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I like my Q2 entry a lot. Feels my best entry yet. I don't think my Q3 attempts are crap, but if my Q2 entry isn't good enough then it doesn't seem worthwhile completing and entering my Q3. The Q3 I'm struggling with effectively continues the style of my Q2 (very different story). Perhaps I should ...

I like my Q2 entry a lot. Feels my best entry yet. I don't think my Q3 attempts are crap, but if my Q2 entry isn't good enough then it doesn't seem worthwhile completing and entering my Q3. The Q3 I'm struggling with effectively continues the style of my Q2 (very different story). Perhaps I should t...

I've been mentally working on a fresh idea for Q3. Early this morning it began to gel. Time to let it flow. wotf042 Go go go go go! One of the twins got sick the day before they turned six months old (cold plus pneumonia in one lobe of one lung) and still has some minor symptoms, although he's most...

I must have got this from here or from Scribophile. Can't see it above but I am only a bloke - I'm sure my wife would find it. So I'll apologise in advance if this is above or somewhere else in these forums. Over 100 podcasts and various aspects of Writing. http://www.odysseyworkshop.org/podcasts.html

I don't think anyone could predict what would happen next in my Q2 entry. I didn't know as I was writing it! But my Q3 ideas are too predictable. Think I need to start again. Whatever you decide to do, hope you get your Q3 sorted out to your satisfaction. Thanks, when I think there's a good idea an...

I don't think anyone could predict what would happen next in my Q2 entry. I didn't know as I was writing it!
But my Q3 ideas are too predictable. Think I need to start again.

Watched a while back and left a comment in the wrong forum thread - being unaware of this one.

Yes, great story. Very inspiring.

(If I can't improve my stories, I'm wondering if I could at least get a more interesting address. Perhaps I'll just give my house a silly name.)

More interesting snippets of info - thanks, LittleRed. Good luck in the big bad world. Sounds like you ought to have a good chance.

I think I need to change my approach to my current work in progress to reduce feeding in backstory.

English, but looking for meals that sounded more exotic than fish and chips.

I think this might be a long road trip you and I are on. To paraphrase: we're going to need a bigger car.

My expectations are too low to get into nail-biting.

UPDATE - aft critique. So not the darkness or the violence or the dark ending/death of my protagonist. Not the few sensual descriptions of his wife. Just one too-lengthy exposition of my cult's history did me in. "... though this was a small thing, in a contest this tight, it was just enough t...

Hey Dragon, I thought Q2 belonged to you and me. Don't tell anyone else, but I'm beginning to get worried. Not only are regular finalists still in the game, we have new SHM, SF and F people coming through and the volume of entries has risen. Eeek! If you could find Kary and Dave's addresses, I could...

That really is a super record, KD. You must be so close. Congratulations and hard luck.

Well done, Brittany. Two in a row is fantastic.

Not an expert by miles but wonder if a system restore might do the trick. (googling around - I suspect not. so ignore.)

All good points, Brittany.
Hadn't intended to knock Wulf in any way and trying to keep it positive.
Tim

I like the way Mark Forsyth talks about Shakespeare developing in 'The Elements of Eloquence.' But, for me, a big part of writing is getting the 'winning idea'. Wulf's notion of entering with new stories applies here. I do think creativity breeds creativity. Keep writing, keep coming up with ideas a...

This 10,000 hours thing has been debunked, yet is often quoted. I reckon I could spend 10,000 hours practising the piano alongside a teacher, and I'd still be rubbish - or at least not very good. So, I choose not to believe this 10,000 hour thing. Sure, writing more helps, but so does being critique...

For people new to WotF, it might be better if the link to the podcasts were on the menu at the left of the home page rather than hidden away in Educator Resources - where I wouldn't think of looking.

I'm enjoying the podcasts.

My main focus for the past 8 or 9 months has been WotF, with a novel (based on a s/s submitted to WotF) in between new s/s. Everyone else seems submit to other places - I'm not familiar with those places and haven't really looked into them. WotF is head, shoulders and torso above other comps. Now I ...

I'm committed. Barely got something in for Q1 but got an HM so that was exciting. Much happier with my Q2 submission but it was still pretty last minute. I've got a completed draft of my Q3 done, so I have a lot more time for revisions this time! Fight the good fight all. We're already halfway ther...

I still WANT to win. I'd LOVE to win. Right now - I need a coffee.

(I thought there were many roads to Rome? Damn! No wonder I haven't seen the Coliseum yet.)

Wow! What a great surprise.

Well done. Great achievement as well.

On a recent podcast Anderson talks of not winning WotF (after 23 submissions) before getting a novel published, and mentions Sawyer having done similar. So - do you NEED to win?

This is a series of short YouTube vids from The National Emerging Writer Prog in Britain. Each gives tips from authors. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb8aV40lQR4B00Xyjf7M6WA?reload=9&mc_cid=bf66d4f65b&mc_eid=a10188454e This is what they say: Free Video Tips with The National Emerging Writ...

And yes, I'm hell-bent on making it into volume 36! I'm starting to wonder if I'd do better to simply aim at novels instead of short fiction. They're what I really want to write anyway. They're just... really hard for me to retain my momentum on. I'm trying to do both at the moment, and it is diffi...

I'm used to receiving my result and moving on.

This time I want to see another forum user amongst the winners. The wait seems forever to me, those waiting must have no fingernails left!

Well done, Milo. (Just keep your hands off my bike.)

Don't know the Topanga Canyon story? Listen to this podcast with Preston Dennet! And NEVER GIVE UP! https://soundcloud.com/writersofthefuture/5-preston-dennett-and-dean-wesley-smith-the-topanga-canyon-never-give-up-story Caught up with a few podcasts last night - they're all good, but Preston's is ...

RSchibler wrote: In the meantime, I'm happy to read first 450s or full stories if anyone wants to swap.

I'll take a look at one if you like. Haven't got an idea for my Q3 yet, so nothing required in return.

Good to hear what the judges prefer - and well worth bearing in mind. From the secrets of the Bath Literary Award (which I think employs professional readers) - The imbalance of narrative viewpoints on our combined shortlists is striking, with twice as many first person as third person narratives. I...