Prompts
-Where the secrets grow
-Blood and Bone
-Hidden consciousnesses
-Eternal sacrifice
-Bloodsoaked roots
9 x HM
V38 Q4 2nd Place
Mike Resnick Memorial Award winner 2021 https://www.galaxysedge.com/
www.ztbright.com
I'm not enrolled, but here's a couple off the top of my head. They're probably mostly SF oriented. Not sure if they have been used in stories before or not:
Robot scrapyard seen as death camp.
The first A.I. President!
Sentient cancer.
Hey feller, whatcha got in that sack?
Um, I didn't have one, so I sold your soul instead... Sorry!
Greetings from Salt Lake City! I'm sadly visiting a few months early, given Fyrecon in July... Congrats, Moon, on the master class! Unfortunately, I have a prior volunteer commitment that week. It sounds like a great opportunity for those who can make the trip.
Here are my prompts:
1. Mindswap
2. The sorcerer among us
3. Gambling with the devil
4. Invisible reflection
5. Bridge to nowhere
HM, R, HM~, R, R, SHM*, HM, R, HM**, HM, ?, ?
~"Music from the Stars"
* Finalist, 2021 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award
**"Speculation," Brave New Worlds (Zombies Need Brains, Aug 2022)
1. Slippery Slope
2. One claw over the line
3. The dark eruption
4. Poisoned benefit
5. Stew of a different color
Fun homework assignment Wulf, thanks!
I mean this in the best way possible, but there are dozens of available threads on the forum. This one is special, because Wulf is taking time out of his post-winner life to provide guidance and support to writers who haven't reached that point in the journey yet. It's public and I know it's important to him that as many people as possible view the thread, but it's already a busy busy thread. Wulf held a special enrollment period back at the beginning of Q1, and had to cap the number of people so he could give the best help to everyone enrolled. Myself and a number of other forumites offer crits and weigh in on questions when they're posted, and we're always happy to do that.
That being said, if you're not on the list for people in this challenge, it's really helpful if the responses and miscellaneous posts are limited/placed elsewhere. I know it's tempting to want to participate, but it makes things more difficult for Wulf and the other participants.
V34: R,HM,R
V35: HM,R,R,HM
V36: R,HM,HM,SHM
V37: HM,SF,SHM,SHM
V38: (P)F, SHM, F, F
V39: SHM, SHM, HM, SHM
Published Finalist Volume 38
Pro’d out Q4V39
www.rebeccaetreasure.com
Managing Editor, Apex Magazine
I mean this in the best way possible, but there are dozens of available threads on the forum. This one is special, because Wulf is taking time out of his post-winner life to provide guidance and support to writers who haven't reached that point in the journey yet. It's public and I know it's important to him that as many people as possible view the thread, but it's already a busy busy thread. Wulf held a special enrollment period back at the beginning of Q1, and had to cap the number of people so he could give the best help to everyone enrolled. Myself and a number of other forumites offer crits and weigh in on questions when they're posted, and we're always happy to do that.That being said, if you're not on the list for people in this challenge, it's really helpful if the responses and miscellaneous posts are limited/placed elsewhere. I know it's tempting to want to participate, but it makes things more difficult for Wulf and the other participants.
Co-signed
I was a forum lurker and made a few posts during last year’s challenge, so I understand wanting to participate, but as one of the participants this year, it really does make it hard to follow when there are so many posts (and so many of them are not from fellow challenge members).
It’s easy to end up missing assignments or comments from the other challenge members.
I actually approached Moon privately, wondering if there was a way to take some of this private to make it easier to follow. He declined because it’s important to him for everyone to be able to access the material and commentary here and learn from it.
My (admittedly unimportant) opinion is that an occasional comment is fine, but there probably isn’t need to report your progress or publicly post that you’ve completed an assignment if you’re not in the 2020 challenge.
9 x HM
V38 Q4 2nd Place
Mike Resnick Memorial Award winner 2021 https://www.galaxysedge.com/
www.ztbright.com
What a cool assignment!
1. Moon Fever
2. Infinity plus two
3. Toadstools and nano brews
4. Born to die
5. Lost in parallel
ASSIGNMENT:
I want each of you *enrolled in this challenge* to make a post here with five scintillating prompts. These writing prompts should be generic enough that you could use them for either SF or F stories, yet be obvious enough to spark spec fic ideas. Not clear enough? Look back over our prior prompts. Normally a couple of words that intrigue is all you need.
