Goals four V.38!
Re: Goals four V.38!
Thanks for the tip, disgruntledpeony, I will be sure to do that!
V37 Q3: R
V37 Q4: SHM
V38 Q1: ?
V37 Q4: SHM
V38 Q1: ?
Re: Goals four V.38!
My goal is to submit a new unique story each quarter and learn one thing new about writing with each piece.
I officially started writing last November (didn’t know about WOTF till February) and when I started it would take hours to get two or three sentences written... three days ago I wrote 1000 words in a couple hours.
During my first year I learned that short stories need a character, in a detailed setting, with a problem. That I, as the writer, need to make a promise to the reader within the first two pages, have a great ending with a bow tied around it.
I also learned to not write a bunch of stuff and then write as, as much, Not to start so many sentences with adjectives and to never kill off your character or have them commit suicide as that is the cheap and easy way to finish a short story.
Best of luck to everyone with your goals!!
I officially started writing last November (didn’t know about WOTF till February) and when I started it would take hours to get two or three sentences written... three days ago I wrote 1000 words in a couple hours.
During my first year I learned that short stories need a character, in a detailed setting, with a problem. That I, as the writer, need to make a promise to the reader within the first two pages, have a great ending with a bow tied around it.
I also learned to not write a bunch of stuff and then write as, as much, Not to start so many sentences with adjectives and to never kill off your character or have them commit suicide as that is the cheap and easy way to finish a short story.
Best of luck to everyone with your goals!!
Vol 37 - X, R, R, R
Vol 38 - ?, WIP
Vol 38 - ?, WIP
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- Posts: 1179
- Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:00 pm
- Location: Pensacola
Re: Goals four V.38!
I plan to submit a story to every quarter for volume 38. Unless I get a win in the first three. 

HM-V32/Q3
HM-V36/Q4
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality.
D.R.Sweeney
HM-V36/Q4
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality.
D.R.Sweeney
Re: Goals four V.38!
Good luck with your goals everyone! They all sound great.
This sounds great :) if you haven't read any books on writing, I highly recommend doing so. When I first started reading them I learned way more than just one thing per story. The Red Sneaker Writers series is a great one to start with in my opinion if you need any suggestions. :)
Shockhawk wrote:My goal is to submit a new unique story each quarter and learn one thing new about writing with each piece.
I officially started writing last November (didn’t know about WOTF till February) and when I started it would take hours to get two or three sentences written... three days ago I wrote 1000 words in a couple hours.
During my first year I learned that short stories need a character, in a detailed setting, with a problem. That I, as the writer, need to make a promise to the reader within the first two pages, have a great ending with a bow tied around it.
I also learned to not write a bunch of stuff and then write as, as much, Not to start so many sentences with adjectives and to never kill off your character or have them commit suicide as that is the cheap and easy way to finish a short story.
Best of luck to everyone with your goals!!
This sounds great :) if you haven't read any books on writing, I highly recommend doing so. When I first started reading them I learned way more than just one thing per story. The Red Sneaker Writers series is a great one to start with in my opinion if you need any suggestions. :)
Aster Glass
HM-HM-R-HM-R-HM-??
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain
Goal: 40 rejections during year of V38: 3

HM-HM-R-HM-R-HM-??
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain
Goal: 40 rejections during year of V38: 3

Re: Goals four V.38!
Awesome and thanks... I’ll check those out Eagerink.
Vol 37 - X, R, R, R
Vol 38 - ?, WIP
Vol 38 - ?, WIP
Re: Goals four V.38!
Shockhawk wrote:Awesome and thanks... I’ll check those out Eagerink.
I haven't read them all, but my favorites are the dialogue and the style ones. :)
Aster Glass
HM-HM-R-HM-R-HM-??
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain
Goal: 40 rejections during year of V38: 3

HM-HM-R-HM-R-HM-??
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain
Goal: 40 rejections during year of V38: 3

- Beth Powers
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2014 3:12 pm
- Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Re: Goals four V.38!
I've always tried to focus on making my writing goals things that I can control (writing and submitting), rather than the things that I can't (acceptances, winning, etc.), but I like the idea of thinking about what I can do that could potentially affect the outcome in a positive way. I haven't missed a quarter since 2007 so submitting isn't really a problem for me, but lately I tend to write the stories right before the deadline, which means my submissions are probably less polished than they could be. I'm doing something different for Q1 (collaboration experiment with Dustin!), which will leave me a window of cushion room this quarter. So my goal for V38 is going to be to draft my Q2 by the Q1 deadline, and Q3 by the Q2 deadline, and so on. That should give me some extra time to get feedback and revise before the actual deadlines.
Re: Goals four V.38!
Beth Powers wrote:I've always tried to focus on making my writing goals things that I can control (writing and submitting), rather than the things that I can't (acceptances, winning, etc.), but I like the idea of thinking about what I can do that could potentially affect the outcome in a positive way.
Now that's an admirable attitude!

