Contest Questions

[JVAshley]

Another concern of mine is that if I enter and excerpt of a novel I haven’t finished yet, would I be able to publish the novel later on? Also, should I state in the title that it is an excerpt for the sake of future publication?

I'll take a stab at this one. I have read that Patrick Rothfuss turned in a chapter from NAME OF THE WIND to WotF and won. And, while riding on that fame, went on to publish the novel that became a NYT Best Seller. I do not think you would need to say it is an excerpt if the novel is not yet published. It should stand on its own as a short story.

[czing]

This is certainly putting the cart before the horse but I have a question about the prizes.

It looked to me (after doing a little searching) - that there is a workshop for 12 writers and 12 illustrators - I assume that is the top 3 each quarter. But despite assuming I have the following questions if anyone has answers:
1. Is the workshop for those who are the top 3 each quarter?
2. Is the workshop sponsored/paid for at all? If so to what extent?

Just want to properly position my dreaming :)

[disgruntledpeony]

This is certainly putting the cart before the horse but I have a question about the prizes.

It looked to me (after doing a little searching) - that there is a workshop for 12 writers and 12 illustrators - I assume that is the top 3 each quarter. But despite assuming I have the following questions if anyone has answers:
1. Is the workshop for those who are the top 3 each quarter?
2. Is the workshop sponsored/paid for at all? If so to what extent?

Just want to properly position my dreaming :)

The workshop is for the three winners each quarter, and the cost is completely covered for said winners.

[czing]

Thanks for the speedy reply disgruntledpeony!

Adds an extra level to the big dreaming :)

[Wulf Moon]

This is certainly putting the cart before the horse but I have a question about the prizes.

It looked to me (after doing a little searching) - that there is a workshop for 12 writers and 12 illustrators - I assume that is the top 3 each quarter. But despite assuming I have the following questions if anyone has answers:
1. Is the workshop for those who are the top 3 each quarter?
2. Is the workshop sponsored/paid for at all? If so to what extent?

Just want to properly position my dreaming :)

What Disgruntled Peony said. I'll just add that your airfare to the Hollywood workshop is covered as well, from anywhere in the world. So is your hotel. And a few meals, but not all. And the delicious banquet meal of course! And transport to and from the airport, all covered. It's just short of an all expense paid trip.

[czing]

I mean the prize money would be great but this really sounds like much more than just a "cherry on top".

By the way Wulf Moon - I really enjoyed your story in V 35.

[Wulf Moon]

I mean the prize money would be great but this really sounds like much more than just a "cherry on top".

By the way Wulf Moon - I really enjoyed your story in V 35.

The prize money and publication money are nice. They teach you that writing a professional story can earn you good money--not hobby money, but substantial funds that could actually pay your rent or mortgage and more. After years of having people, and in my case my own dad, telling me I will never make any money at this fictional writing thing, "not real money, you haven't made any real money, have you?", it's rather nice to tell myself, "Yes, I have."

But the real prize, as you've noted, isn't the money. That's just one facet of the prize. A shiny facet, but one of many facets that make up this refined diamond. The workshop is another shiny facet, one of many that make up this refined diamond. The opulent banquet hall and prestigious guests applauding you make up another facet, because they help you realize what you accomplished must be monumental, and that you'd better do something with this gift you've been honing over the years that got you here. So many facets, that all make up the whole.

John Goodwin, president of Author Services, said they spend over $30,000 on each winner. I found that figure hard to believe...until I went there and observed first hand all that they do. There is nothing else like this. No one will spend that much money on you again to help you believe in yourself so that you can reach for the stars--not in this industry. There is a reason so many bestselling authors support this contest, and got their start in this contest. All of these facets of the workshop and gala are designed to give you every tool you need to succeed, both internal, and external. No cherry on top. Just a myriad of sparkling facets to make your work and career shine bright. The brighter your work and branding shine, the more people will pick up your work and read it. And that's why writers write. To share their visions with others. (Thank you for the complement on my story, Czing. The only way you even knew I'm a writer and came to sample one of my works was likely because I won this contest. And yet I've been writing for many years and have pro sales. See how this contest works?)

This contest provides one of the very best ways you can accomplish that goal--not just to write, but to be read. And if you let it, it will set you on a path of success to continue to accomplish that. Even if you don't win, just trying to win this contest can set you on that path. Being another Kevin J. Anderson or Brandon Sanderson would not be such a bad thing at all.

