@tiinag Ditto this! I love that they are being so thoughtful of everyone's comfort level. We could stand to do this a lot more places.
book reviews and writerly thoughts on my blog: www.lizbusby.com
featured on episode 93 of the WotF podcast
Results
V40: HM -
V39: - HM - RWC
Published Stories
"The 37th Ward Relief Society Leftovers Exchange" - religious magical realism story about a different kind of pot luck; winner in the "Saints, Spells, and Starships" contest
"Winter Fog" - Christmas ghost story about a mother and daughter in the Pacific Northwest
@crlisle It must be so awesome to have an illustrator create art for your story.
Small steps add up to miles.
5 R, 4 RWC, 6 HM, 1 SHM
"Amore For Life" in After the Gold Rush Third Flatiron Anthology
"Freedom’s Song” in Troubadour and Space Princesses LTUE Anthology
"Experimenting with the Dance of Death" in Love is Complicated LUW Romance Anthology.
@craydimensional I know! Right? Can't wait for my turn!
Vol. 36: 3rd -- R, 4th -- R
Vol. 37: R, HM, HM, SHM
Vol. 38: HM, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 39: SHM, RWC, RWC, HM
Vol. 40: HM, R, RWC, R
Vol. 41: R, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 42: 1st -- pending
Amateur published stories:
"The Army Ration That Saved the Earth" -- Accepted for publication, waiting for contract
"The Tell-Tale Cricket" in The Murderbugs Anthololgy
"Follow the Pretrons" in Martian Magazine, and a Critters Award
"Eyes and Hands" in Galaxy's Edge Magazine
"The Last Dance" in Parliament of Wizards, LTUE anthology
"My Ten Cents" in Sci Fi Lampoon
Professional Publication:
"Invasion" in Daily Science Fiction
Monday prompt this week was delayed due to emergency landing and waiting another day for a plane to take me home. Sorry, but here you go:
Slandering Serpents.
Have at it, you KYD fiends! And don’t miss the new article on KYD at DreamForge Anvil magazine! Free to read!
I’ll be catching up in here soon. Jason kept an eye on things for me while I was attending WotF events and writing the daily blog, always late at night because of how much is scheduled. I hope you all enjoyed my labors. Cheers!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
That's ssstupendous Wulf.
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships
Writers of the Future Volume 36 & 37 Workshop Week – Day 8 – Writers & Illustrators of the Future
Vol. 36: 3rd -- R, 4th -- R
Vol. 37: R, HM, HM, SHM
Vol. 38: HM, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 39: SHM, RWC, RWC, HM
Vol. 40: HM, R, RWC, R
Vol. 41: R, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 42: 1st -- pending
Amateur published stories:
"The Army Ration That Saved the Earth" -- Accepted for publication, waiting for contract
"The Tell-Tale Cricket" in The Murderbugs Anthololgy
"Follow the Pretrons" in Martian Magazine, and a Critters Award
"Eyes and Hands" in Galaxy's Edge Magazine
"The Last Dance" in Parliament of Wizards, LTUE anthology
"My Ten Cents" in Sci Fi Lampoon
Professional Publication:
"Invasion" in Daily Science Fiction
DreamForge Anvil magazine, Issue 5, just came out, with a story by our very own Top Gun Super Secrets Year member, Crystal Crawford! We are so proud of her, Crystal's first respectable sale! Congratulations, Crystal! Don't miss her story "Our Kind." Free to read, but please do support the magazine by getting a subscription. Keeps them alive so YOU can be next! Cheers!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@wulfmoon Thank you for sharing about my story!
v35: Q4 - HM
V36: R, R, R, R
V37: SHM, HM, HM, SHM
V38: SHM, HM, HM, HM
V39: HM, R, SHM, HM
Indie author of The Lex Chronicles (Legends of Arameth), and the in-progress Leyward Stones series--including my serial, Macchiatos, Faerie Princes, and Other Things That Happen at Midnight, currently available on Kindle Vella.
Website: http://ccrawfordwriting.com. I also have a newsletter and a blog!
Short story "Our Kind" published in DreamForge Anvil, Issue #5, and also "One Shot at Aeden" published in DreamForge Anvil, Issue #7!
The next Super Secrets of Writing article just got published in DreamForge Anvil magazine, Issue 5! You're going to love the title of this one: "KYD: Kill Your Darlings!"
Here's the editor's comments:
Stephen King said it best. "Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings." We need to be ruthless with our work— every word we write is not sacred. Get your words on the page, but be sure to go back in and give them a cold hard stare, knife in hand.
