Discussion: Q4 Volume 41

Posted by: @annmarieinlr

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@toddjones But...what about the poor pixies?

They should be find now that they started, "Pixie Laborers Local Union 101"

6 days remaining...

@toddjones Either you write that short story or I will!  hahaha That is hysterical.

@annmarieinlr That "Pixie Laborers Local Union 101" may go well with a story idea I had years ago about Elf union negotiations (cobblers, bakers, santa's, easter bunny egg painters, etc.) where they were fed up and on strike.  

@toddjones If you don't win this round, that's what you should enter. Did you ever read David Hankin's winning story "Death and the Taxman"? It's in Vol. 40. It's a great humor piece and yours could do something similar.

@annmarieinlr Yeah, I read that one. Very nice. My understanding is that he made that into a novel series. I look forward to reading those too.

I'm not very good at writing humorous tales. Ask my wife, she'll tell you.  

I’m in, but I feel like it’s a Hail Mary punt. On to qtr1

I'm in.  Don't know what to think any more, but I hope for the best.  Good luck to everyone still polishing.

Got mine all submitted last night. A vast departure from my usual MO; I usually wait until the fleeting hours of the final day.

To be subbed with multiple days remaining feels so luxurious; may the future-me ever mimic the now!

3 days remaining...

I'm in.

Hm. Been having a hard time with motivation for Q1. Leaving some lattes and scones for straglers.

@craydimensional I agree about Q1.

I have an older short story that I wanted to expand, but won't work for Q1.

I'm leaning toward using one of @wulfmoon Monday prompts for a short story.  I have one from earlier in the year I used to write an opening for a story. 

@craydimensional I'm just now getting to draft a possibility of mine. It's a complicated one and I struggled figuring out which POV character to use, and now that I have that I'm playing around to figure out what the best way to show their perspective. I don't know why I picked a challenging concept to write, but it is how I'll grow, so...

I sat down last night to work on editing down a story when my internet went out. I was tired, so I went to bed. Woke up, still out. Luckily, I had this quarter's story already turned in or I'd be panicking. Sadly, I'm trying to meet a deadline for the same day. Thankfully, it's back up and only being slow.

Don't procrastinate. All we have is now.

@babooher I live in an area that gets lots of storms and tornados. The library has rescued me more than once when my power would not come back on in a timely manner.

There are still two days and change in the quarter, writer friends  - can you expand an old story fragment? Make an abandoned tale's side character into your protagonist? Maybe two old beginnings will stitch together into a rich, WINNING story. You don't have to throw in the towel. Throw in a story instead!

@jason Do you folks still accept paper entries if postmarked by the deadline?

My post office doesn't time stamp things anymore. Used to have an old stamp with adjustable dates. Now, digitally, they just put a sticker with the price on it. Suppose the receipt showing payment would have the date, but that's a whole can of worms.

Anyway, can you update us on that for any folks whose internet might be out due to the storm?

(Or perhaps their entire post office it out as well!)

@tj_knight I'm not Jason, but here is what I'd recommend. 

First, see if there is a local library or even restaurant with power. I had to do that a couple of quarters ago because of local tornados that knocked out power at my place. 

If that isn't possible, definitely get it in the mail and get a receipt with a timestamp on it if the post office will not time stamp it. 

I've written to Joni, just in case no one with real inside knowledge sees this in time for you. 

Posted by: @annmarieinlr

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@tj_knight I'm not Jason, but here is what I'd recommend. 

First, see if there is a local library or even restaurant with power. I had to do that a couple of quarters ago because of local tornados that knocked out power at my place. 

If that isn't possible, definitely get it in the mail and get a receipt with a timestamp on it if the post office will not time stamp it. 

I've written to Joni, just in case no one with real inside knowledge sees this in time for you. 

 

And realize that they don’t want to reject your submission if you’ve made a good faith effort. When in doubt, talk to Joni.

Posted by: @tj_knight

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@jason Do you folks still accept paper entries if postmarked by the deadline?