Back to writing, all of you! You've got a date with destiny. You've got stories to write. You've got a contest to win!

All the beast!

Wulf Moon

[orbivillein]

Hi, Wolf Moon,

Do winners receive, say, 1099s from Author Services or Galaxy Press? If so, do the numbers only reflect prize money and anthology paid publication, or do the numbers include travel and room cash values?

Questions not intended to elicit private and monetary data, rather a generic what about taxes and reporting on taxable revenue?

[Wulf Moon]

[quote="orbivillein"]Hi, Wolf Moon,

Do winners receive, say, 1099s from Author Services or Galaxy Press? If so, do the numbers only reflect prize money and anthology paid publication, or do the numbers include travel and room cash values?

Questions not intended to elicit private and monetary data, rather a generic what about taxes and reporting on taxable revenue?[/quoteI

I haven't gotten my 1099 for 2019 earnings from Galaxy Press--they don't come out until 2020, of course.. Ask me then. :) But I did receive a 1099 for 2018's prize money, which winners receive first, which occured in 2018. Second place. $750. Reported to the IRS. It's income.

[jficke13]

I did not receive a 1099 for my prize money or per-word-rate, but I reported them on my taxes as I would any business income.

IIRC Tim Powers, Kevin Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, and Mike Resnick went into some depth on the subject of taxes as it affects writers.

[orbivillein]

Questions satisfied. What they say about curiosity killed the cat; satisfaction brought it back. Thanks!

[chuckt]

Did they bump the definition of a pro sale to .08 (from .06) per word?

[Wulf Moon]

Did they bump the definition of a pro sale to .08 (from .06) per word?

I am curious if they will as well. I haven't heard WotF's reaction to SFWA's new declaration of what constitutes pro pay ($0.08 per word). We'll have to wait and see as the decree goes into effect whether WotF wants to follow SFWA's lead or not. SFWA doesn't count contest prize money. If they did, WotF could easily prove it pays out far beyond the $0.08 rate.

[SCAFontaine]

WOTF posted on their Facebook page about this on the 15th. They said they were increasing it.

[chuckt]

The Facebook page says they will pay more. I was more talking about the contest rules but looks like they did change the rule. It now says only sales at .08/word count as a professional sale.

[Wulf Moon]

The Facebook page says they will pay more. I was more talking about the contest rules but looks like they did change the rule. It now says only sales at .08/word count as a professional sale.

Thanks SCA Fontaine and Chuck. I wish they had put some clearer "as of" verbage and dates and rates into those rules. As it reads right now, a person could have a dozen former pro sales at $0.06 and now compete in WotF. That would not be fair. But it's how the rules read at present. I hope they change that.

[chuckt]

Thanks SCA Fontaine and Chuck. I wish they had put some clearer "as of" verbage and dates and rates into those rules. As it reads right now, a person could have a dozen former pro sales at $0.06 and now compete in WotF. That would not be fair. But it's how the rules read at present. I hope they change that.

I thought about that too. I agree. I hope their intent was not to do that.

[morganb]

I thought it was interesting, because I was thinking about pro rates and looking at the prize payout for WOTF. Third place pays $500. Depending on how long your story is, that could either be a pro rate, or not. If your story is 10,000 words, that's only $0.05 per word, which isn't a pro rate payout. In order to be considered a pro rate, you'd have to keep your story's word count under 8,300 words.

Just some food for thought when writing your story.

~Morgan

[Helge Mahrt]

From what I've gathered, you're paid per word when your story makes it into the anthology - apart from the prize money as a winner.

[disgruntledpeony]

I thought it was interesting, because I was thinking about pro rates and looking at the prize payout for WOTF. Third place pays $500. Depending on how long your story is, that could either be a pro rate, or not. If your story is 10,000 words, that's only $0.05 per word, which isn't a pro rate payout. In order to be considered a pro rate, you'd have to keep your story's word count under 8,300 words.

Just some food for thought when writing your story.

~Morgan

Helge is right; you get paid pro rates PLUS the prize money.

[morganb]

Helge is right; you get paid pro rates PLUS the prize money.

Aaaahhh...nice!

