Jibber Jabber - Q1 - Volume 35

[Dustin Adams]

Pantsers, unite!
(We'll figure out where later...)

Nice.

[Wulf Moon]

Started my first draft of a story, yesterday. Got 500 words in, got stuck, went to work, and realized I was beginning the story too early while I was halfway through my shift. Had to scrap almost everything I wrote, this morning. Even so, I've gotten started! And I'm (GASP) pantsing my first draft. Because some stories/characters defy structure.

Pantsers, unite!

(We'll figure out where later...)

Great. Martin is forming his own personal Pantser Division.

Look out world!

[historythatneverwas]

Well, got my story in super early this quarter because I knew what story I wanted to send in, and I didn't want to tie it up at another market past the deadline for this quarter.

So in as of 11/18!

[vjalrik]

Love this!

Started my first draft of a story, yesterday. Got 500 words in, got stuck, went to work, and realized I was beginning the story too early while I was halfway through my shift. Had to scrap almost everything I wrote, this morning. Even so, I've gotten started! And I'm (GASP) pantsing my first draft. Because some stories/characters defy structure.

Pantsers, unite!

(We'll figure out where later...)

[disgruntledpeony]

Rough draft finished. I kept this one simple. At the moment, it's barely over 2k words, but I skipped most of the description in favor of getting the dialogue out, so it'll probably be closer to 3k once I polish it up enough to count as a proper first draft. It's going to need a lot of work before I can even consider submitting it to this contest, though. One of the characters has a mightily foul mouth in the rough draft. Three F-bombs in three consecutive sentences, at one point.

[disgruntledpeony]

I've started work on a more polished first draft (technically it's probably my second draft, but who's counting?). Should have it finished by the weekend, if all goes well.

[morganb]

Just finished another round of rewrites. Looks like I'm going to make it for Q1 after all, although this isn't the story I had originally intended to submit. This one is coming in just shy of 2300 words though and that concerns me. Is that too short for the contest? Should I add some more depth and beef it up to three or four thousand? Maybe I'll check the critique exchange to see if anyone wants to swap and maybe they can tell me what they think.

~Morgan

[jficke13]

Just finished another round of rewrites. Looks like I'm going to make it for Q1 after all, although this isn't the story I had originally intended to submit. This one is coming in just shy of 2300 words though and that concerns me. Is that too short for the contest? Should I add some more depth and beef it up to three or four thousand? Maybe I'll check the critique exchange to see if anyone wants to swap and maybe they can tell me what they think.

~Morgan

I can say with a high degree of confidence that it's not too short. My 3rd place was about 2,200 words.

[disgruntledpeony]

Just finished another round of rewrites. Looks like I'm going to make it for Q1 after all, although this isn't the story I had originally intended to submit. This one is coming in just shy of 2300 words though and that concerns me. Is that too short for the contest? Should I add some more depth and beef it up to three or four thousand? Maybe I'll check the critique exchange to see if anyone wants to swap and maybe they can tell me what they think.

~Morgan

You should be fine on length, although you're on the low end (not the worst thing in the world by any means). Feel free to send your story my way and I'll complete the trade shortly.

[vsutherland01]

I got a draft done, almost 6,000. 6750, going by Dave's double spaced courier font page count.

Anyone want to swap? Trying to get this one done and in before the holidays. I am sure most everyone else is too :).

Writing and family time is a bad combo haha.

[RSchibler]

I'm up for a swap with anyone. Send em on!

[LDWriter2]

Been awhile since I was here. But I did NaNo and thirty short stories.

My story for this quarter is at a beta reader and since I rushed the ending a little I suspect it might need some work-as if the whole thing won't need significant work

[Wulf Moon]

Yikes! Would you look at the time?! It's DECEMBER!

[morganb]

Isn't there a thread somewhere specifically for critique exchanges? I thought I saw it once but can't seem to find it now. I've got one person currently reviewing my Q1 entry, but would like at least a couple more people to give me a content critique. Any takers? Of course I'm more than happy to return the favor.

My email is mlbroadh@gmail.com

Thanks!

~Morgan

[disgruntledpeony]

Isn't there a thread somewhere specifically for critique exchanges? I thought I saw it once but can't seem to find it now. I've got one person currently reviewing my Q1 entry, but would like at least a couple more people to give me a content critique. Any takers? Of course I'm more than happy to return the favor.

My email is mlbroadh@gmail.com

Thanks!

~Morgan

It's not one thread so much as a whole section of the forum. We tend to forget about it, though.

