Discussion: Q1 Volume 37

[Dragonchef]

Did anyone else NOT get a confirmation from Galaxy Press for their Q1v37 entry?
The only confirmation I got was the automated one right when I submitted.

[StarReacher]

I forgot to post here but I made it in about 15 minutes before the deadline with a fresh story of about 7,000 words.

Best of luck to everyone! Starting to think about my next story.

[einstein36]

Joni's probably busy....the last quarter, she emailed out the confirmations a couple of days later.....

[Wulf Moon]

Grats to everyone who made it in!
This forum should win the Best Forum award. :)

On to Q2!

You are so right, Dustin! It really should. The Forumites work hard, help one another, and build one another up with encouragement in meeting mutual goals. Every year, we see people from our Forum win the biggest speculative fiction new writer contest in the world. This place attracts great writers and even greater people.

If you feel like Dustin does, you can show your pride. The Critters Readers' Choice Awards are going on right now, but time is running out to vote. Cast your vote for your favorite Writing Forum of 2019! You don't have to be a Critters member to vote.

http://critters.org/predpoll/writerforum.shtml

While there, if Writers of the Future Vol. 35 was your favorite anthology last year (it certainly was mine!) show your pride and cast your vote! The anthology could use some love. I think it hurts being alphabetically listed--you have to go all the way to the end of the list to see it. Here's where to vote for your Favorite Anthology of 2019!

http://critters.org/predpoll/antho.shtml

Lots of other great categories, but Dustin was talking about our Forum. Casting your vote is a way to shine a light on what we do!

And congrats to all that submitted in Q1! Well done! You're on a roll. Commit now to not missing a single quarter. Go mark your calendars and MAKE YOUR DEADLINES.

All the beast,

Wulf Moon (Who is supposed to be taking the day off from the internet world...)

[disgruntledpeony]

Did anyone else NOT get a confirmation from Galaxy Press for their Q1v37 entry?
The only confirmation I got was the automated one right when I submitted.

All I've gotten so far is the automated one, but that makes sense. They're prepping for the awards ceremony.

[LoyalRam]

I too recieved an automated reply from Joni Labaqui. I submitted a historical fiction piece with magical realism. It's the first of three historical fiction stories that I have written, with 3-4 more in the hopper. I would love to place in this contest, like everyone else, but I have a question.

Has anyone ever won this contest with a either a historical fiction or magical realism story? I would like to read an example in one of the past issues....

[disgruntledpeony]

I too recieved an automated reply from Joni Labaqui. I submitted a historical fiction piece with magical realism. It's the first of three historical fiction stories that I have written, with 3-4 more in the hopper. I would love to place in this contest, like everyone else, but I have a question.

Has anyone ever won this contest with a either a historical fiction or magical realism story? I would like to read an example in one of the past issues....

There needs to be some sort of speculative element in order for a story to qualify for this contest, so flat-out historical fiction isn't a good fit, but historical fiction combined with magical realism might do well depending on the story. My finalist piece from last quarter was a weird western, and I've written other weird westerns and urban fantasies that ranged from honorable mentions to semi-finalist. (I will admit, I tend to dive pretty hard into the fantasy elements on some of those, but not all.)

I don't have as extensive a knowledge of the anthologies as some forum members, so I can't think of any magical realism stories that have made finalist and/or placed off the top of my head, but that doesn't mean they don't exist--I only own a few volumes here and there, and I have twin one-year-olds, which means I don't have as much free time for reading as I'd like. As long as a story is well-written and features a speculative element, I'd argue it has a chance regardless of genre subtypes.

[MiloMinderbinder]

I foolishly waited till the end of the quarter and found myself up battling a cold/the flu/a sinus infection as the clock ticked down. I did submit 4 hours before the deadline, but I am pretty sure my inability to focus and concentrate on writing and editing is going to earn me a big fat R. One upside: the story will be a good candidate for a re-write and re-submission.

[TimE]

According to this http://www.lulu.com/titlescorer/index.php - the title of my Q1 entry is going to win anything. Oh, well...

[LoyalRam]

I too recieved an automated reply from Joni Labaqui. I submitted a historical fiction piece with magical realism. It's the first of three historical fiction stories that I have written, with 3-4 more in the hopper. I would love to place in this contest, like everyone else, but I have a question.

Has anyone ever won this contest with a either a historical fiction or magical realism story? I would like to read an example in one of the past issues....

There needs to be some sort of speculative element in order for a story to qualify for this contest, so flat-out historical fiction isn't a good fit, but historical fiction combined with magical realism might do well depending on the story. My finalist piece from last quarter was a weird western, and I've written other weird westerns and urban fantasies that ranged from honorable mentions to semi-finalist. (I will admit, I tend to dive pretty hard into the fantasy elements on some of those, but not all.)

