Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29

We played the version of spoons where there are no spoons!

Instead of grabbing a spoon you put your finger on your nose. It didn't have the crazed clamouring for a spoon (probably to its detriment), but it had the added subtlety of being able to touch your nose quietly on-the-sly and then watch the wave sweep round the table until one poor sod who is intent on their cards is telling the person next to them to hurry up when they look up and see all eyes on them, and then people snigger.

Also it is good for fake-outs Patrick, with the whole I-was-just-scratching deal.

I can't remember what it was called, probably not spoons!

Yeah, me too. I was in here jabbering about spoons and just about to go to bed then I saw Brad's post and it was a shock.

I'm at a loss for words really, it's just so sad. My condolences to Kathy's family and friends.

This is truly sad news.

For those of you still waiting...strap in becasue here they come. I just got my rejection and I see two others already on Duotrope.

Good luck to all those remaining.

Oh, geez. And rejections today, too. Truly a day and night of misfortune. 🙁

This is truly sad news.

For those of you still waiting...strap in becasue here they come. I just got my rejection and I see two others already on Duotrope.

Good luck to all those remaining.

Wow, I didn't expect to see any results today, considering. Good luck everyone.

I got a form rejection. It's kind of a relief as I didn't think this story was a good fit (or very good, period), so if it had done well it would have just skewed my idea of what the contest wants . I have more faith in my Q2 entry.

Sorry to hear that you guys.

I wonder how this all works now...

Commiserations chaps. I swear, if I get a rejection come through right now I'll start blubbing big Gator tears.

Om....

Sorry to hear that you guys.

I wonder how this all works now...

I wouldn't worry too much about the contest. Since rejections aree still coming out, obviously someone is still at the controls. Since she was sick, I doubt KD had much to do with this current quarter at all and maybe not the previous quarter either, but someone is still doing the heavy lifting. I'm sure we'll find out who in good order.

I wonder how this all works now...

My guess is that for some weeks if not months, WOTF has been aware that Kathy would probably need to step down and concentrate on her health for a while, if not permanently. Probably a replacement has already been pegged and perhaps had even already started offloading work from Kathy before the terrible event yesterday. Also, someone with the handle "toddmcc" joined the forums today. Pattern-seeking minds may jump to their own conclusions, and I will only be a little insufferable for a wee span of time if I've jumped to the right ones.

I'm still in shock. I found out at work and made quite the scene. She was such a sweet, mild-tempered woman who always tried to make time for the beginning writers around here. She always spoke softly and almost never out of anger. My heart goes out to her husband and all the lives she's touched over the years. I will do my best to go to the wake next week.

Also, someone with the handle "toddmcc" joined the forums today. Pattern-seeking minds may jump to their own conclusions, and I will only be a little insufferable for a wee span of time if I've jumped to the right ones.

Having just read a rejection myself, it may be worth noting that it actually encourages rejectees to join the forum, so it could be something like that.

I wonder how this all works now...

My guess is that for some weeks if not months, WOTF has been aware that Kathy would probably need to step down and concentrate on her health for a while, if not permanently. Probably a replacement has already been pegged and perhaps had even already started offloading work from Kathy before the terrible event yesterday. Also, someone with the handle "toddmcc" joined the forums today. Pattern-seeking minds may jump to their own conclusions, and I will only be a little insufferable for a wee span of time if I've jumped to the right ones.

And of course, Joni is the one who handles the contacting side of things. Assuming the decisions have been made -- and it certainly looks like some of them have -- then Joni will keep the ball rolling.

I have high confidence: Joni and crew will do everything possible to keep things running smoothly even in the face of their loss. The contest was very important to K.D., and it's very important to them, so they'll be very motivated to keep it on course.

Also, someone with the handle "toddmcc" joined the forums today. Pattern-seeking minds may jump to their own conclusions, and I will only be a little insufferable for a wee span of time if I've jumped to the right ones.

Having just read a rejection myself, it may be worth noting that it actually encourages rejectees to join the forum, so it could be something like that.

Yes, it could certainly be Todd McCall or Todd McCain, but, you know, my mind jumped elsewhere entirely.

Oh! I just connected your dots. Okay.

Oh! I just connected your dots. Okay.

Yes, it could be Todd McAnybody, but my hunch says it's a dragon of a different color.

