Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS Workshop & Challenge!

Posted by: @jennyperrycarr

Posted by: @wulfmoon

I know you are all pressed to get Q1s out, so this is a reading assignment. But if you’d like to share a salient point or two you learned from the reading, please do. It helps the Pack. Scot Noel of DreamForge magazine told me the number one issue he sees in submissions he rejects is lack of character agency. Naturally, I wrote a Super Secret to address the issue. Read it. Take notes. Go back to your Q1 and ask: Does my protagonist stand at the threshold and CHOOSE the journey? Or is he or she just swept along by the problem? Go to your climax. Ask: Does my protagonist actively battle it out against the opposition, or do they watch someone else take the blows for them? Do they make any sacrifices to beat the opposing force (or lose to them if it’s a tragedy)? Passive characters are not the stuff of heroes. They have to rise up even if they’ve been passive in their own world (think Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit) and grab destiny by the horns. 

After shuffling their feet, make sure your hero cries out, “I’m going on an adventure!”

You have to the end of the month to study this. Which, by the way, is when your Q1 is due. 

?

Click HERE for the Super Secret!

Beastmaster Moon

Wanted to circle back to our December assignment. Complete! The timing on this article was great. Wonderful reminder to make sure your protagonist is making choices that drive the story forward vs a character simply reacting to things happening around them.

Had some issues with my current story that I couldn't quite put my finger on, and I sat on the story for several months. The problem was character agency. I did some rewrites to strengthen goals/drive/agency, and it made the story much stronger!

Q1 is submitted. Phew!

I'm so glad this helped, Jenny! That's why I've written the Super Secrets, and I specifically focused on this one for December to help you (in the plural sense) strengthen your Q1 entries. Character agency is integral to what we expect in our heroes, and you can bet David Farland is looking for it in the stories he judges. May applying the points in this article give your story just the edge it needed!

"Character Agency: I Need a Hero!" is nominated in the Critters Readers' Choice Awards this year under the Nonfiction Articles category. If any of you loved the information, provided free to you, you know what to do! 

And if you've appreciated the labor of love and all the time I've dedicated to helping so many of you through these Super Secrets, and through my personal support by leading this workshop, I am nominated in the Author category. 

If you're a fan of this workshop, there's a Workshop category as well where you can weigh in! And of course, many have told me what a wonderful Writers' Resource the Super Secrets have been for them. There's a category to cast your vote for that as well.

Of course, I have stories nominated as well, but so do many others here, and in the general WotF Forum. You have many fine stories to choose from for the year, and I wish everyone the best as over 2500 readers from around the world choose their favorites published in 2021!

I'll do a post in the general area regarding everyone's opportunity to vote for their favorite anthology, favorite book cover, and favorite forum, whatever that may be! But this is the location of the Super Secrets resource topic, the Super Secrets Challenge, and the Super Secrets Workshop, so it's fitting that I let you know the categories the founder and this workshop/resource are nominated in. 

Finally, congratulations to all the nominees! It's been a great year in publishing! Critters Writers Workshop Readers Poll

Now finish up those Q1s and get them in before midnight tomorrow! Don't cut it too close, and may the Force be with you!

Beastmaster Moon

I've been waiting for someone to bring this up. I am ready to vote for any forumite's story, after I read it of course. Please let us know if you are in the running, there are votes here.

@wulfmoon Character Agency: I need a Hero. I didn't know the term character agency but I was writing it by feel. I love how you discuss the nuance of heroism and how that changes as a society and their values change! 

I get frustrated by formulas and rules initially and have always had a knee-jerk reaction to resist but as I've grown as a person and a writer I've come to realize that the formulas and clever ways of breaking down and expressing to how-tos of story craft are not in conflict with intuitive and nuanced writing. Going through all of the super secrets and including the Hero article has been so rewarding. It's made me feel more confident that I have a strong working toolbox for the craft and that will come through in my stories even as I continue to write intuitively. 

So I also just went through and voted for you and Super Secrets in all the categories because what you've made available to writers is fantastic. Happy New year!

