Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS Workshop & Challenge!

Report for March:

This has been a busy month for me.

I became a published author this month  

I submitted to five pro markets (total of 16 this Q).

I submitted to WotF and Resnick (Sooooo many edits. Thanks to all my critiquers-you rock!)

I wrote one KYD and expanded it to a 3K-word story.

I wrote 6K words of absolute drivel attempting to do the Mystery on the ___ prompt. That's trunked for now.

I expanded an old KYD into a 1K-word flash for another contest that I'll submit tomorrow.

On to April!

This month has had its fortunes for me, as far as having time to write goes.

1. I wrote a 3000w story (Plus a little under 10k words on my novel)

2. x2 KYDs (the 'tears of the fallen' one took an interesting turn, based on the catacombs I saw in Europe)

3. Subbed my Q2 to Writers of the Future

4. Submitted 16 stories to respectable markets.

I'm also keeping up with my 318r course assignments. I spent almost x2 days agonizing over the plot for my novel, but I think I've got it now and can write the next chapter (knowing more where it's heading)!

Ready to hit the ground running with my novel in April 

I DID IT! GAHHHH! Is this what hulk feels like when he hulks out? 

I haven't subbed my Q2 yet, wanted to keep tinkering with it but will do it some 10 min before the deadline.

Wrote a 3k+ story. It's awful and I won't ever let it see the light of day in its current state but the words, whatever their condition, are there and I'll work on fixing it tomorrow.

KYD on the mystery prompt.

I haven't kept track how many subs I had for the quarter but just for this month I subbed to at least 5 places. I kind of like not keeping track since if it's rejected it's rejected and if it gets accepted it's like an unexpected surprise. I should be more organized, though. 

@scribblesatdusk Great! Glad you found a way! Hulk power!

Posted by: @scott_m_sands

This month has had its fortunes for me, as far as having time to write goes.

 

1. I wrote a 3000w story (Plus a little under 10k words on my novel)

2. x2 KYDs (the 'tears of the fallen' one took an interesting turn, based on the catacombs I saw in Europe)

3. Subbed my Q2 to Writers of the Future

4. Submitted 16 stories to respectable markets.

 

I'm also keeping up with my 318r course assignments. I spent almost x2 days agonizing over the plot for my novel, but I think I've got it now and can write the next chapter (knowing more where it's heading)!

Ready to hit the ground running with my novel in April 

Impressive. Most impressive. 😀 Great job! (Wish I'd been as productive!)

March is me coming off winter depression, so not terribly productive, but I am reasonably pleased with my WotF entry. I also completed my KYD assignment, came up with a butt load of future good story ideas and submitted to two markets.

@empressed 
I saw in your next post about 'winter depression', Victoria. Maybe that's where we swing-I'll take cold over hot any day. Bring on those beautiful, chill days.

I can feel the productivity already.

Happy Monday, Challenge Beasties! Your Monday writing prompt is:

Secret agent.

Cheers!

Beastmaster Moon

@scott_m_sands actually, I'm the same as far as temperature goes. I'll take cold every time. Darkness, though. Darkness kills. ?

@empressed 

Right. Makes sense. 

@wulfmoon - watermark removed, finally!

@ease (love this moniker)

@ease Cute! Love it, ease!

@dragonchef Dave taught me that phrase. I shortened it to KYD. Now, everybody says it. It’s even on ball caps! ?

Six months. Halfway through Wulf Moon's Year 4 Super Secrets Challenge and these beasties are writing more than ever. Every scribbler and scribe reported their deeds for March, scrawling their names in blood. They've written their KYDs, fresh stories or chapters of three thousand words or more, and submitted them to professional markets. They're all in the running for Writers of the Future second quarter.

But our challenge beasties haven't stopped there.

They're writing more.

More than one KYD per month. More than one story per month. They're submitting to additional contests and markets, seeking every opportunity possible to submit short stories, drabbles, and flash.

They're getting published.

Of the nine remaining challenge beasties, one was published in March and one reported an acceptance.

These are the intrepid writers who have remained steadfast and true: @lost_bard, @physa, @linardos, @scott_m_sands, @empressed, @jarrodkwilliams, @scribblesatdusk, @jennyperrycarr, @cpapa

Watch these writers. Remember their names. They will go far.

@lost_bard

Let their names be remembered.

Dude, you make it sound like they've passed on to that big typewriter in the sky.

 That's not really a Big Dipper. It's actually a Typewriter and its elongated carriage return handle.

@wulfmoon I absolutely love this! Thank you!

I screwed up my original report so here goes!

I barely made the deadline in March with another last-minute WotF submission. I'd been working on the piece all month, but it was a struggle emotionally. I'm not happy with how it looks submitted, and it'll probably be rejected, but it's submitted and ready for rework in the future if I so choose.

I also wrote 2 KYDs, two full stories, and two semi-pro submissions. It was a wild month for sure!

I believe that means we've wrapped up quarter 2? I managed to meet all requirements each month and for the quarter, and I'm ready to tackle April. I'm doing Moon's 5 KYD in a month challenge, editing and submitting to Resnick, and am working on a fresh piece for Troubadours and Space Princesses. So it looks like another wild month of writing for me!

Posted by: @dragonchef

@lost_bard

Let their names be remembered.

Dude, you make it sound like they've passed on to that big typewriter in the sky.

 That's not really a Big Dipper. It's actually a Typewriter and its elongated carriage return handle.

Ha! Yup, poor choice of words. Let me rework that. 