Beastmaster Moon
2025 Q1:SHM
2024 Q1:RWC, Q2:RWC, Q3:HM, Q4:SHM
2023 Q1:HM, Q2:HM, Q3:HM, Q4:HM
2022 Q2:HM, Q3:HM, Q4:SHM
2021 Q1:SHM, Q2:HM, Q3:HM
2020 Q1:HM, Q2:HM, Q3:SHM, Q4:HM
2019 Q1:SHM, Q2:R, Q3:SHM, Q4:HM
2018 Q1:R, Q2:HM, Q4:R
2017 Q4: R
Star Reacher, your second prompt – INFINITY PLUS TWO – sounds like a novel you could write, or a cinematic feature starring Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansen. Or a TV 90-minute show on the Lifetime or Hallmark channel. If it's Hallmark, you need the usual cast of characters – a female star who's going with the unappreciative boyfriend; she meets a charming father figure in a bookstore, candy shop, bakery who owns the bakery, but the boyfriend wants the property rights; then she encounters the better guy who's allergic to cake, stutters and keeps slipping on the ice; then there's the awkward kiss; and you need to have an adorable canine involved. If it's Lifetime, cast the evil babysitter who has an unexplained crush on the woman's husband and is secretly plotting to become their 3-year-old infant's mother.
Just saying. Best of luck on that second prompt. That could be your story.
Best,
Retro
Thanks Retro, I do like the title!
Many of my pieces lately are inspired by a title first. I'm the last person to write a Hallmark channel type of story, though!
Yes, there are little stirrings in place . . . I'll have to wait and see how they grow.
Star Reacher, your second prompt – INFINITY PLUS TWO – sounds like a novel you could write, or a cinematic feature starring Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansen. Or a TV 90-minute show on the Lifetime or Hallmark channel. If it's Hallmark, you need the usual cast of characters – a female star who's going with the unappreciative boyfriend; she meets a charming father figure in a bookstore, candy shop, bakery who owns the bakery, but the boyfriend wants the property rights; then she encounters the better guy who's allergic to cake, stutters and keeps slipping on the ice; then there's the awkward kiss; and you need to have an adorable canine involved. If it's Lifetime, cast the evil babysitter who has an unexplained crush on the woman's husband and is secretly plotting to become their 3-year-old infant's mother.
Just saying. Best of luck on that second prompt. That could be your story.
Best,
Retro
2025 Q1:SHM
2024 Q1:RWC, Q2:RWC, Q3:HM, Q4:SHM
2023 Q1:HM, Q2:HM, Q3:HM, Q4:HM
2022 Q2:HM, Q3:HM, Q4:SHM
2021 Q1:SHM, Q2:HM, Q3:HM
2020 Q1:HM, Q2:HM, Q3:SHM, Q4:HM
2019 Q1:SHM, Q2:R, Q3:SHM, Q4:HM
2018 Q1:R, Q2:HM, Q4:R
2017 Q4: R
I mean this in the best way possible, but there are dozens of available threads on the forum. This one is special, because Wulf is taking time out of his post-winner life to provide guidance and support to writers who haven't reached that point in the journey yet. It's public and I know it's important to him that as many people as possible view the thread, but it's already a busy busy thread. Wulf held a special enrollment period back at the beginning of Q1, and had to cap the number of people so he could give the best help to everyone enrolled. Myself and a number of other forumites offer crits and weigh in on questions when they're posted, and we're always happy to do that.That being said, if you're not on the list for people in this challenge, it's really helpful if the responses and miscellaneous posts are limited/placed elsewhere. I know it's tempting to want to participate, but it makes things more difficult for Wulf and the other participants.
Yikes! Sorry! As a Newbie, I hadn't read that this was a private thread. I thought "SUPER SECRET" was being used in an ironic sense. Once again, I apologize!
My prompts:
1. Dark Awakening
2. Hidden Exposure
3. Permanently Transient
4. Soul Stab
5. Incomplete Result
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!
I've been reading over everyone's prompts. Absolutely love them....... some really stood out. (Retropianoplayer, I'm talking about you 
)
Here's my list:
1. My friends call me whiplash.
2. We'll never stop the bleeding if you don’t stop laughing.
3. Maybe we can bury it before mom gets home.
4. The local sewing circle classified the incident as "serious misconduct" and struck Roy from their list of associate members.
