How Short Is Too Short?
How Short Is Too Short?
Any thoughts on how short would be too short for the contest? Any one know of any really short stories that have won? Say, about 2,000-3,000 words?
Vol.34-Q2 HM
Vol.35-Q1 R
Vol.35-Q1 R
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
They don't list a minimum. But I would hazard a guess a drabble would be a no, flash would likely be a hard sell for winning. Good question as to what is the shortest story to win.
HM Q1 2015, Q3 & Q4 2016.
R Q1 & Q2 2017
The Trade's On, in Issue 8 of Sci Phi Journal, November 2015
Naidin's Song: Blood Bound, published August 2016
Nine-Tenths, on Empyreome (Weekly Flash Fiction,) June 2017

R Q1 & Q2 2017
The Trade's On, in Issue 8 of Sci Phi Journal, November 2015
Naidin's Song: Blood Bound, published August 2016
Nine-Tenths, on Empyreome (Weekly Flash Fiction,) June 2017

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Re: How Short Is Too Short?
I believe KD Wentworth's story was the shortest win at 2k.
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
Dustin Adams wrote:I believe KD Wentworth's story was the shortest win at 2k.
Wow. I get the impression that you're the WOTF Anthology guru. Out of curiosity, how many volumes have you read?
v33: Q3 - R; Q4 - R
v34: Q1 - R; Q2 - SECOND PLACE! Q3 - HM (oops...?)
http://www.amyhenriegillett.com
v34: Q1 - R; Q2 - SECOND PLACE! Q3 - HM (oops...?)
http://www.amyhenriegillett.com
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
amyhg wrote:Dustin Adams wrote:I believe KD Wentworth's story was the shortest win at 2k.
Wow. I get the impression that you're the WOTF Anthology guru. Out of curiosity, how many volumes have you read?
Legend tells that Dustin was there at the dawn of WOTF, long before the first winners walked the earth. His knowledge is vast, his command of rules minutia and useful trivia infinite, and his wisdom as wide as the horizon. Verily, Dustin is the greatest sage among sages.
Or at least that's the impression I get from reading his posts on the forum

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HM x 2
SHM x 4
First Place Q1 Vol 34!
The Broken Karwaneer in Beneath Ceaseless Skies Vol. #231.
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HM x 2
SHM x 4
First Place Q1 Vol 34!
The Broken Karwaneer in Beneath Ceaseless Skies Vol. #231.
blog
- Dustin Adams
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Re: How Short Is Too Short?
From the dawn of time we came, moving quietly, down through the centuries. No one has ever known we were among you... until now.
No, that's a different Highlander.
I understand Preston has read every word.
However, while I am close to completing my antho collection (still need that big table top volume) I am not the reader he is.
Scott Parkin may have read every word as well. He will be a coordinating judge someday, mark my words.
No, that's a different Highlander.
I understand Preston has read every word.
However, while I am close to completing my antho collection (still need that big table top volume) I am not the reader he is.
Scott Parkin may have read every word as well. He will be a coordinating judge someday, mark my words.
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
Daniel Davis' v31 story was short, only 2-3k, and RM Graves' Freebot in v32 was 2.5k, for more recent examples. I don't think you could get away with shorter than that, because Dave is a plot structure nerd, and flash is too short to really work with that.
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
I'm pretty sure the shortest WOTF winning story is "The Disambiguation of Captain Shroud" by Gary Shockley. I don't have the book in front of me, but if I remember correctly, it's like two-three pages. It's definitely a flash piece. It won first place.
An even shorter flash story is a finalist called "Just Don't" by Eaolake Stobblehouse. It's one page.
Both are in volume 5. BTW, Shockley's story also one the Gold Award, so yeah...flash might be a hard sell, but done right it can do very well. It did for Gary Shockley!
An even shorter flash story is a finalist called "Just Don't" by Eaolake Stobblehouse. It's one page.
Both are in volume 5. BTW, Shockley's story also one the Gold Award, so yeah...flash might be a hard sell, but done right it can do very well. It did for Gary Shockley!
Preston Dennett
SFx1
HMx12
Stories sold: 35
Latest three published:
"Forbidden" Sci Phi Journal, Nov 11, 2016
"Shadow Vision" Cirsova, Issue 4, Winter 2016
"Those Robot Eyes" Dark Magic Anthology
SFx1
HMx12
Stories sold: 35
Latest three published:
"Forbidden" Sci Phi Journal, Nov 11, 2016
"Shadow Vision" Cirsova, Issue 4, Winter 2016
"Those Robot Eyes" Dark Magic Anthology
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
MattDovey wrote:Daniel Davis' v31 story was short, only 2-3k, and RM Graves' Freebot in v32 was 2.5k, for more recent examples. I don't think you could get away with shorter than that, because Dave is a plot structure nerd, and flash is too short to really work with that.
That doesn't bode well for me this quarter.
~Kathi
Q3 V33 Finalist
The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.
~Peter Pan
https://www.klschwengel.com
Q3 V33 Finalist
The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.
~Peter Pan
https://www.klschwengel.com
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
Like Preston said, the shortest was "Just Don't". One short page. I still can't figure out why it won, because the story itself made no sense.
http://laurie-gail.livejournal.com
2 time Finalist
4 time Semi-Finalist
lots of HM's and Rejects
2 time Finalist
4 time Semi-Finalist
lots of HM's and Rejects
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
Well, then, here's to keeping my fingers crossed. I look forward to a September of twitching.
~Kathi
Q3 V33 Finalist
The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.
~Peter Pan
https://www.klschwengel.com
Q3 V33 Finalist
The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.
~Peter Pan
https://www.klschwengel.com
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
Interesting - but - my two page story turned into 20!
Vol.34-Q2 HM
Vol.35-Q1 R
Vol.35-Q1 R
- disgruntledpeony
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Re: How Short Is Too Short?
Chris533 wrote:Interesting - but - my two page story turned into 20!
Yeah, that'll happen.

