Discussion: Q3 Volume 35

[amoskalik]

For the record, I submitted on June 21st and received my first pass email on Sept. 4 at 2 AM. (Joni never sleeps apparently.)

[michaeljwyantjr]

Yeah, Rejectomancy!

I submitted June 30th and received my first pass email on September 4th at 8:19pm EST.

[pcmccollum]

June 26th submission for me, so that means...I will either know in a week or I will travel back in time and learn about it last week. That math works out, right?

[storysinger]

I guess I'm a slow learner. I subbed my entry on June 30 and received Joni's confirmation on the same day.
I haven't heard anything since.

[orbivillein]

For the record, I submitted on June 21st and received my first pass email on Sept. 4 at 2 AM. (Joni never sleeps apparently.)

Time sent or time received?

Detroit, Universal Time Code Minus Four (EDST, Greenwich Mean Time, and DST impact, too)
Hollywood, UTC-7
2 a.m. Detroit local time, Hollywood local time 11 p.m.
And may be an after-hours batch process sent through a submission management software time trigger
Time is relative and absolute -- priceless!
-------
Another point of information, WotF first readers, historically, have been pendent judges in trials and tribulations for to become the coordinating judge. Farland and Wentworth were each protégés of Budrys' mentorship. Labaqui has also been an informal first reader, declined ineligible entries during the paper submission era, mostly, nonfantastic-fiction content. English is on the screener-gatekeeper track.

[GruffbaneJoe]

I submitted about a month before deadline and received my first pass "still in the running" message at 12:54 AM on September 4th. Two time HM winner and I thought I'd finally broken the HM ceiling and then learned about the new first reader. Pretty cool!

[Henckel]

So... Do writers normally get these notifications or is this something new? Either way, can one speculate that receiving this notification means they have achieved at least HM?

[Smithr73]

I got one of these hold emails a long while ago, so I went back to find it.

Mar 16th, 2016

You are getting this e-mail because you made the first cut and your story is on hold (still being judged). Our coordinating judge is working as fast as he can to try to have the results done before he comes to Los Angeles to join us for the annual awards event (for last year's winners) on the 10th of April.

I wanted you to know that we may take a bit longer time for this quarter results just because we are all working on the big event coming up.

I hope you understand. I'll get results to you as fast as I can.

I ended up receiving an honorable mention, but I haven't received an email like this before or since. Seems strange.

[GruffbaneJoe]

I asked Joni if this meant I had gotten above HM and she said no this is the first quarter using a first reader. I think it is likely that getting past her will likely result in at least an HM but can't be sure yet.

[orbivillein]

Author Services switched submission management software to WizeHive's Zengine for volume 35 2018, as late as for the fourth quarter. New login criteria though old logins could be entered as if for the first time. New software, expanded submission management plugins, ostensibly, more economical, effective, and simpler: new adjustment curve. Wrinkles to iron out while different levels of tech savvy settle out across management's tech distribution curve. Includes automated email precomposed-form notices of submission progress.

[storysinger]

[quote="orbivillein"]Author Services switched submission management software to WizeHive's Zengine[/quot

As I mentioned in an earlier post I submitted my entry on the 30th. I tried to enter it on the 29th but wizehive wouldn't let me change my password.

I attached it to an email and sent it to Joni and she assured me I was in for the 3rd Q,
I have to learn to submit earlier.

[storysinger]

I guess I should have read the directions. I have to create a new account to be able to use wizehive. Doh!

[jjcollins]

So no email for either rejection OR still being considered. You know what’s awesome about waiting like this?

NOTHING.

[KristyEmber]

What is going on??? Even with the changes, I would have expected to see either more first pass oks or Rs at this point ... this is a really small trickle.

[amoskalik]

So... Do writers normally get these notifications or is this something new? Either way, can one speculate that receiving this notification means they have achieved at least HM?

Something similar has been done in the past and then they stopped for whatever reason.
It does not guarantee an HM or higher, but it raises the odds substantially I would guess.

[orbivillein]

So... Do writers normally get these notifications or is this something new? Either way, can one speculate that receiving this notification means they have achieved at least HM?

