WRITERSoftheFUTURE.com

On a different kind of disqualification--I've seen mentions of stories getting disqualified. Why would that be? 1. author already a pro? 2. story already published? 3. plagiarism? 4. story was ghost-written? All those would be reasons. Also if it doesn't meet word count, or has inappropriate langu...

Good news! Dave's pneumonia has cleared up, his new pacemaker is working, and he'll hopefully be released from the hospital soon!

But I hope he takes it easy and so I for one am just fine with Thursday being a few weeks off.

Interesting. I wonder why the change? There was a twitter thing about a year ago where some folks with grievances against the contest were getting pretty pushy. I suspect the contest administrators are trying to protect finalists from having well-meaning busybodies harass them to "warn" a...

aidanka wrote:So, do you think R with a request to send again is a regular thing?

I hate to say it but that's just a form email. The only specific feedback given is to the Semifinalists, who get a critique from Dave about why their stories didn't quite make Finalist. Everything else is just a form letter.

Who are the Vol. 36 finalist judges? I'm just curious-not presuming I will get anything other than an R my first try. Do they change every quarter? Every volume? Or is it a secret? This is probably a noob question and has been answered somewhere but I couldn't find it. You can find a list of all th...

Well Bugger - says person with long Q2 entry. My Q2 was long, as well, TimE. I am hoping beyond hope that it isn't rejected right off for the length because I consider it the best I've done so far. Mores the pity if it is . . . for me, anyway. <sigh> Note to self: <= 7K limits going forward. There ...

For those of us who have only gotten a rejection how do we know what we are doing wrong? Writing a fresh story and making the same mistakes over and over again won't really help us get any better. It actually will, because every time you write you improve. You should be reading, too, and reading wi...

(because everything even up to SF is still a rejection) Non-winning Finalist is a rejection too. Just a really, really high level one. And that's ok! This contest only publishes three stories a quarter, out of hundreds or thousands of entries. All we can do is make sure to get ours in and have it b...

Submitted my entry this morning! Now back to the word-mines. I have a possible for Q3 but I'm not sure about it yet. Plenty of time for that!

I entered my "canned" story in Q1. Just putting the finishing touches on my Q2 entry, written specifically for this quarter! It made me almost cry so that's a good sign.

Yeah if I missed Q2 I'm gonna be angry...

Just got the call from contest coordinator Joni Labaqui. It's now okay for me to wave this sign: wotf059 SECOND PLACE! I'm going to Hollywood! I get to meet Preston! Where's that Topanga Canyon banner? Fortune favor the brave...in hopefully less time than it took me! All the beast, ~Moon~ Huge, hug...

My quarter 1 is almost finished but it is a dusting of my silver. I promised myself I'd take the first quarter slow after baby...But I will take your challenge for the other three!!! Can I please?? ;) Brittany, you and I will be in the "three fresh, one canned" category of the challenge. ...

thegirlintheglasses wrote:
PS I have no idea how to put on those cute little smiles with signs. Or I would post one :)

Congrats, New Mom and Finalist!

When you make a post, there are smilies to the side. If you click "View more smilies" you can get the signpost smiles.

Wulf Moon wrote:It's gotten awfully quiet in here. Who hasn't reported in yet? We need some detectives. Look for guilty faces. Hunt down those that suddenly go silent, that's a dead giveaway. Bring out the RACK! Make them SQUAWK!

Ahem.

Looking at you, Wulf.

(I got an HM, just haven't been on this forum).

I've already failed this challenge - I re-entered my v35 Q3 about two weeks into the quarter....

It'll be new stories for the other three quarters, though!

I'm in for Q4, which means I can concentrate on NaNoWriMo and then finish off my current WIP before the end of the quarter and not have to worry about my entry. Hurrah!

Welcome to my world :p there's a reason not many of my stories have seen print.

You can check on The Submission Grinder but you're right, it's awkward. F&SF will consider them, I believe. A few other markets. But it's pretty rough

I remember reading somewhere that HMs are stories that are close to publishable but have a missing element, such as theme. It makes sense that HMs would have a wide range of quality if some stories have masterful execution in a few areas but still lack that one element that ties it all together. So...

GruffbaneJoe wrote:Less than 12 hours of twitching left, and probably less than 5! My nerves will be so thankful for the rest.

Nah, Joni's on West Coast Time, you might have 15 hours to go!

Here's a radical thought: What if they don't call Finalists anymore? What if Joni is actually saying they are posting ALL results? This would mean the eight finalists would be sent to the judges as soon as Dave sends in the total batch. And all notices get held until the judges vote on First, Secon...

So, who's up for 4 in 36? I made 4 in 35, first time since 32 that I achieved that. I entered twice in 33 and then took 4 quarters off for a baby, but I've made every quarter since and I intend to keep it up until Win Or Pro Out. Made finalist once in 31, twice in 32, once in 34. This has been a bit...

My phone doesn't take voicemails! wotf003 I'd imagine e-mail communication if phone communication fails. At what stage would Joni give up? Has anyone seen any carrier pigeons recently? Joni, like the Terminator, will never tire, will never rest, will never stop hunting you. She'll find you. By emai...

Potentially silly question here: does anyone know what number Joni calls finalists/winners on? The closer the end of the month gets the more paranoid I get that if (and that's a big, hopeful if) I get a call I'll miss it! It'll show up as Unknown Caller, which was kind of annoying back when every s...

I'm throwing a hail Mary as well. Currently I'm 3/4 this year and would like to be 4/4. 5k words in. Three scenes left. Gahhhhh! I'm also very pregnant. Due date was yesterday. WOTF due date looming. Pretty sure I'll be writing/editing in the hospital room lol... Let's do this thing! (Even if it's ...

When do you think we will see results for this quarter? Q3 results look like they will drop in october. Is there any hope for december or are we looking at january? I'm pretty sure they'll want to get results ASAP. Remember, they need Q4 done so the book can be laid out and printed in time for the ...

I'm cheering for you guys!

Submitted my story yesterday. 4/4 this year. That feels good!

I got a rejection, and will be resubmitting in Q1 after another pass.

Oh, long stories definitely win and get published! V31 has Sharon Joss's story that pushes the length requirements pretty hard: I think Darci Stone's V34 piece is similarly long, and my V32 PF was almost 15k, so.... go for it, if the story is good!

Sataris wrote:...and someone correct me because I'm very possibly wrong, but I think finalist stories can still be sent back in?

No, Finalists are completely disqualified as well.