Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29

I don't have a semi to my credit but if you're predicting the future, that's not a bad way to go about it.

I'm thinking of sending everyone on that list a PM. How cruel would that be?

Fixed...

I have 5 HMs....

I have 5 HMs....

Man was I sloppy. Fixed...

You shouldn't post next quarters entry on this site. It'll disqualify you.
It would certainly make the start of an interesting story...
And then there were none...

I don't know my exact stats. Because there were like, two entries I made as a teen (one of which was a QF) and then I backed off for like five years.... now I've lost track of the HMs because really who's counting after you hit finalist. o0 Even a SF would be a little embarrassing, if it contained similar crits to the last one. . .

Pure unadulterated AWESOMESAUCE. That's what this is.

"BLACK SIX, This is BLACK ONE, SITREP follows. Prepare to copy, OVER..."

"BLACK ONE. BLACK SIX. SEND IT..."

"BLACK ONE PLATOON has TWO-EIGHT survivors. I SAY AGAIN, TWO-EIGHT survivors.."

"I COPY TWO-EIGHT survivors. How many combat veterans remain, OVER?"

"BLACK SIX. BLACK ONE. ONE-FOUR combat vets remain...List follows, OVER."

"SEND IT."

"BLACK SIX. BLACK ONE. Prepare to copy:

Tina (gower21)
Corbin (1xF, 2xSF, 7xHM)
Francis Bruno (1xSF)
Amanda McCarter (1xSF, 1xSHM, 5xHM)
Martin Shoemaker (1xF, 1xSF, 2xHM)
Izanobu (1xSF, 2xSHM, 6xHM)
Grayson (3xHM)
Marina (2xF, 2xHM)
Kary
Dustin (1xF, 2xHM)
Jennifer Hicks (1xSF, 1xSHM, 6xHM)
Justin Key (medicalauthor)
Alex Kane (3xHM)
anarresti
permanentnovice
joshpotter
hazlett
george.nik
The Happy Snappy Gator (1xSF, 2xHM)
bwthomson
greenroom (1xHM)
Isto
Preston (2xHM)
Patrick S. McGinnity
Serrain
MontyApollo (1xHM)
gwasch"

"BLACK ONE. BLACK SIX. Duotrope scouts report 58 KIA out of ~100 friendlies in Alpha Company....BREAK....S2 projects 90 total KIA....BREAK...Battalion estimates 32 more KIA in the company...BREAK...Expect SEVEN-SIX percent KIA rate in what's left of your platoon...BREAK...Or TWO-ONE more casualties...BREAK...Recommend vets pair with newbies and watch their sixes. ACKNOWLEDGE, OVER..."

"BLACK SIX. BLACK ONE. ACKNOWLEDGED. OVER..."

"BLACK ONE. BLACK SIX. Charlie Mike. BLACK SIX OUT."

Seems there was only a stirring of waters today, rather than a wave.

My guessomancy picks are still in the race. At least I can pick people to hang around the competition.

Black One, as often as I read your list I only copy two-seven, repeat, two-seven names. Over.

On a happier note, looking at last quarter's results, I see 16 names that I recognize from the forum. Given that a. many people here don't post under the real names so I don't actually know the real (or pen anyway) names of quite a few and b. I've only been in the forum the last 3 months and many haven't posted at all during this period so I don't know them either, I believe that at least 20 forumites are in last quarter's list.
So it's quite possible that many of us still standing will make it to the HMs at least.
I know this will be small consolation to those of us who will be taken down just before the coming of the dawn, but it's all I have to offer right now. If we fall, at least we'll know that many of us will make it.

And now, while Good Martin is fast asleep, Evil Martin grabs the keyboard to add fuel to the fire with a comment by Jerry Pournelle (emphasis added):

Much of the day was devoured by locusts again, and more work piles up. And I have to make ready for the big conference in Colorado Springs next Monday and Tuesday; Space Command is having a conference/symposium. I also have contest finals to judge, housekeeping stuff, errands, and I have been trying to throw out junk as we do excavation down to the layers that accumulated when I was getting my hard x-ray treatment. And they have scheduled another MRI which ought to be routine.

Hmmm... I wonder what "contest finals" that might be? Hmmm...

