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Discussion: Q4 Volume 40

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Dustin Adams
(@tj_knight)
Posts: 1417
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Topic starter
 

Submission windows:

Q1: October 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022
Q2: January 1, 2023 - March 31, 2023
Q3: April 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023
Q4: July 1, 2023 - September 30, 2023

Results and link to the winners will post when judging is complete.

This is it folks!
You want to be at the party that will be the 40th?
Leave it all on the field this quarter.

Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight

 
Posted : June 1, 2023 5:47 am
Todd Jones, storysinger, TimE and 1 people reacted
 TimE
(@time)
Posts: 411
Silver Star Member
 

I've only just started writing my Q3.

?

 
Posted : June 1, 2023 10:57 am
Pegeen, J. Watt, Todd Jones and 3 people reacted
DoctorJest
(@doctorjest)
Posts: 838
Platinum Member
 

I have a few prospects for Q4, and haven't settled on which I'd prefer to try. I have a slight lean on one, but nothing definite yet.

DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Currently on a writing hiatus

 
Posted : June 1, 2023 4:40 pm
Pegeen, Todd Jones, storysinger and 2 people reacted
Jose Sanchez
(@jose77sanchez)
Posts: 47
Bronze Member
 

Is there any news on the LATEST RESULTS for Jan.-March 2023 Quarter ?...anything at all ?...

 
Posted : June 6, 2023 1:47 pm
Pegeen reacted
Physa/ Guthington/ Amy
(@physa)
Posts: 423
Gold Star Member
 

Posted by: @jose77sanchez

Is there any news on the LATEST RESULTS for Jan.-March 2023 Quarter ?...anything at all ?...

No... not yet. You are talking about Q2 results by the way. Good luck, Smile

 

WOTF results:
Vol 41: Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q4 P
running totals to date:
WOTF: 6 Rs, 3 RWCs. 7 HMs
IOTF: 4 Rs, 3 HMs
Check out my new website: https://www.amyrwethingtonwriterofspeculativeworlds.com/
According to Winston Churchill, "success is going from failure to failure with enthusiasm"
Somehow I lost my Guthington profile, but it's me. Amy Wethington = Guthington = Physa

 
Posted : June 6, 2023 3:54 pm
Pegeen reacted
Jose Sanchez
(@jose77sanchez)
Posts: 47
Bronze Member
 

? Thanks ! I will be alert to the results ! So then, I am now finishing my 3rd art entry for Q3 deadline coming soon...

 
Posted : June 6, 2023 11:18 pm
Pegeen, Cherrie, storysinger and 1 people reacted
Physa/ Guthington/ Amy
(@physa)
Posts: 423
Gold Star Member
 

Wow! Q4 window opens up in less than a week. Yikes! Only three more slots for Volume 40 [we know Q1 results but Q2 and Q3 are still pending] ... For those who have a story ready to submit July 1, you could easily have 3 stories pending in WOTF. Good luck to everyone getting those Q4 stories in. As for me, I haven't the slightest clue what story I will submit.

WOTF results:
Vol 41: Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q4 P
running totals to date:
WOTF: 6 Rs, 3 RWCs. 7 HMs
IOTF: 4 Rs, 3 HMs
Check out my new website: https://www.amyrwethingtonwriterofspeculativeworlds.com/
According to Winston Churchill, "success is going from failure to failure with enthusiasm"
Somehow I lost my Guthington profile, but it's me. Amy Wethington = Guthington = Physa

 
Posted : June 25, 2023 5:53 am
Cherrie
(@clfors)
Posts: 334
Gold Member
 

Hmmm…I’m in an interesting position with Q4 opening so soon. I just finished editing an older story that was an honorable mention and am considering submitting that. But I also have one new one in the works and a completely new story idea. Options, options… 

It feels harder to decide with two quarters pending!

Volume 41 Q1 Illustrator Winner!
4x Finalist Illustrators
5x Semi finalist Illustrators
1x HM Illustrators
7x HM Writers
3x SHM Writers
https://clforsauthor.com
Author of the Primogenitor series: Cradle of Mars, Adaptation, Reunion, Schism: Available on Amazon under CL Fors

 
Posted : June 25, 2023 7:32 pm
Pegeen reacted
Doc Honour
(@ehonour)
Posts: 136
Silver Member
 

OKAY!

[rubbing hands together with the light of creativity in my eyes]

Got my Q3 submission done at the last day. Now to get cracking on a Q4 story! Got to be ready for the last day three months from now.