5. That corpse lolloping over your shoulder really brings out the color in your… personality.
WOTF Stats
(2014) V31 – R
(2018) V35 – HM
(2019) V36 – HM, SHM
(2020) V37 – R, HM, SHM, Finalist
(2021) V38 – SF, SHM, SHM, HM
(2022) V39 – HM, SHM, SHM, SHM
(2023) V40 - HM, SF, tba, tba
Okay, here's mine ... I just hope no one decides to psychoanalyze us based on the answers (esp. Henckel)
Green Leaves Turning Blue
The Uriah Gambit
At the Heart of Amber
Geocruncher
Stars, Rain, Fire
Yikes! Sorry! As a Newbie, I hadn't read that this was a private thread. I thought "SUPER SECRET" was being used in an ironic sense. Once again, I apologize!
Do stick around LibrarianBarbarian ... Wulf is sharing his secrets for all and the exercises will only help your writing ... FYI, I was an interloper on last year's group 😀
I mean this in the best way possible, but there are dozens of available threads on the forum. This one is special, because Wulf is taking time out of his post-winner life to provide guidance and support to writers who haven't reached that point in the journey yet. It's public and I know it's important to him that as many people as possible view the thread, but it's already a busy busy thread. Wulf held a special enrollment period back at the beginning of Q1, and had to cap the number of people so he could give the best help to everyone enrolled. Myself and a number of other forumites offer crits and weigh in on questions when they're posted, and we're always happy to do that.That being said, if you're not on the list for people in this challenge, it's really helpful if the responses and miscellaneous posts are limited/placed elsewhere. I know it's tempting to want to participate, but it makes things more difficult for Wulf and the other participants.
Yikes! Sorry! As a Newbie, I hadn't read that this was a private thread. I thought "SUPER SECRET" was being used in an ironic sense. Once again, I apologize!
No worries, LibrarianBarbarian. The thread is so huge now, it would be hard to actually find the spot where open enrollment began for this new contest year. I did have it open for about a month at the start, and seventeen signed up for this year's challenge. Like I've always said, the workshop/challenge is for those that committed to it, but it's in the open so all can benefit from the lessons taught, and see the results as the challenge beasties run through the maze. We have no problem with the occasional post cheering the group on or commending them for a job well done, but they are in class, a Master Class, so it helps if outsiders keep it to a minimum. They do have assignments and work to do, and they have to find those assignments against an increasing number of posts to cycle through. I trust you and others understand. And we are very happy the Super Secrets and the challenge beasties are inspiring others.
To one and all, keep writing fresh stories. That is where your real growth will occur. The Secrets just help you to train your storytelling skills and craft so you are not striking the air, but making every word count.
And if you'd like to get the Master Class from the Beastmaster himself, now you can! I'll be teaching it at Fyrecon, Salt Lake City, July 16th-19th, 2020. Five from the Forum have already told me they plan on being there, and that means there's 20 seats left!
https://www.fyrecon.com/master-classes/ ... -workshop/
All the beast!
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!
Okay, here's mine ... I just hope no one decides to psychoanalyze us based on the answers (esp. Henckel)
Green Leaves Turning Blue
The Uriah Gambit
At the Heart of Amber
Geocruncher
Stars, Rain, Fire
I just wonder if Henckel is the Roy in this prompt or not: 4. The local sewing circle classified the incident as "serious misconduct" and struck Roy from their list of associate members.
R.J.K. Lee
WotF 2021: SHM, R, R, S-F
2020: HMx2, Rx2
2019: Rx4
2018: N/A
2017; HMx2, Rx2
2016: HMx2, Rx2
2015: Rx1
Publications:
Stone Shaper Tanukis Estranged in Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging - Volume Blue (Improbable Press, 12/13/2021)
Memo from the Jolly Overlords on the Weird Christmas Podcast (12/2020). I read my story at the 22:10 mark in the flash fiction contest episode.
Monthly updates on where to submit your creative work: https://figmentsdiehard.blogspot.com/
Prompts I thought were prompt but are not so prompt considering there were prompter prompts:
1. Megalithic rock star
2. Shallow cup
3. It's the wrong hand
4. Eternal but dying
5. But where's the other shoe?
35: - R R R | 36: R HM R R | 37: HM HM HM SHM | 38: HM HM HM HM | 39: HM HM HM SHM | 40: HM R SHM SHM | 41: R HM SHM R
5 SHM / 13 HM / 9 R
Swift, I just wanted to report that I am 5/6 for the flash challenge.