Say, didn't I hear somewhere that Dr. Pournelle was a judge for this contest in Q1 last year? (In fact, didn't I hear somewhere that Jerry Pournelle looooooved my story?)

I suppose it's possible that he's writing about future work, with stories arriving at some unspecified time yet to come; but it suuuuuure reads to me like he has "contest finals to judge" now.

Of course, it's also possible that he's discussing the Grand Prize selection process; but given that the gala is 17 days away, I kinda think that has to be decided already, since the volume should be at the printers well before this.

So I think the most likely interpretation is that Dr. Pournelle currently has "contest finals" in hand for some contest that is wrapping up judging right around, oh, the end of this quarter. I can't imagine what contest that might be...

Oops! What's that? The alarm clock? Good Martin wants to go to the Y and burn off some calories?

Ommmmm... Ommmmm... Ommmmm... Ommmmm... Ommmmm...

Put it in.

Take it out,

Put it in.

Keep it in.

Oh dear. My junior-high giggly mechanism seems to have been activated.

Are we really debating whether or not the word penis is acceptable? It's a medical term for Pete's sake.

Dammit, Critters. Would you stop blowing up my inbox? Yer makin' me nervous.

Seriously! (And I'm not even in Q1!)

Say, didn't I hear somewhere that Dr. Pournelle was a judge for this contest in Q1 last year? (In fact, didn't I hear somewhere that Jerry Pournelle looooooved my story?)

And now, while Good Martin is fast asleep, Evil Martin grabs the keyboard to add fuel to the fire with a comment by Jerry Pournelle (emphasis added):

Much of the day was devoured by locusts again, and more work piles up. And I have to make ready for the big conference in Colorado Springs next Monday and Tuesday; Space Command is having a conference/symposium. I also have contest finals to judge, housekeeping stuff, errands, and I have been trying to throw out junk as we do excavation down to the layers that accumulated when I was getting my hard x-ray treatment. And they have scheduled another MRI which ought to be routine.

Hmmm... I wonder what "contest finals" that might be? Hmmm...

Say, didn't I hear somewhere that Dr. Pournelle was a judge for this contest in Q1 last year? (In fact, didn't I hear somewhere that Jerry Pournelle looooooved my story?)

I suppose it's possible that he's writing about future work, with stories arriving at some unspecified time yet to come; but it suuuuuure reads to me like he has "contest finals to judge" now.

Of course, it's also possible that he's discussing the Grand Prize selection process; but given that the gala is 17 days away, I kinda think that has to be decided already, since the volume should be at the printers well before this.

So I think the most likely interpretation is that Dr. Pournelle currently has "contest finals" in hand for some contest that is wrapping up judging right around, oh, the end of this quarter. I can't imagine what contest that might be...

Oops! What's that? The alarm clock? Good Martin wants to go to the Y and burn off some calories?

Ommmmm... Ommmmm... Ommmmm... Ommmmm... Ommmmm...

Ouch! Martin, you've got to keep closer tabs on that guy (evil Martin, not Pournelle, although come to think of it, I'm glad someone's keeping tabs on him too). That is just uncalled for, and I for one, am not going to stand for it!

Although, it means it could just be possible, that right now, at this very moment, Dr. Pournelle is tearfully finishing my story for the eighth time in a row since he picked it up last night before bed. Perhaps he stayed up all night reading it over and over, desperate to solve the riddle of how this nobody's story had so deeply affected him, changed his worldview forever. That it is the winner is beyond a doubt, the only question left in his mind is, how can he go on writing after this?

Or he might have been referring to another contest entirely, or to the expected work in the near future.

On a more objective note, it would be cool if everyone found out at the same time, from rejections all the way up to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Although the mass of e-mails required in a day would probably put poor Joni in a home.

Ah well. Onward!

Say, didn't I hear somewhere that Dr. Pournelle was a judge for this contest in Q1 last year? (In fact, didn't I hear somewhere that Jerry Pournelle looooooved my story?)

Evil Martin thought it had been an entire quarter or more since I noted that, and he thought that had to be rectified.

Although, it means it could just be possible, that right now, at this very moment, Dr. Pournelle is tearfully finishing my story for the eighth time in a row since he picked it up last night before bed. Perhaps he stayed up all night reading it over and over, desperate to solve the riddle of how this nobody's story had so deeply affected him, changed his worldview forever. That it is the winner is beyond a doubt, the only question left in his mind is, how can he go on writing after this?

