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Aw, shucks, Alicia. You are sooo sweet. ***hands over a kleenex, then gets another for myself***
I really appreciate that. The afterglow still hasn't faded. I expect it'll remain for a very long time.
Everyone here has been so kind. I'm really really gonna miss entering each quarter.

Wow, Wulf! Wow to all of it. I hope you win before pro-ing out. Either way, sounds like you know the secret. Never give up.

Okay, you want inspiration. Take a peek at this. I wrote it in 2011. Just found it on my computer. Here it is as I wrote it 7 years ago. It's called: Why I Love This Contest (WOTF) By Preston Dennett I’m one of the losers. I’ve entered 17 times and haven’t received even so much as an honorable menti...

Thanks, Dyl. I hope so. The only thing stopping people from winning is not entering. Many people have won on their first try. Not me. It took me 47 tries! I literally typed the paint off the letters on my keyboard.

Oh and yeah, I contacted Dean years ago to see if I really was Topanga Canyon. He confirmed it. Now, after I won, I contacted him again to let him know I won second place in the WOTF. I knocked his socks flat off!!! He had some very nice things to say. True story.

Congratulations, Preston! It is especially gratifying to see your win, because many of us know of your perseverance! I was really hoping for you, and I was not disappointed! I note the long gap in your start and final submitting phase in this contest, and as I recall, that was when you took a break...

David Farland (the judge) has said that violence is okay, but gross-out gore merely to shock the reader is a definite no-no.

welp, took some time to let everything sink in, buuut wotf059 first place! looks like you and I will be getting better acquainted, Preston! Congrats again! in related news, when Joni called I gave maybe the weirdest response ever? it went something like this: oh god thank you so much this is amazin...

I'm in! Hoping to break my long rejection streak with this one. Maybe I'll get to add another HM to my little collection. And maybe, just maybe...well, we'll see. Good luck, everyone. Don't wait too long! The system always gets a bit wonky on the last day. Re-posting this to let you all know...you ...

Many of the winners have come from this forum, so I fully expect to see some of you at the workshop! I sure hope so!

Wow, you guys! Thanks so much for the congrats. I could never have done it without all of you. I learned more here on this forum and got more encouragement than anywhere else. This forum rocks, and you guys are all great. I just saw the blog they put up, and there I am! It's a good day, a very good ...

wotf059 Second place! I still can't believe it. Got the call today at work. I screamed and cried. Joni is the sweetest person ever. I'm ridiculously excited. This was the 47th time I've submitted. I began submitting back in 1986-1992, then again in 2009-2018. It's been a very long journey. Here's my...

Second place.

So much inspiring successes. Congrats to Ishmael and Michelle and Amoskalik! Keep it up!

The judge, David Farland, has often said he first looks for three things when reading for this contest: an original trope, polished prose, and a strong story arc. He's mentioned many other things, such as vivid settings, a strong hook with speculative elements, believable characters, an emotional en...

Loved your story too, Jeremy, "The Minarets of An-Zabat." It was so suspenseful and original. Loved the vivid imagery, and your characters are so real.

I submitted one, and got the funniest rejection I've ever gotten. Still laughing over what Alex wrote. I am invited to submit another, so I'm scrambling. I've got something, but I'm not sure it's funny enough.

So I just finished reading Volume 34, and I gotta say, it's very good. The WOTF anthologies never disappoint. They always contain stories that are just a bit quirkier and more inventive than other venues. ***SPOILER ALERT*** I'm going to talk a little about the stories. Not going to give anything aw...

Thanks, Wulf & Michele. I really appreciate your kind words.

There has been a correction. A finalist has been disqualified and my semi-finalist story has been moved up.

There are strange things happening in the world. I got home tonight and there was a message my machine. It was Joni! She called to say that she knows she sent me my semi-finalist email, and she wanted to congratulate me. Then she said she has even better news for me. Turns out, one of the finalists ...

Congrats, Sataris. There's almost always a forumite finalist, and you is it! Best of luck on placing! Congrats to everyone, including the Rs. I just had three rejections in a row. Ugh! Still, I keep entering every quarter because you never know until the results come in.
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wotf057 I'm so happy! High five! Thanks, Dawn! It's my first ever. I've always wanted to use that sign. You've got to try it! When you post, just click on "View more smilies" below and to the right and it will bring up the sign. Congrats! I'm really looking forward to David's comments.

I'm so happy!

I too am in. It's as polished as I can make it. All I can do is give it a pat on the back and tell it, "Go, little story, go! You can do it!"
Good luck, all! Don't wait until the last day. Submit!

Entered. Okay, now to start the next one. Hmmm...

Congrats on all the recent successes, guys! Keep it up!

Thanks, guys. This is my second pro-level sale. Now for number three!

My first story for Daily Science Fiction is now live!
I'm ridiculously excited. Yay!



http://dailysciencefiction.com/fantasy/magic-and-wizardry/preston-e-dennett/dispell