Discussion: Q4 Volume 40

Posted by: @morgan-broadhead

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Posted by: @kz_richards

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@kent I asked Jody Lynn Nye if HM and above were read all the way through, and she said not necessarily. But, HM is an accomplishment nonetheless.

Wow. That ... kind of ... sucks ...

 

....Or is it good? That there was enough there that warranted HM even without reading it all, and if you edit and re-submit the judge hasn't read the ending already so maybe it will still seem fresh...? 

As I find it hard to imagine a story that would have such a spectacular end that would move an HM beginning to a winning story just based on the ending.

Just being contrarian and trying to imagine a bright side 😉

Now I'm really confused. I thought HM was a story that was read from start to finish.

How is a story deemed to be RWC? 

Posted by: @storysinger

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Now I'm really confused. I thought HM was a story that was read from start to finish.

How is a story deemed to be RWC? 

My guess is that since this is a worldwide annual contest with THOUSANDS of entries to get through each quarter, the readers are adept at weeding out the trash from the treasure. I imagine you can tell from the first few pages if you’re reading a good story or not. If it reads like a passable story, it gets an HM. If it compels the reader to read all the way through, maybe that’s a Silver or Semi. If it is both compelling and resonant, that’s a Finalist. Just spit-balling here. 

Okay, so I looked up the Q4 vol. 40 winners and none of them are actively on the Forum or otherwise involved here. WAT THE HECKINZ.

@sade If that's true, it's disappointing for us non-winners. I've learned so much from the people in this forum and they would be a great addition.

Maybe they will join and participate now.

Regardless, congrats to each of them for their win. I look forward to reading their stories. 

@sade And in a way that speaks to the integrity of the contest

It's not about who you know, how many posts you make, or anything ... except the story in front of the judges

Posted by: @kz_richards

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@kent I asked Jody Lynn Nye if HM and above were read all the way through, and she said not necessarily. But, HM is an accomplishment nonetheless.

Thank you for the correction. I apologize to the class.

Have fun.

@gideonpsmith 

Hi Gideon,

Take a casual stroll through Martin's Unwritten Rules thread. Read current short-form genre fiction. Read or watch blogs in which Jody Lynn Nye talks about fiction. Read any of a number of books about fiction writing. Read about the contest judges and their likes and dislikes, and read their work. Learn more craft at workshops. Compare your work with others in writing groups. Gather as much information as you possibly can about everything genre fiction related and especially about your current WIP.

All of these things improve your chances. 

Write your best story because, once entered, it is beyond your reach. Accept whatever placement you get without speculation.

Learn more (even if you win) and write another one.

Have fun.

Posted by: @storysinger

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Now I'm really confused. I thought HM was a story that was read from start to finish.

How is a story deemed to be RWC?

I think this was David Farland's criteria, or at least how he described it. But I think the upside remains similar, in terms of the calibre of story that makes the grade. Our new coordinating judge will have her own way of deciding what goes into that pile, and I think it's reasonable that it may be different than it was before.

That being said, it does make an HM in the contest feel different than it once did. There was something a little special about knowing that your story had been good enough for David to read all the way through, even if it still needed some improvement.

Dave once wrote a detailed Kick about Why Your Story Only Reached HM (or something to that effect). In it he outlined what makes an HM. I imagine if Jody finds those same things in a 14k word story and she's 3k in, she'll have a look at the last few pages to see if they're consistent, don't drop the ball, etc, and grant an HM.

I wouldn't be discouraged by this, because Jody is still reading your stuff, and judging based on her professional opinion. If she reached that opinion without reading every word, it's still a valid opinion - because that's what we asked for when we hit the submit button. Unconditionally. (In my opinion)

I understand RWC to mean there are specific items in the RWC list that need addressing. If you send in an amazing story that starts with the MC waking up, you may get an RWC. It won't say, hey, don't start with someone waking up. Or, say, someone doing their morning stretches, going down the stairs, making breakfast, etc. Cut that.

A rejection, however, most likely means the story is - not for this market. I was rejected seven times - after - I made finalist. Certainly every story was competently written (In my opinion). But those stories weren't for this market. Of course there are rejections for not-up-to-par writing, new writers risking their first submission, etc. More likely the folks here that submit are having their stories Returned due to market.

Now for my plug: Send me your 450s! While I won't "judge" if a story is "for this market" - That's not my call. I can give it a look and maybe give it a boost. My most common critique is to suggest cutting the first 1, 2, or 3 paragraphs.

Posted by: @tj_knight

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I wouldn't be discouraged by this, because Jody is still reading your stuff, and judging based on her professional opinion. If she reached that opinion without reading every word, it's still a valid opinion - because that's what we asked for when we hit the submit button. Unconditionally. (In my opinion)

I wholly agree with this, in terms of judging and determining the merits of a given story. The other quality, though, was always something a little more intangible. I wouldn't say that it is discouraging not to have it, but more that it is simply a loss--which, of course, it always was.

@tj_knight thank you for continuing to help others with their work.  This forum is an awesome place to learn how to hone one's writing skills.  

Speaking of, I have one of your stories on my desktop (For too long. My apologies). I can't find the e-mail where we'd discussed what I was looking for with that one. Can you remind me? A PM or new e-mail is fine. I'll get to it straight away.

Posted by: @thewritingwolf

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I got an Honorable Mention as well, though I really thought my story was one of the best I've written for WotF--and I've gotten a few Silvers before, too. No matter, I think every new story I've subbed has been better than the last, and I'm eager to see where things keep going.

I had many like that, too, Darren. And it very well could have been better than all your others. But Q4 tends to have the toughest competition, and is more finite in the choices Jody can make because many of the anthology's stories have already been selected. It's best not to put too much thought into guessomancy. It can drive you crazy. The best story isn't the story we have written. It's the one we're about to write.
Cheers!

Hello. I got an Honorable Mention for the 4th quarter 2023 (stories entered between 1 July and 30 September 2023). I filled out the certificate form as soon as I got the announcement, but haven’t yet gotten the certificate. I remember they take a while to get sent out, so I was wondering if that was the case this time, or if something went wrong.

Thank you for your time and have a good day!