@empressed I hope you get another call!
I was five years between #1 and #2. Then 7 years... If I hadn't won that time I'd have received my fourth call in my tomb.
Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight
If I hadn't won that time I'd have received my fourth call in my tomb.
But at least you'd still have been entering 🤣
"hmm, look, entries from 126 countries and one from beyond the grave..."
"...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
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: R Q2: P Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
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:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month
Being dead is no excuse. People get published and awarded posthumously all the time!
Check your email, guys. My story got RWC 😅. Which I find kinda baffling as I thought it’s leagues better than my Q3, plus I spent like half a year writing it. But well, I guess it’s time to send it to other markets.
2025: Q3: S-F, Q4: RWC
2026: Q1: -, Q2: submitted, Q3: TBD
I thought this story was doomed to RWC, but alas, I was surprised with 
This was my very first try at 1st person present.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 10 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
Writers of the Future:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
Todd S. Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
Pleased with the SHM, especially as I found a wart or two after I sent it in. 
. Good luck to everyone else!
F x1
SHM x6
HM x14
RWC x1
R Dozens
Anyone know if they send the emails in batches? Nothing has come through my inbox yet... 😕
"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." ~Hemingway (maybe)
2026 V43: R, P, TBD
2025 V42: HM, SHM, RWC, SF
2024 V41: --, RWC, --, R
Anyone know if they send the emails in batches? Nothing has come through my inbox yet... 😕
They must. I've received my email notifications hours after others before.
Writers of the Future:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
Todd S. Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
my first resubmission - completely rewritten from the original, shortened from 11.6k down to 8.2k or so, switched from first person to close third, deleted some characters and some scenes, tightened the pace and middle, added more sensory and interiority. Overall I think a much better story. HM on original submission, and this time...HM. 🤣
"...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
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: R Q2: P Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
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:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month
my first resubmission - completely rewritten from the original, shortened from 11.6k down to 8.2k or so, switched from first person to close third, deleted some characters and some scenes, tightened the pace and middle, added more sensory and interiority. Overall I think a much better story. HM on original submission, and this time...HM. 🤣
Those are some big changes. Sorry to hear it didn't achieve higher. Maybe it is a good fit for another market.
I did similar with another story and know it was a better, tighter story, but it didn't move up the chain.
Writers of the Future:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
Todd S. Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
@toddsjones congratulations
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 10 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
I thought this story was doomed to RWC, but alas, I was surprised with
Congrats. Add that to your collections of certificates. They look good hanging on the wall.
Writers of the Future:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
Todd S. Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
Congratulations to those who got honorable mentions!
I also see mentions of "RWC" and I think from context that means "rejected with comments"? I received an email saying that I didn't win, but it seems like a form letter. Do some rejections get individual comments as well, and thus say they received "RWC"?
Thanks for helping me learn the ropes and terminology around here!
Rejection With Comments is indeed a form letter. It means that you had a good attempt, but for one of a handful of reasons the story fell short. For practical reasons, the slush team doesn’t have time for specifics. The form letter is a good middle ground.
Semifinalists are the only stories that get individual critiques.
http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North
My first entry in a couple of years (I think). Another SHM. 
Chuck Thompson
6 Rs, 5 HMs, 3 SHMs
Well I thought my story was at least HM territory. Instead I got RWc. I guess the story was more deeply flawed than I thought. Oh well, on to Q1. Congrats to everyone who managed an HM or more!
R: 2 / RWC: 1 / HM: 2 / SHM: 2/ SF: 0 / F: 1
@gideonpsmith That is funny (and painful too, I know, sorry). I've done the same thing. I actually think I've done both, made a story better and made another one worse, with the benefit of hindsight. 😀 But in neither case did my WoTF result get better, and I've stopped resubmitting old things--although, I'm actually torn right now as I haven't started a story for this quarter and I have a really old one I was polishing up for something else. We'll see. If it's that or nothing, I might drop it in. Maybe. Or I could see what a total desperate last minute scramble nets me instead, as another experiment. 
F x1
SHM x6
HM x14
RWC x1
R Dozens
@hyperion88 Could just be a poor fit with judge's taste, as I'm sure you're aware (but still worth saying). Maybe another market will fit it better!
F x1
SHM x6
HM x14
RWC x1
R Dozens
8th RWC, 4th in a row. Good luck, everyone!
SHM: 1 HM: 5 R/RWC: many
I also see mentions of "RWC" and I think from context that means "rejected with comments"?
That is better than R. The form letter RWC means you missed something in one of those areas. Read through and check your story, it may be obvious and it may not. Maybe ask for a swap with others in the forum to see if they can identify what might be the issue.
I had someone do that with an RWC of mine and I about banged my head against the wall once they pointed out what I needed to fix. The big issue was obvious to them (not so much to me), some of the smaller issues took a lot of thought. In the end, the story became a much better tale after I fixed things and it achieved a better rating on resbumit.
Writers of the Future:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
Todd S. Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
My first entry in a couple of years (I think). Another SHM.
Very nice. Welcome back to WotF.
Writers of the Future:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
Todd S. Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
Well I thought my story was at least HM territory. Instead I got RWc. I guess the story was more deeply flawed than I thought. Oh well, on to Q1. Congrats to everyone who managed an HM or more!
We've all had some Rs and/or RWCs that we really thought they were better, but didn't get the achievement. (Maybe it is just the two of us, but I doubt it. )
You took the time and effort to write and submit a story, which is a huge accomplishment. Be proud and write on.
Writers of the Future:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
Todd S. Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
8th RWC, 4th in a row. Good luck, everyone!
Sorry to hear that.
You have some nice achievements under your belt. You will get them next time.
Writers of the Future:
2026 V43: HM, Submitted (HM Resubmit), Dreaming up ideas
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
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
2020 V37: -, R, -, -
Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt
Todd S. Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
Certainly cranks the twitch dial up a few notches... 😜Anyone know if they send the emails in batches? Nothing has come through my inbox yet... 😕
They must. I've received my email notifications hours after others before.
"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." ~Hemingway (maybe)
2026 V43: R, P, TBD
2025 V42: HM, SHM, RWC, SF
2024 V41: --, RWC, --, R
I’m thrilled with this result because this was my first attempt sending something humorous. I’m glad they didn’t think it was the dumbest thing ever. Congrats to everyone who submitted!
V39: - - - HM
V40: SHM, HM, SHM, HM
V41: HM, SHM, SHM, F
V42: DQ, HM, SHM, SHM
V43: HM, P, WIP
Stories published in Triangulation: Hospitium, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, and others.
https://kzrichards.com
Someone please remind me. It has been a couple of years. Is it still true that an SHM means the story probably was read all the way through and was in contention to be considered as a finalist?
When I was entering regularly, I submitted a couple HMs and one SHM at least once more (with revisions) to see if I could break it upward. (I don't think it ever worked and one SHM went down) Thoughts? I don't think I ever submitted the same story more than once.
Chuck Thompson
6 Rs, 5 HMs, 3 SHMs
@kz_richards congratulations
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 10 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
Well I thought my story was at least HM territory. Instead I got RWc. I guess the story was more deeply flawed than I thought. Oh well, on to Q1. Congrats to everyone who managed an HM or more!
Ive been there myself. You'll get there.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 5 RWC, 10 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology