Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS Workshop & Challenge!

@wulfmoon I would like to sign up for the next quarter's challenge. Is that doable? Or do I have to wait for the start of next year?

@rusticbohemian do you mean Moon’s workshop? I’ll try to paraphrase what I’ve heard Moon say in the past. I hope it helps. I’m sure the man himself will respond as well, but he’s a busy guy!

I believe this is year three for Moon with this workshop. The first two years were open enrollment (for the whole year, rather than quarterly), with a cap on how many could join. Year three was limited to only a select handful, as Moon was spending a ton of time running the workshop.

I know he’s said he couldn’t possibly keep up with all the people who want to sign up for this version of his workshop, but everyone is welcome to follow along and do the exercises. He also teaches occasional webinars (which are excellent). If you keep a pulse on this thread I’m sure you’ll see information about any upcoming classes.

Posted by: @rusticbohemian

I would like to sign up for the next quarter's challenge. Is that doable? Or do I have to wait for the start of next year?

Rustic: What ZeeTeeBeeZ said. The Super Secrets Workshop was actually open call for two years in a row, no limits. But it kept doubling in size, and I knew year three would go from 17 to 30+. The first year we had 100,000 views. With a little over two years, we now have over 700,000 views. Many have seen the results of the members and have asked to join, and the size this workshop would have become would have been more than I could handle. So I limited this year's workshop to a select number. It's a year long workshop, and class is already in session. 

But you can still follow along, set the challenges for yourself, and do the exercises. They are all here. And, as Zeet has pointed out, I do Super Secrets Workshops outside of the Forum where anyone can sign up. I do put notices here for those that would like to attend. I donated one May 15th to help out with DreamForge Anvil magazine's funding, and they'll probably open up additional seating. I do recommend folks subscribe to DreamForge Anvil--they've hired me to write Super Secrets articles for the magazine. And my own upcoming Kickstarter for the Super Secrets books will offer online workshops. So there's lots of ways you can tap into the information, which has helped many obtain their first professional sales and even win this contest. 

I trust you've taken the Writers of the Future Online Writing Course. If not, don't miss it!

Thank you for your interest. My very best to all of you as you pursue your writing dreams! 

Beastmaster Moon

And a special shout out to Brittany Rainsdon, our own SUPER SECRETS' alumnus! She just had a story published in Deep Magic magazine's Spring, 2021 edition! This is her first publication, but it is her second sale. Her first sale was to Writers of the Future, Vol. 37, as a published finalist. That story will be published this fall. 

WELL DONE, CHALLENGE BEASTIE! 

If you'd like to read her story in Deep Magic, you can get the whole magazine for only three bucks! Deep Magic - Spring 2021 - Kindle edition by Wheeler, Jeff, Kang, JC, Rainsdon, Brittany, Kwiatkowski, Kajetan, Towey, Alice, Croke, Marie, Brooks, Terry, Andrews, JA. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

I was recently interviewed on BlogTalk Radio on the Chatting With Sherri program. On April 8th, 2021, at 1 pm PDT, it will go live. I always do my best to bring in encouragement to help writers. In this episode, I talk about going with the flow of events in your writer's journey, and how it makes surprising positive turns in your career if you simply say, "Yes."

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2021/04/08/chatting-with-sherri-welcomes-back-author-wulf-moon

Posted by: @rusticbohemian

I would like to sign up for the next quarter's challenge. Is that doable? Or do I have to wait for the start of next year?

Posted by: @wulfmoon

But you can still follow along, set the challenges for yourself, and do the exercises. They are all here.

I highly recommend that you do the challenges and exercises on your own. Don't wait until next year!! Also, if you can, attend Wulf Moon's workshops. They are a lot of fun, you learn a lot, and make a lot of writer friends who will help you succeed. 

I did!

My results are as follows:

1.  Going from being Rejected by WoTF to receiving Honorable Mentions (HM)s, then a Silver HM.
2.  My story, The Last Dance, will be published Feb. 2022 in the LTUE anthology Parliament of Wizards.

Don't wait! Do the work now. It won't take long for you to see great results.

I totally missed this before! Thank you so much, Wulf and Leah! Deep Magic is one of my DREAM publications so I was especially excited they took my story. I so appreciate the critiques and encouragement from this forum.

For those who don't know, this story was my second writers of the future finalist story(V36). Wulf had given me a personal challenge to write five flash in a month (an early KYD deal) and this story came from that exercise. It would not exist without that exercise and implementing the fabulous super secrets, so I feel a shoutout to Wulf is in order. /p>

--Also congratulations on other Wulf Pack sales I'm seeing.

