Discussion: Q4 Volume 42

Posted by: @bootzenkatzen

↑

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

I have two gnomes and a rabbit to bet with that results are next week.

@toddjones I'll raise you a flamingo!  I've got a feeling about this Thursday... 😆

The sooner the better for me, because my nerves can’t take it anymore 😅😅😅 But I think we’ll get them the latest possible date 😅. Also, I just purchased volume 40 and skimmed through first few paragraphs of some stories. All of them but one seem to be far better than my story (and that one is around my level 😅). I’m looking forward to reading them all properly though. But confident in my abilities I certainly am not 😅. 

@haganenoedward There are a lot of factors that go into accepting a story. Could be timing (right theme at the right time). Could be topic (don't want too many tales with the same subject or character types). Could be simply that it is the best of the best for that quarter.

Okay, that over simplified it, but I'm sure you see where I'm going.

Keep writing , keep submitting  , keep having fun and keep the occasional   to a minimum.  

Submitted for the first time in Q4! Was sweating the results but now I can rest easy knowing I will be rejected for language 🙃  

My original review of the rules on the website led me to think it was no excessive language allowed... I stumbled upon the forum recently and found a helpful post on profanity that told me I will receive a quick death for my F-bomb. Ugh!! Wish I could easily go in and take it out! 😫

Good luck to everyone else who submitted... on the bright side for me I guess my Q1 submission will be a quick one!

@foldmysocks Same! 🤣 I dropped a bomb as well.  Of course, I also forgot to put my title in the header/footer, so I'm double whammied... whoops

Posted by: @foldmysocks

↑

Submitted for the first time in Q4! Was sweating the results but now I can rest easy knowing I will be rejected for language 🙃  

My original review of the rules on the website led me to think it was no excessive language allowed... I stumbled upon the forum recently and found a helpful post on profanity that told me I will receive a quick death for my F-bomb. Ugh!! Wish I could easily go in and take it out! 😫

Good luck to everyone else who submitted... on the bright side for me I guess my Q1 submission will be a quick one!

If you only used one F-bomb, it might not be disqualifying issue. My semi-finalist had a couple "Crap!" in them. It was a military vs blood magi so it fit. I only used it twice.

In other stories I've come up with creative swears, like "Hairballs!" when my MC was a cat.

Just be aware of the profanity and try to avoid it if possible.

@toddjones Appreciate the feedback. I reread the dialogue in which I used it and cringed... you would think for someone aspiring to be a creative writer I would be able to come up with... more creative words! 😑

@bootzenkatzen 🤣. Two negatives make a positive... right?!?

@toddjones So you can use some F bombs? Originally I had one in my Q3 story and  I dropped it there with a mathematical precision (it was probably my favorite sentence in the story for a bit), but I decided to edit it out

@haganenoedward I’ve heard no f-bombs allowed. To be safe, I would not include any.

Posted by: @kz_richards

↑

@haganenoedward I’ve heard no f-bombs allowed. To be safe, I would not include any.

The old rule was we might tolerate one or two, but the author would have to edit them out of the story won.

The rule eventually changed to no f-bombs period. And creative attempts to circumvent the rule (fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck) would get laughter, but also rejection.

Twas the night before Thursday and all through the tent

The twitchers were attempting to write with their pens

Hot cocoa was simmering along with smores

And the hobbit and men were sharing their snores.

Posted by: @haganenoedward

↑

@toddjones So you can use some F bombs? Originally I had one in my Q3 story and  I dropped it there with a mathematical precision (it was probably my favorite sentence in the story for a bit), but I decided to edit it out

I would avoid F bombs, but it doesn't mean that is the reason your story would be ousted.

[The man is curled into an anxious ball.]

[No notifications. Another Wednesday passes. And thus, another Thursday begins.]

[As the man sips hot cocoa from his mug, he remembers an action wisdom: ‘Every day is a Thursday.’]

[But will this one be THE Thursday?]

@toddjones Well, as the story didn’t win, I’ll try to send it to other markets and am REALLY looking forward to putting the F bomb back in there . And my Q4 has none and needs none, so that one is safe.

Posted by: @bootzenkatzen

↑

@foldmysocks Same! 🤣 I dropped a bomb as well.  Of course, I also forgot to put my title in the header/footer, so I'm double whammied... whoops

In terms of food, it's putting tiny inedible plants around the plate. You can't eat them, but they sure look nice. 

You're the chef. Present the best plate you can, but the meat is the meal. 

Posted by: @tj_knight

↑

 

In terms of food, it's putting tiny inedible plants around the plate. You can't eat them, but they sure look nice. 

You're the chef. Present the best plate you can, but the meat is the meal. 

 

hmm, maybe that's my problem. I've been serving them meat for years, maybe they're all strict vegetarians...  😉 

Is today THE Thursday?

Any grumblings, hints, clues about announcement emails going out?

In my case the F-bomb felt really appropriate, and I would have a hard time editing it out, because it's one of my favorite exchanges, even though it's a pretty cliche joke. MC just found out they were pregnant while stranded on an alien planet, "Well F me." "I think somebody already did that." Stupid, but fits the characters really well.

My second draft does have it edited... but it doesn't quite hit the same.

No idea if this Thursday is THURSDAY, but it could be! I dwell in possibilities! 

[the elf peered out of her tent]

[her eyes widen at the crowd]

[she darts to the food table and fills up her mug]

[no time to chat]

[she has a story germ to catch]

@tj_knight Yeah, I may not be "idiot sandwich" level bad, but those garnishes could be the difference between getting a high five from Gordon Ramsay, or getting cut for being barely beat out.

I was feeling really good about my story this time, but this morning I made the mistake of reading the opening pages and all I see are imperfections.... Ugh. Yeah, I know that's never a good idea.

I guess I feel a little better knowing that I probably didn't make it and I can stop twitching so much and just focus on the next story. Good luck to everyone though! I'm looking forward to reading the winning stories!

When everyone is referring to Thursday, that is after the calls have gone out and the emails start coming, right? Or is it the calls? 

@annmarieinlr

Thursdays are more of a guideline than a rule. 😉

There were a few quarters in a row many years back when results came out on a Thursday and the idea just stuck.
So it's results, not calls. Only eight people know what day those happen. 

Posted by: @bootzenkatzen

↑

@tj_knight Yeah, I may not be "idiot sandwich" level bad, but those garnishes could be the difference between getting a high five from Gordon Ramsay, or getting cut for being barely beat out.

That's why I wanted to pass it along. Again, it's not a requirement, just how I had mine look all that time. We spend so many hours crafting the thing, may as well take a few extra minutes to set it in double spaced 12 TNR with 1" margins. If there's a top 3 - it's those. 

@tj_knight Thanks.

Posted by: @bootzenkatzen

↑

In my case the F-bomb felt really appropriate, and I would have a hard time editing it out, because it's one of my favorite exchanges, even though it's a pretty cliche joke. MC just found out they were pregnant while stranded on an alien planet, "Well F me." "I think somebody already did that." Stupid, but fits the characters really well.

My second draft does have it edited... but it doesn't quite hit the same.

I had some fun finding other words to try in that joke. Stuff me, ring that bell, bang the bishop, it ate up time I certainly should have spent doing other things.  

^ me too! 

"I'm screwed." 

"Yup and yup."