Oh goodness it's going to be a giggly morning. <3

As a side note, I'll allow that scenario.

Black One, as often as I read your list I only copy two-seven, repeat, two-seven names. Over.

On a happier note, looking at last quarter's results, I see 16 names that I recognize from the forum. Given that a. many people here don't post under the real names so I don't actually know the real (or pen anyway) names of quite a few and b. I've only been in the forum the last 3 months and many haven't posted at all during this period so I don't know them either, I believe that at least 20 forumites are in last quarter's list.
So it's quite possible that many of us still standing will make it to the HMs at least.
I know this will be small consolation to those of us who will be taken down just before the coming of the dawn, but it's all I have to offer right now. If we fall, at least we'll know that many of us will make it.

Thanks for catching that. It turns out the count was right, but I missed Dame when I was cutting and pasting the results. The oversight has been corrected. Sorry.

Much of the day was devoured by locusts again, and more work piles up. And I have to make ready for the big conference in Colorado Springs next Monday and Tuesday; Space Command is having a conference/symposium. I also have contest finals to judge, housekeeping stuff, errands, and I have been trying to throw out junk as we do excavation down to the layers that accumulated when I was getting my hard x-ray treatment. And they have scheduled another MRI which ought to be routine.

Wouldn't that imply that the finalists already know who they are and are just keeping quiet like good mice? And, yes, you are BAD. BAD, I say. Just when I had the whole OMMMM thing going. Now you've got my paranoid juices
flowing again and I'll have to pop another Thorazine!

That wasn't me, that was Evil Martin! You can tell by the smiley! I abhor smilies...

There's no law that says they can't send to judges before notifying Finalists. But yes, if Finalists have been notified, they're supposed to stay mum. Which is why I choose to preemptively stay mum, so that nothing can be deduced from my mumness.

IMHO, it wouldn't imply that the finalists necessarily know who they are, just that Monsieur Pournelle is either in possession of the relevant entries, or at least knows they are incoming.

BUT - unless I am mistaken, we've not ever had it confirmed that the Gold Winner is picked ahead of the gala. For all we know, he's judging last year's winners to pick who gets the gold.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

IMHO, it wouldn't imply that the finalists necessarily know who they are, just that Monsieur Pournelle is either in possession of the relevant entries, or at least knows they are incoming.

BUT - unless I am mistaken, we've not ever had it confirmed that the Gold Winner is picked ahead of the gala. For all we know, he's judging last year's winners to pick who gets the gold.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

My guess is (as in Evil Martin's comment) that since the Gold Winner is announced in the anthology that is distributed right after the gala, it has to be selected enough in advance to make the lead time at the printer. And my further guess is that 17 days is not enough lead time for that. But not knowing the particulars about their printing process, I could be wrong. Maybe 17 days is sufficient lead time.

Hey everyone, luckily I've been free of rejectomancy and duotropery this past week (at a Kris and Dean workshop, and those typically devour all your time), but I'll add my commiserations for those who were taken out in that last round.

But, I'm still in for Q1 as well.

And if we're adding to the pile of past performance, I'll toss my very mixed bag into it:

1x Finalist
1x HM
A boat load of Rs.

Is the Gold Winner announced in the anthology? I don't have a copy handy . . . could someone check? I don't recall that being the case.

As a potential Gold Winner for illustration, I thought the judges wouldn't get to see/read the stories/illustrations until after the final edits were completed on the stories (I think the writers finished those sometime in early March) and the illustrations got their final check off by the art director (which for us occured at the end of February).

I'm betting that KD is still sifting through the Q1 stories.

IMHO, it wouldn't imply that the finalists necessarily know who they are, just that Monsieur Pournelle is either in possession of the relevant entries, or at least knows they are incoming.

BUT - unless I am mistaken, we've not ever had it confirmed that the Gold Winner is picked ahead of the gala. For all we know, he's judging last year's winners to pick who gets the gold.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

My guess is (as in Evil Martin's comment) that since the Gold Winner is announced in the anthology that is distributed right after the gala, it has to be selected enough in advance to make the lead time at the printer. And my further guess is that 17 days is not enough lead time for that. But not knowing the particulars about their printing process, I could be wrong. Maybe 17 days is sufficient lead time.