But wait. There's another chapter or three to write for my second novel. And there's critiques to do for my f2f group. And more critiques for OWWW. And somewhere in here, there's also a life to live, golf to play, quilting to do, business, and...

Maybe I'll wait a week or so to start that Q4 story. It's only a week...

Write so long as words keep flowing...
http://www.DocHonourBooks.com
FWA RPLA: 2021:Fx2; 2022:1st place Gold, 2023: 1st place Gold novel
V38 Q3:HM; Q4:HM
V39 Q1:HM; Q2:RWC; Q3:HM; Q4:DQ (oops)
V40 Q1:HM; Q2:RWC; Q3:SF(!); Q4:RWC
V41 Q1:RWC; Q2:HM; Q3:RWC

 
Posted : July 1, 2023 6:16 am
Jason Toth
(@jason)
Posts: 629
Gold Star Member Admin
 

The submission portal is now open for the 4th quarter, cycle 40D! 

https://writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/

Good luck to everyone. 

 
Posted : July 1, 2023 5:47 pm
czing, Todd Jones, Dustin Adams and 1 people reacted
MarathonCoder
(@chwalter)
Posts: 119
Silver Member
 

I'm in, pending x3 for the first time.  This is a rewrite of an RWC based on a great critique from @RETreasure.  It's my third try, which is probably breaking one of Heinlein's rules, and definitely breaking one of Dean Wesley Smith's, but the first time I had no idea what I was doing and violated a lot of unwritten contest rules, so does that count?  In any case, I will not rewrite this story again except to editorial demand.

Now I can focus on my novel until Thanksgiving time.

V38: HM, R, R, HM
V39: RWC, HM, RWC, HM
V40: RWC, HM, SHM, R
V41: R, RWC, R, P

 
Posted : July 1, 2023 10:08 pm
David S. Pittsenberger
(@undreamedages)
Posts: 59
Bronze Star Member
 

Posted by: @chwalter

I had violated a lot of unwritten contest rules, so does that count?  

Could you write down some of those unwritten rules for those of us new here, please?

 

V40, Q3-4: HM, RWC
V41: in progress

 
Posted : July 1, 2023 10:31 pm
Gene Louviere
(@emlouviere)
Posts: 38
Bronze Star Member
 

I would also appreciate seeing these unwritten rules written down here, so long it doesn't create a paradox.

 
Posted : July 2, 2023 5:29 am
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1540
Platinum Plus
 

Posted by: @chwalter

Now I can focus on my novel until Thanksgiving time.

(@chwalter) The next submission period ends on my birthday, 9-30. I need to write the story of my life and win on a story submitted for that quarter.

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : July 2, 2023 7:37 am
MarathonCoder
(@chwalter)
Posts: 119
Silver Member
 

@undreamedages Open my mouth, and so I am condemned to revisit my foolish past.  grinning  

The worst thing I did (and I should note I've only seen Dave Farland complain about this, but he was coordinating judge at the time) was to not name my main character on the first page.  In fact, I didn't name him at all, thinking I was being clever.

The other awful things I did were to not kick off the story or even show any genre cues until the very bottom of page two.

V38: HM, R, R, HM
V39: RWC, HM, RWC, HM
V40: RWC, HM, SHM, R
V41: R, RWC, R, P

 
Posted : July 2, 2023 11:54 am
Dustin Adams, Martin L. Shoemaker, Pegeen and 1 people reacted
Pegeen
(@pegeen)
Posts: 95
Bronze Star Member
 

@emlouviere    I don't think there are any unwritten rules. There are some posts with advice/feedback from the screeners. Poke around and you'll find those. Also, follow the RULES. As I recall, the main things are: 1.) Make sure the story is speculative fiction. 2.) Make sure it clearly is speculative fiction on the front page, not later in the story. 3.) Don't go over the word limit of 17K words.  4.) No cuss words. F-bombs get an auto-boot. You can get away with a couple "damns" and "hells." Maybe you can get away with 1 a**, s, c, but maybe not so don't risk it. Maybe invent your own cuss words.  5.) No graphic violence or graphic sex. 6.) No song lyrics & nothing that violates someone else's copyright. So you can't use someone else's world, tv show, movie, or fiction.   Keep in mind these books are found in libraries (maybe even school libraries). Hope this helps.

This post was modified 1 year ago 3 times by Pegeen

~~ Pegeen ~~
Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Writer
V40 - Q1 RWC, Q2 HM,

 
Posted : July 2, 2023 1:31 pm
(@martin-l-shoemaker)
Posts: 2183
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Posted by: @jason

The submission portal is now open for the 4th quarter, cycle 40D! 

https://writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/

Good luck to everyone. 

Submitting early was always my choice, especially when I verged on pro'ing out. I highly recommend it!

 

http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North

 
Posted : July 2, 2023 1:51 pm
David S. Pittsenberger
(@undreamedages)
Posts: 59
Bronze Star Member
 

Posted by: @pegeen

@emlouviere    I don't think there are any unwritten rules. There are some posts with advice/feedback from the screeners. Poke around and you'll find those. Also, follow the RULES. As I recall, the main things are: 1.) Make sure the story is speculative fiction. 2.) Make sure it clearly is speculative fiction on the front page, not later in the story. 3.) Don't go over the word limit of 7K words.  4.) No cuss words. F-bombs get an auto-boot. You can get away with a couple "damns" and "hells." Maybe invent your own cuss words.  5.) No graphic violence or sex.  Keep in mind these books are found in libraries (maybe even school libraries). Hope this helps.

 

Thanks, I believe you meant 17k words. But I see most winners are around 7500.

Most of those are written somewhere and easily found. I didn't know about the no F bomb thing. Although, it's not something I would normally include. If f bombs get an auto boot that should be written somewhere.

The other things you mention like graphic violence and sex are subjective. What exactly constitutes graphic violence? Or sexual depictions? There are plenty of extremely graphic books in libraries.

After reading this I'm figuring that my story will get booted because I have some violence that some people may consider "graphic." I mean, it's extremely common in a lot of fantasy.

 

V40, Q3-4: HM, RWC
V41: in progress

 
Posted : July 2, 2023 1:52 pm
Pegeen
(@pegeen)
Posts: 95
Bronze Star Member
 

@undreamedages  Yes, derp.  I meant 17K not 7K. I went back and fixed it.  Thanks!

~~ Pegeen ~~
Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Writer
V40 - Q1 RWC, Q2 HM,

 
Posted : July 2, 2023 3:11 pm
Wahlquistj
(@wahlquistj)
Posts: 77
Bronze Star Member
 

@undreamedages reading a few anthologies really helps see what they’re looking for.

Violence and sexuality tends toward a PG-13/YA rating. There’s some pretty graphic stuff in YA, but it’s not usually gratuitous. If a story is horror-themed, they prefer psychological horror with a touch of blood rather than mostly blood. There’s a great story in the last anthology that is psychological horror.

They also tend to prefer an uplifting or satisfying ending. It doesn’t need to be a happy ending, but it does generally need to have a bit of an upbeat at the end or, baring that, a twist that makes you go ‘ohhhh’.

Solid stories get further than experimental styles. Pieces with a beginning, middle, and end, with decent story arcs tend to make it far.

They also like stories that have active characters, not passive ones.

Think of it this way- your story has to stick out in a slush pile, hook that first reader, and not let go. Putting markers that your characters are engaging and your story is full of wonder early in the story will help that reader keep turning the page.

At the end of the day, this contest is subjective just like any other. Your piece is not just competing for the judge’s attention, it’s also competing against the other pieces submitted. And everything is anonymous.

V33- SF
V38- SHM, HM
V39- HM,R
V40- HM
V41- Q2-SHM, Q3-P

 
Posted : July 2, 2023 5:52 pm
(@martin-l-shoemaker)
Posts: 2183
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Based on interest above, I've created a new topic: Martin’s OPINION on the Unwritten Rules | The Contest – Quarterly Topics, and Other Items | Writers & Illustrators of the Future Forum (writersofthefuture.com).

http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North

 
Posted : July 2, 2023 6:16 pm
K. Z. Richards, angelslayah, Pegeen and 5 people reacted
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1540
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Posted by: @chwalter

The worst thing I did (and I should note I've only seen Dave Farland complain about this, but he was coordinating judge at the time) was to not name my main character on the first page.  In fact, I didn't name him at all, thinking I was being clever

My first HM was the same way. I never named my mc at any point in the story. Dave shocked me with a certificate.

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : July 3, 2023 6:18 am
pdblake
(@pdblake)
Posts: 489
Gold Member
 

I'm In, not sure about this one. It's a bit weird, but then I had good vibes about the last quarter so maybe this is the one ? 

