Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS Workshop & Challenge!

To the keeper of the scrolls...

November was a success.

• 1 KYD written for the City of Ash prompt
• 3 novel chapters written and started fleshing out a new novel (>10k words)
• Submitted 3 stories to pro markets
• Working on my new Q1 story, which is on track for submission by Dec 31

Let the bloody parchment read, I'm in for November.

--3x submissions to pro-pay markets

--1x KYD from the City Turned to Ash prompt

--1x story written (4300 words), rewritten, then rewritten again. Thanks to those who provided critiques!

--Bonus: attended Fyrecon!

@scribblesatdusk 

I believe we need to submit to three respectable markets (non-WotF) each quarter. 

That's an average of one a month.

Posted by: @wulfmoon

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). 

Scott, you're right! Wow, thank you to my silent partner for having me submit a bunch of my stuff. Now where to submit after this quarter ends...

I’m cheering you all on.

A chill fall wind cut through the Keeper’s fur-lined cloak as he waited outside the Wulf’s cave. Chiseled words arched over the entrance, requirements for all who would enter the Super Secret Challenge.

1.  Write a fresh, original story (or novel chapter) each month of 3,000 words or more.
2. Complete one full KYD exercise per month, inspired by one of Moon’s Monday prompts.
3. Submit one story to Writers of the Future each quarter, revised or new, it's up to you.
4. Submit three stories to RESPECTABLE MARKETS each quarter--markets which pay 5c/word minimum and treat writers with respect.

“Challenge members, report your November accomplishments! Scrawl your names in blood upon the scroll!”

The Keeper unfurled his scroll, holding it tight against the wind, and saw that many had indeed reported. Their names glistened, forever stained upon the parchment.

Posted by: @scott_m_sands

@physa 

Agreed, Amy.

Looking forward to more 'vember in December. 

To more 'vember in December. 😉

Assignment.

To those on the roster of Year Four: I said this year would be self-directed; I did not say you’d have no assignments. Go to the Writers of the Future Podcast and listen to the Dean Wesley Smith interview. Dean was my mentor, and is a big reason I’m writing today. Few know more about the current state of the publishing industry than Dean. After listening, share a point or two you learned. You have one week to do this.

Good to see everyone checking in! Nice job keeping up, challenge beasties! And congratulations to a certain beastie from Year One that I mentored and edited that went from unpublished writer to pro! His third pro sale just happened! Not the first here that’s done that, but it’s so good to see. Keep applying the Secrets and doing the exercises. There’s a good reward for your hard work!

Beastmaster Moon

Many thanks (yet again) to Moon for helping me navigate this forum and all the tech stuff I'm doing my best to learn.

November/2021 Challenge Results:

KYD each week from Moon's wonderful (and quite intriguing) prompts. Still getting the hang of these things, but feeling more confident with each one I write. Definitely getting new story ideas from this exercise!

Complete Revision of a fantasy story (approx. 2800 words). Will do one more revision in December, then submit to WOTF.

2500 words of first draft for latest fantasy story. Will complete and revise in December. 

Dean Wesley Smith’s podcast on indie marketing vs traditional was really interesting. I really liked his analogy of the bakery with one product not attracting any customers. Have a website, keep writing and publishing, and once you have a quantity of published works, then you’ll get more notice-your breakout. 

The marketing side of indie publishing terrifies me, but the biggest takeaway for me, at my current stage of writing, is that I need to get stuff written and published before growth marketing can occur. So focus on writing. 

I thought it was interesting what he mentioned about kickstarters and how they did it. I also thought his thoughts on being social were informative. You shouldn't just try and promote your work like a broken record but just be a human, with your own passions and interests and then can mention "btw, I have this book that came out..." 

I fear I'm a rather introverted person, so the idea of having to market myself is terrifying but it was interesting hearing from him how to do promotions. 

Point one: what are powerwords??

Point two: Writing for money vs writing your "own" stories--I think it's hard for me to differentiate at this stage, but if asked, I would say that I'm actually writing for money (meaning I'm trying to write stories that will sell) which was kind of a revelation.

@anial Dean did work for hire for several decades, mainly media tie-in, but also as a ghost writer. He could save publishers in a jam, writing novels over a weekend if necessary. It paid the bills, and he enjoys writing fast and not looking back. But today he has a large following, and that means he can write what he likes and *it* will pay the bills. More fun, more fulfilling—you write worlds and characters of your own creation.