1. Internet troll
2. Outside the submarine window
3.Climbing vines
4.Don't forget your plague mask
5. Tiger's eye
V35: R, R, R
V36: R, HM, R, HM
V37: HM, R, SF, HM
V38: HM, HM, HM, SHM
V39: HM, HM, SHM, RWC
V40: HM, SHM, HM, SHM
V41: RWC, RWC, HM, HM
V42:
"The Soul of Trees" published in Third Flatiron's Things With Feathers: Stories of Hope
Got you, AjZach, thanks!
R, 3rd place Q4 v36!!!
Stories in Apocalyptic, Cossmass Infinites x2! PodCastle, Spirit Machine; forthcoming in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apex Magazine, Human Monsters
Thank you, Henckel, for your kind words.
A thought on your Number 4 prompt:
4. The local sewing circle classified the incident as "serious misconduct" and struck Roy from their list of associate members.
What about: 4. The local sewing circle classified the incident as "serious misconduct" and embroidered Roy within the quilt they were making for Imbolc celebrations.
I always try to think cinematically for every story I write. This way, if anything ever gets published, one never knows what could turn into strong subsidiary rights. (think motion picture).
Best,
Retro 
Love it, y'all.
WOTF Stats
(2014) V31 – R
(2018) V35 – HM
(2019) V36 – HM, SHM
(2020) V37 – R, HM, SHM, Finalist
(2021) V38 – SF, SHM, SHM, HM
(2022) V39 – HM, SHM, SHM, SHM
(2023) V40 - HM, SF, tba, tba
Henckel, I got a kick out of your prompts.
My fiction tends to lean more serious, but I’m lighthearted and love humor irl. I think I’ll use one or two of your prompts to get me to explore some range in my writing.
9 x HM
V38 Q4 2nd Place
Mike Resnick Memorial Award winner 2021 https://www.galaxysedge.com/
www.ztbright.com
Swift, I just wanted to report that I am 5/6 for the flash challenge.
1. Internet troll
2. Outside the submarine window
3.Climbing vines
4.Don't forget your plague mask
5. Tiger's eye
My daughter just saw "Don't forget your plague mask" and laughed. Since we're here in Japan with school closures and all that 
R.J.K. Lee
WotF 2021: SHM, R, R, S-F
2020: HMx2, Rx2
2019: Rx4
2018: N/A
2017; HMx2, Rx2
2016: HMx2, Rx2
2015: Rx1
Publications:
Stone Shaper Tanukis Estranged in Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging - Volume Blue (Improbable Press, 12/13/2021)
Memo from the Jolly Overlords on the Weird Christmas Podcast (12/2020). I read my story at the 22:10 mark in the flash fiction contest episode.
Monthly updates on where to submit your creative work: https://figmentsdiehard.blogspot.com/
Results of PROMPT ASSIGNMENT
Time's up! Awww, some didn't answer our riddle, did they, Precious? Do we eats them? Are they scrumptiously scrumptious? They looks tasty...
So I gave you an assignment, and thank you to those that fulfilled it! That said, when you get an assignment in any class, it's really important to follow the instructions. Just like guidelines, fail to follow the instructions, and, well, you fail. What were these instructions? Let's see:
I want each of you *enrolled in this challenge* to make a post here with five scintillating prompts. These writing prompts should be generic enough that you could use them for either SF or F stories, yet be obvious enough to spark spec fic ideas. Not clear enough? Look back over our prior prompts. Normally a couple of words that intrigue is all you need.
I will say no more. You can correct your own papers. : ) But this is a Master Class, and this assignment was to get into the prompts list that will be in the SUPER SECRETS' book, and also into our weekly prompts here. And while it's true any of these prompts might spark a story for you, or for your fellow challenge beasties, it's my book, so I am the judge in this contest. Oh, you didn't know it was a contest? Well now you know. Everything in this challenge is about giving your absolute best. I find that those paying attention here are also paying attention in their writing, their formatting, and their submissions to WotF and other respectable markets. Keep striving for excellence. You will need it if you hope to win against excellent stories.
That said, the following are simply the prompts that turned my story crank. Like any contest you hope to win, I'm sure some of you studied my tastes in writing and combed through every Super Secret, then read my latest works, then went back over prior prompts I personally wrote for this challenge to get clues as to what I might select, and quietly offered me a lifetime membership in your country club if I would give special consideration to yours.
If only. 