[Wulf Moon]

Yes, you get the prize money shortly after it's announced that you're a winner. You get *publication* money, now $0.08 per word, toward the end of the workshop. John Goodwin, president of Author Services Inc. and Galaxy Press, personally handed our checks to us. I have a picture of that I'll post to my facebook page soon if any wish to see the moment. wulf.moon.94

[JVAshley]

Helge is right; you get paid pro rates PLUS the prize money.

Yes, you get the prize money shortly after it's announced that you're a winner. You get *publication* money, now $0.08 per word, toward the end of the workshop. John Goodwin, president of Author Services Inc. and Galaxy Press, personally handed our checks to us. I have a picture of that I'll post to my facebook page soon if any wish to see the moment. wulf.moon.94

WHAT?!?!
I have never heard this, and I am a regular stalker of WotF forums.
You get the prize money AND paid for the story in the anthology?
This just gets better and better.

[Wulf Moon]

Helge is right; you get paid pro rates PLUS the prize money.

Yes, you get the prize money shortly after it's announced that you're a winner. You get *publication* money, now $0.08 per word, toward the end of the workshop. John Goodwin, president of Author Services Inc. and Galaxy Press, personally handed our checks to us. I have a picture of that I'll post to my facebook page soon if any wish to see the moment. wulf.moon.94

WHAT?!?!
I have never heard this, and I am a regular stalker of WotF forums.
You get the prize money AND paid for the story in the anthology?
This just gets better and better.

Right, Julia. For winning the WotF contest, you get prize money for first, second, or third place, which runs $1000, $750, or $500. That gets paid shortly after it's announced you won, you don't wait for that money, which is nice. I used mine to help me get to Superstars Writing Seminar, and it was very good timing. Next, you get publication money, which for Volume 36 will now be $0.08 per word. That gets paid out just before the publication date, and they hand you that check toward the end of the workshop. So, if you wrote a 10,000 word story, you're going to get an additional $800. Finally, if you are one of the four first place winners from each quarter, you compete in the Golden Pen grand prize. One winner there gets a check for $5000.

Of course, there are so many other extras, it's tough listing them all. Round trip airfare from anywhere in the world to attend the workshop and gala. Your room covered at the Leows hotel. Transportation to and from the airport. A workshop with the top instructors in the spec fic industry. A gala with a wonderful banquet dinnner. A beautiful handcrafted trophy. Training in how to promote and do the business side of your writing career by more top industry experts, like Kevin J Anderson and Rebecca Moesta. Indie marketing by Dean Wesley Smith. Twelve contributor copies of the antholgy (it actually turned out to be thirteen because they gave us one signed by everyone at the mass signing as well). A suitcase to take your marketing kit and books and trophy home in (yeah, you get a marketing kit!), money to pay the airline to check it, and let's not forget the FREE T-SHIRT. THERE'S A T-SHIRT? WHY DID NO ONE EVER TELL ME THERE'S A WOTF VOL. 35 T-SHIRT? Well, there was, and it was a cool surprise. We could choose from our book colors, orange or blue.

But my favorite thing of all. THE GIANT IRON ROBOT!!! I thought the dragon stage could never be topped, but that giant sixteen foot robot outside topped them all in my opinion. It was so over the top, it really made you realize Author Services makes magic happen for its winners, and every year they outdo themselves to make this event special.

For new writers, this is the #1 place to sell your story. Keep trying. Never give up. Winning this contest can change your life, because of all they do to help you realize how important it is to create your art ... and to share it to uplift the minds and hearts of others.

[Chadmt21]

So after months, weeks, and hours of editing and polishing, I’m getting very close to submitting my story. The closer I get to my deadline, the more my confidence dwindles. The sole reason I chose to give this contest a try is to see for myself if I have what it takes to take on writing as more than just a hobby. I am a very fresh writer, and from what I’ve absorbed from scouring this thread and the history of the contest, it seems like this is the best road to take for a beginner writer such as myself. —rant over—
I am, to say the least, a 30 year old with nothing more than a high school diploma . I have re-educated myself on grammar to the best of my ability, but this is where the dwindling confidence part comes into play. This contest portrays itself as one for beginner writers, but to what extent? I understand that if a story is completely riddled with poor grammar it wouldn’t be worth a second look, but are there exceptions made if the story is good? I guess what I’m trying to ask is: are the judges decisions focused more on the actual story and style of writing or will a few imperfections in punctuation doom my chances?

