NEW USERS! INTRODUCE YOURSELVES!

[MWStallings]

Hello all. Looking forward to learning. I submitted last quarter. I plan on submitting til I win or Pro out.

Regards,

Mark

[Dneldridge]

Hello fellow writers.

[storysinger]

Welcome Dneldridge and Mark. Write on.

[BLAlley]

Welcome to the forum BLAlley. You are here so it is as it should be.

Enjoy .

Since this is the only reply I've received I'm pretty sure I'm not welcome. Thanks anyway.

[michaeljwyantjr]

Since this is the only reply I've received I'm pretty sure I'm not welcome. Thanks anyway.

Looks like we got a dramatic one over here, folks.

Get out the cage and prep the bees.

(Also, !)

[BLAlley]

Since this is the only reply I've received I'm pretty sure I'm not welcome. Thanks anyway.

Looks like we got a dramatic one over here, folks.

Get out the cage and prep the bees.

(Also, !)

Interesting choice, refuting my feeling of not being welcome by validating it. I came here believing I could exchange tips and advice and pass on what I've learned as an author to help others avoid some of the mistakes I've made along the way.

[michaeljwyantjr]

I’m so sorry, BLalley... I thought you were being snarky. My sincere and deepest apologies.

[disgruntledpeony]

Welcome to the forum BLAlley. You are here so it is as it should be.

Enjoy .

Since this is the only reply I've received I'm pretty sure I'm not welcome. Thanks anyway.

The new users thread isn't as active with responders as it used to be, but please don't take that as a sign that you're not welcome. We always appreciate newcomers.

Posting in the quarterly threads is a good way to make friends and get to know people, and I definitely recommend participating in story trades at some point. It's a great way to get critiques (and I've often found I learn as much, if not more, by critiquing others' works into the bargain).

[storysinger]

Since this is the only reply I've received I'm pretty sure I'm not welcome. Thanks anyway.

Apparently your arrival has synched with a changing of the guard ( one way of putting it). Some of the regulars have pro'd out and some have won and moved on.


You have not been rejected (don't we all love that word). I say again, welcome to the forum.

[BLAlley]

.

[michaeljwyantjr]

I’m so sorry, BLalley... I thought you were being snarky. My sincere and deepest apologies.

After visiting your website I can understand why you see the world through a suspicious filter. Here's my final bit of advice: We make money as writers by selling our work, not our process.

*raises an eyebrow, but leaves it alone*

Welcome to the forum BLAlley.

[From the Ashes]

Hi, I am new to the site and learning my way around it. Although I have had stories in the works for many years, I have just published my first book, under the pen name Michael Phoenix. The book is available both as an ebook and paperback on Amazon. The title, Shawn Parmalee, Esquire, A Real Doll. This is the opening novel of a series of about four. I am currently working on Book 2 of the series, which is a prequel of the first. I look forward to spending more time here, both reading what others have to say and throwing in a few words of my own. In the meantime.....

My definitely defining quote: "Spending time making things up that didn't happen to people who don't exist."

[WillFarrar]

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the community. I have been an aspiring author for a long time, but I just discovered WOTF, a week ago. I plan to submit some manuscripts real soon. I know that the next deadline is October 1. I have a question. Is Supernatural Horror considered Dark Fantasy? Would stories from H. P. Lovecraft be considered Dark Fantasy. for example?

[Wulf Moon]

Welcome Ashes and Will and others I have missed! Thanks for introducing yourselves. As to what's the line between dark fantasy and horror, I'm no expert, nor does the industry itself seem to know. It all boils down to the editor's opinion, in this case, Dave's. He has called for horror, but I'll give you a caveat. Remember that the anthology is read by a lot of teenagers, and that Dave is very conscious of that fact and awards accordingly. If you think a parent might object to their youth reading the tale, then Dave probably will as well. Just a word to the wise.

Do post over on the other topics, as that's where most of the conversation in here goes on, especially in the current submission quarter!


Welcome aboard!

~Moon~

[michaeljwyantjr]

Echoing Wulf's welcome message (and dark fantasy advice) to Ashes and Will!

[storysinger]

Welcome Will and From the Ashes.

Do post over on the other topics, as that's where most of the conversation in here goes on, especially in the current submission quarter!

Good advice.
Good luck with your entries in the contest.

[orbivillein]

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the community. I have been an aspiring author for a long time, but I just discovered WOTF, a week ago. I plan to submit some manuscripts real soon. I know that the next deadline is October 1. I have a question. Is Supernatural Horror considered Dark Fantasy? Would stories from H. P. Lovecraft be considered Dark Fantasy. for example?

Supernatural horror, dark fantasy, and Lovecraftian horror are near synonyms and subgenres among each the other, all of a more psychological horror than visceral horror drama. Horror, the overall genre category of the Main Eight. Psychological horror is also a mainstay of thrillers in general and Naturalism literature and art movements.

A common theme for the lot is a human or human-like individual and inhuman demons, "actual" or figurative, contend about "dark" questions and challenges of moral aptitude (sapience) against a "dark" pessimistic nihilism backdrop. Re: a Faustian bargain!

Supernatural horror more so portrays spiritual motifs and contests; dark fantasy, paranormal; Lovecraftian, cosmic psychological horror, soft-hard science fiction-metaphysical fantasy crossovers, both or either spiritual and paranormal. Noir's hard-boiled cynic protagonist adventures in bleak, vice- and folly-ridden social settings is also somewhat "dark" and psychological horror, with or without metaphysical and science fiction motifs.

On the other hand, self-defined and self-developed expression principles propel cognitive leaps and impel dramatic freshness and vigor. What ho, Willliam; Farrarean horror?

