Proing out vs winning the contest?

Posted by: @lambenttyto

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Does anyone have any thoughts on this? What might the differences look like? What might be better for a writer?

I assume there's comprehensive threads on this topic, right?

I don't know what other people's thoughts on it are. Not sure I've ever read a thread on it, and I've been here a while at this point. But I think it depends on what stage the writer is at and what you, as a writer, want to get out of the competition, as it's used for different things (unsurprisingly).

1. Learning to write - some people use the R/RWC/HM/SHM/SF/F/3,2,1 to 'grade' their own writing. The forum as a testing ground. A 'safe space' to try and send things out, as it's anonymous. But you could as well join a different writers community for that.

2. Camaraderie - to keep you writing, to cheer you on, to give you an achievable once a quarter deadline. There are other ways to get that, e.g. do the Flame Tree flash or the Apex monthly flash. It's really only your own motivation that forces you to submit, or not.

3. Network - you could do Odyssey or Clarion/Clarion West, Viable Paradise etc and build network, go to cons, etc. 

4. Be called an 'award winner' - there are other awards (Resnick, Dream Foundry, Drue Heinz, Baen x 2 , NESFA, and of course the better known ones as Hugo, Nebula if you're really ambitious though they feel next stage.)

5. Have a gala in your honor - most award ceremonies are significantly less swank at this level of the ones I've participated in. But Hugos, Nebulas are a 'moment'. 

All of that might seem irrelevant to your question (?) but I still think goals are key. If you want to be an indie author, have a network, and be able to put 'award winning author' on your book cover WOTF does that better than pro-ing out I suspect. What network comes with even a pro pub at Clarkesworld? How does that appear on your novel cover?

If you want to go trad route and attract an agents attention with your bio line in your query for a novel - WOTF is a known and respected competition. But Clarkesworld is probably a higher signal (IMHO). As would be Uncanny. However, they are generally harder to get into. WOTF would probably outstrip brand name recognition from some of my other pro-level pubs though (Anomaly being my latest - but most agents will not be as impressed by that as WOTF or Clarkesworld, neither of which I have). So I think it also depends on how you pro-out. 

But I do think this competition has an element of randomness to it, just like all of publishing, and as such, I don't think you should hold yourself back from other opportunities if they come, as this one may, or may not. You just never know.

And even if you do get WOTF, its not automatic to an agent, but lets say in some distant future you get a novel published - Andrea G Stewart, JT Greathouse Patrick Roth - were all WOTF winners. But I don't think its mentioned on their books. Instead they mention things like BFSA etc. So WOTF has a shelf life too if you are successful. (note Roth does say nice things about WOTF when asked)

And of course some people only want to write short fiction, so its not a gateway to novels. And in that case WOTF is one more publication of that type. 

But whatever path you want, where you are at is a stage. And WOTF is one path through that stage. There are many. And I don't think its as important which you take, as that you keep going. And in the end, none of us just gets to choose which doors are open and which are not. 

ps - you can also pro out by having a novel published, in which case, if that was always the goal, then - clearly pro-ing out would win. So again, your actual goals determines which is better

Writers of the Future is a pro publication market just like every other pro publication market. If you win the contest, congratulations, you're a pro writer! Also, if you sell a story to a pro market, congratulations, you're a pro writer! If your goal is to be a pro writer, then you should look at the contest as just another market. If your goal is to just win this contest, then you should go for it and give it your all.

What's best for you as a writer really just depends on what your goals are and what kind of writer you want to be. Many people have won this contest and not written or published anything else. They accomplished their goal, and winning was their crowning achievement. On the other hand, Brandon Sanderson entered but never won the contest, and I think we can all agree he's done just fine without it.

Posted by: @morgan-broadhead

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On the other hand, Brandon Sanderson entered but never won the contest, and I think we can all agree he's done just fine without it.

Who??  

...though he has been a judge

I did find some old threads with proing out discussions, but they are old and were just pieces, so this is a good one! 

Ultimately, it's your preference. 

I'd say most - once they get to selling at the pro level - begin to edge away from the contest and take the pro sales as they come, not stopping at 3 in order to keep themselves eligible for WotF. They begin to feel as though they shouldn't continue to enter a "beginner-level" competition after a sale or two to Analog, etc. The pro-level sales seem to match their mental separation. 

For me, I wasn't going anywhere because I wanted the win. Was obsessed with it. To my detriment, I fear, as I put off writing novels until I'd won and now I'm "behind" in my "career". I definitely wanted the win more than the credit. Credit being the line item on my cover letter. For me, this was my white whale and I got it. 

Though to be fair I wasn't in a position to pro out (having 2-3 pro sales) but even that was intentional because I didn't submit. Whether or not I'd have sold stories will never be known. 

Hard to say if I should have submitted like a madman and perhaps pro-d out five years sooner then written novels. Maybe I'd have some out by now and I'd be on my way. Or maybe I just finished the novel I was meant to write only after the win. 

That's all fate stuff, I suppose. Looking forward, I would say if you enjoy short stories, write and submit like crazy. See where you end up. A win here? Awesome! A pro sale or three? Awesome! Then decide which path to take.