Brush up on your KYD skills by reading this article on what to target! Better yet, if you like what you read, why not get personal training from me on the system at my Fyrecon Online KYD master workshop in November? Click the link in my signature if you'd like to learn more. And if you'd like to read the article for free, CLICK HERE! Cheers!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@wulfmoon Thank you for sharing about my story!
Of course! We celebrate with you! I hope Forum members send you some love, here, or in private messages. It's good to know our words touched those that read them. All the beast, Crystal! Keep shooting for the stars!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
I am thrilled to have the honor of sponsoring Crystal's story.
It is a roller coaster ride until the end which will make you cry!!
Vol. 36: 3rd -- R, 4th -- R
Vol. 37: R, HM, HM, SHM
Vol. 38: HM, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 39: SHM, RWC, RWC, HM
Vol. 40: HM, R, RWC, R
Vol. 41: R, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 42: 1st -- pending
Amateur published stories:
"The Army Ration That Saved the Earth" -- Accepted for publication, waiting for contract
"The Tell-Tale Cricket" in The Murderbugs Anthololgy
"Follow the Pretrons" in Martian Magazine, and a Critters Award
"Eyes and Hands" in Galaxy's Edge Magazine
"The Last Dance" in Parliament of Wizards, LTUE anthology
"My Ten Cents" in Sci Fi Lampoon
Professional Publication:
"Invasion" in Daily Science Fiction
@wulfmoon Thank you for sharing about my story!
That was a really good story! I really enjoyed reading it. Congratulations on getting it published!
I was wondering how ‘sponsoring the story’ worked. I saw your name on the byline, so cool, but wasn’t sure what it meant publishing-wise.
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >).
Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter at www.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
New Releases:
"The Missing Music in Milo Piper's Head" in Third Flatiron's Offshoots: Humanity Twigged
"To Catch a Foo Fighter" in DreamForge Magazine
"Milo Piper's Breakout Single that Ended the Rat War" in LTUE's Troubadours and Space Princesses anthology
"The Rise and Fall of Frankie's Patisserie" in Murderbugs anthology
"Felix and the Flamingo" in Escape Pod
"The Devil's Foot Locker" in Amazing Stories
@lost_bard they had a Kickstarter. Being a sponsor was one of the levels. And I got to choose which story to sponsor. I have always enjoyed Crystal's writing, so I chose her story.
Vol. 36: 3rd -- R, 4th -- R
Vol. 37: R, HM, HM, SHM
Vol. 38: HM, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 39: SHM, RWC, RWC, HM
Vol. 40: HM, R, RWC, R
Vol. 41: R, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 42: 1st -- pending
Amateur published stories:
"The Army Ration That Saved the Earth" -- Accepted for publication, waiting for contract
"The Tell-Tale Cricket" in The Murderbugs Anthololgy
"Follow the Pretrons" in Martian Magazine, and a Critters Award
"Eyes and Hands" in Galaxy's Edge Magazine
"The Last Dance" in Parliament of Wizards, LTUE anthology
"My Ten Cents" in Sci Fi Lampoon
Professional Publication:
"Invasion" in Daily Science Fiction
Finally had a chance to read your story. Really beautiful message and so important given how divided America and parts of the world are right now. The story has a lot of heart and presents an interesting moral dilemma as MC is figuring out how to act in the beginning. Congrats on the publication!
V36:Q3 HM V37: Q3 R, Q4 SHM V38: R,HM, F, HM V39: HM, SHM, SHM, SHM V40: SF, RWC, ?
Question from the newbie: do we need to post our KYD exercises here? I've just finished step 2 and going to tackle the final cut tonight.
book reviews and writerly thoughts on my blog: www.lizbusby.com
featured on episode 93 of the WotF podcast
Results
V40: HM -
V39: - HM - RWC
Published Stories
"The 37th Ward Relief Society Leftovers Exchange" - religious magical realism story about a different kind of pot luck; winner in the "Saints, Spells, and Starships" contest
"Winter Fog" - Christmas ghost story about a mother and daughter in the Pacific Northwest
@lost_bard Thank you!
v35: Q4 - HM
V36: R, R, R, R
V37: SHM, HM, HM, SHM
V38: SHM, HM, HM, HM
V39: HM, R, SHM, HM
Indie author of The Lex Chronicles (Legends of Arameth), and the in-progress Leyward Stones series--including my serial, Macchiatos, Faerie Princes, and Other Things That Happen at Midnight, currently available on Kindle Vella.
Website: http://ccrawfordwriting.com. I also have a newsletter and a blog!
Short story "Our Kind" published in DreamForge Anvil, Issue #5, and also "One Shot at Aeden" published in DreamForge Anvil, Issue #7!
