Discussion: Q1 Volume 36

[RSchibler]

Tomorrow is both always, and never, Thursday.

[Dragonchef]

Tomorrow is both always, and never, Thursday.

Uh, mm, maybe if you live in Australia.

[Wulf Moon]

Awaken the rejectomancy!

I've seen "rejectomancy" a few times now. Y'all clue me in on the meaning. Living in a condition of being rejected?

If you scroll down the topics, I did one called "Reject Rejectomancy." Ken Liu was the Jedi master of rejectomancy, and the Dark Side almost destroyed him. It actually did for many years. It's a dangerous game to play. Avoid it by sending the rejected story back out and writing your next.

As for Thursday, this is the first you could possibly expect results to start coming in. First reader Kary is done with her culling--everything is now waiting on Dave to do his readings and make his decisions. And then Joni finding time as well. This is a very busy quarter for Joni.

Best of success!

~Moon~

[disgruntledpeony]

On a different note, I got a call that said Restricted while I was typing this up and nearly had a heart attack. It was someone from the hospital, though, not Joni.

Thanks. Great word. Any chance this will be the week? Expectomancy?

I can legitimately say I don't keep a close enough eye in the appropriate places to guess. Expectomancy is definitely a thing, though.

[JVAshley]

Expectomancy

[storysinger]

Last year's first R was on April 16. The two Thursdays at that time this year are the 11th and 18.
So relax, don't worry, and get lost in the process of writing your next story. Write on.

[KristyEmber]

Expectomancy! Nice!

This is how I think it goes at the moment:

1. Finalists get a phone call. They are asked not to share on the internet yet.

2. The first waves go out on email over a few days - includes R, HM ,SHM. There doesn’t seem to be a clear order or anything.

3. Semi finalists wait a week or two before they are told their results.

4. Once the finalist judging is completed by the guest judges, finalists can announce their results.

Anyway, just wanted to flag this now - if the results all seem to be out, but you haven’t heard anything at all, you are probably a semi finalist.

Although having said that, I’m not sure where paper subs fall here.

[Wulf Moon]

Expectomancy! Nice!

This is how I think it goes at the moment:

1. Finalists get a phone call. They are asked not to share on the internet yet.

2. The first waves go out on email over a few days - includes R, HM ,SHM. There doesn’t seem to be a clear order or anything.

3. Semi finalists wait a week or two before they are told their results.

4. Once the finalist judging is completed by the guest judges, finalists can announce their results.

Anyway, just wanted to flag this now - if the results all seem to be out, but you haven’t heard anything at all, you are probably a semi finalist.

Although having said that, I’m not sure where paper subs fall here.

You got it, Kristy. That's how it worked Q4, Volume 35.

[disgruntledpeony]

Although having said that, I’m not sure where paper subs fall here.

Paper subs generally hear back later than everyone else, regardless of result.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR NEWBIES: If something goes wrong with submiting on the last day of the quarter and you end up having to e-mail your submission to Joni directly, it counts as a paper sub. This is why I tend to aim for my submissions to be sent in on the day before last, if not earlier--the submission system can get pretty wonky on the last day of the contest, and I don't want to risk the extra wait.

[DoctorJest]

Did not know that about F&SF rejections. Got a few "didn't quite win me over" from Finlay. Now I feel better about those rejections. Awaken the rejectomancy! No, don't, but it wants to so bad.

I have a couple of nicely personalised rejections from him that referred to specific details of my story, which is always nice to get, as you know they read through it. :-)

[AnikeKirsten]

LOL at expectomancy! Brilliant.

And definitely, Jest. Personalised Rs are the best thing next to, well, acceptances. But it again goes into the every editor having different tastes. Still, some wonderful warm fuzzy validation, especially from top editors like Finlay. Got a nice one from Joe Stech once and I practically celebrated in a total fanboy moment. Personalised Rs give that extra motivation to keep at it.

Onward and forward!

[chuckt]

LOL at expectomancy! Brilliant.

Onward and forward!

Just riffing off the genius who thought up "rejectomancy." Who was that?

[disgruntledpeony]

LOL at expectomancy! Brilliant.

Onward and forward!

Just riffing off the genius who thought up "rejectomancy." Who was that?

Ken Liu, I think?

[chuckt]

So, it's 8:00AM my time. I think it's Thursday on some Pacific island already.

[Wulf Moon]

Did not know that about F&SF rejections. Got a few "didn't quite win me over" from Finlay. Now I feel better about those rejections. Awaken the rejectomancy! No, don't, but it wants to so bad.

I have a couple of nicely personalised rejections from him that referred to specific details of my story, which is always nice to get, as you know they read through it. :-)

The real thing you want from F&SF--aside from an acceptance letter--is for the editor to write "Charlie" on your rejection. Look for that. When you get it, do "Dear Charlie" on your cover letters from there on out. It's been noted he only gives that to people he really wants to see more stories from. When you've gotten that, it apparently means you've hit a higher bar. Probably like getting an HM or Silver here.

He's generous with his comments, but it took me a few times to get my "Charlie."

Now, to get the sale.

Fortune favor the persistent!

Moon

[Wulf Moon]

LOL at expectomancy! Brilliant.

Onward and forward!

Just riffing off the genius who thought up "rejectomancy." Who was that?

Ken Liu, I think?

Correct, Ken Liu. He talked about this on an interview at Norwescon last year, I believe. Crazy, how far he took it. Even measuring the size of the paper the rejection was written on and counting the letters in it for hidden meanings. Finally drove him right out of writing for many years.

