Discussion: Q1 Volume 36

[zeeteebeez]

I meant that Andrew and Wulf's stories were both in present tense, not first person! I haven't had my caffeine yet this morning. I'm guessing that's what they were referring to.

Having read the anthology, in my highly biased opinion Wulf's story was the only one that needed to be present tense. I don't think you could tell it any other way. The other pieces that were in present, my brain kept trying to read in past tense. But I'm not a judge and obviously they did very well.

If you listen to the podcast they mention one story as the "present tense" story and seem to concur that it was their 2nd place to another story that, by assumption, was not present tense and overwhelmingly (to them at least) the best story.

If they were referring to Q4, both first and second were present tense, which doesn't quite seem to fit what they were saying.

In any event, results will arrive when they arrive, no sense in stirring up the twitchies I guess.

What's probably most important is that both Tim and OSC seemed very clear that present tense is generally not ideal (which is interesting given Q4). Good nuggets in there if you get a chance to listen.

[Wulf Moon]

I meant that Andrew and Wulf's stories were both in present tense, not first person! I haven't had my caffeine yet this morning. I'm guessing that's what they were referring to.

Having read the anthology, in my highly biased opinion Wulf's story was the only one that needed to be present tense. I don't think you could tell it any other way. The other pieces that were in present, my brain kept trying to read in past tense. But I'm not a judge and obviously they did very well.

Kate, thank you for saying this about my story, "Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler." Had I told the story ANY other way, it would have been weaker. Period. Good on you for recognizing this, but then again, you're about to break out as a professional writer. Hopefully, that happens within the contest, so you get the reward you have been working so hard to achieve.

I'll post more on this, but I'll do it in the SUPER SECRET topic, since it's been awhile that I've posted something meaty there. Best of success to all of you on the upcoming results!

Win this thing! By writing FRESH stories!

All the beast,

~Moon~

[chuckt]

Win this thing! By writing FRESH stories!

All the beast,

~Moon~

I didn't even notice the present tense when I read it. Well done.

Speaking of fresh stories, what's the scuttlebutt on HRs and SHRs revising their stories and achieving a win or higher placement? They don't get feedback so maybe they would not realize what needed to be changed. Seems to me, you would strongly consider revising and resubmitting if you could discern the issue(s) that Dave might have had a problem with.

[disgruntledpeony]

Speaking of fresh stories, what's the scuttlebutt on HRs and SHRs revising their stories and achieving a win or higher placement? They don't get feedback so maybe they would not realize what needed to be changed. Seems to me, you would strongly consider revising and resubmitting if you could discern the issue(s) that Dave might have had a problem with.

Best way to guess at that is to follow Dave's blog, probably. I've revised an R into an SHM before, but my attempt to revise an SHM into something better simply resulted in another SHM. I have no easy answers on this one.

[Wulf Moon]

Win this thing! By writing FRESH stories!

All the beast,

~Moon~

I didn't even notice the present tense when I read it. Well done.

Speaking of fresh stories, what's the scuttlebutt on HRs and SHRs revising their stories and achieving a win or higher placement? They don't get feedback so maybe they would not realize what needed to be changed. Seems to me, you would strongly consider revising and resubmitting if you could discern the issue(s) that Dave might have had a problem with.

We've talked on this before. You know where I stand, Chuck. Don't revise old stories. Write FRESH stories! It's how you will grow in your skills, and growing in your skills is absolutely necessary to win this contest. And, by the way, to become a professional writer.

[disgruntledpeony]

Win this thing! By writing FRESH stories!

All the beast,

~Moon~

I didn't even notice the present tense when I read it. Well done.

Speaking of fresh stories, what's the scuttlebutt on HRs and SHRs revising their stories and achieving a win or higher placement? They don't get feedback so maybe they would not realize what needed to be changed. Seems to me, you would strongly consider revising and resubmitting if you could discern the issue(s) that Dave might have had a problem with.

We've talked on this before. You know where I stand, Chuck. Don't revise old stories. Write FRESH stories! It's how you will grow in your skills, and growing in your skills is absolutely necessary to win this contest. And, by the way, to become a professional writer.

Fresh stories are important, but revising stories can teach important skills too. Writing is one of those professions where there really isn't a single correct answer. What works for one person might not work for another, and vice versa. The one thing that is a definite truth is that you have to write in order to be a writer.

[KristyEmber]

If they are talking about q1 in the podcast, that means finalists have probably been notified. Joni usually calls finalists before the stories go out to the guest judges.

Jury duty may have thrown things out, of course, but I expect that Joni is just prioritising email notifications last.

Also, I write a LOT of first person present tense. It’s just how my stories come out. So to hear that it is explicitly *not* preferred is a bit of a worry ...

