NEW USERS! INTRODUCE YOURSELVES!

Welcome aboard, Jeff! Or maybe that should be "Welcome into the light!" Good luck!

Welcome Jeff! Happy de-lurking! Good luck with Q3 and Q4!

Welcome aboard, Jeff! Or maybe that should be "Welcome into the light!" Good luck!

But, Martin, you are still in the dark, I see.

Maybe we ought to have a rescue operation.

Thanks for the welcome! I already know how friendly folks around here can be, as well as how a lot of other things are customarily done in these parts. I am a bit sketchy on one thing, though: story exchange. Tell me if I've got this right. You post up the notice (in the appropriate conference, of course) that you'd like to swap crits, and then people either ping you or email directly if they're interested? Is this correct? I'd like to get some feedback on my Q1 contender, and I figure who better to ask than those who know the contest best.

Welcome aboard, Jeff! Or maybe that should be "Welcome into the light!" Good luck!

Thanks for the welcome! I already know how friendly folks around here can be, as well as how a lot of other things are customarily done in these parts. I am a bit sketchy on one thing, though: story exchange. Tell me if I've got this right. You post up the notice (in the appropriate conference, of course) that you'd like to swap crits, and then people either ping you or email directly if they're interested? Is this correct? I'd like to get some feedback on my Q1 contender, and I figure who better to ask than those who know the contest best.

Welcome aboard, Jeff! Or maybe that should be "Welcome into the light!" Good luck!

Welcome, Jeff!

You are correct on the story exchange. People generally post it first in the appropriate thread. Then exchange e-mail addresses through PM (unless you've already done that for previous stories or what-not).

ETA: In the appropriate thread, or create a new one in the Writing section. Just remember not to post anything specific about your story beyond a general word count.

Ah, but I have another question for all of you, this one more in terms of critique strategy (strategomancy?). When, in anyone's experience, is the best time to request a story exchange in the life cycle of any given quarter? I mean, it seems to me that for a Q1 entry, October's not as good as November's not as good as December. How many people actually have a Q1 ready and itching to go? I do, of course, but that's only because I'm obsessive about my writing and have a mile-long rejection-letter rap sheet to prove it.

Welcome, Jeff!

You are correct on the story exchange. People generally post it first in the appropriate thread. Then exchange e-mail addresses through PM (unless you've already done that for previous stories or what-not).

ETA: In the appropriate thread, or create a new one in the Writing section. Just remember not to post anything specific about your story beyond a general word count.

Ah, but I have another question for all of you, this one more in terms of critique strategy (strategomancy?). When, in anyone's experience, is the best time to request a story exchange in the life cycle of any given quarter? I mean, it seems to me that for a Q1 entry, October's not as good as November's not as good as December. How many people actually have a Q1 ready and itching to go? I do, of course, but that's only because I'm obsessive about my writing and have a mile-long rejection-letter rap sheet to prove it.

Welcome Jeff--I'm glad you've delurked. So I guess now since you know all us, we just have to get to know you! I think you'll find, posting in the critique section that we have exchanging going on all times of the quarter. In my opinion, the best place to start is in the 450 exchange (we exchange the first two pages of a story and get feedback on the beginning, then we try to get whole story exchanges from that point). Second choice is posting the word count and a request for PM if interested (don't forget to state what your willing to exchange for-- equal word count, or story for story regardless of length, first born child, marshmallow ammo, or state secrets) . Some of us have constant need for critiques, so you'll alway get a few bites.

Strategomancy?

Isn't that a board game?

If you're looking for full exchanges, you'll probably get more hits towards the end of a given quarter, but there are plenty of people who aren't horrible procrastinators.

... Well, okay, there are at least two or three. Probably.

You could always offer a rain check crit, too. We procrastinators love anything that will help us put off writing.

Welcome, Jeff!

I believe Stewart is STILL putting off sending anything back to me, so he could do with threats or promises of harassment.

this is my first post here, I have actually been following the forum as a super-secret spy for quite some time.

Thank you Jeff for outing yourself first. Its good to know I wasn't alone in cruising the forums incognito.

Hello everyone!
My name is Adam, and I too have been hanging around the forum for a month or two now.

My submission for Q3 is the first time I have ever submitted to the WOTF contest. (Hope that acronym is right)
So I have basically been checking my email, along with the forum, on a daily basis for any hint of results.

I also agree with Jeff that you all seem really nice, and I appreciate all of info you have given me about the contest, even though you didn't know it.

Hi, Adam! Welcome aboard!

Good luck with your Q3!

Hi, Darth and Adam,

Welcome aboard and good to see you.

You'll need these safety goggles, designed to highest steampunk specs, to protect against flying marshmallows and a case of sardines to distract the resident Gator. There's a T-rex wandering about in the quarterly threads, so mind your step. Oh, and here's a milk carton for each of you. Please check the picture on the back. Our forum mascot has gone missing. He's a spaceman stick figure in bunny slippers, and his name is Martin. If you see him, let us know, wouldja?