Agathon McGeachy
Figure Sculptor, Mechanical Designer, Reformed Rakehell, Writer
Vol 37, Q2: HM
Vol 37, Q3: HM
Vol 37, Q4: HM
Vol 38, Q1: the waiting is the hardest part
Now in print: NIWA Anthology "Escape" available on Amazon
Figure Sculptor, Mechanical Designer, Reformed Rakehell, Writer
Vol 37, Q2: HM
Vol 37, Q3: HM
Vol 37, Q4: HM
Vol 38, Q1: the waiting is the hardest part
Now in print: NIWA Anthology "Escape" available on Amazon
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Re: Goals four V.38!
I love the idea behind this thread! I just heard back last week on my first submission to the contest. My goals for next year are to:
1) Submit every quarter this time.
2) Hopefully get above an HM somewhere in there.
3) Get better at my second round of revisions. I'm good at pumping out the first drafts, doing the first round of revisions, and then getting critiques, but I've had three stories languishing in the second revision phase pretty much all year, which is why I only made one sub to the contest this year and four subs overall, all for the same story. And this has prevented me from moving on to new projects, too, which is an obvious problem.
4) Finally finish that novel I've been tinkering with since 2015.
1) Submit every quarter this time.
2) Hopefully get above an HM somewhere in there.
3) Get better at my second round of revisions. I'm good at pumping out the first drafts, doing the first round of revisions, and then getting critiques, but I've had three stories languishing in the second revision phase pretty much all year, which is why I only made one sub to the contest this year and four subs overall, all for the same story. And this has prevented me from moving on to new projects, too, which is an obvious problem.
4) Finally finish that novel I've been tinkering with since 2015.
Q3 37 HM
Re: Goals four V.38!
Goals I can control
1. Submit four times
2. Actually workshop and revise my stories twice each before submitting
3. Read at least two full anthologies of winning stories (I already own one)
4. Revise and submit each of those four stories to other publications should they not top 3
Wishes
1. Top 3 a quarter and get invited to the annual awards ceremony
2. COVID-19 goes away
3. Firefly returns
1. Submit four times
2. Actually workshop and revise my stories twice each before submitting
3. Read at least two full anthologies of winning stories (I already own one)
4. Revise and submit each of those four stories to other publications should they not top 3
Wishes
1. Top 3 a quarter and get invited to the annual awards ceremony
2. COVID-19 goes away
3. Firefly returns
1x Semi
4x HM
4x HM
Re: Goals four V.38!
cduzett wrote:Wishes
2. COVID-19 goes away
Seriously!.... Forget the contest lol.

Never thought I'd use that smiley for such a thing....
(And good luck kn your other goals, they sound great!)
Aster Glass
HM-HM-R-HM-R-HM-??
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain
Goal: 40 rejections during year of V38: 3

HM-HM-R-HM-R-HM-??
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain
Goal: 40 rejections during year of V38: 3

Re: Goals four V.38!
Here is my oath to submit a fresh story each quarter of V38. (Places butter knife to palm. Applies pressure. Decides blood oath is optional.)
Re: Goals four V.38!
Pezel wrote:Here is my oath to submit a fresh story each quarter of V38. (Places butter knife to palm. Applies pressure. Decides blood oath is optional.)
Great goal, Pezel. Make it so!

Wulf Moon http://driftweave.com
Author page: http://amazon.com/author/wulfmoon
Critter Awards: Wulf Moon BEST AUTHOR 2019; "Super-Duper Moongirl" BEST SF&F STORY 2019.
Tangent 2020 Recommended: "Muzik Man" https://bit.ly/34WCxbc
Author page: http://amazon.com/author/wulfmoon
Critter Awards: Wulf Moon BEST AUTHOR 2019; "Super-Duper Moongirl" BEST SF&F STORY 2019.
Tangent 2020 Recommended: "Muzik Man" https://bit.ly/34WCxbc
- Beth Powers
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2014 3:12 pm
- Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Re: Goals four V.38!
Beth Powers wrote:So my goal for V38 is going to be to draft my Q2 by the Q1 deadline, and Q3 by the Q2 deadline, and so on. That should give me some extra time to get feedback and revise before the actual deadlines.
I just wanted to report in that I maybe probably accomplished my first V38 goal, which was to draft my Q2 by the Q1 deadline. I wrote a story on the 31st to submit to another market, so technically, I drafted a story that could be my Q2 by the deadline, but if that story does well at the other market, then I'll have to write a new Q2. So, I guess eventually I'll know whether I'm off to a good start to accomplish my V38 goals

Re: Goals four V.38!
If your not critiquing others stories I highly recommend making that a goal. You'll learn a lot about your own writing and be able to put your knowledge to the test while gaining more. And helping others.
Also I've been studying Predator, because it's a good film. Pick a film or book you like and pull it apart, study it from all angles. This is quite a learning experience, especially when you've been a fan for almost 30 years.
Also I've been studying Predator, because it's a good film. Pick a film or book you like and pull it apart, study it from all angles. This is quite a learning experience, especially when you've been a fan for almost 30 years.
Lots of R
36 Q1 R
36 Q2 R
36 Q3 R
36 Q4 R
37 Q1 HM (happy dance may have occurred)
37 Q2 R
37 Q3 R
37 Q4 R
38 Q1 ? (Hmm... Let me guess.)
36 Q1 R
36 Q2 R
36 Q3 R
36 Q4 R
37 Q1 HM (happy dance may have occurred)
37 Q2 R
37 Q3 R
37 Q4 R
38 Q1 ? (Hmm... Let me guess.)
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