I don't have as extensive a knowledge of the anthologies as some forum members, so I can't think of any magical realism stories that have made finalist and/or placed off the top of my head, but that doesn't mean they don't exist--I only own a few volumes here and there, and I have twin one-year-olds, which means I don't have as much free time for reading as I'd like. As long as a story is well-written and features a speculative element, I'd argue it has a chance regardless of genre subtypes.

Thanks, disgruntledpeony. it's set in a small Nebraska town at the end of the Victorian age and the beginning of the Edwardian age. Your western stories sound fun....

[LoyalRam]

According to this http://www.lulu.com/titlescorer/index.php - the title of my Q1 entry is going to win anything. Oh, well...

Ha! I never knew there wa such a thing! It says my title has a 14.6% chance of selling, which may be worse than yours. Thank goodness that I have another chance with its being one of seven short stories, packaged as a novella. Now I'm going to be self conscious!

[SueD]

I get a 67.3% score for my short story title. Except i know it has a 0% chance as it violates the rules of what people want to read! Oh well, it was a good writing exercise anyway.

[SwiftPotato]

FWIW, the title of my winner got a 10.2%. Lol.

[LoyalRam]

FWIW, the title of my winner got a 10.2%. Lol.

hilarious!

[LoyalRam]

I just recieved my note from Galaxy Press and Joni, informing me that I am entered in Q1 Volume 37.

[JVAshley]

I just recieved my note from Galaxy Press and Joni, informing me that I am entered in Q1 Volume 37.

Me too

[BeeW]

I also received an email informing me that I'm entered. =)

[LDWriter2]

I forgot to post here but I made it in about 15 minutes before the deadline with a fresh story of about 7,000 words.

Best of luck to everyone! Starting to think about my next story.

Very good.

[LDWriter2]

I received the E-mail saying my story has been entered and how long we have to wait for results.

[LDWriter2]

So I have a story into this contest. And one each at two anthologies and if I get on the ball I can write another story for a much smaller contest. Someone else just reminded me I could spend time tomorrow sending some stories. After a morning of taking down Christmas decorations-not all of them.

[iota2000]

Who's judging this quarter?

[disgruntledpeony]

Who's judging this quarter?

They keep it secret quarter to quarter.

[Wulf Moon]

Who's judging this quarter?

To add to Liz's comment, Kary English is First Reader, so she is the gatekeeper. Stories written at professional level (or close to it) then get sent to David Farland, the Coordinating Judge. He chooses the eight Finalists (and ranks those below Finalist), and then Joni contacts four judges from their entire set of judges, and gives them the assignment to read and rank the eight finalists.

I have noted David Farland is often in this set of four. I like that. He's the editor of the anthology as well. It would give him stronger influence over the type of stories going into the anthology. It also means it would be wise to study his choices by reading the latest anthologies, and by reading what he writes, both in fiction and nonfiction.

Cheers!

[Beth Powers]

I forgot to report in when I submitted (December 29th), but I just checked and this was my 49th submission to the contest!!! (48 of them have been consecutive--I haven't missed a quarter since the end of 2007!)

That's a great record of persistence, Beth! I think you're due!

Cheers to all!

Moon

Thanks! I hope so, but I'm working on #50 just in case

[iota2000]

Who's judging this quarter?

To add to Liz's comment, Kary English is First Reader, so she is the gatekeeper. Stories written at professional level (or close to it) then get sent to David Farland, the Coordinating Judge. He chooses the eight Finalists (and ranks those below Finalist), and then Joni contacts four judges from their entire set of judges, and gives them the assignment to read and rank the eight finalists.

I have noted David Farland is often in this set of four. I like that. He's the editor of the anthology as well. It would give him stronger influence over the type of stories going into the anthology. It also means it would be wise to study both his choices by reading the latest anthologies, and by reading what he writes, both in fiction and nonfiction.

Cheers!

Thanks. I don't have a chance in hell.

[Henckel]

I submitted (December 29th), but I just checked and this was my 49th submission to the contest!!! (48 of them have been consecutive--I haven't missed a quarter since the end of 2007!)

WOW!!!!!!!!!! That's truly impressive.

[JVAshley]

I submitted (December 29th), but I just checked and this was my 49th submission to the contest!!! (48 of them have been consecutive--I haven't missed a quarter since the end of 2007!)

WOW!!!!!!!!!! That's truly impressive.

Indeed!

[Dustin Adams]

This is the quarter we don't hear about until after the awards, right?
No worries, it's only... <counts the months on the calendar>
<hides>

[disgruntledpeony]

This is the quarter we don't hear about until after the awards, right?
No worries, it's only... <counts the months on the calendar>
<hides>

Yeah, the wait for Q1 results always makes Q2 a really hard focus for me. Dave's been posting things that suggest he's reading, though...

[AlexH]

I'm sure I remember Joni saying late-March this time?