Leah--Podcastle is freakin awesome! I saw your announcement on facebook and excitedly await the podcast. That's another one-day dream. 😉

And WULF--I know you're killing it at Dreamforge with the short and the articles. Can't wait to read them in print AND SEE THE ART!!! (So cool that they do that).

Also, I'll report here that I subbed for Q2. Feels like a victory tonight, clicking SUBMIT. Best of luck everyone!

That sound great. I saw the topics in your TOC and it sound great, although the links appear to be pointing to content on old forum. I was crushed though my first entry was 1st person narrative. Oh well, I will see how 2nd entry does.

Plenty of people have won with first person narratives. In the immortal words of Captain Barbossa, “The code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules."

Swift,

I've been trying to update you for the end of the month, but with the forum upgrading, I think it's been missed. Did you see the message I sent you here?

First: Cray, my winner was in first person. But the WotF workshop instructors made strong comments about 1P narrative, so a word to the wise. You will have a harder time with winning with it. Doesn't mean you can't win with it.

Second: Since it's Monday and I don't see a prompt from our list up, I'll give you a fresh one. 

TODAY'S MONDAY WRITING PROMPT: "Reach for the sky!"

I'm thinking Western mashup, but let's face it, Star Wars, TOS Star Trek, and especially Firefly are all Westerns in Space. And yet, I don't recall seeing one in the WotF Volumes. Seems like a hole needs fillin', pardners! And if you need some authenticity, go listen to the recent WotF Podcast on the subject. John Goodwin has his eye on the ball.

Yeeeeehaw!

My interview on the Chatting With Sherri program on BlogTalkRadio went live today.

We blended a cocktail from so many topics! Writers of the Future as the base, of course. Stirred in the wonderful results so many of you have enjoyed from applying these Super Secrets. I also swirled in how the publishing deal on the upcoming books on my Super Secrets came about. A nice splash about our challenge beastie Brittany Rainsdon and her recent successes with Deep Magic magazine and Writers of the Future Vol. 37. Added a shot on Elizabeth Chatsworth and the magic words spoken to encourage her to write her WotF winner. Of course we talked about her success with her debut steampunk novel, THE BRASS QUEEN. And topped the cocktail off with my story "Shaken, Not Stirred" that will be appearing in DreamForge Anvil magazine this Saturday, April 10th. Made it a double ... by mentioning my first in a series of expanded Super Secrets articles for subscribers to DreamForge Anvil! Garnished with where I learned oral storytelling from--my Chippewa grandmother. Added the pink umbrella of why mankind has been telling stories from the dawn of time, and why they focus on the need for heroes. Finally, a spritz of positivity by citing why magazines like DreamForge Anvil and Deep Magic are so important.

The perfect interview cocktail, chilled to perfection!

Here's the link! Chatting with Sherri is sponsored by WRITERS OF THE FUTURE! http://bit.ly/WulfMoon

@wulfmoon I plan to listen as soon as I can!

Hey Wulf. I recently read a steampunk western in v32 by Dave Farland, Hellfire on the High Frontier.

Posted by: @storysinger

Hey Wulf. I recently read a steampunk western in v32 by Dave Farland, Hellfire on the High Frontier.

Cool, Don! I'll have to go back and look! Not by a contestant, however, so my point still stands. It's surely been awhile. I think Dave would find a Western in space refreshing, even unique among the many submissions.

As you know, I had to reduce membership to the Super Secrets Workshop this contest year due to the size of membership (it has been open call for the past two contest years to anyone in the Forum willing to do the work) and the heavy demands on my time. So this year, I placed restrictions on it, and upped the requirements. I needed to have proven, self-motivated workshop members, because I have to trust the challenge beasties are doing the work assigned. I can't spend hours in here every day like I used to, because I'm spending hours on producing the Super Secrets books now for my publisher, Mark Leslie Lefebvre of Stark Publishing Solutions. We're doing a Kickstarter as well, and organizing that in itself is like organizing a startup company. In addition, I've been hired to write stories and Super Secrets' articles for DreamForge Anvil Magazine. I'm not abandoning my post, I'm just very pressed for time now, and thus the changes to this year's workshop. The Top Gun theme this year is for fun, and allowed me to let the contest certificates choose the members. It took the hard choices off my shoulders, and let the Contest results choose who would be in.

Alas, our wonderful challenge beastie Angela has had to bow out now because of life issues. I've always said family and health comes first, and we wish Angela all the success in the world. She's still writing, but this year's Top Gun challenges are, well, challenging, so she needs to lighten the load to pursue employment opportunities. We all have to pay our way in life, until our writing does. Totally understood and respected.