[DremaD]

Hi all,

I'm new here, so still feeling my way through the forum. I've written for years, but only in the last few have I tried to do anything with my scribblings. At the moment I have a handful of short stories, three of which have been published online. One is still out, one is on the revision table, and one is my third quarter entry into the contest. My first sci-fi/fantasy novel is currently in the bidding for Pitch Wars. (Keep your fingers crossed for me!) Its sequel's first draft is complete, and the third in the series is outlined but not yet begun.

I have a hard time deciding which genre subdivision fits my work best. Most of my stories are spec-fic, but where inside that vast category is the question. Only one was close to hard sci-fi. I'd use the term Magical Realism for some except, as I understand it, that category is specific to Latinx (did I say it right?) writers. Since I don't fit that group, I don't want to disrespect its members by using the category inappropriately. Thus I am not sure how to label my work.

Anyway, I'm hoping my participation here might help me strengthen my craft and build community among other writers.

Cheers!

[Al_Peter]

Hello everybody!
My (pen) name is Al Peter, I'm an Italian author who loves fantasy, sci-fi, comicbooks, superheroes, role-playing games and... well, this contest :D I discovered it two months ago and I fell in love. Now I'm about to send a story for the 4th quarter deadline. Fingers crossed!

[orbivillein]

Hi all,

I'm new here, so still feeling my way through the forum. I've written for years, but only in the last few have I tried to do anything with my scribblings. At the moment I have a handful of short stories, three of which have been published online. One is still out, one is on the revision table, and one is my third quarter entry into the contest. My first sci-fi/fantasy novel is currently in the bidding for Pitch Wars. (Keep your fingers crossed for me!) Its sequel's first draft is complete, and the third in the series is outlined but not yet begun.

I have a hard time deciding which genre subdivision fits my work best. Most of my stories are spec-fic, but where inside that vast category is the question. Only one was close to hard sci-fi. I'd use the term Magical Realism for some except, as I understand it, that category is specific to Latinx (did I say it right?) writers. Since I don't fit that group, I don't want to disrespect its members by using the category inappropriately. Thus I am not sure how to label my work.

Anyway, I'm hoping my participation here might help me strengthen my craft and build community among other writers.

Cheers!

Magical Realism is an offshoot of Realism and Modernism's hyper-realism conventions, that blurs distinctions between mundane and supernatural realms; that is, perceives exceptional mundane mysticality and considers metaphysical spirituality everyday routine, plus, commentary about social stratification from a lower-rung-status-looks-up orientation and other kernel convention commonalities that adapt local-personal cultural definitions.

Magical Realism formally emerged from Latinx writers, strong traces of its cores elsewhere and before the genre emerged from South America, of polygenesis origins, actually, and since broke out across many cultures and spread into crossover genre, includes science fiction. Stronger emphasis thereto of "soft" science fiction's fantastical social sciences than "hard" science fiction's fantastical technology and physical sciences.

Nor is Magical Realism limited to the fantastic nor fiction. Creative nonfiction Magical Realism that strongly imitates real-world reality and adopts blurred mundane mysticality and spiritual routine and social stratification commentary is meta-nonfiction, like metafiction, someway experimental and self-aware art.

[morganb]

Welcome welcome to all the new forum folks!

You'll like it here (everybody does)...


~Morgan

[YM Pang]

Welcome, everyone!

[SCAFontaine]

Hello everyone.
My pen name is S.C.A. Fontaine. I currently live in France and am going to try my hand at submitting a short story for 4th quarter. I am excited to get to know other budding writers.

[DylCary]

Hello everyone.
My pen name is S.C.A. Fontaine. I currently live in France and am going to try my hand at submitting a short story for 4th quarter. I am excited to get to know other budding writers.

Hi, welcome!

[WillShadbolt]

Hi guys, I'm new. My name's Will, and I'm excited to meet you all. I've been a wannabe writer since like 2011, but only in the past year have I really buckled down and gotten seriously (and only within the past year have I started seeing some success!)

[morganb]

Hi guys, I'm new. My name's Will, and I'm excited to meet you all. I've been a wannabe writer since like 2011, but only in the past year have I really buckled down and gotten seriously (and only within the past year have I started seeing some success!)

Welcome, Will. Strap in and hold on tight; it's a fun ride!


~Morgan

[DylCary]

Hi guys, I'm new. My name's Will, and I'm excited to meet you all. I've been a wannabe writer since like 2011, but only in the past year have I really buckled down and gotten seriously (and only within the past year have I started seeing some success!)

Continue to kick butt, Will. Welcome to the club!

[Wulf Moon]

Welcome, Will! It's a friendly place, helping with not only WotF, but writing itself. Do post to the quarter you enter, as most conversation goes on there. Best of success on your writing!

~Moon~

[SiFiMarine]

Well, my name is Ryan and I wanted to join this forum because it's been a useful insight into WOTF. A little about me: I'm 32, a Marine Corps vet (admin clerk), dad, and biomedical tech for a hospital system in Arizona. Been writing for about 6 years.

My history with the contest is sparse and spread out. First time was a rejection, roughly three years ago, and last quarter was an HM. I've entered Q3 for 2018 and I'm hoping to improve of course.

Had my first two pro sales this year (Terraform and Galaxy's Edge) and while I want more pro sales, I hope I can at least make finalist before I pro out of the contest.

That's me in a nutshell. Sorry for the long post.

[Spiraledpen]

Hello? Perhaps salutations? Spiraledpen here,

A noob in the realm of forums. Especially delving into the deep waters of skillful writing. The feelings of a new high school pop into my mind as all heads turn to stare at the new “who in the world is that?” kid. A bearded one at that!

I always wanted to tell stories and found i’m pretty good at that, but then I realized I have to write it down and splat, the melancholy begins. It’s taken over a quarter of a century to begin to try. First time entry Q3, vol. 35