Submission progress notifications throughout WotF contest history have been episodic and erratic. Submission management software, like WizeHive's Zengine, are designed to streamline submissions, progress notifications, and eligible personnel and judges' accesses and reviews.

Submission receipt triggers an autoresponse. Other notifications require an actual human decision to trigger a response. Declined or "rejected," held over for further review, and honorable mentions and silver honorables may receive pre-composed form responses if someone at the contest house elects to send one and if that part of the software setup entails pre-prepared notification forms and setup of the notifications dashboard. Of course, semi-finalist, finalist, and show, place, win receive personal notification telephone calls, usually.

Tech naive and work-overburdened persons often overlook those built-in notification apps and that require only a very few extra mouse clicks by someone, anyone, if set up. Even in the paper submission era, progress notices were often spotty if at all. At present, a new software, a new initiative, no clear house protocol, never has been, isn't, and never will be a certain individual's assigned responsibility at any house, like grandkids' thank-you letters to grandma for token and tone-deaf birthday gifts -- the momentum soon fades. Human nature and all.

And a special writer torture common to publication culture overall -- well, part of the writer experience and education and training. Such is the life of writing.

Meantime, Author Service's folk at present are on a promotional-recreational convention-conference tour and somewhat preoccupied. This is the fall's season for Cons.

[morganb]

So... Do writers normally get these notifications or is this something new? Either way, can one speculate that receiving this notification means they have achieved at least HM?

Submission progress notifications throughout WotF contest history have been episodic and erratic. Submission management software, like WizeHive's Zengine, are designed to streamline submissions, progress notifications, and eligible personnel and judges' accesses and reviews.

Submission receipt triggers an autoresponse. Other notifications require an actual human decision to trigger a response. Declined or "rejected," held over for further review, and honorable mentions and silver honorables may receive pre-composed form responses if someone at the contest house elects to send one and if that part of the software setup entails pre-prepared notification forms and setup of the notifications dashboard. Of course, semi-finalist, finalist, and show, place, win receive personal notification telephone calls, usually.

Tech naive and work-overburdened persons often overlook those built-in notification apps and that require only a very few extra mouse clicks by someone, anyone, if set up. Even in the paper submission era, progress notices were often spotty if at all. At present, a new software, a new initiative, no clear house protocol, never has been, isn't, and never will be a certain individual's assigned responsibility at any house, like grandkids' thank-you letters to grandma for token and tone-deaf birthday gifts -- the momentum soon fades. Human nature and all.

And a special writer torture common to publication culture overall -- well, part of the writer experience and education and training. Such is the life of writing.

Meantime, Author Service's folk at present are on a promotional-recreational convention-conference tour and somewhat preoccupied. This is the fall's season for Cons.

Bwa ha ha! Applying Strunk & White's Rule # 17, I think the above can be summarized with, "New submission methods aside, results might be sporadic anyway right now due to Author Service's participation in several conference tours."

~Morgan

[michaeljwyantjr]

Bwa ha ha! Applying Strunk & White's Rule # 17, I think the above can be summarized with, "New submission methods aside, result might be sporadic anyway right now due to Author Service's participation in several conference tours."

~Morgan

#writerhumor

[Wulf Moon]

"Just the facts, ma'am." Dave just got back from teaching and spending a few extra days in England. Now he's at FanX but is ill. No one knows yet if Kary has even completed her first pass. No one has been rejected yet, so no Rejectomancy. Just plain ol' waiting game right now, and with the teacher out, spitballs are flying across the room. : )

~Moon~

[orbivillein]

So... Do writers normally get these notifications or is this something new? Either way, can one speculate that receiving this notification means they have achieved at least HM?

Submission progress notifications throughout WotF contest history have been episodic and erratic. Submission management software, like WizeHive's Zengine, are designed to streamline submissions, progress notifications, and eligible personnel and judges' accesses and reviews.

Submission receipt triggers an autoresponse. Other notifications require an actual human decision to trigger a response. Declined or "rejected," held over for further review, and honorable mentions and silver honorables may receive pre-composed form responses if someone at the contest house elects to send one and if that part of the software setup entails pre-prepared notification forms and setup of the notifications dashboard. Of course, semi-finalist, finalist, and show, place, win receive personal notification telephone calls, usually.