[DoctorJest]

The real thing you want from F&SF--aside from an acceptance letter--is for the editor to write "Charlie" on your rejection. Look for that. When you get it, do "Dear Charlie" on your cover letters from there on out. It's been noted he only gives that to people he really wants to see more stories from. When you've gotten that, it apparently means you've hit a higher bar. Probably like getting an HM or Silver here.

He's generous with his comments, but it took me a few times to get my "Charlie."

Now, to get the sale.

Fortune favor the persistent!

Moon

Ooo, I actually have one of those! I had no idea it meant anything though. I also have a F&SF paper slip from GVG, after one of my stories made it past the assistant editor at the time. That was some time in either 2012 or 2013, I think. Alas, it didn't make the final cut, but it was encouraging to receive nonetheless.

Addendum: I note, too, that I got the Charlie on a story that I later dismissed as being too primitive to work on refining and sending out again. I may need to revisit that particular bit of thinking...

[AnikeKirsten]

Talk about rejectomancy. I thought he signed all his emails with "Charlie". Excuse me while I hide in the cupboard and freak out about what this means. I really should start subbing more, especially to F&SF. My dream pub to be in. Aim for the stars! Rejections eat at the soul and this has made it a little better, though I'm not really putting too much into it because it's still no indication of being accepted or not. But it still feels nice and I'm going to hold onto that part.

Also, is the Thursday thing an actual thing? Why Thursdays, then?

[aidanka]

Pardon my ignorance but how can we send to F&SF magazine? I googled it and have no idea.
Also I received an email like this after few days of submissions. (As a non-native speaker) I think it means that I will receive response to my short story submission only in July?

Thank you for sending us your story for consideration for our
upcoming anthology. Congratulations as well for your considerable
achievements.

We expect to announce the lineup in July of this year.

The real thing you want from F&SF--aside from an acceptance letter--is for the editor to write "Charlie" on your rejection. Look for that. When you get it, do "Dear Charlie" on your cover letters from there on out. It's been noted he only gives that to people he really wants to see more stories from. When you've gotten that, it apparently means you've hit a higher bar. Probably like getting an HM or Silver here.

He's generous with his comments, but it took me a few times to get my "Charlie."

Now, to get the sale.

Fortune favor the persistent!

Moon

Ooo, I actually have one of those! I had no idea it meant anything though. I also have a F&SF paper slip from GVG, after one of my stories made it past the assistant editor at the time. That was some time in either 2012 or 2013, I think. Alas, it didn't make the final cut, but it was encouraging to receive nonetheless.

Addendum: I note, too, that I got the Charlie on a story that I later dismissed as being too primitive to work on refining and sending out again. I may need to revisit that particular bit of thinking...

[chuckt]

So . . . is there a time of day common to hear from Joni? Note:I certainly don't expect it today. In fact, don't y'all think it would be after the awards? I imagine Dave gets sucked into that whorl to the exclusion of all else. I hate waiting. But at least this is not "Winds of Winter" waiting.

[chuckt]

Like this? I'm so excited! You're not pulling my leg are you?

Dear Chuck,

Thank you for giving me a chance to read ******** Unfortunately, this story didn't win me over and I'm going to pass on it for Fantasy & Science Fiction. But I wish you best of luck finding the right market for it and hope that you'll keep us in mind in the future.

Best regards,

Charlie

[RSchibler]

Last year it was April. Results typically come in the afternoons and evenings west coast US time.

[disgruntledpeony]

Pardon my ignorance but how can we send to F&SF magazine? I googled it and have no idea.
Also I received an email like this after few days of submissions. (As a non-native speaker) I think it means that I will receive response to my short story submission only in July?

Thank you for sending us your story for consideration for our
upcoming anthology. Congratulations as well for your considerable
achievements.

We expect to announce the lineup in July of this year

You might hear back earlier to get contracts and the like set up, but yeah, that reads like you might not hear back until July.

[Dragonchef]

I know i'm wishful thinking and Rebecca mentioned April, but did anyone get a phone call from Joni today? A simple yes or no will suffice-no details. Just want to relax. Not that I am not relaxed. It is Friday Eve, after all.

[aidanka]

Sadly, no

I know i'm wishful thinking and Rebecca mentioned April, but did anyone get a phone call from Joni today? A simple yes or no will suffice-no details. Just want to relax. Not that I am not relaxed. It is Friday Eve, after all.

[chuckt]

Here's my Expectomancy. Not today. Best shot before the Gala would be next week? Then the great Gala monster swallows all time and space and we're looking at April 11 or 18. (I don't know anything really--just speculating for fun).

[disgruntledpeony]

I know i'm wishful thinking and Rebecca mentioned April, but did anyone get a phone call from Joni today? A simple yes or no will suffice-no details. Just want to relax. Not that I am not relaxed. It is Friday Eve, after all.

Based on previous experience, we'll probably get a first wave of rejections long before we hear anything about finalists. Whether we'll only get R's or something more involved, I don't know--it's been R's, HMs, and SHMs at the same time most quarters for the last year or two, but there used to be an initial wave of R's before the other stuff came out. That may differ based on the quarter; I dunno.

[aidanka]

İ guess İ am addicted to Expectomancy and today İ saw a vivid dream. I got a call from the contest hahah .
It's a shame that I'm in Europe I would definitely attend the Gala

Here's my Expectomancy. Not today. Best shot before the Gala would be next week? Then the great Gala monster swallows all time and space and we're looking at April 11 or 18. (I don't know anything really--just speculating for fun).

[KristyEmber]

Dave’s been seriously ill, guys, I think that will delay things a lot.

[JVAshley]

I am so worried over the progression of his health reports.