So let's give Angela a salute for all her hard work here over the years! I've seen your advancement and determination, Angela, and know you will win your battles, both in writing, and in life.

Best of success!

Commander "Beastmaster" Moon

April 9, 2021

Dear RJK Lee:

Sometimes pilots crash and burn at Top Gun through no fault of their own. Life happens. That’s why we have good men like you waiting in the wings. 

The classroom is full for the year and has been closed, but you are qualified to take the seat that recently opened up. You’ve been a solid member of the original Super Secrets Workshops, and you’ve been doing impressive work. I’ve checked your flight records. Above and beyond, actually. No one has flown more sorties than you. One hundred missions (submissions) last year alone. You should wear those WotF HMs proudly—they are badges of honor.

After careful consideration, you are hereby admitted into the Top Gun 2021 SUPER SECRETS Training School. Take your seat and study hard, naval aviator. Failure in these skies is not an option.

Best of success in the classroom and in the air. You have your orders. Light ‘em up!

Sincerely,

Wulf Moon

Wulf Moon

Commander “Beastmaster” Moon

Angela, I was sorry to hear this!  But you know we are all still rooting for you!  

Ryland, welcome to Top Gun! 

Good luck Angela with your job search! I hope you find something worthy of your skills and talents.

Welcome Ryland! You are a high flyer! So happy you can join us!

Sad to see one of my wingmates drop out of the challenge! Best of luck To Angela!

Welcome aboard Ryland!

Wishing you the best of health, Angela, and a speedy recovery.

Best,

RETROPIANOPLAYER, ADMIRAL, RETIRED

Posted by: @retropianoplayer

Wishing you the best of health, Angela, and a speedy recovery.

 

Best,

 

RETROPIANOPLAYER, ADMIRAL, RETIRED

Salutes the retired admiral as he walks past. “Good to see you, sir!”   

Welcome Ryland! Well deserved. 

So sorry you’re having a tough year Angela. I hope things settle down and you are well soon. PM me if you want to chat about writing or life ?

JUST UNLEASHED! DREAMFORGE ANVIL MAGAZINE ISSUE #2.

Scot Noel, winner from Writers of the Future, Vol. 6, is the editor and publisher of DreamForge Anvil magazine. I hope everyone will subscribe, because this year he is focusing on publishing aspiring writers! But if you're strapped for cash, most of the material is available for free. You'll learn much about writing short stories this year from this online magazine. Click HERE for DREAMFORGE ANVIL #2.

In fact, a chapter from my upcoming SUPER SECRETS books that began right here appears in this issue! "Nail Your Opening: How Driving to the Story Creates Accidents." If you think the books are going to be a simple rehashing of the SUPER SECRETS, think again! Better yet, read the article for FREE, and go write your next WotF winner! Click HERE for the SUPER SECRETS' article.

In addition, I have a new story published in the issue! The fate of the universe hangs in the balance in this one! Click HERE to read "Shaken, Not Stirred." 

But I was asked to do something extra to help aspiring writers. Scot commissioned me to write a Behind the Scenes article on how I wrote this story. I think it will be most helpful for you to see the SUPER SECRETS in action. These are the things I think on when crafting a story. I'm hoping that seeing how I create a story will give you some ideas on how to craft your own. Please let me know if it helps. Click Here to learn the magic tricks Behind the Scenes!

And of course, there's plenty more to enjoy in this issue. Enjoy the read! And hopefully, the learn!

ALL THE BEAST!

Beastmaster Moon

Hey folks, sorry I've been a bit inactive here lately - new forum things threw me off, but I am back up and running!

First, Angela, I'm sorry to hear things are rough by you, and you have my best wishes and my ear if you need one. 

Second, welcome, Ryland! Good to see you back in super secrets!

And last but not least, today's Monday prompt is: SCORPION'S TAIL.

Congratulations, Ryland!

Sorry for your trials and tribulations, Angela and I hope things improve!

Angela, sad to see you go. But we're right here ready for you when you're ready ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ .

Ryland [insert nefarious chuckle] delighted to have you with us.

Very insightful Wulf, thanks for that lesson.

Joni called yesterday. Dave should have results finished in about one more week. Which means Joni will be making calls to finalists at that time. Get ready! May YOU get the call!  

Beastmaster Moon

Posted by: @wulfmoon

Joni called yesterday. Dave should have results finished in about one more week. Which means Joni will be making calls to finalists at that time. Get ready! May YOU get the call!  

Wow! That's a more definite time frame than we usually get.  Yay for upcoming results!