There is nothing wrong with writing to also be paid. When you have mastered craft and storytelling, you should be able to create product that will sell. This will fund you to keep writing, and that the publication has the means to pay you decently usually means they have a good list of subscribers. That means your work will be read. Isn’t that our goal, to be read? To touch readers’ hearts and minds? 

This is a good thing. Professional writers understand this. 

Keep striving for excellence in your work and it will come.

All the beast!

Beastmaster Moon

Posted by: @lost_bard

Dean Wesley Smith’s podcast on indie marketing vs traditional was really interesting. I really liked his analogy of the bakery with one product not attracting any customers. Have a website, keep writing and publishing, and once you have a quantity of published works, then you’ll get more notice-your breakout. 

The marketing side of indie publishing terrifies me, but the biggest takeaway for me, at my current stage of writing, is that I need to get stuff written and published before growth marketing can occur. So focus on writing. 

That bakery analogy is a great one. It’s also why I require fresh stories each month in this year’s challenge. At the end of this Contest year, you’ll have twelve new fresh and tasty bakery items on your shelves. You can open a store with that. You should be building your websites and FB and other social media you enjoy and capturing your customer lists right now so you’ll have people to invite one day to your grand opening.

Want to see what you can do with these stories? Take a look at what my good friend and WotF winner, Steve Pantazis, did with his. And sign up for his newsletter while you’re there to study him. And sign up for mine so you can study a different approach. Build toward your future bakery shop. Knowing the story I’m editing for you right now, Dave, I think you’d appreciate this concept more than most. ?

http://stevepantazis.com

http://thesupersecrets.com

Build for your future. Starting today. 

And yes, make product! Lots and lots of product! ?

Beastmaster Moon

Year 3 Top Gunner

Yahoo! So thrilled! 

To all those in Year 3 Top Gun year, and Year 4 Self-directed year, please post your Q3 results so we can track and celebrate the results of your labors! State at the top of your post if you’re Year 3 or Year 4 to make it easier on our Keeper of Records, please. Thank you!

Year Three

I got an honorable mention. Starting to build up quite a streak of those!

Year 4. 

Posted by: @scribblesatdusk

Year 4. 

So proud of your accomplishment, Yelena. Congratulations!!! I was very happy to see your name in the official announcement. This was serendipitous—a memory of you came up in FB today, from when you were BlackInk in the prior Forum. It’s encouraging to all those applying the Super Secrets in this workshop, so I’ll share:

“In around two years since I started my Super Secrets Workshop, I've gotten well over a hundred letters like the one below. But this one I received today is extra special.

This is her first pro sale!

Sent: Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:33 am
From: BlackInk
Recipient: Wulf Moon

Dear Wulf,

My flash sci-fi submission for Flame Tree's December newsletter was published today. I wanted to thank you because had it not been for you, and this forum (through which I found a writing partner and friend), I would have never even known about Flame Tree. Thanks to all the advice and exercises you make publicly available in the Wulf super secrets thread. I can say for the first time in my life, even though I've been writing since I was a young child, I got something of mine published. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Year 4 Challenge. For Q3:

Year 4

Posted by: @anial

: Writing for money vs writing your "own" stories--I think it's hard for me to differentiate at this stage, but if asked, I would say that I'm actually writing for money (meaning I'm trying to write stories that will sell) which was kind of a revelation.

I think the first time (shockingly) I came across this idea, that it's ok and even recommended to write for money was in one of the articles (Art or some such by L. Ron Hubbard) from the wotf workshop. It was very eye opening for me since I'd been trained on the opinion that it should always be "art for the sake of art."

Posted by: @scribblesatdusk

Posted by: @anial

: Writing for money vs writing your "own" stories--I think it's hard for me to differentiate at this stage, but if asked, I would say that I'm actually writing for money (meaning I'm trying to write stories that will sell) which was kind of a revelation.

I think the first time (shockingly) I came across this idea, that it's ok and even recommended to write for money was in one of the articles (Art or some such by L. Ron Hubbard) from the wotf workshop. It was very eye opening for me since I'd been trained on the opinion that it should always be "art for the sake of art."