Greetings, challenge beasties! Wonderful to hear how you’ve all stayed true to your blood oath and have been writing up a storm!

Here’s your Monday writing prompt:

Rebel scientists in lab coats OR

Wizard rebels in fab cloaks.

Whether you’re an SF writer or a fantasy writer, as Tim Gunn says, “Make it work!”

Just a note to the challenge beasties here. While I’m stepping aside from many of my moderator duties, I am not stepping aside from you. Don’t think you’re getting out of your blood oath that easy. You’ve got a date with that stage!

Beastmaster Moon

@wulfmoon Thank you for everything you've done for this forum and for WotF. I just joined the forum last week when I watched the awards ceremony and many of the winners thanked you personally and strongly recommended joining the forum. I would like to take part in the recent challenge, but I can't figure out what it is. I see you've been doing this for a long time and even wrote an index for everything, but I've gotten lost in the thread and can't tell what is current. Can you please direct me to it?

(I did submit in Q2 and have a story in the works for Q3)

Posted by: @wulfmoon

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

Here it is, cweaver.

(Back on 2nd November, page 137 of this thread)

Although, we are a little over halfway through the WotF year at this point. I don't believe you're allowed to join the challenge at the moment (you need to commit to the full year), but feel free to follow the challenge and do it anyway. I did that last year. It helped me write good ( ) and there are heaps of friendly people who will offer support.

Scott

Posted by: @cweaver

@wulfmoon Thank you for everything you've done for this forum and for WotF. I just joined the forum last week when I watched the awards ceremony and many of the winners thanked you personally and strongly recommended joining the forum. I would like to take part in the recent challenge, but I can't figure out what it is. I see you've been doing this for a long time and even wrote an index for everything, but I've gotten lost in the thread and can't tell what is current. Can you please direct me to it?

(I did submit in Q2 and have a story in the works for Q3)

Thank you for your kind words, cweaver. Much appreciated!

As Scott Sands already commented (thanks for pulling up the reqs, Scott!) this year’s challenge is now well underway. Sorry, but it is a yearly challenge that I open up at the start of the new Contest year, and close it after, as it requires a year-long commitment to the program. But plenty have done the challenge on their own, studying the Super Secrets and doing the work, with wonderful results regardless if they joined the actual challenge or not. I know, because they write to me privately. Or state it publicly from the WotF stage. ?

I’m just happy this challenge and workshop have helped so many. It will help you as well, even following along. The challenge part helps you commit to more writing. The Super Secrets part helps you write smarter. Wisdom is the application of knowledge. We work hard at applying the principles of good writing here.

I wish you much success with your writing, and am happy you’ve joined the Forum, and are entering the Contest. Keep up the good work, keep learning, and I hope to see you on that winners’ stage as well. And in the book!

Cheers!

@scott_m_sands Thank you so much! How do I find the KYD exercises? I understand that this refers to the century-old advice to writers to "Kill Your Darlings," but I don't know what specific exercises these are, or where to find the prompts.

Catching up... I'll get up to speed soon 🙂

Your Monday writing prompt is:

• An ache I still remember.

And I do have to announce some in this workshop just sold stories we were working on to a pro anthology! In fact, for one here, it’s her first sale! More news when contracts are signed, but I’m so pleased to see these wonderful results for those that took the challenge! Cheers!

Beastmaster Moon

Posted by: @cweaver

@scott_m_sands Thank you so much! How do I find the KYD exercises? I understand that this refers to the century-old advice to writers to "Kill Your Darlings," but I don't know what specific exercises these are, or where to find the prompts.

Catching up... I'll get up to speed soon

 

I know you directed the question to Scott, but he might not be aware of some changes I’ve made to KYD, so I’ll answer. You can still follow the thread where workshop members posted results to the exercises. You’ll learn much from that. But I’ve removed the exercise to make way for the updated instructions for release in the Super Secrets books being published this year. I also teach a five hour master workshop on KYD. Joining my Wulf Pack Club is the best way to get updates—the link is in my signature.

In the meantime, here is a link to an article I wrote that helps you see what you’re looking for when editing your manuscript to Kill Your Darlings. I trust this will help. Cheers!

Click HERE.

@wulfmoon Thank you, Moon!

I've subscribed to your super secrets email list, and I read the article you linked. This was very helpful. I also scrolled up and looked at the first post you wrote for this year's challenge, and read some of what people posted in answer to the challenge, and am starting to get the idea.

I had already decided to submit to respectable markets in addition to entering this contest every quarter, and I got The Writer's Market 100th edition to find magazines to submit to, but oh my goodness, there are so many entries it's taking me forever to get through it. I write for children as well as adults, so I found Cricket which has many magazines and an easy submission form, so I sent something in to them. The SF/Fantasy section of this book is intimidating. Can you point me to any sources or lists of magazines you recommend I submit to, or should I just pull up my big girl pants and pick some magazines in the SF/Fantasy section of that book?

(I'm also using The Writer's Market as a resource to find an agent, but I have to write another book first to send to them, because I self-published the books I already wrote, and it looks like they only want non-published work.)

Posted by: @cweaver

The SF/Fantasy section of this book is intimidating. Can you point me to any sources or lists of magazines you recommend I submit to

Moon may have some other recommendations, as well, but I know one of our Wulf Pack (@rjklee) does a monthly rundown of upcoming deadlines for respectable markets, anthologies, contests, etc..  You can find his site here: https://figmentsdiehard.blogspot.com/ .

@ccrawford Thank you so much!