? Yes, read a little more against a checklist of "must haves", which I think we can all figure out if we pay attention to this Forum and the things that are said. If it checks those boxes, it's on the HM stack. If it not only checks those boxes but has other appealing characteristics that make it stand out, it gets on the SHM stack.

I'm guessing that, as big as this contest has become, Dave no longer reads anything except Kary's "SHM or Better" pile. Correct me if I'm wrong about that, Kary. That's still a stack of a couple hundred stories, which is a pretty big pre-vetted "slush pile", even for stories that are of modest length. I think the days where Dave is actually reading your words (or some of them, anyway) consistently every quarter is long gone, because I don't think he could possibly have the time to do so.

Is it fair? Of course it is. It's a blind entry, and Kary has no idea who has written the story in front of her. But it's a specific market, and has to hit that target. If we want to be pro's, we have to be able to write to  specific markets. If we want to create our "own space", for maybe the first time in history that is possible, and is what being Indie is all about, although you still have to know what readers you're trying to reach and also know how to reach them from a marketing perspective. Being a full-time professional writer has never been easy. There's some basic talent and luck involved, sure. But mostly, it's about passion and hard work. No one's going to hand it to you, unless you're a celebrity with a huge following and working with a ghost writer. But where's the joy of creativity in that?  

So, hat's off to all of us who play the game. We've created something and sent it out into the world. That's a victory all on its own. Cheers!  

Hello, All!

This is probably a bit of a newbie question, but I'm new to the contest - so maybe you guys can let it slide.

I received an email stating that I had received SHM for Q4 of Volume 38. The email also asked if I would like to receive a certificate and stated that I would need to provide some personal information (mailing address, etc.) for that to happen. Q4 results aren't posted on the site yet, so I have no way to confirm the legitimacy of this email and the email address worried me a little. It was sent from no-reply at webportalapp.

I'm certainly excited about the idea of winning SHM, but I didn't want to get my hopes up until I get confirmation that the email is actually from Joni Labaqui. Can anyone confirm whether her emails come from such an address? Thanks in advance and I hope you all have a great day!

@dommichaels Good thoughts here, dommichaels. Just to clarify a little, and Kary will add to this, Kary reads the first two or three pages. If they’re engaging and show mastery of craft, she’ll read the ending to see if you did more than just polish those first pages. If your story appears to have a good ending that doesn’t just drop off the page but has a proper denouement, she’ll send it on to Dave. 

Dave has written he has definite things he expects in the first five pages of the story. Fail to meet his checklist, and it’s unlikely he’d read on. Meet them and intrigue him, and the story will get read…until it doesn’t. Most editors I know (and work for) will not read past a major fail, and there’s more to a story than nailing the opening and sticking the landing. 

I am glad you can do the math. It’s impossible to read every story through in a quarter. That’s why there’s guidelines Dave has given Kary to follow, and why he has his own he follows. Learning them will serve you well. 

One last note. Just because Kary sends a story on to Dave does not mean it gets an HM or higher. It’s likely, but not guaranteed. To get through thousands of manuscripts, Kary can’t go deep. Dave can and will. If there’s a serious problem within (like discovering the writer only worked hard on their beginning and ending LOL), it gets rejected. Like Kevin J. Anderson once told me, HMs in this Contest really mean something. They don’t hand them out indiscriminately.

Kary will add her own comments. Just wanted to clarify a few things, but you did get the premise of how these phases in the judging work.

Best of success!

Well, well this was a surprise. I had forgotten which quarter we were on.  Third quarter was really late. 

And a second surprise:

A good thing. So I know he read my story all the way through for this one.  But For my certificate I forget which story I sent in. Been busy with other things and still forgetting to come here, so I haven't been thinking about it.  

Posted by: @broca74

Hello, All!

This is probably a bit of a newbie question, but I'm new to the contest - so maybe you guys can let it slide.

I received an email stating that I had received SMH for Q4 of Volume 38. The email also asked if I would like to receive a certificate and stated that I would need to provide some personal information (mailing address, etc.) for that to happen. Q4 results aren't posted on the site yet, so I have no way to confirm the legitimacy of this email and the email address worried me a little. It was sent from no-reply at webportalapp.