[KristyEmber]

On the “is it worth revising discussion”, I think that:

* a rejection usually means Dave has read two pages, and has found enough wrong with it that he won’t read further. If you really believe in your story and want dave to read and judge the whole thing, you need to completely rework your opening at the very least. If you can turn it into a HM or higher, you might learn something important (I always love and believe in my writing babies, so I rarely let an R stand - I want to at least see them turned into an HM before they go off to other markets).

* It takes me longer to heavily revise a story than it does to write one from scratch. (The only story I’ve not even considered revising was a 16,000 monstrosity, because of the complexity involved in the revision. I could write three new short stories in the same amount of time).

* Stories CAN get better, especially if you are consciously trying to apply a new technique from Dave’s blogs (Kav cycles, hooks for each scene break etc). One of my stories was written for a local book store competition where it didn’t even place in the top twenty! (Let me repeat - this was for a small local competition, so there was probably only around 40 entries in total). I significantly rewrote it trying to practice all of Dave’s techniques, and I was obviously successful, because it became my finalist.

* even though stories can get better, if they’ve been rejected once, your chances are still
WAY better with a new story. It is pretty hard trying to second guess exactly what Dave’s issues might have been.

* Dave has said that SHMs (which are in the top 30), are pretty close to winning and may only have one or two things wrong with them, so I think they are definitely worth at least one revision and resubmit.

[SCAFontaine]

In the podcast, Dave talks about still having 25 stories to choose his finalists from (which we know he finished judging beg of last week), so I think Tim and OSC were talking about Q4.

[zeeteebeez]

In the podcast, Dave talks about still having 25 stories to choose his finalists from (which we know he finished judging beg of last week), so I think Tim and OSC were talking about Q4.

Ah. Somehow I must have missed where he said he currently had 25 left. I thought that was a hypothetical when I listened.

But yes I agree they were likely talking about q4.

[chuckt]

I'm confused. They were at the gala workshop. So when he said he had 25 he was looking at then, it had to be Q1 didn't it?

[zeeteebeez]

I'm confused. They were at the gala workshop. So when he said he had 25 he was looking at then, it had to be Q1 didn't it?

Sorry if I'm confusing people. The 25 would be for Q1, yes.

The q4 would be Tim Powers and OSC talking about the present tense story they voted on.

[jjcollins]

I don't post here very often, but I have to say...this current length of silence is producing record levels of twitchiness. Uncertainty breeds twitching.

We are at Twitchcon 5, people.

[chuckt]

Speak of the Devil. Got my R just now. Expected it as I did not know about the guidelines and was well outside them. I hope someone(s) here got good news!

[RSchibler]

Sorry to hear, Chuck. Expected or not, rejections sting.

Now I’m twitching. Best of results to all concerned!

[vjalrik]

Got mine too. Revised my SHM into an R. This was my first (and likely last) revise and resubmit attempt for WotF - I was hoping it would break me out of my rut, but it must be deeper than I thought....

[michaeljwyantjr]

Well. It’s Thursday.

Upgraded my 3xHM into a straight rejection. Awesome.

[Beth Powers]

R for me too

[zeeteebeez]

Sorry to all the R's.

I think this is my 7th quarter, but this may be the first time I've seen a "wave" rather than a mass dropping of R, HM, and SHM together.

How long are these waves typically spaced out?

[zeeteebeez]

Welp I guess that answers the question.

HM for me.

[GruffbaneJoe]

Did you just now receive the HM? Maybe the second wave is starting?

[zeeteebeez]

Did you just now receive the HM? Maybe the second wave is starting?

Yes HM wave is incoming now

[MiloMinderbinder]

HM here.

[KristyEmber]

I just received mine and it was an HM, so could be.

[chuckt]

Sorry to hear, Chuck. Expected or not, rejections sting.

Now I’m twitching. Best of results to all concerned!

Thanks. I have to laugh at myself. Knew nothing of the guidelines for my Q1 or Q2. My main character died at the end in my Q1. It was a sacrifice but still a suicide which I now know is a huge Dave no-no. Maybe the biggest. Several F-bombs and another pretty bad word. SO no surprise at all. I'm hoping for maybe better on my Q2 but still has a couple of F-bombs so prob not.

Sympathies to everyone else :( Still hoping someone made it.

Can the finalists come forward now?

[GruffbaneJoe]

Woops j got an R. Was in my spam folder.

[OldDarth]

Got a R.

[disgruntledpeony]

R for me. *sigh*

[JVAshley]

R for me!
No surprise. I wrote it in a day and a half and barely had time for a quick re-read before submitting it at 11:58PST

[DoctorJest]

HM for me.