WRITERSoftheFUTURE.com

Welcome James. I’m a violin teacher in San Antonio, small world. Good luck with your entry and welcome to the forum. This is a good place to be.

It is typical to receive the email before the blog post goes up, however, because they wait until the finalists are sorted to post the blog with the winners.

While I’ve rarely read anything I’d qualify as horrid, I suspect the impetus for this question came from the desire to learn from poorly written fiction. I’d recommend critiquing as an approach. Much of what I’ve learned about writing has come from doing lots of critiques of other people’s stories. ...

Straight up gave me a heart attack because I thought results were coming out. So... you know... thanks for that.

Submitted June 12.

Results range from 2-4 months. The average is 3, and that’s fairly consistent (although Q4 results tend to be faster because of their deadlines and Q1 tends to run longer because of the workshop and gala). I’d say we’re getting close to results time, but it could be a few weeks yet. Hopefully Joni w...

Never self reject.

I have time to do last minute crits if anyone needs them.

LoyalRam wrote:Ok, I've got mine entered.

Best to remove story identifying information. Judges have been known to browse forum, and you don't want to risk getting disqualified.

AlexH wrote:Congrats everyone! I'd love to read about how you worked this out together Liz and Becky. Is there a blog post coming? Maybe co-written! I read an article about co-writing stories recently. Maybe it was a link shared here.

I’ll write something up!

Dialogue Exercise Part 2: Lou rolled on the narrow mattress toward his lover. “You don’t understand. I need to be the one to do it.” Dim flickers from outside lit the cube, the clatter of the drink shop three levels down echoing up the stacked column of steel boxes that passed for homes. “Why does i...

I’m in for Q3. Best of luck to everyone. If anyone needs a crit on their story over the next few weeks, send me a message!

I am excited to share that DisgruntledPeony and I co-wrote a story that has been selected for publication in the Hold Your Fire anthology from WordFire Press! Proceeds from the anthology go to fund the scholarship we received. It’s a shiny ToC as well- at least one other forumite is with us but I’ll...

Comments? I'm lost as to who Mother is. And the work sounds interesting, "dead radio stations on Earth," is a cool concept idea worthy of a bigger story. I would ride along if I was reading this in a bigger work, but I'd want some explanation pretty quick as to what it is they do. You use...

I’ll echo what Wulf said as we head into submission period for Q3. Hands down the most common things I comment on when critiquing manuscripts are grammar, formatting, and punctuation. Make sure your manuscript is as clean as you can get it. I almost never read bad stories. Most people have creative ...

Sure, I'll take a look. PM me!

Oh definitely- that’s just an average. I shared that to point out that 400 words a day isn’t an overwhelming goal and it will still get you 500,000 words in just a few years. I tend to write 4-6 days/week.

I’ve always heard it as your first million words — Jerry Pournelle said “your first 500,000 to one million words”, Heinlein is attributed as saying “Your first million words are [beep]” and I’ve heard it from other places as well. I think the more important point is that our first efforts are going ...

Dialogue Assignment: (Great assignment, Wulf!) Lou turned to his lover. “You don’t understand. I need to be the one to do it.” “Why does it matter?” “Because. I want Mother to know it was me.” “There are thousands of Men. Dozens of radio jerks. She doesn’t care about you.” “Exactly! If she knew it w...

Hey guys. How are you doing? Hope y'all doing fine. Can I ask a question? I'm new here. I'm an aspiring writer. I've recently found out about this contest and I'd like to participate in it. I've got one question though. Is it allowed for a non-native English speaker to take part in this contest? Th...

zeeteebeez wrote:ALSO:

-music. I love writing with music, but only instrumental. This can help flow state as well. If you’re looking for something to write to, try the Mandalorian soundtrack.

I have to do instrumental as well. I am partial to Chopin. I’ll try the Mandalorian soundtrack, neat idea.

1) what flow state is, 2) what triggers can help activate it, 3) what can steal it from us, 4) and how you plan to personally enhance your working environment and mental state to usher in more flow state writing. 1) Flow state is our zen state where we become one with the project/activity in front o...

chuckt wrote:I presume that a published finalist is not disqualified? (Unless, of course, the publication of his or her story makes them "pro-out?")

KD was a published finalist before she won :)

I stumbled on the forum three years ago when I knew next to nothing about writing stories. Through the forum I've made lifelong friends, and been a huge part of developing my writing ability to the point I made my first professional sale last October. The forum is a gathering place, a lecture hall, ...

I’ll read them - PM me for my email.

Go to insert page numbers - the header can be edited. You can add your title (and last name for other markets) by double clicking. Choose “other options” to remove the page number from the first page however! That’s a mistake I just recently realize I was making. If that doesn’t make sense PM me and...

I have permission to announce! wotf059 wotf059 I got third place. Joni called me Monday and I’m still glowing. It feels so darn good to finally get the win. This piece was an HM a year ago. I made a small but crucial change, lopped 10% out of the first couple pages, and now it hits all the right no...

The big thing I get out of the KYD exercise is finding the heart of the story. I am a pantser, so when I'm drafting a new story I tend to just throw everything and the kitchen sink in there that occurs to my happy little brain and sort it out in editing. The problem I had before studying the KYD exe...

Always

I'm signed up! I am excited!

So... since all the other results have gone out I should be in the clear for announcing: wotf058 This is my sixth time up at the plate. Will I actually get the home run this time? Here's hoping! I got the call Monday but Joni asked me to keep quiet until she had sent out all the results (and contac...