WRITERSoftheFUTURE.com

I wish I'd never read this thread (the bits about Q4 results coming earlier).

Interesting range of approaches in this thread. I let a bunch of ideas brew for a while, sometimes months or years, and then pick whichever ones vow to hold my interest long enough to make into stories. I realise I do that too, but less often than writing shortly after an idea comes. A few stories ...

When I have an idea, I start writing. I don't usually know what's going to happen next, who the characters are or where scenes will take place. I've found a little advance planning can help, such as listing a few character traits (which may change as I write the story). Next, I make passes for vario...

Some of the best, most powerful stories I've read are flash fiction. There's always a chance, but I understand Dave's reasoning. I can't find the link but remember reading something about flash having less words to impress the judges. It may have been the article Wulf Moon quoted above, or be from D...

They're without feedback from David, but $89 for this set of workshops seems too good to miss for those who can afford it? https://mystorydoctor.com/online-workshops/ I've read about many of the topics in David's excellent Daily Meditations e-book, but I imagine these workshops are more in depth. Th...

I haven't read much of F&SF so I couldn't specifically say, but Clarkesworld doesn't give me any impression at all that anything but the quality of the story matters. The best advice I've been given/read about cover letters is to keep them short, but if the market asks for personal information t...

I had my first personal rejection from a pro market this week (I posted about being 3rd in the queue for ages a couple of weeks ago). They'll reconsider if I make changes! Now I just need to figure out those changes...

Not games or apps, but I've seen related questions and knowledgable people on the likes of https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/

Congrats on the HMs everyone, especially the first timers. wotf008 R for me too. Deciding I really don't like the addition of the "still in the running" emails.... I appreciated knowing. When were they introduced? If it was before Q3, it means I did better in Q3 than Q2 (my first entry). I...

I can't get Word to read any text.

There are websites that do it too, including: https://www.naturalreaders.com/online/

The voices sound so weird anyway, I don't find it helpful. I have a slightly sore throat from reading my own story out loud today.

I'm refusing to acknowledge Volume 36 will be published in 2020 until I get my full set of rejections for Volume 35. How time flies... Follow up... has anyone ever won both illustrator and writer for the same quarter and wound up illustrating their own entry? That sounds unlikely - the authors don't...

I'm in! Previously, I've been a day early, but I kept working on this story. I've been up until 2-3am for four nights in the past two weeks, mostly cutting words (I cut 800). I'm exhausted! It feels like the best speculative story I've written over 1,500 words, so it was worth the effort. My entry w...

I've enjoyed two of the Legends fantasy anthology series (I'm not sure if they're the only two) - they contain some very famous names. I've discovered the Best British Short Stories series this year and they contain some excellent stories (a mix of genres). Ray Bradbury Stories Volume 1. The Mammoth...

Thanks for the tips, Kary.

I didn't realise first-pass was so close to HM. That makes the first-pass e-mail I had one quarter even more exciting!

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! As I understand it, she leaves voicemails, so you should be good. ;) My phone...

michaeljwyantjr wrote:Welcome Alex, though fair warning: if you keep this up Matt’s going to start blushing. ;)

Ah, maybe two mentions in one post was too much? ;)

I'm a Brit too so I probably know how he feels.

If I start the thread, I post the dates in big letters/numbers. Check the first post in the quarterly threads. It is confusing at first, but you'll get used to it. Or maybe you wont have to. wotf001 Good point, I've added the volume number to the subject. If I add the year it'd apply to Volume 36. ...

Aah, okay. I've just looked at some other threads and think I've answered my own question.

Q1 was October 1, 2017 -- December 31, 2017.

Phew, and apologies!

I made my first WotF submission on 30th March this year, and received a confirmation e-mail on the same day that simply said "Thank you for your submission!" On the 5th April I received an e-mail with the following subject (I've only made the one submission): "Your 2nd Quarter Entry t...

Hello - I'm Alex from the UK. I tried to register here a couple of years ago so it's good to be here at last. :) I've been a reader of the WotF anthologies for a few years, and when I saw the advert for submissions inside, I wanted to be a part of it! I made my first submission last quarter, though ...