Cheers,

Kary

Our forum mascot has gone missing. He's a spaceman stick figure in bunny slippers, and his name is Martin. If you see him, let us know, wouldja?

Not to be confused with Evil Martin, who's still running amok somewhere. I know that can get confusing at times.

Also, you might want to pick up your own marshmallow shooters and/or riot gear. Q3 results *should* be coming soon, and things can get pretty hairy around here when they do... and I mean that literally. There may or may not have been a warewolf once; sightings are unconfirmed.

In other news, welcome aboard!

Our forum mascot has gone missing. He's a spaceman stick figure in bunny slippers, and his name is Martin. If you see him, let us know, wouldja?

Not to be confused with Evil Martin, who's still running amok somewhere. I know that can get confusing at times.

Also, you might want to pick up your own marshmallow shooters and/or riot gear. Q3 results *should* be coming soon, and things can get pretty hairy around here when they do... and I mean that literally. There may or may not have been a warewolf once; sightings are unconfirmed.

In other news, welcome aboard!

I prefer my frilly pink umbrella and combat boots.

Welcome aboard, folks!

Welcome aboard, Adam! And trust me, Evil is the way to go!

Rumor has it the T. Rex is named Quentin Q. Quinn, or Q3 for short. He has a very long digestive tract (though not, we hope, as long as Q1's).

Welcome aboard, Adam! And trust me, Evil is the way to go!

Rumor has it the T. Rex is named Quentin Q. Quinn, or Q3 for short. He has a very long digestive tract (though not, we hope, as long as Q1's).

Goodness. I hope he produces something better than cra_.

We're going to be calling Q3 the smelly quarter. Maybe someone let the spare fish spoil? *lifts barrel lids while holding nose*

Yes, Welcome to the Forum. Kary will hand out much needed supplies in preparation for results, but we recommend you stay away from the T-rex. He's suffering some minor, uh, problems. *hands out face masks* And we seem to have a lot of rotten fish. Whatever you do: DON'T....OPEN....THE BARRELS!

...Martin started it.

...Martin started it.

Excuse me? And who introduced the Tyrannosaurus to the forum?

...Martin started it.

Excuse me? And who introduced the Tyrannosaurus to the forum?

I don't know...

ETA: But it wasn't me.

Welcome Adam! I love Fall. Not the season, but the time lurkers fall out of the abyss to land in the forum after sending off their stories to WOTF. I'm glad you made the landing safely.

Many don't make it.

Oh dear.... Do you think the T-rex or the gator could have been eating the injured on the outskirts and just never said anything? Maybe results will cough some of them up. In any case, it make it more impressive that you few have survived.

Goodness. I hope he produces something better than cra_.

This was too funny.

Hi all! New here! Q3 is the first time I’ve submitted writing to the contest. WOTF has always hovered on the edge of my consciousness; I’m not sure why I’ve never entered before.

Anyways, I’ve been trying and failing to break the professional publication barrier for a while now. I’m at the stage where I feel like I’m close, but not quite--which, surprisingly, is about 1000x more frustrating than the not-even-close stage. I recently self-published a short story that made the rounds with nice personalized rejections, but no sale. That’s about it as far as publication goes. I write fantasy, science fiction, and horror.

I live in sunny CA, run a blog on sustainability in the suburbs (I’m nearly ready for the zombie apocalypse), and I paint as well.

Looking forward to agonizing with the rest of y’all over in the Q3 - 29 thread!

Hi all! New here! Q3 is the first time I’ve submitted writing to the contest. WOTF has always hovered on the edge of my consciousness; I’m not sure why I’ve never entered before.

Anyways, I’ve been trying and failing to break the professional publication barrier for a while now. I’m at the stage where I feel like I’m close, but not quite--which, surprisingly, is about 1000x more frustrating than the not-even-close stage. I recently self-published a short story that made the rounds with nice personalized rejections, but no sale. That’s about it as far as publication goes. I write fantasy, science fiction, and horror.

I live in sunny CA, run a blog on sustainability in the suburbs (I’m nearly ready for the zombie apocalypse), and I paint as well.

Looking forward to agonizing with the rest of y’all over in the Q3 - 29 thread!

Welcome Andrea, have some Tronya and make yourself comfortable while we wait....and wait.....and wait.
getting personalized rejections is an achievement, wear it proudly. It's taken me a LONG LONG time to get that far.

Welcome Andrea! Hopefully you're our lucky charm and results will come tomorrow! It being Thursday and all.

Welcome aboard, Andrea!

Welcome, Andrea!

Welcome aboard, Andrea! Keep plugging away!

Welcome Andrea! I love your paintings. They're amazing!! I hope you enter IOTF as well.

Thanks for the welcome! Boy, you guys are nice!

gower21, I don't qualify for IOTF anymore. I did some freelance work back in college, for a CCG called Sack Armies and some b&w stuff for Valkyrie magazine. Both don't exist anymore. Boo! Glad you like the art, though! I have a lot more pieces, I just haven't gotten around to uploading them.

Hi Andrea! There are quite a few of us here from CA.

Looking forward to seeing your writing--either in print or in the critique forum.