R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10

 
Posted : July 6, 2023 12:07 am
angelslayah reacted
angelslayah
(@angelslayah)
Posts: 256
Silver Star Member
 

Ah (see my Q on shorties, else-forum) @shoemaker's memo on the "unwritten" has:
"There’s no lower limit, but it’s difficult to win with something under 2,000 words. Extremely difficult under 1,000."

I'd seen a Joni interview where she said "flash is ok" which can't be described as encouragement.
But it looks like I won't get yoinked —not for comin in low on tha ol' wordcount, anyway.

@DonMarkmaker

 
Posted : July 17, 2023 8:24 pm
Dustin Adams
(@tj_knight)
Posts: 1417
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

Rebecca Birch had a finalist at 2k a few years back. And at that length, she sold/reprint three times. Rob's (Dr. Jest) finalist was 2400. Those were both with Dave, however.

As for more data on Jody's finalists, I haven't been able to reach as many as the non-winners as I'd like, so there may well be 2 - 3k finalists even now.

I might suggest 2k as the absolute minimum, however, the contest has been known to surprise us. If you wrote an undeniable 1k, you may get there.

Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight

 
Posted : July 18, 2023 2:55 am
DoctorJest
(@doctorjest)
Posts: 838
Platinum Member
 

I'm a big fan of a story being the length it needs to be, and some stories do definitely belong within that 1k boundary. However, I also think it's extremely challenging to write a complete, finished speculative fiction story inside of that 1k limit that can also successfully compete against longer stories for transported wonder, the complete story arc of the main character's emotional journey, the emotional impact on the reader, and all the little sundry details that make a story truly memorable.

Perhaps more than anything else, when you give a reader characters they love and put them in a place that fills them with wonder, dread, or awe, the flash length means they get to spend less time there with those things than they would with a longer story. My wife really hates flash for basically that reason. The longer a story is, the more she enjoys it, almost without exception.

Part of me would argue that you can get away with short sci-fi more than short fantasy, especially idea-driven sci-fi, because fantasy is often more reliant upon wonder and transportation, while idea fiction tends to use just the few sketched lines it needs to define the story space. However, my finalist was 2.4k fantasy, so I would definitely take that thought snippet with a pinch of salt. After all, there's always a story in the WOTF anthology that just seems to take every contest "rule" and throw it out the window. As many before me have said, they're more like guidelines than actual rules.

DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Currently on a writing hiatus

 
Posted : July 18, 2023 5:12 pm
J. Watt, Morgan, Dustin Adams and 2 people reacted
Pegeen
(@pegeen)
Posts: 95
Bronze Star Member
 

Q40 V4 due September 30th. I better get moving. I have one new story done, but I hate it. Is it fixable? I don't know. I have a new, exciting idea and just started another story. The first few scenes are juicy. But can I finish it on time and make it work, or should I fix the stinky story? Ack! I guess I will try to do both things and see which story I like the best. The pressure is mounting. Is anyone else in a predicament for Q4?

~~ Pegeen ~~
Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Writer
V40 - Q1 RWC, Q2 HM,

 
Posted : July 25, 2023 10:39 am
James (Ease) reacted
(@morgan-broadhead)
Posts: 466
Gold Star Member
 

Three months always seems like PLENTY of time to finish a story. Then I get into writing it, and three months feels more like three hours. I need more time!

"You can either sit here and write, or you can sit here and do nothing. But you can’t sit here and do anything else."
— Neil Gaiman, Masterclass

Drop me a line at https://morganbroadhead.com
SFx1
HMx5
R/RWCx5

 
Posted : July 26, 2023 7:25 am
DoctorJest
(@doctorjest)
Posts: 838
Platinum Member
 

I'm in a predicament for most quarters! In this case, I'm just waiting on feedback for one, while also brainstorming possible ideas for a second that I haven't written yet. The latter, I'm going to try approaching in a different way than I have in the past, to see what I get out of it--and if I decide not to go with it for Q4, maybe I'll just have something handy for the upcoming Q1 instead... 

DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Currently on a writing hiatus

 
Posted : July 26, 2023 6:02 pm
Pegeen reacted
Pegeen
(@pegeen)
Posts: 95
Bronze Star Member
 

I'm in a predicament too. The story I'm writing is magical realism. When I google magical realism, half the entries say it is fantasy and half say it is not.  There are visions and fantastical elements but it's not clear these are independent of the main character's imagination. Does WotF consider magical realism to be fantasy? Thanks.

This post was modified 1 year ago by Pegeen

~~ Pegeen ~~
Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Writer
V40 - Q1 RWC, Q2 HM,

 
Posted : July 28, 2023 12:00 pm
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