Yes, it could certainly be Todd McCall or Todd McCain, but, you know, my mind jumped elsewhere entirely.

My guess is that "toddmcc" is Todd McCaffery (Anne's son/co-author). He just joined the WotF legion of judges. I met him last week. he seems like a really nice guy.

Got a rejection. Kinda bummed, was expecting/hoping for more. I know I'm new to the contest but I have been writing for a while and felt strongly about the story.

On to the next oneI. Good luck to everyone else!

Oh! I just connected your dots. Okay.

Yes, it could be Todd McAnybody, but my hunch says it's a dragon of a different color.

Oh my goodness, if the dragon man shows up here I shall have to keep a close eye on that wicked gator.

Ok, I should have read this thread first. Now my dream a few nights ago just got weirder.

So sorry to all of those who got rejections today. Keep in mind that this was just one story (in the craziest of quarters ever, considering the awards show and KD passing away), make your next one better and the one after that. You might feel this was the best thing you'd ever written, but you have better things in you waiting to be found, so keep going!! Lots of people on here have gotten rejections and the next quarter a Finalist or a Semi or an HM. Good luck in Q2.

Actually don't really care anymore if I win or not. I'll keep entering, of course, and I'll be thrilled if I do win. But it's just not the same without Kathy.

Wow, the news of K.D.passing, and rejections all in the same day. I just can't believe it, I'm at a loss for words. I had already planned on what I was going to say when more rejections came in, but now with learning about K.D. the tone of this topic has changed, so I won't be posting it. But I will post a little part of what I was going to say:

"You may think you have failed. The story you submitted has finally come to an end. But know that your writing was not in vain. For it is these failures that continue to each us, not hinder us. If we accomplished all our dreams right away, then what would be the point to living?

Don’t give up. Live on. Write on. Believe in a better tomorrow.

After all, we are the Writers of the Future."

R.I.P. K.D.

I know Amanda, this is going to be rough without KD at the helm.

Actually don't really care anymore if I win or not. I'll keep entering, of course, and I'll be thrilled if I do win. But it's just not the same without Kathy.

Yeah...I've been sort of feeling this way, as well...

Actually don't really care anymore if I win or not. I'll keep entering, of course, and I'll be thrilled if I do win. But it's just not the same without Kathy.

Yeah...I've been sort of feeling this way, as well...

I'm feeling a little the opposite. I'm gonna win this d*** thing, because I want to be able to thank Kathy in my acceptance speech. Too late in person, but thanks heartfelt just the same.

This is too much.
I was at rehearsal a few hours ago for our play that goes up next week, and I got the rejection mail in my phone. For some reason I didn't feel very bad about it, I just said "OK, I'll write something better next quarter, it's not like I was expecting to win anyway".
And then I go home and I learn about K.D.
Now I really feel awful.
I always feel bad when people die, but it always devastated me when SF authors died. It seems unbelievable that people who create worlds are mortal. When I was a kid, authors were like gods to me, and I guess I've never really grown out of it. My first great shock was the death of Roger Zelazny, later Douglas Adams and recently Robert Jordan.
And KD was not only an author. In these months I've been here I've come to love this contest and everything about it, and KD was like the soul of the contest.
So I think it's best I got a rejection today. It's not a day I could rejoice about anything concerning the contest.

I... wow. My condolences to everyone, especially K.D.'s family and friends. I've never met her but she's been reading my stories for years and even liked one of them enough to pass it along to the finals. I've only heard her voice in forums and my semi-finalist letter... I guess because of that I feel a little bit connected to her, and she ended up teaching me so much in such a short time. She's was always amazing in many ways.

I'm still standing in the quarter, which I attribute to the things that she helped me figure out. If I ever do win, she'll be a big part of the reason why. The point is that she's touched all of us in some way and will be truly missed, and I think that's going to show in the anthology for a very long time.

Actually don't really care anymore if I win or not. I'll keep entering, of course, and I'll be thrilled if I do win. But it's just not the same without Kathy.

Yeah...I've been sort of feeling this way, as well...

I'm feeling a little the opposite. I'm gonna win this d*** thing, because I want to be able to thank Kathy in my acceptance speech. Too late in person, but thanks heartfelt just the same.

Now I can't wait until the next awards ceremony when you give that speech!

I lost my father just 3 days before K.D. I only just turnded to the Forum today for a little distraction. Guess that stategy didn't work. Unbelivable.