Alright, guys and gals. I'm in something of a panic.

I just tried to submit my story to WotF and it wouldn't let me- it says the deadline has passed. But it's only 5:20am and I believe we have until 11:59pm! I very much hope I haven't missed something and there's a fault somehow with the site. 

If anyone is able to help, that would be awesome.   

@scott_m_sands 

It's def an error on their end. Here's to it being fixed today and me being able to submit my story too, though I guess if anything it'll make Q2 a very fast submission for me. 

Thanks, Scribbles.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one that's happened for!

Hopefully it can be fixed. 

Posted by: @scott_m_sands

Thanks, Scribbles.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one that's happened for!

Hopefully it can be fixed. 

I know a few folks (myself included) have sent notes to Joni and Jason about it. Haven’t seen any responses yet, but I’m confident that they’ll reopen the portal. This is just a glitch. 

Posted by: @lost_bard

Posted by: @scott_m_sands

Thanks, Scribbles.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one that's happened for!

Hopefully it can be fixed. 

I know a few folks (myself included) have sent notes to Joni and Jason about it. Haven’t seen any responses yet, but I’m confident that they’ll reopen the portal. This is just a glitch. 

Thanks for reporting. Sorry about that. Jason fixed the issue so you’re good to go. Get those stories in today! Last call!  All the beast!

Hey, everyone! Does anyone else have an issue with login in? it won't even let me set up a new account. Do I email Joni or someone else? Good luck with everyone's submissions!! 

Never mind, it un-glitched and I submitted! 

Posted by: @clfors

@wulfmoon Character Agency: I need a Hero. I didn't know the term character agency but I was writing it by feel. I love how you discuss the nuance of heroism and how that changes as a society and their values change! 

I get frustrated by formulas and rules initially and have always had a knee-jerk reaction to resist but as I've grown as a person and a writer I've come to realize that the formulas and clever ways of breaking down and expressing to how-tos of story craft are not in conflict with intuitive and nuanced writing. Going through all of the super secrets and including the Hero article has been so rewarding. It's made me feel more confident that I have a strong working toolbox for the craft and that will come through in my stories even as I continue to write intuitively. 

So I also just went through and voted for you and Super Secrets in all the categories because what you've made available to writers is fantastic. Happy New year!

Hi Cherrie! Thank you for your kind words! Thank you for recognizing all the work I’ve done here to help writers like you succeed. And thank you for the votes in the Critters Readers’ Choice Awards. I deeply appreciate those that have shown their appreciation in that way. When someone told me they nominated me in Critters in the Author category, I thanked them but said why? I’m no Bradbury. But they said, ‘It’s not just about the writing, it’s about what they do to help other writers, how they’ve given back.’ Well, I’m happy that I’ve helped; I know I’ve done my best to help aspiring writers find their way through the forest.

Like you, I don’t like rules. I’m an Idealist Champion, and we’re hardwired toward freedom of expression, original thought, and helping others to become all that they can be. But recognizing what makes stories tick (and understanding what the mechanics are that make the watch-works spin), is critical to using our originality in such a way that our stories will satisfy editors and readers and ultimately sell. I’m happy you recognize it’s not restrictive to recognize that fact. It simply gives us a channel to guide our torrent of creativity through so that we can be successful in hitting those items in Story that readers have been hardwired from those first tales around the fire to expect. And knowing the classic blunders can keep us from making them ourselves, saving us a great deal of agony and time.

I like how Pablo Picasso stated it, one of the greatest innovators in art of the Twentieth Century. “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” Not that you necessarily have to break them, but you allow your creativity to flow through them and mold them to your needs. How? Because you understand what every wheel and cog and jewel is there for. And when you fully grasp that, you can build your own watch. : )

Thank you again for your kind words, for taking the time to thank me, and for your votes in the Critters Awards to show it. It’s appreciated more than you can know.

Much success to your writing! You’re welcome to sign up for my Wulf Pack Club letter, and may you win a monthly prize!