@scribblesatdusk Thank you so much! I'm so happy you enjoyed it!
v35: Q4 - HM
V36: R, R, R, R
V37: SHM, HM, HM, SHM
V38: SHM, HM, HM, HM
V39: HM, R, SHM, HM
Indie author of The Lex Chronicles (Legends of Arameth), and the in-progress Leyward Stones series--including my serial, Macchiatos, Faerie Princes, and Other Things That Happen at Midnight, currently available on Kindle Vella.
Website: http://ccrawfordwriting.com. I also have a newsletter and a blog!
Short story "Our Kind" published in DreamForge Anvil, Issue #5, and also "One Shot at Aeden" published in DreamForge Anvil, Issue #7!
@lost_bard they had a Kickstarter. Being a sponsor was one of the levels. And I got to choose which story to sponsor. I have always enjoyed Crystal's writing, so I chose her story.
Ah, that makes sense. So cool that you were able to sponsor her story.
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >).
Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter at www.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
New Releases:
"The Missing Music in Milo Piper's Head" in Third Flatiron's Offshoots: Humanity Twigged
"To Catch a Foo Fighter" in DreamForge Magazine
"Milo Piper's Breakout Single that Ended the Rat War" in LTUE's Troubadours and Space Princesses anthology
"The Rise and Fall of Frankie's Patisserie" in Murderbugs anthology
"Felix and the Flamingo" in Escape Pod
"The Devil's Foot Locker" in Amazing Stories
Our first month of the Super Secrets Independent Challenge Year 4 has concluded.
For those that enrolled (this year’s workshop is now closed to new members), did you meet the first month’s requirements? What were they? Here’s what you promised to do:
What am I challenging you to do for Volume 39? It would have to be your own personal commitment, and I'm not placing it upon current members--they've met their Top Gun Year requirements. But here it is for those of you that are up to a new challenge for Volume 39:
1. A fresh, original story (or novel chapter) written each month of 3,000 words or more.
That's 12 new stories written in the Volume 39 year!
2. One full KYD exercise per month, based off one of my Monday prompts.
3. A story submitted to Writers of the Future each quarter, revised or new, it's up to you.
4. Three stories submitted to RESPECTABLE MARKETS each quarter (see the Super Secret on the definition, but it's basically markets paying 5 cents a word and up that treat writers professionally and with respect).
So to remain a member this workshop year, you must have completed one full KYD exercise based off my Monday prompts, and you must have completed one fresh new story of 3000 words or more. And I hope you’ve started sending stories out to respectable markets, but that’s a quarterly requirement so if you didn’t, it won’t disqualify you … yet.
Everyone that met the requirements for the month of October, please sound off. I will create a roster of those still in. If you didn’t, life happens, no worries, but please don’t sound off (unless you had serious illness or family emergency, then message me). Meeting the monthly requirements, even in this independent challenge, is required to stay in.
So who did the work and is still standing?
Beastmaster Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Your KYD Monday prompt is:
City turned to ash.
Have at it! If this one doesn’t turn your crank, you’ll have four more yet this month to choose from. But don’t wait until the end. If you miss a month, you’re out of the challenge! WHO will be the last writer standing? Better yet, WHO will be the next Super Secrets Workshop member standing on the WotF stage?
This is the way.
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@alexandramiracle Alexandra, thank you for thinking of me. Yes, I mentored Brittany Rainsdon, Leah Ning, and many more, but that’s because they were members of this Super Secrets Workshop and did the work to prove themselves. I’m sorry, but I have greatly reduced all manuscript editing for Forumites so that I can finish the two Super Secrets books for my publisher, Mark Leslie of Stark Publishing Solutions.
But there is a place in the Forum to get feedback on story manuscripts. Go to the critique swap folder, ask to swap stories for a critique, state how many words your manuscript is, and if it’s a reasonable size, there’s always members ready to help.
I hope that helps. I wish you the best of success in your writing.
Wulf Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@wulfmoon challenge completed for October (6 novel chapters written, 3 KYDs)! Submitted 5 stories in September, so waiting on those to come back before revising/sending back out into the world this quarter. Currently working on my Q1 submission for WotF.
I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done. - Steven Wright
V37: -, -, R, HM
V38: HM, R, HM, SHM
V39: HM, HM, R, R
V40: SHM
Pubs:
Model Citizen in the anthology From the Yonder: A Collection of Horror from Around the World Volume 2
Blue Serpent in Dark Recesses
The supplicant lowered his bow and went to check his target. Daily practice was improving his aim, but still no bullseyes. He wiped sweat from his brow, retrieved his arrows, and returned to the line of archers. Despite exhaustion from the practice, he found himself invigorated by the work. He would get that bullseye.