My guess is (as in Evil Martin's comment) that since the Gold Winner is announced in the anthology that is distributed right after the gala, it has to be selected enough in advance to make the lead time at the printer. And my further guess is that 17 days is not enough lead time for that. But not knowing the particulars about their printing process, I could be wrong. Maybe 17 days is sufficient lead time.

Actually, if I'm recalling correctly, the gold awards aren't printed in the anthology. And the winners get to see the antho before the gala when they do a tour at Author Services.

So, I'm guessing if he was referring to this contest he probably was talking about judging for the gold award.

And now, while Good Martin is fast asleep, Evil Martin grabs the keyboard to add fuel to the fire with a comment by Jerry Pournelle (emphasis added):

Is Evil Martin somehow related to Mischievious Gator?

Much of the day was devoured by locusts again, and more work piles up. And I have to make ready for the big conference in Colorado Springs next Monday and Tuesday; Space Command is having a conference/symposium. I also have contest finals to judge, housekeeping stuff, errands, and I have been trying to throw out junk as we do excavation down to the layers that accumulated when I was getting my hard x-ray treatment. And they have scheduled another MRI which ought to be routine.

Hmmm... I wonder what "contest finals" that might be? Hmmm...

Say, didn't I hear somewhere that Dr. Pournelle was a judge for this contest in Q1 last year? (In fact, didn't I hear somewhere that Jerry Pournelle looooooved my story?)

I suppose it's possible that he's writing about future work, with stories arriving at some unspecified time yet to come; but it suuuuuure reads to me like he has "contest finals to judge" now.

Of course, it's also possible that he's discussing the Grand Prize selection process; but given that the gala is 17 days away, I kinda think that has to be decided already, since the volume should be at the printers well before this.

So I think the most likely interpretation is that Dr. Pournelle currently has "contest finals" in hand for some contest that is wrapping up judging right around, oh, the end of this quarter. I can't imagine what contest that might be...

Oops! What's that? The alarm clock? Good Martin wants to go to the Y and burn off some calories?

Ommmmm... Ommmmm... Ommmmm... Ommmmm... Ommmmm...

Isn't the selection of the Gold Winner restricted to first place winners only? It's possible Mr. Pournelle is being imprecise, but he specifically refers to "finals" not "winners," so my guess is the man means what he says. Which makes me wonder...

But I didn't seriously expect to reach the finals with this one anyway.

Hey, Martin - do you know who your judges were *aside* from Jerry Pournelle?

I know who two of my judges were for Q2 vol 27--but seeing as how that was two years ago, I'm not sure it'll help any data points: Tim Powers and Jerry Pournelle.

Look, we can try to track Mr. Pournelle's movements! Ah, the illusive migratory patterns of Contest Judges.

Hey, Martin - do you know who your judges were *aside* from Jerry Pournelle?

Nope! Just that one brief comment from Joni, something for me to cling to when the Writing Gods seem to hate me...

Interesting, Marina, thanks! One of my favorite non-productive things to noodle over is how the panel make-up might influence whether a certain quarter will be more (or less) friendly to fantasy over sci-fi. Conventional wisdom for this contest is that they get more fantasy entries, so it's harder to win with fantasy - and I write more fantasy than SF.

The secret pattern... There is no pattern... ...probably applies less to selection and judging. But man, it would drive me crazy trying to puzzle it out!

Interesting, Marina, thanks! One of my favorite non-productive things to noodle over is how the panel make-up might influence whether a certain quarter will be more (or less) friendly to fantasy over sci-fi. Conventional wisdom for this contest is that they get more fantasy entries, so it's harder to win with fantasy - and I write more fantasy than SF.

I wonder about this too, because they get little hard SF and I know at least one of the judges is inclined toward hard SF . . . But I don't write that. And they never tell us who the judges are for a given quarter. (A smart move on their part I think.)

And YOU Martin! This is no place for logic!

And now, while Good Martin is fast asleep, Evil Martin grabs the keyboard to add fuel to the fire with a comment by Jerry Pournelle (emphasis added):

Is Evil Martin somehow related to Mischievious Gator?

Long lost twin cousins, I'm sure.