Without further ado, here are the results:
The Winner! Zeeteebeez with four, count them FOUR thought-provoking story prompts:
1. Blood and Bone
2. Bloodsoaked Roots
3. Hidden Consciousness
4. Eternal Sacrifice
Runners Up:
CCrawford with Soul Stab
OishiSushi911 with Baby Dies Alone
Officer with Mindswap
RSchibler with Slippery Slope
StarReacher with Moon Fever (gotta love the smart use of Moon in there, which might have rung some bells for this judge
Peter Glen with Heart of Amber (yes, I shortened your prompt to three words)
Congratulations to all that participated in the assignment! I plan on using each of these above in my random prompt generator in the Super Secrets' book! But just like in Highlander, there can only be one that wins the grand prize and gets to keep their head.
Zeeteebeez is the winner of the gorgeous poster of Echo Chernik's cover illustration of Writers of the Future, Vol. 36! Well done, Zeet!
SwiftPotato, would you be so kind as to add these into our random story prompt generator, and please honor our challenge beastie Zeet by posting tomorrow's prompt as: BLOODSOAKED ROOTS.
Remember, roots can be many things. It's often in the alternates of a thing that one finds the brilliant twist.
All the beast!
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!
Great prompts, all! I've added them all to the list and will begin tomorrow with Bloodsoaked Roots.
I've also got my writeup from Superstars for you all! Jim Butcher had some excellent insights on feedback, and I would love to attend more talks by him at next year's seminar.
JIM BUTCHER ON DEALING WITH FEEDBACK
Who you're getting feedback from dictates how you (as the writer) should take it. He argues that writers are like magicians, convincing people that scratches on a page are actually another universe. This means no one will have the same perspective on your magic tricks as the audience (your readers). If they don't like what you wrote, they'll blame it on you, not the people who gave you feedback. I took this to mean that regardless of what feedback you receive, you have to take ownership of the end product that goes out for publication by filtering your feedback.
Feedback from agents
Agents will give good feedback on a manuscript with the idea of getting it through editors. They already have contacts and know the best places to send your book, so think of their feedback with this goal in mind.
Feedback from editors
Jim says that editors will have excellent advice on story. This is advice you should strongly consider.
Feedback from other writers
This feedback is best for improving your craft rather than your story.
Types of feedback
There are also a couple types of feedback, and different ways to take those.
Hard feedback
This is the very clear, obvious advice that you can't really fight back on, such as "This character stopped acting the same way he was acting a page ago" or "Where did he come from, he died three chapters ago." Jim's take: you will feel stubborn about it, but you will be wrong. Fix it.
Soft feedback
This is the mushy feedback that you sometimes don't know what to do with. Think things like: "I just wasn't into this chapter" or "I didn't really understand what was going on."
Jim's take on this was that most often you need to look into how the reader is interacting with your sequel in order to fix these issues. The sequel is the bit following something that happened to your character.
There are four stages of reaction to a scene/event:
1. The emotional reaction: how am I feeling after this event? Whether this is short or long depends on the kind of book you're writing.
2. Reason reaction: am I hurt? Is the other person hurt? What needs to be done? This is often especially heavy in mystery stories.
3. Review reaction: whose fault was the car accident? What are the consequences?
4. Anticipation reaction: how do I handle this? What are my next steps?
Once you have anticipation, you have a new goal, and thus a new scene.
You can take different bits of soft feedback and project them onto these stages. If the reader says they don't care, you've probably gone too light on the emotional reaction. If they don't understand what's happening, you're probably light on review. You also need to make sure that the anticipation stage makes something worth dreading.
R, 3rd place Q4 v36!!!
Stories in Apocalyptic, Cossmass Infinites x2! PodCastle, Spirit Machine; forthcoming in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apex Magazine, Human Monsters
Wow, thanks Moon!
My first competition win, and I didn’t even know I was competing
Baby steps
Swift, thanks for posting those comments about feedback. Very helpful!
9 x HM
V38 Q4 2nd Place
Mike Resnick Memorial Award winner 2021 https://www.galaxysedge.com/
www.ztbright.com
Thank you, Leah (SwiftPotato) for giving us your report on Jim Butcher's "Dealing With Feedback" at Superstars 2020. How often do you get to have Jim Butcher personally teach you how to deal with feedback on your stories? This would be a pretty rare event, but Superstars makes things like this happen all the time for four days. Some nice points here to review--love the "deal with it"--and thank you again to Leah and all those taking the time to share their notes with us. The next best thing to being there!
But if you want to go there and you haven't been, I has da code for $100 off. WULF9928. I hope we meet there next year, or at Fyrecon this year! And some of us will be meeting at the WotF gala!