[thegirlintheglasses]

So after months, weeks, and hours of editing and polishing, I’m getting very close to submitting my story. The closer I get to my deadline, the more my confidence dwindles. The sole reason I chose to give this contest a try is to see for myself if I have what it takes to take on writing as more than just a hobby. I am a very fresh writer, and from what I’ve absorbed from scouring this thread and the history of the contest, it seems like this is the best road to take for a beginner writer such as myself. —rant over—
I am, to say the least, a 30 year old with nothing more than a high school diploma . I have re-educated myself on grammar to the best of my ability, but this is where the dwindling confidence part comes into play. This contest portrays itself as one for beginner writers, but to what extent? I understand that if a story is completely riddled with poor grammar it wouldn’t be worth a second look, but are there exceptions made if the story is good? I guess what I’m trying to ask is: are the judges decisions focused more on the actual story and style of writing or will a few imperfections in punctuation doom my chances?

I'll say this. My piece in Q4 of last year was "riddled" with quite a few errors (it was something like 12k and I had around 8-10 grammatical mistakes. I was flinching when I reread it). I hadn't had time to send it to anyone for critique before the deadline, but the story itself was strong. It made finalist. It did not win. I think that Dave Farland can look past a few errors if the story really strikes him. But then it goes out to all the other judges--and you're up against some REALLy excellent stories. Previous winners have sold multiple Pro stories. Look at the stats to sell at those zines. YIKES. Some have been in writing groups with professional writers (think Brandon Sanderson) and have had access to professional opinion.
So YES, this contest IS meant for beginners... BUT you're up against the *best* beginners and you don't want anything to hold you back.
My advice:
1. Do your best and hope for the best. Submit.
2. Try and exchange with some who've been at this longer. They'll hopefully target your blind spots.
3. Check out Wulf's thread, because he's got some great advice in the Super-Secret challenge. There's a list to make sure you're hitting the right notes.
4. Keep writing, keep submitting. Again. Again. Again.
5. BELIEVE!!!!

Best of luck!
Brit

PS I'm thirty also and um, trying to figure out this writing thing. I do believe this is a great place for people like us. We're in good company.

[disgruntledpeony]

I am, to say the least, a 30 year old with nothing more than a high school diploma . I have re-educated myself on grammar to the best of my ability, but this is where the dwindling confidence part comes into play.

As someone who has entered the contest multiple times with varying results, I can personally say that I feel better even getting a flat-out rejection than when I skip a quarter, because skipping a quarter means there's no chance of winning that one. thegirlinglasses has some great tips for you, there. A couple more suggestions, if I may be so bold:

Reading is always a good idea, and reading stories published in your target market is even better. Can't hurt to check out some of the most recent WotF volumes, if you haven't already.

If you're worried about grammar, I would personally recommend checking out Dreyer's English. It's written by the chief copy editor of Random House, and it's both educational and entertaining (at least, it was to me personally). If you don't want to buy it, you can probably find it at your local library or some such.

[Wulf Moon]

Every writer started at ZERO and worked their way up, from Tim Powers to Brandon Sanderson to Frank Herbert. It's good to remember.

[chuckt]

The grammar in your post was pretty good. Maybe get a copy of English Grammar A Complete Course which is a high school textbook. I've got one and even look at it occasionally. You can get a used copy for next to nothing on Amazon. Another good one is Strunk and White, Elements of Style. Okay, yeah, plowing through both of these is rather painful, but hey, you've chosen a painful path. (I got some more rejections this week-each one tears my soul a bit).

And then what Becky (Mother of Dragons, Changer of many Diapers, the never-sleeping) said.

[RSchibler]

Mother of Dragons is Liz - Becky is me!

Pretty much what Brittany said - yes, this contest is for unpublished authors but it’s not for beginning writers. Your first short story ever probably won’t win, but because of the gradated honors and the astonishing prizes, not to mention no entry fee, it’s worth it to keep trying to win this contest. My first short story two years ago was truly (and I mean spectacularly) bad. Since then my craft has grown immensely and in ways I literally could not comprehend two years ago. Keep at it! With hard work and dedication, it’s possible!