Discussion: Q4 Volume 42

Posted by: @patricia-a

↑

I just found out I got an HM (Email issues.)

Congrats. 

@toddsjones Thank you! And congratulations to your SHM!! 👏👏

I've been away for Thanksgiving, but ended up with my first Honorable Mention. I'm ecstatic and my family is annoyed that I won't shut up about it. LOL. Congrats to everyone else with their HMs, SHMs, and so on. Most of the time, I feel accomplished by simply submitting a story and never really expect anything other than a rejection. Words on paper to create a story is sometimes all I need, but this HM is really nice.

Congratulations to everyone that placed and to everyone who entered!

Posted by: @davidjvowell

↑

I've been away for Thanksgiving, but ended up with my first Honorable Mention. I'm ecstatic and my family is annoyed that I won't shut up about it. LOL. Congrats to everyone else with their HMs, SHMs, and so on. Most of the time, I feel accomplished by simply submitting a story and never really expect anything other than a rejection. Words on paper to create a story is sometimes all I need, but this HM is really nice.

    

This is a huge deal. You are in the top % of one of the biggest international writing contests in the world. You'll get a certificate mailed to you and your name will appear on the website once they official post the winners. Frame the certificate and put it near where you write to inspire future stories.

Keep writing, keep submitting, and keep having fun (an hopefully you'll get to annoy your family even more with the next achievement - haha)

HM here.  

Posted by: @michellejdiaz

↑

HM here.  

Another certificate for your wall. You may need to start using another wall with all those.

Seeing lots of Silver HMs from all the forumites. That's a good sign! Congrats to everyone. Really hoping to see some semi-finalists and of course some finalists here. Perhaps you are under a temporary NDA? Come out, come out, wherever you are!

I'm really surprised to see the results coming out so soon. Then again, releasing near the end of the quarter lands smack dab in the middle of Christmas and New Year's so can't say I blame them. 😅 I should probably push my Q1 submission's progress forward for the same reason! Learn from the pros, am I right? Lol

@preston-e-dennett 

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

They're probably all out celebrating while seemingly intoxicated by the thinner air... seeing as how they're likely dancing about atop the shoulders of giants.😅

Hey, Winners! Don't forget about the rest of us down here grasping at your coat tails! Tells us your secrets! ❤️

Posted by: @jtwrites

↑

I'm really surprised to see the results coming out so soon. Then again, releasing near the end of the quarter lands smack dab in the middle of Christmas and New Year's so can't say I blame them. 😅 I should probably push my Q1 submission's progress forward for the same reason! Learn from the pros, am I right? Lol

Normal time, if not a bit later, for Q4.

My understanding is Q4 has the most entries and the fastest reply time. 

@toddsjones I appreciate that! I all ready made my wife pick out the frame! 🤣

Still no word regarding illustrators results. Submission grinder has two posted acceptances [so I'm guessing there are at least 2 writers winners notified]. 

Congrats again to all who placed! It's an amazing achievement.  

Amy, I don't see the acceptances. What day? 

Although sometimes folks get HMs and post acceptances...

Posted by: @tj_knight

↑

Amy, I don't see the acceptances. What day? 

Although sometimes folks get HMs and post acceptances...

November 25: https://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/Market/MarketRecentActivity/1

Thanks.

That's the same day all the results came out. I bet those are HM "acceptances". 

Hopefully the blog updates soon, then we'll know for sure. 

@tj_knight looks like the winning lists for Q4 are now posted on their blog. I never got an email regarding my Q4 illustration entry, though.

I was never notified about mine either. Mine was a story though.

It seems mine was a straight rejection which has me utterly baffled. Could someone take a peek at my entry? I'd like to know what stopped it at the first readers 🙄

Yay! I got all choked up when Joni called. Really happy. Getting closer 🤞🏻Congrats to everyone who got a story in, and to those who placed!

Posted by: @physa

↑

@mgamblesee I've got my fingers crossed for you! I hope the wait means you'll get a call with excellent news!

@jtwrites I'm happy to look at it.

Wow, I see the results! Awesome! Congrats to the winners. Congrats to everyone who entered. Don't give up. It took me 46/47 tries until I got that awesome call from Joni. You can do it! Can't wait to read the latest volume. I'm a huge super fan of the WOTF. I've got all the volumes. Keep entering! Best of luck next time everyone! 

Posted by: @preston-e-dennett

↑

Wow, I see the results! Awesome! Congrats to the winners. Congrats to everyone who entered. Don't give up. It took me 46/47 tries until I got that awesome call from Joni. You can do it! Can't wait to read the latest volume. I'm a huge super fan of the WOTF. I've got all the volumes. Keep entering! Best of luck next time everyone! 

I'm on 31 tries, so another 4 years and I'll catch up with you! The way my results have been going, I'd take a win in the next 4 years...

Posted by: @mgamblesee

↑

Yay! I got all choked up when Joni called. Really happy. Getting closer 🤞🏻Congrats to everyone who got a story in, and to those who placed!

Congrats, that is a big achievement. You should also get some feedback on the story from Jody Lynn Nye in the near future.

Posted by: @toddsjones

↑

Posted by: @mgamblesee

↑

Yay! I got all choked up when Joni called. Really happy. Getting closer 🤞🏻Congrats to everyone who got a story in, and to those who placed!

Congrats, that is a big achievement. You should also get some feedback on the story from Jody Lynn Nye in the near future.

 

Posted by: @mgamblesee

↑

I'm thinking to hold the story for now so that I can incorporate her feedback before I send it to another market. Super curious to see what her thoughts are on it.

Good idea. Joni's comments provide invaluable insight. A semi-finalist is a huge accomplishment that is worthy of a professional sale with slight adjustments and/or smoothing.  

@mgamblesee Many congratulations! You'll get some terrific feedback that will no doubt help you sell that story. Good luck!

Posted by: @joel-c-scoberg

↑

@mgamblesee Many congratulations! You'll get some terrific feedback that will no doubt help you sell that story. Good luck!

Well, the resuls for everyone just came in today and it wasn't good for me. This is nothing new. I've been on a bad luck streak since Q2 of 2024. I honestly don't know what to draw anymore. It's never good enough for our 20 judges (way too many imo). Im tired of trying and trying and trying. Ive even diligently created new pieces but nothing budges.Not even a nuclear blast at this point would make a difference. I could've easily sent in old material but it seems that even trying that here on IOTF, never gets me anywhere. I think that now I'll take a much long and deserved break and look elsewhere for greener pastures. It's a shame. So long to all of you and good luck -   (you'll need it)

If all else fails, go Pro Hart on the canvas.

Or just send in a photo of your pallette.

Get all this emotion down in paint/pencil real quick.

Just don't cut anything off!

PS

Perhaps think emotional teen awkward romance/horror.

"Don't know what to do, don't care, hate, anger..."

Drag your nails down the page. Screw it up. Burn it. So on. 

Then send it in.