And congrats, Zeet. Send me a PM with your contact info so I can send you your poster! It's a beauty!
All the beast!
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!
Great notes on the class, Leah, thanks. I particularly appreciate the breakdown of the sequel section. I feel like it must be easy to miss depth on one or more of those elements.
V34: R,HM,R
V35: HM,R,R,HM
V36: R,HM,HM,SHM
V37: HM,SF,SHM,SHM
V38: (P)F, SHM, F, F
V39: SHM, SHM, HM, SHM
Published Finalist Volume 38
Pro’d out Q4V39
www.rebeccaetreasure.com
Managing Editor, Apex Magazine
Congratulations!! 
Wow, thanks Moon!
My first competition win, and I didn’t even know I was competing
Baby steps
Swift, thanks for posting those comments about feedback. Very helpful!
2025 Q1:SHM
2024 Q1:RWC, Q2:RWC, Q3:HM, Q4:SHM
2023 Q1:HM, Q2:HM, Q3:HM, Q4:HM
2022 Q2:HM, Q3:HM, Q4:SHM
2021 Q1:SHM, Q2:HM, Q3:HM
2020 Q1:HM, Q2:HM, Q3:SHM, Q4:HM
2019 Q1:SHM, Q2:R, Q3:SHM, Q4:HM
2018 Q1:R, Q2:HM, Q4:R
2017 Q4: R
Great writeup, SwiftPotato. I am pasting some of those tips in my trusty folder with other great shares from Superstars. The section on reactions is going to be handy not only for me, but in understanding critiques from others.
Great prompts, all! I've added them all to the list and will begin tomorrow with Bloodsoaked Roots.
I've also got my writeup from Superstars for you all! Jim Butcher had some excellent insights on feedback, and I would love to attend more talks by him at next year's seminar.
2025 Q1:SHM
2024 Q1:RWC, Q2:RWC, Q3:HM, Q4:SHM
2023 Q1:HM, Q2:HM, Q3:HM, Q4:HM
2022 Q2:HM, Q3:HM, Q4:SHM
2021 Q1:SHM, Q2:HM, Q3:HM
2020 Q1:HM, Q2:HM, Q3:SHM, Q4:HM
2019 Q1:SHM, Q2:R, Q3:SHM, Q4:HM
2018 Q1:R, Q2:HM, Q4:R
2017 Q4: R
1. The emotional reaction: how am I feeling after this event? Whether this is short or long depends on the kind of book you're writing.
2. Reason reaction: am I hurt? Is the other person hurt? What needs to be done? This is often especially heavy in mystery stories.
3. Review reaction: whose fault was the car accident? What are the consequences?
4. Anticipation reaction: how do I handle this? What are my next steps?
Once you have anticipation, you have a new goal, and thus a new scene.
You can take different bits of soft feedback and project them onto these stages. If the reader says they don't care, you've probably gone too light on the emotional reaction. If they don't understand what's happening, you're probably light on review. You also need to make sure that the anticipation stage makes something worth dreading.
Thanks for sharing notes from the Jim Butcher lecture. I especially like the point about reactions to scenes. Going to use it with incoming feedback.
Also, congrats on the win to Zee!
R.J.K. Lee
WotF 2021: SHM, R, R, S-F
2020: HMx2, Rx2
2019: Rx4
2018: N/A
2017; HMx2, Rx2
2016: HMx2, Rx2
2015: Rx1
Publications:
Stone Shaper Tanukis Estranged in Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging - Volume Blue (Improbable Press, 12/13/2021)
Memo from the Jolly Overlords on the Weird Christmas Podcast (12/2020). I read my story at the 22:10 mark in the flash fiction contest episode.
Monthly updates on where to submit your creative work: https://figmentsdiehard.blogspot.com/
The sequel is the bit following something that happened to your character.
There are four stages of reaction to a scene/event:
1. The emotional reaction: how am I feeling after this event? Whether this is short or long depends on the kind of book you're writing.
2. Reason reaction: am I hurt? Is the other person hurt? What needs to be done? This is often especially heavy in mystery stories.
3. Review reaction: whose fault was the car accident? What are the consequences?
4. Anticipation reaction: how do I handle this? What are my next steps?
This was a great summary =) I had really wanted to make it to that session and something else happened in that time slot.
If anybody wants more info about the way Jim does scenes/sequels, he has some pretty old material on his blog. Here's the one on Sequels specifically:https://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/2880.html.