Smart practice, he reminded himself, drawing another fletching to his cheek. This is the path to success. He mentally reviewed the Super Secrets, and let the arrow fly.
Challenge completed for October:
1x 5,900w story written and submitted to another contest (added this requirement as a personal challenge: 1x non-WotF contest submission per quarter.)
1x KYD written from the prompt Dead Drop. Turning it into my November short story right now.
No story submitted to Writers of the Future yet. Two months to go, and I'll pick the best one.
3x stories submitted to 6x respectable markets. Some markets allowed simultaneous submissions, others had quick turn-arounds. Received 2x personal rejections, 2x form rejection, and the others are pending.
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >).
Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter at www.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
New Releases:
"The Missing Music in Milo Piper's Head" in Third Flatiron's Offshoots: Humanity Twigged
"To Catch a Foo Fighter" in DreamForge Magazine
"Milo Piper's Breakout Single that Ended the Rat War" in LTUE's Troubadours and Space Princesses anthology
"The Rise and Fall of Frankie's Patisserie" in Murderbugs anthology
"Felix and the Flamingo" in Escape Pod
"The Devil's Foot Locker" in Amazing Stories
City Turned to Ash - Oh, I like this one.
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >).
Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter at www.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
New Releases:
"The Missing Music in Milo Piper's Head" in Third Flatiron's Offshoots: Humanity Twigged
"To Catch a Foo Fighter" in DreamForge Magazine
"Milo Piper's Breakout Single that Ended the Rat War" in LTUE's Troubadours and Space Princesses anthology
"The Rise and Fall of Frankie's Patisserie" in Murderbugs anthology
"Felix and the Flamingo" in Escape Pod
"The Devil's Foot Locker" in Amazing Stories
I completed a new story of ~4k words and sent it off to a non WotF market (2 invasive species, because poor birds, with 1 stone here)
I did the Drop Dead KYD which I'll be submitting to a flash market.
Woohoo here's to doing the same thing in Nov. Bring it on!
V36:Q3 HM V37: Q3 R, Q4 SHM V38: R,HM, F, HM V39: HM, SHM, SHM, SHM V40: SF, RWC, ?
I did the following for October: A fresh, original story (or novel chapter) written of 3,000 words or more (for the Farland 318R class I'm taking which was based on a KYD exercise done in Moon's KYD class I took earlier and which I received comments on). 2. One full KYD exercise, based off Lake of the serpent prompt. That's pretty good for a month that contained: a Clemson homecoming game (2 nights away from home), a celebration of life event for both parents, and keeping up with 3 colleges as an adjunct with more preps than is wise to tackle in a semester, 😉
WOTF results:
Vol 41: Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q4 HM
running totals to date:
WOTF: 6 Rs, 3 RWCs. 8 HMs
IOTF: 4 Rs, 3 HMs
Check out my new website: https://www.amyrwethingtonwriterofspeculativeworlds.com/
According to Winston Churchill, "success is going from failure to failure with enthusiasm"
Somehow I lost my Guthington profile, but it's me. Amy Wethington = Guthington = Physa
@physa Well done, Amy. You had life issues, but writing found a way. That’s why you shall succeed in your quest. ?
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
I completed a 3300 word story in October and did a KYD for Lake of the Serpent. No submissions yet but I’m in progress on a story I’ll likely use for my WOTF submission and I’ve got an outline for one that will be another submission.
V38 Q4: HM
V39 Q1: SHM
V39 Q2: HM
V39 Q3: RWC
V39 Q4: HM
V40 Q1: HM
V40 Q2: HM
V40 Q3: HM
V40 Q4: HM
V41 Q1: SHM
V41 Q2: R
V41 Q3:
For October:
- I've written 3 fresh short stories this month (all >3000). 2 of them fully edited, one pending edits.
- 2xKYDs (one from dead drop, one inspired by a streak of earthquakes in Crete xD. Both became short stories)
- I might have something already for WoTF Q1 2022. Need to edit some more.
- I didn't keep an exact count, but I definitely submitted more than 10 times this month (all pro-paying markets)
For what it's worth, I also edited 2 stories I'd written during September.
Cheers!
3x full stories in one month, along with the rest? Well done, Akis!
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >).
Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter at www.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
New Releases:
"The Missing Music in Milo Piper's Head" in Third Flatiron's Offshoots: Humanity Twigged
"To Catch a Foo Fighter" in DreamForge Magazine
"Milo Piper's Breakout Single that Ended the Rat War" in LTUE's Troubadours and Space Princesses anthology
"The Rise and Fall of Frankie's Patisserie" in Murderbugs anthology
"Felix and the Flamingo" in Escape Pod
"The Devil's Foot Locker" in Amazing Stories