[Dustin Adams]

Okay, I don't hate my Q1... More importantly, I believe I will finish on time.

I will be on vacation for a week this month, leaving me precious little time. If I can finish in two weeks, get a reader or two, then cram-edit that final, holiday week, I'll submit something I like. Hopefully.

Good times!

[disgruntledpeony]

Okay, I don't hate my Q1... More importantly, I believe I will finish on time.

I will be on vacation for a week this month, leaving me precious little time. If I can finish in two weeks, get a reader or two, then cram-edit that final, holiday week, I'll submit something I like. Hopefully.

Good times!

You can do it, Dustin! 4 in 35!

[KD Julicher]

Pulled out my Q1 yesterday, read it over, added 600 words to the first scene to try to improve the start. I like this story. Closer to my usual fare than my Q4 was. Husband and I will work on editing it tonight, to get to our crit group for next week. I might have to try to find some forum crit swap people in the same time frame rather than consecutively like I usually do.

[Wulf Moon]

Okay, I don't hate my Q1... More importantly, I believe I will finish on time.

I will be on vacation for a week this month, leaving me precious little time. If I can finish in two weeks, get a reader or two, then cram-edit that final, holiday week, I'll submit something I like. Hopefully.

Good times!

There he is! Was wondering where you went, Dustin.

And, to the Founder of 4 in 35, I must use my Yoda voice on you. "Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try."

You've got my email if you need assistance.

~Moon~

[Dustin Adams]

Hey Moon,

Was doing NaNo. My version of it anyway, which was a seriously truncated version of the one many others did.

But yup, I'm finishing my Q1.
Then on to Q2!

[Tamlyn]

Finally sat down and submitted my story. Normally I'm a last minute submitter, but I'm going to be somewhere in the middle of the Nullarbor when the end of the month rolls around (actually, I think we'll have reached Albany or something then, but the point stands).

Been ready for ages (it's a heavily edited - cut about 3k words - previous submission), but between packing and sorting and more packing, I just didn't get around to it. Done now. Can go back to panicking about fitting things in boxes.

[rachelwrites]

Finally sat down and submitted my story.

Yay! Congrats on getting something in and good luck! :)

I'm currently at the point where I wonder why I even bother to write. Planning to take this weekend to whip my story into shape!

[RSchibler]

I've been working this story since October and it's still not right. I had high hopes of submitting early this quarter but I just can't get the ending to work. I'm starting to hate my MC, maybe I'll just kill her off It would be surprising, at least! Best of luck to everyone finishing their stories in time.

[disgruntledpeony]

I've been working this story since October and it's still not right. I had high hopes of submitting early this quarter but I just can't get the ending to work. I'm starting to hate my MC, maybe I'll just kill her off It would be surprising, at least! Best of luck to everyone finishing their stories in time.

Close your eyes. Take deep breaths. In and out. I'll be able to look it over at some point in the next couple of days. If you have a more recent draft than the one you sent me the other day, feel free to send it again.

[Smithr73]

I'm running very late this quarter, but if anyone is up for a last minute swap I'm looking for partners!

Robert.Anthony.Smith73@gmail.com

Cheers.

[reigheena]

I am in! Good luck to all!

[amoskalik]

I'm in. Happy Holidays everyone.

[AliciaCay]

Hey all,

I heard a rumor and was wondering about it - thought I might ask here.

On a whim, I submitted a story to F&SF in September and my rejection letter from Mr. Finlay was signed, "Best regards, Charlie".

Then a little birdie told me that "getting a Charlie" is a thing (you know who you are little birdie )

Anyone know if his signing his rejection letters "Charlie" is significant?

What does it all mean?! Lol...
~A

[RSchibler]

My personal rejection from him was the same, and I keep it in my email inbox for when I'm feeling like a fraud. If one of the big editors could take time to give me feedback, I shouldn't give up, neh? I would be interested if there was something special about that signature too!

[Jeremyteg]

Hey all,

I heard a rumor and was wondering about it - thought I might ask here.

On a whim, I submitted a story to F&SF in September and my rejection letter from Mr. Finlay was signed, "Best regards, Charlie".

Then a little birdie told me that "getting a Charlie" is a thing (you know who you are little birdie )

Anyone know if his signing his rejection letters "Charlie" is significant?

What does it all mean?! Lol...
~A

I, too, have heard the "getting a Charlie" rumor from a few different sources, but I'm not 100% sure what it means beyond it being a personal rejection. I CAN say that the story I sold to BCS was one that he rejected with a "Charlie," so make of that what you will.