Warmth and sunshine,

Wulf Moon

@wulfmoon Yes! "a channel to guide our torrent of creativity through" This is perfect! You have a way with words...as if you are a writer of something.   

Looking back at 14 year old baby artist me when a  teacher told me that real artists don't use black, I was furious! Irritated, insulted! How dare he! But it was the same lesson we are talking about with writing and after getting over my budding ego I learned it. I learned how not to use black and also how to use it in just the right places and amounts. Learn the rules and the reasons behind them and then you can break them with finesse. Thank you for packaging up such an entertaining and well thought out blueprint for short stories!

And you are so welcome! You've put such admirable work in. 

I signed up for your newsletter about a month ago! I'm planning to work through all of the challenges as well but  need to get a head start on stories and submissions for Volume 39 first or simultaneously(I'm in for Q1 in both contests now!). I think two stories a quarter is doable but I also submit to illustrators and have 4 kids so I'll have to be focused and organized. Probably need to summon some magical assistance tonight as the year turns, imps, phantoms, what have you...

Happy New Year Wulf!

Posted by: @anial

Never mind, it un-glitched and I submitted! 

Great news! Good luck with your story!!!

Happy New Year

Jason

Let it be known that I completed all of the requirements for me to stay in Moon's Volume 39 year 4 challenge with close to 8 hours to spare. For December, I subbed 2 stories to respectable markets (making the Q1 total = 3), did a December KYD (making the Q1 total = 3), wrote ~5800 new words in December which is my Q1 (making my total new word count from Q1 > 9,000 new words), and submitted my Q1 story (today). In addition to this I also submitted a Q1 entry to the IOTF contest.

Thanks so much for all who helped me make my Q1 story better: Ceci, Steph, Candice, Jenny Parr, TimE, RETreasure. I'm sure your suggestions will make all the difference and I'll finally do better than an R this quarter.

Thanks to my mentor: Candice Lisle for your enthusiastic support. And of course, thanks to Moon for pushing us to accept outrageous challenges all in the name of improving our writing craft. 

Now for some earned relaxation! Happy New Year's eve to all and may 2022 be a far better year than the previous two.

physa/Amy

@lost_bard 

Yes, I contacted Joni and Jason. They have graciously responded and were able to fix the portal.

My submission is in!

@scott_m_sands

Best of luck!

@physa/Amy - I know what you mean about the time thing!

This quarter I have completed:

-another chapter of my novel (approx. 3200w)

-x1 KYD exercise 'Thengor's Honor', based on the visual prompt (which I loved, btw)

-A story submitted to WotF for Q1. I'm so glad they managed to fix the online submission system for this one. I was still editing last night and went to submit at 11:51pm (Aussie time). Thank goodness my timezone is ahead by a bit or I wouldn't have got to submit.

-I think I only submitted to x1 respectable market this month, but I've already subbed to more than a dozen this quarter, so I'm good there.

Additionally, I'm goin to spend a day or two checking over most of my short stories/flash. Then I intend to send them out in droves. I'll be aiming to do what Ryland did-at least 100 rejections/submissions for the coming year. I'm confident I can get there.

It was pretty tight meeting the requirements this time around! Wow. Busy. I finished the novel chapter, final stage of the KYD and editing the Q1 sub in the last 48 hours. In many ways it feels good to know that you can still assign time to write, reach deadlines and submit.

Thanks Moon! And a Happy New Year to all!

Hi Everyone,

I am going to have to bid the team a fond farewell.

I got a suitable entry to Q1, but I haven't submitted any other short stories to paying markets because I spent the first two months writing a novel length work. I did some fairly substantial drafts of another three short stories, but that doesn't cut it. Near enough isn't good enough. I also enjoyed the writing prompts.

I did, however, complete a full outline of a novel, many thousands of words, and over a dozen chapters of the new book in those three months. For me, that's the win I was looking for.

Love you all. I would love to stick around, sneak a peek at the writing prompts, cheer folk on, and let you know what I am doing, if folk like. 

This was a great experience.

Blessings to you all, and Happy New Year.