I'm certainly excited about the idea of winning SMH, but I didn't want to get my hopes up until I get confirmation that the email is actually from Joni Labaqui. Can anyone confirm whether her emails come from such an address? Thanks in advance and I hope you all have a great day!

Sounds like the standard form letter to me. She needs the info to send you your certificate. No social security number or bank data to steal your identity, right? ? Congratulations on your Silver HM! That’s some mighty fine shooting there! You were in the top tier entries!

Welcome to the Forum. Please do introduce yourself in New Members topic header. Thanks!

@wulfmoon 

Thanks Wulf, appreciate the clarifications. I was just using my imagination about what it would be like to face that monster amount of entries every quarter.

Posted by: @dommichaels

@wulfmoon 

Thanks Wulf, appreciate the clarifications. I was just using my imagination about what it would be like to face that monster amount of entries every quarter.

And you’ve got it. There’s no way they can read every manuscript through from beginning to end. Cheers!

With the results coming out, I think I'm also safe to say that I've had the second phone call telling me this story did not place, but I'm hoping that we have a winner from the forum!

I want to thank Wulf for the advice to aim high when submitting. This story was actually rejected in the past by a token pay market. At the time that got me down but now I'm glad I didn't sell it for $10 lol.

What it has in common with my previous finalist: dead cats. Burn your Blake Snyder books! (jk don't) 

Woohoo!! Super stoked about getting SHM on this story, and right on the heels of my HM for Q3. This story definitely wouldn't have gotten this far without some fantastic critiques, so to those of you who helped me out this quarter: THANK YOU!

And a special thanks to @wulfmoon for creating the Super Secrets which led to this level-up moment for me. I read through the list and tested each secret against my story to see if it passed. Clearly I still have work to do, haven't won this thing yet, but I'm climbing the mountain.

Congrats to all!

Now back to the grind...

Posted by: @wulfmoon

Posted by: @shallion1191

Hey everyone, first post here although I've lurked for some time. These last two quarters were my first 'serious' submissions (knuckled down, put the work in, etc.) and I was pleased to receive SHMs for both. But the question remains: how to progress further? I've heard John and other WOTF-affiliates speak about the finalist/winner divide; how at that stage it can be a matter of personal taste, but what about lower down?
I'm worried there's something I'm not 'getting'. Any advice for me? Do others feel the same?
Much appreciated, and congratulations to all on their results.
Sam x  

Actually, you’re doing great, Sam. Two Silvers after knuckling down? Nice! While we do have some overnight successes, most work their way up the line. That’s because practice really does make perfect. Look at the signatures with everyone’s results. Most have been at it for awhile before they finally master their craft and skills to win. 

You will survive the process if you view the writing journey as a marathon, rather than a sprint. That said, there are ways to speed up your training so that you’re working smarter, not just harder. Take the WotF Online Writing Course—it’s free, and the principles of craft and storytelling are all there. If you’ve done that, check out my Super Secrets. I wrote those to help you guys, and many have won or gotten published following them. Swap manuscripts, with those ahead of you in the race if you can. They’ve done it, so they’ll have the best advice. Buy recommended books on writing craft. Go to writer cons and seminars, and take craft classes. Hire a pro editor if it’s in your budget, at least once, but be sure they’ve got good credits, and solid results for those they’ve edited. Finally, READ. Read the Volumes, study what wins. And read voraciously outside WotF in all genres. 

If you’re not doing all of this, you can bet someone else is. Guess who will pull ahead in the marathon?

Heres my own quote for you: If you wish to be a champion, do the work of a champion.

Sounds like that’s what you’re doing. Keep it up, and find ways to expand on that. And Welcome to the Forum! Do introduce yourself under the topic New Users Introduce Yourselves.

Glad to have you with us. Cheers!

Wulf Moon

Forum Moderator

 

Thank you for the in-depth response Wulf, practical advice to be getting on with and really put the wind back in my sails. Work of a champion indeed. Better get to it.

