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babooher wrote:Do you have to be 18 in order to enter the contest?

One of V37's winners is, in fact, not going to be 18 yet when we get to the gala in September! Youngest winner in contest history.

Actually a non winner may even be the best story, going by comments above, but it may not fit the needs of the current volume). You also don't have to give a speech, jet jabs, buy insurance you shouldn't need, crash and burn in a plane, so on. . Just so everyone knows, published finalists get invit...

I recently bought V36 and I already owned 30-33. I had stopped purchasing them because the preponderance of contest pieces were sci-fi. I bought V36 because of the discussions on the board about studying what has been working. My quick take is that aside from urban fantasy, there is no fantasy in v...

As one of the v37 winners I have been expecting this (because of the state of the world) and I'm honestly happy, as long as we really do get to go in the fall. I'm extra glad they've delayed the book to coincide with the workshop, for several reasons but mostly for the art reveal. There were going t...

YES!!!!! I am SO insanely happy for you, Brittany! CONGRATULATIONS! I know when KD Julicher was a published finalist she got to do the workshop and gala - is that happening for you too? Do I get to hang out with you in Hollywood?? Because if yes I CANNOT WAIT to meet you!!! I'm totally doing a happ...

The more I chew on this the more I get myself worked up. I figured this first entry to be a quick and easy R, I've never submitted anything anywhere before. Getting a Silver out of it makes me wonder if I would be better served to polish it up and try again for maybe Q2 or 3 of v38. I don't relish ...

*checks that phone is nearby* Is there a major delay between calls and emails these days, or do they generally come pretty close together? Last year, I think I got my finalist call the day before results came out? I think. That was the case for me in the last two quarters I was finalist (Q1 last ye...

This isn't a game of chance. It's skill. You can improve skill. When you start getting HMs you know you're hitting the target. SHM means you're getting closer. SF is the inner ring, so very close - and Finalist is the bullseye. (Actually winning is just gravy. That's the hardest part to control beca...

KD Julicher wrote: Kentagions, do you have news for us? I suppose. And a question for you. I finished out of the running. On the mixed and/or bright side, Joni said that my story came in 4th, and I have agreed to have it held over for possible publication. Mixed news because, as many of us know, &q...

Kentagions, do you have news for us? I saw something from Dave that made me think the final judging has occurred...

Congrats to all three semifinalists! Wow, that's a lot for the forum! You'll be taking that next step up very soon (well, obviously Brittany's already been there). SF is jusstttt a hair's breadth from the phone call!

...nine years and now twenty-nine entries..... For me, lucky 13. I received my first Finalist! Wow, kentagions, huge congrats! Now that is persistence! May you get the happy second call and not the sad one. So you didn't get a gag order at all? When she calls back be sure to ask who the judges were...

Get those stories in! Pre-congratulations to the eventual Q4 winners, I look forward to meeting you!

Remember that if your story wins, it goes through a round of edits (well, multiple rounds: initial edits, line edits, typesetting edits...). You can't do that with a PDF, so at the very least someone will have to email you to ask for the docx/rtf anyway. Save a step! Plus pretty much no specfic mark...

Can anyone recommend resources for upskilling my line-by-line prose? I’m not looking for anything on spelling/grammar (that’s a whole other kettle of sardines); rather, I’m looking for strategies to make my prose flow effortlessly, while still retaining a bit of vibrancy. I already read my stories ...

BrandieJ wrote:I will admit that the one I submitted that got finalist was the best one I've written.

The best one you've written so far. Go write another. It might not be better, but the next one, or the one beyond that, will be.

Well... not a winner. I appreciate getting this far, but I was hoping for a different call. I'm sorry, BrandieJ! :( Making Finalist is an amazing accomplishment, though! You are so, so close!! Yes it really is. A winner with a slightly different mix of judges. Go sell it! Oh, but this is so true. I...

BrandieJ wrote:Well... not a winner. I appreciate getting this far, but I was hoping for a different call.

Oh man I am sorry. I know so well how that feels. Take your time to get over the disappointment but know this: you’re hitting the inner ring. It’s going to happen again if you keep submitting.

BrandieJ wrote:Hey guys. I don't post a lot here, rather keeping to the shadows. But I found out I'm a finalist for this quarter. I am so excited and so nervous. And then excited again.

Congrats! Being a finalist is so awesome! I hope you win!

Just whatever you do don't use ale and mead interchangeably. (Because mead comes from honey, if anyone is confused). I literally did that in my first paragraph. wotf018 Oh crud, did I miss that when I critted you? Sorry about that.... the example came to mind because I had a bee-related incident in...

Just whatever you do don't use ale and mead interchangeably. (Because mead comes from honey, if anyone is confused). Totally agree about this. Most of Dave's suggested edits on my winning story have to do with specificity. He had me narrow down a season, then use that to put in details. And change t...

Anyone know the area code from whence the joyous news comes? :) Oh wait-I seem to recall someone mentioning it showed up as blocked or unknown or something like that? All but one time, my call from Joni has been from an Unknown number. You would also know this: When do published finalists find out ...

chuckt wrote:Anyone know the area code from whence the joyous news comes? :) Oh wait-I seem to recall someone mentioning it showed up as blocked or unknown or something like that?

All but one time, my call from Joni has been from an Unknown number.

I am going to channel Martin Shoemaker and tell all you twitchers this:

WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! WRITE!

And good luck on the twitching. May you hear soon!

I'm ready to start, but can't make myself get up in the AM. I'm out of the habit. Anyone have any tips for getting butt out of bed and into chair? I often have to give myself the "you are a professional, you are going to sit down and write [tiny little goal] before you check email or forums or...

Would this be a bad time to mention concealed carry fanny packs for carrying your gun around in public without making a scene? Or that carrying said gun is commonly referred to as "packing"? So, then, would carrying your said weapon of choice between your cheeks be considered as "Fan...

...as for places to carry your wallet, I bet "fanny pack" doesn't translate well at all. wotf019 I had no idea they even came in packs, I've only ever seen them in singles. Would this be a bad time to mention concealed carry fanny packs for carrying your gun around in public without makin...

I hadn't heard anything about the judges disliking first person POV, could you tell me where that is? I imagine it is mostly because it is easier to make mistakes in it, such as switching viewpoints, but that is just a guess. Check out Moon's super secrets #25: don’t write a story in 1st person for...

My Q1 winner is first person. About half my finalist pieces were. Well done first person is magnificent. As anyone who names himself FitzChivalry well knows!

I would hold off twitching today, Joni is probably super busy getting Q3 wrapped up!