Success!

[kyle]

Congratulations on the sale, Kyle. Good read.

Thanks! I have very mixed feelings about this story, actually. Sometimes I reread it and I love it. Sometimes I reread it and I hate it. It breaks several of the "rules" I was taught when learning to write short stories, but I'm honestly not sure how I could have told the story otherwise -- except to let it mushroom into a very trite novel.

This is why it's important to declare a story done and start submitting it. It's impossible to get a good measure of your own work.

[vanaaron]

My short story "Losing Your Grip" is just up at Linger Fiction. This is my third sale, but second publication, since WOTF27 isn't out yet. And no, this story is nothing at all like my WOTF story.

[kyle]

My short story "Losing Your Grip" is just up at Linger Fiction. This is my third sale, but second publication, since WOTF27 isn't out yet. And no, this story is nothing at all like my WOTF story.

Congratulations!

[Brad R. Torgersen]

Sales after the WOTF win are excellent. Well done.

[Grayson Morris]

Er, not entirely a "success," but I don't think a "Failure!" thread is a good idea -- and it *is* a success of sorts.

I just received my first rejection!!

From Daily Science Fiction. As encouraged by kyle, izanobu, Patty and others, I sent the story right back out, this time to Pedestal Magazine.

So, now, that's out of the way....and I didn't die!

[izanobu]

dude, if 250+ rejections haven't killed me, you'll be fine

Good job on getting it right back out again. That's the spirit!

[kyle]

dude, if 250+ rejections haven't killed me, you'll be fine

You can still count yours?

[izanobu]

well, it's a rough count I have a folder in my email I dump all rejections into, so I know how many are in there with just a click. That doesn't count the paper ones. But yeah... you'll get many. It's nice to get over the 1st! hurdle though

[Patty]

dude, if 250+ rejections haven't killed me, you'll be fine

You can still count yours?

Yup. Got 137 last year, 93 the year before, 9 so far this year.

[kyle]

dude, if 250+ rejections haven't killed me, you'll be fine

You can still count yours?

Yup. Got 137 last year, 93 the year before, 9 so far this year.

I'm also at 9 so far this year. Since the invention of Duotrope, it's much easier to do the counts. But I couldn't even begin to guess how many paper rejections I got back in the dark ages before e-submissions, but I did seriously consider wallpapering a room in them...

[WriteToLive]

Er, not entirely a "success," but I don't think a "Failure!" thread is a good idea -- and it *is* a success of sorts.

I just received my first rejection!!

From Daily Science Fiction. As encouraged by kyle, izanobu, Patty and others, I sent the story right back out, this time to Pedestal Magazine.

So, now, that's out of the way....and I didn't die!

Do not worry, Grayson.

*points to signature*

[Brad R. Torgersen]

All writers get rejected, it's part of what it is to be a writer.

The key is, you keep coming back no matter how many times it happens.

[Gwendolyn Clare]

The key is, you keep coming back no matter how many times it happens.

Isn't that one definition of insanity? Performing the same action over and over again and expecting different results?

[soulmirror]

The key is, you keep coming back no matter how many times it happens.

Isn't that one definition of insanity? Performing the same action over and over again and expecting different results?

Well ... there's always Russian Roulette.


"Russian Roulette: Because sooner or later, your luck will change."

[Gwendolyn Clare]

My ticket has been punched! I don't know all the deets yet, but I've now signed contracts for the stories that will disqualify me from the contest. Looks like Q2 will likely be my last submission to WotF. Something of a bittersweet victory, one might say.

[izanobu]

I'd say it's still a victory! and remember, you aren't disqualified until all the DQing stories are in print, so depending on the publishing times, you could still squeek in something for Q3...

Anyway, congrats Gwen!

[kyle]

My ticket has been punched! I don't know all the deets yet, but I've now signed contracts for the stories that will disqualify me from the contest. Looks like Q2 will likely be my last submission to WotF. Something of a bittersweet victory, one might say.

Congrats, Gwendolyn! I think we need a new sticky topic for "Proing Out."

[Prisoner]

Hooray for your pro-out! Many paths lead to victory. Yes, WotF gives lots of attention to its winners, and a good workshop, but while a large percentage of the big names today came through WotF, not all.

You're getting recognized for your writing, gathering an audience. Nothing wrong with that, not at all.

Congrats again,

Prisoner

[Grayson Morris]

Congratulations, Gwendolyn!

[ThomasKCarpenter]

Grats Gwen! From your multiple semis and the three pro sales, it's clear to see you're quality writing will carry you far if you keep at it!

Looking forward to reading your future stories.

[Jordan Lapp]

Howdy,

You don't get disqualified until you have four pro sales >in print<. Further, Contest Administration has said in the past that the SFWA qualifying markets list should be used to determine eligibility.

I've made a bunch of pro-paying sales, but since I haven't made four to the SFWA qualifying list, if I hadn't won, I'd still be eligible.

Jordan

[MJNL]

Congrats, Gwen! That is fantastic! Get those last entries in

[Gwendolyn Clare]

Thanks, everyone!

Jordan -- those are the guidelines I'm working with. I have two SFWA-qualifying sales already published, and I have signed contracts for another two, one of which will be out in April and the other of which I don't know an estimated pub date for yet.

[Jordan Lapp]

Well, you're at least eligible for another two quarters then

J

[izanobu]

Yep, Gwen, you just have to get a submission into the quarter before you pro-out So if the disqualifying sale comes out in June, you are doomed. But if it comes out in July, you can squeak in for Q4. Lots of time!

[Jordan Lapp]

I think you can submit in the quarter you pro out. So she should be okay for this and next quarter.

[soulmirror]

To pro-out by your own creativity and skillz, and then still win WOTF/IOTF because the stories or art haven't been printed yet ... and so to reap all the benefits OF the workshops AND the anthology AND the whole advice-from-other-Pro's in L.A. ...

It is the path of Champions, grasshoppa! It is as if the Dragon lay down with the Tiger, and a Phoenix rose fiery reborn from their joining! (Unless it's a Phoenix that has to soak in baths of ice-water ... but even THAT one ended up GREAT, right?!)

It'd be cool like that! CONGRATS on pro-ing out, Gwendolyn ... but for heavens sake run with the contests as far as you can!!!

[Gwendolyn Clare]

My understanding is that it's acceptable to submit prior to your #4 pub date, even if you know you're going to pro out before the quarter closes. So if I pro-out on April 19th, I can still be eligible for Q3 so long as I submit on, say, April 3rd, but not if I submit on April 30th.

Don't worry, folks, I plan to keep submitting to the contest until... hrm... I'm looking for a phrase along the lines of "until they pry it from my cold dead fingers" that applies in this situation, but I'm coming up dry. I certainly wouldn't complain about winning in my very last quarter of eligibility, if the judges felt so inclined. In any case, the end is drawing nigh for me, one way or the other.

[Patty]

I dunno. I think this is success of some sort, albeit none of our doing, or maybe it is, but...

ANALOG NOW ACCEPTS E-SUBMISSIONS!!!

*boing boing boing boing boing*

[ThomasKCarpenter]

I dunno. I think this is success of some sort, albeit none of our doing, or maybe it is, but...

ANALOG NOW ACCEPTS E-SUBMISSIONS!!!

*boing boing boing boing boing*

Ha! Figures. I just sent them a submission by the Pony Express yesterday. Well, at least for next one.