Discussion: Q4 Volume 42

[Looks anxiously at his emails.]

[No news about the critique or about the Q4 story.]

[Maybe he’s just too excited and twitchy way too early. Or maybe this was the first Thursday to suffer through.]

[Stands up and starts to make tiramisu for himself and other residents of the twitching tent.]

[He pauses to fill his mug with cocoa and take another scone.]

@corey-paulson welcome!! It's a great habit to have

[Fills a cauldren full  Halloween brew for the twitchers]

[But will they get a trick or a treat.]

Is it just me, or have Kary and/or Martin stopped posting when they've sent everything to Jody? I looked on the Grinder and calls went out this week last year. I'm twitching because of health issues. It has nothing to do with the contest. Really.

@empressed It does seem that smoke signals have lessened lately. As far as results, I got my phone call on 11/11 last year.

I'm not expecting much this qtr. My sci fi element wasn't strong enough and I tried a new pov. But im here to cheer on everyone else.

@kz_richards Interesting. Was that the first call? I rechecked the grinder and there are definitely rejections logged around the first.

@empressed Yes. And my second call came on 11/13.

Posted by: @kz_richards

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@empressed Yes. And my second call came on 11/13.

Two days later? Seems like the judges got the stories earlier than you got your call. No way all of them read and judged eight stories in two days. 

@tj_knight To quote your own words, fourth quarter is “FAST” 😉

Indeed! I've heard it said Q4 gets the most entries, and yet is the fastest to be judged in order to get the volume into production. 

My 2nd call came on Nov 8, 2022. 

@craydimensional I’m kinda torn because my story isn’t really typical WotF story as far as I know. Plus I also have the issue with weaker speculative element (which is even more of an issue in Q1 story ). But at the same time, it’s the best thing I’ve written so far, I like my prose, my MC is very nicely done (although, I fumbled a bit one side character in final draft),… So right now my story exists in a limbo where I’m 100% it’ll win and also 100% it’ll be rejected and also 100% sure it’ll  place lower than my Q3

@haganenoedward I love my MC on this one too but is there enough speculative fiction? I guess we shall see. 😆 😆 😆

@empressed What is the Grinder?

I didn't realize results could come so early this month! I figured we'd be looking at around Thanksgiving. Fingers crossed all around!

@bootzenkatzen link to website: https://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/

Posted by: @bootzenkatzen

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From what I've seen in other quarters, we're probably looking at mid/late-November to mid-December for results, yeah?

I think others have mentioned that Quarter 4 results come more quickly because of the rush to make the book. You might also be interested to know that Quarter 2 (someone correct me if that's wrong) comes later because they are busy with the workshop/awards ceremony.

The earliest HM notification I received via email was on Sunday Nov 06, 2022 at 10:53 pm.

@toddjones and today is Thursday...

It is a Thursday, but anyday can be Thursday.

Thursday is gone gone gone
Friday is born born born
Entrants mourn mourn mourn
Until next Thursday,
Yawn yawn yawn

Yup, still not a poet...

@tj_knight Love this! Can it be pinned every Friday after the expected Thursday results day?

@joel-c-scoberg And remind everyone of my terrible attempt at humor and or poetry? Let's not. 😭

[The hobbit watches the sunset, hoping her speculative element is strong enough.]

[She looks at the empty tables in twitching tent and makes a list for next week.]

[Cookies, smores, scones...]

[The man is fighting with his next story and procrastination at the same time.]

[He looks around the almost empty twitching tent. His eyes fall on the hobbit.]

[He walks to the hobbit and looks over her shoulder. She’s making some kind of list. Probably to prepare for an avalanche of newcomers.]

[He really doesn’t want to, but maybe he should help?]

[He leaves the tent, grumbling and mumbling along the way. He returns with bags full of ingredients and drops them near the hobbit.] 

[He looks at packages full of chocolate chips. He haven’t baked in a while. Maybe it was time to refresh the arcane knowledge and make himself something? Maybe he will put aside a little bit for others too. Ok, maybe mire than a little bit, if they would want.]

[The elf sees the hobbit and the man]

[they've been busy]

[a sudden gust of wind swirls colorful leaves around the tents]

[adding to the festive air]

[as folks begin to gather around the food tables]

[and dip mugs into the cauldron of hot chocolate]

[thanks Candice, yummy!]

[the dragon is standing by at the s'mores station]

[the dragon promises to only flame marshmallows]

[not gnomes. not humans. not dwarves or hobbits or elves. Not anybody.]

[smells of scruncheous scones fill the air]

[it's the last quarter of volume 42!]

[at least three more will be going to Hollywood!]

[will this be the week that that is revealed?]

[only time will tell]

[the elf pulls out her laptop and mulls a list of possible character names]

[Hmmmm.... She realizes her Q1 story won't write itself]

Phone charged, off silent mode, and nearby.

[The man looks at his phone.] 

[It’s too far away and besides, his hands are dirty AND he’s way too busy with baking. ]

[He casts a silent spell.]

[The phone levitates and flies towards him.]

[No calls. No news. But who is he kidding, his drivel is not worth even a note, let alone a call.]

[He catches some chocolate chips trying to run away. He shouldn’t have gotten ingredients from those damn wizards.]

[He mumbles: “this wait is going to kill me.”]

[The hobbit thanks the man and the elf.]

[She rushes over to the ringing phone.]

[She answers it only discover it the damn wizard pawning of wagon insurance.]

[Enters the tent for the very first time, and grabs a cup of cocoa (she's expecting snow later, she'll need it)]

[Adds a batch freshly 3d printed fidget toys to the tables for those in need]

[Jumps when the phone buzzes, and checks it excitedly]

[Sighs]

[It's just the riddle subreddit telling her someone else requested a hint for one of her riddles]

[Fidgets]

[Decides to look around for a bookie, wondering what the odds are on the results coming out this week]