That concept is in L. Ron Hubbard's article, "The Manuscript Factory," which is discussed both in the WotF Online Workshop, and at the winners' workshop in Hollywood. It's excellent. You are not "selling out" when you create work that sells. You have achieved a level in craft and storytelling in your stories that editors recognize as professional product for their publications, worthy of paying you money for to publish. If your heart is in it, the art will be there. It's a great feeling to create art people in the know are willing to pay you for. 

There is much power in this. After years of struggling to learn your craft, it's nice to have positive validation by being paid for your work. And when you hold a physical book to sign to fans that are so excited to meet the author? That's pure delight and magic.

Keep working toward your dreams. You know the way.

Beastmaster Moon

My November activities:

1 - submitted to 1 respectable market (Dreamforge)

2 - wrote 1 new short story and polished it

3 - made progress on my Q1 entry

4 - cursed moon rising KYD

5 - had a blast at Fyrecon and am now suffering from withdrawals

Congratulations to everyone!! @scribblesatdusk, you rule!!!

I really really want to get paid for my writing and I don't feel it's selling out--but I'm just wondering, what kind of stories I would be writing if I wasn't trying to win contests/editors. Probably stories no one would make sense of haha, but still... I wonder!

@anial I always write what I love, Ania. But if I'm writing for DreamForge, I know it better have a positive ending where societies work together to solve their problems. I know if I'm writing for an anthology about Magical Donuts, I better have donuts, magical ones, as an intrinsic element of the story. If I'm writing for Dark Matter, it better be SF. I still write what I love, but I'm aware of what editors want, because that's what their readers want. If you're writing for a specific target, you have to aim for their bullseye. But you do it with your own flair and style.

Nobody is saying you shouldn't write what you love. Frank Herbert wrote Dune, which was certainly what he loved, and then he searched for a market for it, because he wanted it to be read. And yes, if it paid some of his many bills through the sale, all the better. It would fund more writing of what he loved, and he could feed his family while doing it.

And if you don't wish to go the traditional route, now you can indie publish. Whatever you wish to write, you can put it out there. Many do. Whether it will sell beyond their friends and family is another matter. 

You can never go wrong learning your craft and creating the best story that's in you. And then you send that out, or self publish it, and go write your next. That's what Dean Wesley Smith was talking about when he spoke about stocking your bakery. That's what L. Ron Hubbard was talking about when he said you are a manuscript factory. 

Make good product, from the heart. And keep making it. You're going to need a lot of it, of consistent quality, IF your desire is to become a professional writer.  

Beastmaster Moon

@wulfmoon I see what you mean! Writing to sell and selling what you write are basically one and the same. Okay, then! Back to writing and to those KYDs... 

Year 4. Another R for me. Not sure what it takes to get an HM, but I suppose I have 2 choices: quit or redouble my efforts. Since I'm about to enter a period of peace in my life I'll go with the latter. Back in the days of high stress I would have retreated for a year or so, licking my wounds and filling my days with career-related chores.

I hope to do more KYDs and put more into my stories that captures a reader to the end. Better descriptive world building. More KAV cycles. More wonder. I will make an effort to always include a denouement, have a climax where the named character does the decision making and takes the big risk. I'll make sure I have a log line and use that to begin my story: naming the character up front, what their problem is, how that problem affects their heart's desire, and a flaw they have that will become important later in the story that makes their choice at the climax more poignant. I think from now on I'll attempt to write a winning story instead of a story that I hope will earn an honorable mention. I need to aim higher.

I am very happy for all of you who have achieved HM, SHM, SF, F, placed (1,2,3), and will hope at least one of you with F will be able to replace that with a P.

I'm extremely happy for those of you who experienced a breakout moment this past quarter. 

I'm humbled to be among such talented writers. I'm humbled that we have such a caring mentor that he takes time away from his goals to encourage us and offer advice.

Thanks Moon for your super secrets and the folks here and on discord! I shall be going back through my notes and see what improvements I can make for Q1. I believe I've attended all of Moon's offered workshops at this point. I'm sure that will help me write at a higher level.

@physa I'm so glad you're doubling your efforts!! Let me know if you want another pair of eyes on a story--I'll be happy to read your stories and offer whatever (rookie) thoughts I might have. I'm in the same boat as you, so I really feel you

Posted by: @anial

@physa I'm so glad you're doubling your efforts!! Let me know if you want another pair of eyes on a story--I'll be happy to read your stories and offer whatever (rookie) thoughts I might have. I'm in the same boat as you, so I really feel you

Thanks @Anial. And right back at you. Together we will rise!