@crlisle thank you @crlisle ! There's so many disappointemnts we have in this writing lark - I'm trying to make the good feels last 
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: P Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 115 submitted 8 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
well, after winning Baen today, I can't focus at all. The emotions are real... 🤪
Take it easy, relax, and bask in the glow of the win. But don’t get comfortable, you have fantastical tales.
Again, congrats.
wise words @toddjones ! ... and here I am, writing again 😉
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: P Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 115 submitted 8 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
I've just recently finished the first draft of a novelette I wanted to send as my Q4 story, but to be honest, I want to first send the story to other places before I submit it here, plus I'll need to heavily edit some parts (especially the first scene of the ending hadn't landed for me). Plus, recently, I really want to learn from and kinda "imitate" Le Guin and generally improve my prose, and while this piece is sometimes nice, it is either plain or clunky in a lot of places and lacks details. Basically, there's a lot more work to do there than I expected, so it might be pushed into Q4.
But now, let's work on a short story that I'm 90% is screaming for more breathing room and becoming a novella. I'll try to work on this one and let the finished first draft rest for a few days or a week.
How is everyone getting along with their Q4 stories?
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), Submitted, Working on draft
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
@toddjones I have several possibilities. When we get closer to the deadline, I'll decide which to submit
Jason P. Crawford
Author of Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi (for now!)
Finalist for 2024 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award
3rd Place Winner for 2025 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award
Q3 V31: HM Q2 V39: SHM Q2 V40: SHM Q2 V41: HM Q2 V42: RWC
Q3 V38: HM Q3 V39: SHM Q3 V40: SHM Q3 V41: HM Q3 V42: P
Q4 V38: R Q4 V39: SHM Q4 V40: SHM Q4 V41: RWC
Q1 V39: HM Q1 V40: RWC Q1 V41: SHM Q1 V42: SHM
A Q4 story has not formed in my brain yet. Halfway through the period and I really should have something down by now, but I've been focused on other projects lately. That said, if I were truly desperate, I have some stories I could send, it's just they would be more place-fillers more than designed specifcally for this competition... then again given how the latter hasn't led to a win, maybe I should just try the former 🤔
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: P Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 115 submitted 8 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
@gideonpsmith - You've got this. You're great with the flash fiction, so maybe it's time to turn one into a longer story???
I have my story, scene 1 done (I think), scene 2 drafted (going to edit today), snippets and notes in other scenes (need to make scene 1 and 2 are tight to ensure I'm on the right track for scene 3 try/fail and remaining scenes.)
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), Submitted, Working on draft
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
Am I imagining things or is this graphic subtely different? Maybe the type got bolder?
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: P Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 115 submitted 8 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
Funny. That loaded in for me on the left instead of appearing from cache. I thought my internet was slow again this morning.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
@gideonpsmith Funny you mention it. I just paused on it today too, like it was new image, but I couldn't recall what it used to look like. Thought it might just be all the gray hairs on my head confusing me.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), Submitted, Working on draft
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
Hey, gang! I hope everyone's stories are coming along nicely. I drafted the first 2/3s of what I'll likely submit. Then, I peeked in on submission grinder to see what was what. I spied a Valkyrie-themed submission call and thought, hey, I can do that. Well, the next day I sat down and knocked out the 4,000 word first draft in a single sitting 😎 Now, I just need to revise it over the weekend and have it turned in by Monday! Then, it's back to work on this quarters entry!
F:0 / SF:0 / SHM:0 / HM:1 / RWC:2 / R:1
Previous Submissions: Q2V40, Q3V41, Q1V42, Q2V42, Q3V42
Q4V42 Window: In Development
www.sagaheim.net
@jtwrites Congrats on WotF draft and the awesome 4k writing session. Got to strike when the brain is firing off ideas. Good luck.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), Submitted, Working on draft
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
@toddjones Thanks! Yeah, I wasn't expecting to fully draft that story in one go. I was on call, so I expected to leave for work somewhere in the middle. Fortunately, it all worked out!
F:0 / SF:0 / SHM:0 / HM:1 / RWC:2 / R:1
Previous Submissions: Q2V40, Q3V41, Q1V42, Q2V42, Q3V42
Q4V42 Window: In Development
www.sagaheim.net
I'm about 3/4ths through my second draft, and there's one thing that makes me happy and terrifies me at the same time: I don't see many issues. Obviously there are SOME, like I have to add 2-3 paragraphs to flesh out some parts of worldbuilding and characters (but mainly the world), but other than that and obvious grammar/spelling issues, there isn't much to do here, especially compared to my previous works, where I had to either add or throw out entire scenes.
Hopefully, by Sunday or Monday, I will be able to send this story to my alpha readers and see how to proceed.
@gideonpsmith Congratulations! That's awesome! 
Writers of the Future stats:
V32: Q3 - R
V33: Q3 - R
V39: Q4 - RWC
V40: RWC, R, HM, HM
V41: R, HM, RWC, HM
V42: Q1 - HM, Q2 - HM, Q3 - sub'd, Q4 - ???
All markets submission stats:
242 Submissions
231 Rejections
31 Personal Rejections
1 Acceptances
well, after winning Baen today, I can't focus at all. The emotions are real... 🤪
Very cool! Congrats! Will you be at DragonCon to accept the award from Baen?
"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." ~Hemingway (maybe)
V42 Q1:HM Q2:SHM Q3:P Q4:WIP
V41 Q2:RWC Q4:R
well, after winning Baen today, I can't focus at all. The emotions are real... 🤪
Very cool! Congrats! Will you be at DragonCon to accept the award from Baen?
Yes, I will! May be the only award I'll ever get, so nothings going to stop me from going to receive it! 😉
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: P Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 115 submitted 8 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