Pact report for December:

• 3x KYDs
• A fresh story of 7500 words
• Submitted to WoTF Q1 2022
• Submitted to 10+ pro-paying markets

Happy new year, everyone!

@danuta, you used the challenge to push yourself and wrote, just in a slightly different direction than the challenge was going. Writers write and you're relentlessly pursuing your personal writing goals. That's nothing to be ashamed of. Revel in it! You're going to get that novel finished and out there.

Thanks for letting us know that you're bowing out. I'll make a note on the scroll. We've enjoyed having you and I hope you keep watching the thread and cheering folks on.

Write on!

Year 4 Challenge Members Report!

You have bleed ink and poured your soul into your words. Now tell us, one and all, what you have achieved this quarter. To remain in the challenge, in First Quarter you must have:

1. Written a fresh, original story (or novel chapter) each month of 3,000 words or more.
2. Completed one full KYD exercise per month, inspired by one of Moon’s Monday prompts.
3. Submitted a story to Writers of the Future for First Quarter, Volume 39 (revised or new, it's up to you).
4. Submitted three stories to RESPECTABLE MARKETS this quarter--markets which pay 5c/word minimum and treat writers with respect.

Remember that this is an individual challenge. If you did not meet these requirements, there’s no shame. Life happens, goals change, real jobs interfere with our passion. For those who meet the requirements: write your name upon the bloody scroll!

Fortune favors the industrious.

--Reports Received:

@physa

@linardos

@danuta

@scott_m_sands

For Q1, I have:

Written 2x fresh stories (Oct & Nov) and rewritten an HM (Dec - used characters and world, wrote a new 5K story).

Completed 3x KYDs (1x per month).

Submitted my rewritten HM to WotF for Q1.

Submitted 14x stories to respectable markets. I have 1x story being held for consideration.

Additionally, I submitted to one non-WotF contest in Q1, as a personal goal.

Year 4 - Q1 report:

Wrote a fresh story (8k) and 9 novel chapters (>15k)

Completed 5 KYDs (3 Oct, 1 Nov, 1 Dec)

Submitted a fresh story to Q1 WotF

Submitted 3 stories to respectable markets in Q1

Challenge accepted and completed.

I wrote a fresh story for this month and then rewrote it. Extra brownie points for me?

Did my KYD. 

Submitted to WotF and elsewhere. 

2022, bring it!

@danuta You know the direction your writing needs to take. The good news is that the Challenge got you a great jumpstart for 2022! Keep up the good work, and we hope you’ll keep dropping by and submitting stories as you’re able to WotF!

Cheers!

Beastmaster Moon

Year 4 Quarter 1 report

I wrote 3 new stories. All above 3000 words.

I wrote three KYDs 

I submitted a fresh story to WOTF Q1.

I submitted to three reputable markets and to the Resnick contest.

Now to work on January’s story. 

For the month, 4 submissions including WotF, 1kyd, 1 3k short story.

@jarrodkwilliams you rock!

@lost_bard 

Is it possible to join the challenge still and catch up or does that have to wait until the next Volume? 

I wrote a fresh story and submitted to quarter 1.

I wrote a few chapters of my novel in progress.

But I have not done a Kill Your Darlings using Wulf Moon’s prompts yet and I have not submitted to other markets yet but I have a list of places to submit compiled now. 

I spent December going through Wulf Moon’s Super Secrets but was still figuring out the current list of requirements vs the older lists. So yeah, can one join on the next Quarter or only at the start of a volume? 

@clfors  

Cherrie,

I appreciate the interest, but the open enrollment period is long gone. One quarter of the challenge year has already passed, and even though this is a self-directed year, I still keep up with everyone in the challenge. I trust you understand. Class is in session.

The cool thing is, you can still follow right along on your own—that’s what others have done in the past, and they’ve PMd me to let me know they’re doing the requirements. I do take note and encourage, as Candice here can readily verify. You don’t have to be officially registered to do the challenge requirements and benefit. 

Thanks for all your good words about the Super Secrets, and your interest in the workshop. It’s all here in the open for anyone to study.

Best of success!

Beastmaster Moon