If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain
2015, Q4: R
2016: SF, n/a, SHM, SHM
2017: SHM, n/a, F, R
2018: HM, ?
2015, Q4: R
2016: SF, n/a, SHM, SHM
2017: SHM, n/a, F, R
2018: HM, ?
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
My Q4 submission started out as a 1,500 word flash story. After it went through Critters, the message I got was that it needed a lot more fleshing out. So after several rewrites, it morphed into 7,000 words. Hope I did it enough justice and didn't just end up blowing lots of hot air into a small balloon.
~Morgan
~Morgan
"If you can do it for joy, you can do it forever."
- Stephen King
Infrequent posts about this whole writing experience thing...http://mbroadhead.blogspot.com/
R, R, HM
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Infrequent posts about this whole writing experience thing...http://mbroadhead.blogspot.com/
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Re: How Short Is Too Short?
preston wrote:I'm pretty sure the shortest WOTF winning story is "The Disambiguation of Captain Shroud" by Gary Shockley. I don't have the book in front of me, but if I remember correctly, it's like two-three pages. It's definitely a flash piece. It won first place.
An even shorter flash story is a finalist called "Just Don't" by Eaolake Stobblehouse. It's one page.
Both are in volume 5. BTW, Shockley's story also one the Gold Award, so yeah...flash might be a hard sell, but done right it can do very well. It did for Gary Shockley!
I will urge anyone who wants to win the contest now to avoid thinking too much about what won the contest thirty years ago. I'm in awe of your knowledge, Preston, and totally not dissing your comment - but if one wishes to win the contest now, read maybe the last 5-7 years of anthologies and read Dave's tips. You can learn what he's looking for pretty easily, and if it suits your own style as a writer then writing to get past him will help you level up. I know my writing has improved immensely since first entering the contest. Even since my first finalist piece three years ago!
But there have definitely been some short winners and finalists in recent volumes. Write the story the way it needs to be written. All else is details.
WOTF: HM x 6, SF x 1, F V31 Q3, V32 Q2, V32 Q4, V34 Q3
Baen Fantasy Award Winner 2014
V32 Published Finalist
Baen Fantasy Award Winner 2014
V32 Published Finalist
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
KD Julicher wrote:preston wrote:I'm pretty sure the shortest WOTF winning story is "The Disambiguation of Captain Shroud" by Gary Shockley. I don't have the book in front of me, but if I remember correctly, it's like two-three pages. It's definitely a flash piece. It won first place.
An even shorter flash story is a finalist called "Just Don't" by Eaolake Stobblehouse. It's one page.
Both are in volume 5. BTW, Shockley's story also one the Gold Award, so yeah...flash might be a hard sell, but done right it can do very well. It did for Gary Shockley!
I will urge anyone who wants to win the contest now to avoid thinking too much about what won the contest thirty years ago. I'm in awe of your knowledge, Preston, and totally not dissing your comment - but if one wishes to win the contest now, read maybe the last 5-7 years of anthologies and read Dave's tips. You can learn what he's looking for pretty easily, and if it suits your own style as a writer then writing to get past him will help you level up. I know my writing has improved immensely since first entering the contest. Even since my first finalist piece three years ago!
But there have definitely been some short winners and finalists in recent volumes. Write the story the way it needs to be written. All else is details.
Thanks, KD! I totally agree. A story has its own organic length. I try to let my own stories dictate their length, though I admit, due to market restrictions, I do try to reign in the word count. As far as the contest, it makes total sense that the later volumes are a better indication of the types of stories that win, as opposed to the earlier volumes. One trend I have noticed is that recently, shorter stories have been winning more often than they used to. Another trend: there are a lot more stories for the judge to choose from. It's interesting how the contest has evolved.
Preston Dennett
SFx1
HMx12
Stories sold: 35
Latest three published:
"Forbidden" Sci Phi Journal, Nov 11, 2016
"Shadow Vision" Cirsova, Issue 4, Winter 2016
"Those Robot Eyes" Dark Magic Anthology
SFx1
HMx12
Stories sold: 35
Latest three published:
"Forbidden" Sci Phi Journal, Nov 11, 2016
"Shadow Vision" Cirsova, Issue 4, Winter 2016
"Those Robot Eyes" Dark Magic Anthology
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
My story is has 10 chapters is that too long?
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
Katie wrote:My story is has 10 chapters is that too long?
If you're under the word count you're good. People have won with short short stories ("The God Whisperer" from few years ago was short, mine is about 2,000 words), people have won with submissions that are right up on the upper limit.
So beyond be under the word count all I've got for you is:

HM x2, Vol. 34 Q4 - 3rd. http://www.jonficke.com
Re: How Short Is Too Short?
The contest (and most/all other markets) goes by word count not page number or other measures of length. I saw a thread recently where Dave Farland said he goes by word processor word count as well. 17k or under. Good luck!
Trying to refute entropy with words.
Vol34: Q2 R, Q3 HM, Q4 R
Vol35: Q1 HM, Q2 pending
Blogging about my writing journey at: http://www.rebeccaetreasure.com/blog
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Vol35: Q1 HM, Q2 pending
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