Very much enjoyed your WOTF episode with Brittany Rainsdon by the way.
Sam x 

After a Q3 R, this was a lovely surprise in Q4. On to Q1…

Keep on keeping on, everybody, and congrats to those who placed, and those who didn’t—congrats for putting your work out there. That is half the battle, right there. 

@wulfmoon Thanks, Wulf Moon!

Posted by: @cabarrett

 

With the results coming out, I think I'm also safe to say that I've had the second phone call telling me this story did not place, but I'm hoping that we have a winner from the forum!

I want to thank Wulf for the advice to aim high when submitting. This story was actually rejected in the past by a token pay market. At the time that got me down but now I'm glad I didn't sell it for $10 lol.

What it has in common with my previous finalist: dead cats. Burn your Blake Snyder books! (jk don't) 

Great, cabarrett. Now I have to write a NEW Super Secret, the antithesis to Blake Snyder: Kill the Cat.

?

Congratulations! Your SECOND finalist! Thanks for being in the Super Secrets while you were able, and thank you for taking my advice!

Dont stop! You’ve got this!

Cheers!

@shallion1191 Ah, the mentoring episode on the WotF podcast. That was all Brittany’s idea, she just informed me after talking to John for approval. It was a lot of fun to do it together in Hollywood. Thanks!

@joel-c-scoberg I've also received a straight R from a re-written SHM (Q2) this quarter, so don't feel alone! 

I only made two changes in my submission: the intro and adding more emotion to the low point of my main character. Soooo, I think it's safe to say that it's my intro that could be re-evaluated (*re-RE-evaluated, lol). But I hope you are able to keep feeling good about this story! Success is rarely a steady climb up, as we all know all too well.

@subs_bubs Thank you!

It's all part of the journey and learning to pick one's self up from a rejection is a pretty important attribute. Still sucks when you get the news though. It's one of those, I'll be able to sit back and reflect philosophically on it once a few days / weeks have passed.

Funnily enough, I changed my intro and tried to make more of an emotional plight for my MC. Perhaps I changed the best bits of my story by mistake  

This result surprised me. I mentally set myself up for an R because how I chose to end the story (truly a tragedy despite the main character getting what he wants). Congrats to all who placed! On to Q1 for me as I root that a forumite earns a ticket to Hollywood!  

There's been some awesome results coming in! Congratulations to everyone who entered, and particularly to those who leveled up!

@lost_bard, it's been really cool to see how hard you've worked on your craft since joining the forum, so I'm not surprised to see it reflected in your contest results. Keep it up--you got this!

@cabarrett congrats

@lost_bard way to go

Going along with what I said about forgetting which story I sent in. I may have figured that out, but I want to make sure. Is there anyway to get into the account I made to submit that story, so I can double check? I tried to look for something but did not see anything. I may have missed something quite easily so am asking.  Also it would help to know which story to send in. I have six stories ready to send. One I have sent already and one or two would not fit WotF. That would still leave three or four to chose from. 

@ldwriter2

• Go to https://writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/
• Click on the button "Click Here to enter the Writer Contest"
• Click on "Application Submitted"
• Click on the "View" button"

This will show the name of the last story you submitted

Posted by: @penmark 

@lost_bard, it's been really cool to see how hard you've worked on your craft since joining the forum, so I'm not surprised to see it reflected in your contest results. Keep it up--you got this!

Thanks! This writing journey is so much fun, but man it’s a lot of work. I’m glad to have found such a great group of writers to work with!

Congrats on the SHM @lost_bard 

Nice work!!

@cabarrett WAY.TO.GO!!!! WooHoo! Congrats.

Thanks Dragonchef for adding another tool to my bag of tricks. I had no idea that was possible.

Congrats on the HM LD. That ended a very long drought didn't it?

Your persistence was rewarded.

Congrats to all! Who won?

Posted by: @dragonchef

• go to https://writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/
• Click on the button "Click Her to enter the Writer Contest"
• Click on Application Submitted
• Click on the "View" button

This will show the name of the last story you submitted

Thanks! This is so helpful!