Tech naive and work-overburdened persons often overlook those built-in notification apps and that require only a very few extra mouse clicks by someone, anyone, if set up. Even in the paper submission era, progress notices were often spotty if at all. At present, a new software, a new initiative, no clear house protocol, never has been, isn't, and never will be a certain individual's assigned responsibility at any house, like grandkids' thank-you letters to grandma for token and tone-deaf birthday gifts -- the momentum soon fades. Human nature and all.

And a special writer torture common to publication culture overall -- well, part of the writer experience and education and training. Such is the life of writing.

Meantime, Author Service's folk at present are on a promotional-recreational convention-conference tour and somewhat preoccupied. This is the fall's season for Cons.

Bwa ha ha! Applying Strunk & White's Rule # 17, I think the above can be summarized with, "New submission methods aside, results might be sporadic anyway right now due to Author Service's participation in several conference tours."

~Morgan

Strunk and White is to scholastic composition guidelines as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is to New Journalism creative license.

[michaeljwyantjr]

You both need to stop.

My nasal passages can’t handle any more liquid coming out of my nose.

[jficke13]

Or go back to aprocyphal quotes from the framers:

The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.
Thomas Jefferson

[Bob Writer]

Dear Sir,

It was late and almost dark on the 30th June when I managed to find a post box in my hometown of Upper Longstocking, and send my manuscript on its way across the pond. My wife was none too pleased, I can tell you. She'd sent me out for milk and a Tunnock's teacake. By the time I managed to get to Tesco's, they only had Mr Kipling's Bakewell Tarts left.

I should have remembered they cause her lumbago to flare.

However, yesterday I received a response from a nice young Colonial named Joni who advised me my masterpiece had reached the next stage - Levelled Up, I believe you young ones call it - on its way to victory.

I opened a celebratory Old Speckled Hen and managed a few sips before my wife reminded me we no longer drink that ale.

Sigh. I was so enjoying it too.

Yours in (soon) victory,

Brigadier Sir Charles Arthur Strong (Mrs.)

p.s. - Do they sell Old Speckled Hen in the colonies? I might sneak a couple in when I arrive for this Gala next April. Please don't let on to my wife!

[Harion]

Joni Labaqui here from the Writers of the Future contest with some good news. You are still in the running for the 3rd Quarter.

Your story made it through the "first pass", meaning you will be judged now by our coordinating judge, David Farland.

Is the "first pass" just a cursory check if our entries adhered to guidelines or is it more stringent?

[Wulf Moon]

Joni Labaqui here from the Writers of the Future contest with some good news. You are still in the running for the 3rd Quarter.

Your story made it through the "first pass", meaning you will be judged now by our coordinating judge, David Farland.

Is the "first pass" just a cursory check if our entries adhered to guidelines or is it more stringent?

First pass means this, as it does for any first reader: Your opening worked. It told her you write professionally (a rare quality in slush), and your story hooked her--it got her interest and shows real promise of good things to come. You make it past Kary English, you go on to Dave's selection pile. As Martha Stewart says, "It's a good thing."

~Moon~

[jjcollins]

Still nothing for me here...starting to wonder if I’m sitting in the ‘R’ queue just waiting to go out! F...

[RSchibler]

“Your story has been judged and did not place.”

Big fat R.

Best of luck to my many friends still standing. I’m cheering for you!

[pcmccollum]

Well, just got my first R! Bit of a drop after last quarter's SF, but I think I understand why it was an R. No biggie. Looking forward to the next submission! Good luck, everyone.

[Henckel]

Sounds live the results are starting to trickle in.
Given that I haven't received one of the "your story has been passed to Dave" emails, I'm feeling a bit bummed. ...I thought this was one of my best.

[vjalrik]

Sounds live the results are starting to trickle in.
Given that I haven't received one of the "your story has been passed to Dave" emails, I'm feeling a bit bummed. ...I thought this was one of my best.

I'm in the same boat. No "first pass" email, no R, yet....