My post office doesn't time stamp things anymore. Used to have an old stamp with adjustable dates. Now, digitally, they just put a sticker with the price on it. Suppose the receipt showing payment would have the date, but that's a whole can of worms.

Anyway, can you update us on that for any folks whose internet might be out due to the storm?

(Or perhaps their entire post office it out as well!)

Yes, we still accept physical entries. Postmarking is noted in rule #10. 

https://writersofthefuture.com/contest-rules-writers/

6. Entries submitted in hard copy must be typewritten or a computer printout in black ink on white paper, printed only on the front of the paper, double-spaced, with numbered pages. All other formats will be disqualified. Each entry must have a cover page with the title of the work, the author’s legal name, a pen name if applicable, address, telephone number, e-mail address and an approximate word count. Every subsequent page must carry the title and a page number, but the author’s name must be deleted to facilitate fair, anonymous judging.

7. Manuscripts will be returned after judging only if the author has provided return postage on a self-addressed envelope.

8. We accept only entries that do not require a delivery signature for us to receive them.

10. The Contest has four quarters, beginning on October 1, January 1, April 1, and July 1. The year will end on September 30. To be eligible for judging in its quarter, an entry must be postmarked or received electronically no later than midnight on the last day of the quarter. Late entries will be included in the following quarter and the Contest Administration will so notify the entrant

To send your entry in hard copy, mail it to: L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest, 7051 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90028.

Phew I'm in with more than a day left. Good luck everyone, plenty of time still if you're not in yet!

@tj_knight Here is what Joni said:

"Yes, we still accept hard copy entries if postmarked by the deadline! 

There is always a date on the receipt so that is fine.

If someone was planning on entering from the "hurricane zone", I'd be happy to take their entry past the deadline.

Once they get back up online they can shoot me and email, but they would have to live in one of the states that just got wacked! If someone you know has phone service and you know they were planning on entering, let them know. They can 

also call me at my office -- 323-466-3310.

Best,

Joni"

I'm probably not going to make this one. Life got massively hectic for a while and writing kind of fell by the wayside.  Good luck to everyone who made the deadline!

In for Q4. It's been a difficult few days, following a difficult quarter. Didn't particularly like my story idea. Showed it to a few others and they went "meh" also. But they gave me some good ideas. Last pass today, I read it to myself aloud (making a few edits as I did). I'm more pleased with it, now. Don't think it's a winner, still, but it's creditable. 

Posted by: @folkloremipsum

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There are still two days and change in the quarter, writer friends  - can you expand an old story fragment? Make an abandoned tale's side character into your protagonist? Maybe two old beginnings will stitch together into a rich, WINNING story. You don't have to throw in the towel. Throw in a story instead!

I wrote “Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler” in a day and a half, or 36 hours, almost all of it written last day of the contest year. I was caring for my wife recovering from cancer and nuclear treatment and that was all the time I had. I finished at 11:15 PM and handed it to my wife to proofread—I never even read it through. Got it back from her at 11:45 PM (she was crying), fixed the typos she found, answered the portal questions, pushed submit, and got an 11:56 PM time stamp. 

I didn’t even have the chance to read the completed story. But I knew I had written my winner and began writing my acceptance speech right there on the spot. 

I don’t recommend doing it this way, but I do teach “belief determines reality” and I absolutely believed I could win this contest. You still have to back up belief with all the smart practice, which I had been doing. Shut the voices out that say you cannot succeed, and do the work no matter what your circumstances are to achieve your goals. It all adds up over time if you stay the course.

Best of success!

Got Q4 in. Now, to work on something else for the next three months... 🙃 

@toddjones Indeed it was...pixie dust and soooo much sugar. I take mine without the sugar nowadays and find the infusion of magical energy is still top-notch.

Bought myself lunch for a story complete, gotta celebrate.

I forgot how much I actually love the WotF grind. Yes it’s stressful, but it’s so satisfying. And now I can join y’all as we wait together. Honestly a great experience (once you’re submitted.)

I’m in. I can’t say I’m confident enough to start writing an acceptance speech, but I gave this one my everything. Can’t ask for much more than that.