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(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Hi! I'm Jenny, and I've been a writer for as long as I can remember. I've never entered the Contest before, but I'm hoping to learn for a while on the forum and then give it a try!

Welcome aboard, Jenny! Glad to hear you are writing! You've come to the right place to take it to the next level! You might enjoy the article I wrote for Writersofthefuture.com Blog discussing the many benefits of being a part of this Tribe.

Congratulations, you've taken the first step!

Welcome to the Forum!

Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : May 15, 2020 5:02 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Hello! I'm Becca. I've been submitting to WOTF since 2012 when I heard Kevin talk about it at a local conference. I won an Honorable Mention that year and again in 2015 and then I kind of gave up on it (and the dream a little). But last fall I saw Kevin at another conference talking about the contest and it lit the fire in me again. Just got word I won another Honorable Mention for 1st Quarter, so I'm just going to keep working at this! Typing this all out makes Kevin seem like maybe he's the Honorable Mention Fairy? wotf019

Greetings, Becca!

Glad you've been listening to Kevin J. Anderson, bestselling author and Contest judge! Where did you hear him speak? If it was at Superstars, maybe we've met!

Congrats on your HMs, it means you are doing the right things. Funny thing is, Kevin entered this Contest many times and never got an honors certificate, so you're already ahead of him! Smile Keep at it. You never know what story will be your winner.

Welcome aboard. Check out the article I wrote for the writersofthefuture.com blog to get an idea of all the good things offered here. It really is an amazing place.

All the beast!

Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : May 15, 2020 5:06 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Okay, lurkers. I know after the article about our Forum on writersofthefuture.com, we had ten new members join the Forum. This is where you say hello so we know you are here and get to welcome you into our Tribe! But we can't welcome you if you don't say hello. So say hi, say a few words about yourselves, and we promise not to bite!

Cheers!

Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : May 15, 2020 5:10 am
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

Welcome to the forum Jenny and Becca.
Visit the other threads and get to know your tribe.
Enjoy, and most important,
write on.

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : May 15, 2020 8:02 am
Dustin Adams
(@tj_knight)
Posts: 1352
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

I shall make no such promises about not biting.
I probably won't. Bite, that is.
But no promises.

Welcome, folks!

Career:

1x Win
2x NW-F
2x S-F
9x S-HM
11x HM
7x R

 
Posted : May 15, 2020 10:15 pm
(@tonycreeney)
Posts: 3
New Member
 

Hi Guys,

Newbie here, introducing myself like a good little boy.

I became obsessed with all things story around seven---I blame Harry Potter---and since then, anything magical or supernatural or remotely Tolkien-esque, I've devoured. Time and time again.

As for writing, I began this journey one very boring and very lonely afternoon at work. I was a security guard, so not really the most fast-paced of careers out there, but it left plenty of downtime to begin exploring this little hobby of mine. Three and a half years later, and I'm still at it.

I've entered the WOTF competition just once. I didn't place, but it wasn't much of a surprise---the story was terrible, the writing was awful, and the idea had been the done to death. Hopefully, after I learn, learn, learn and practice, practice, practice, I can pinch a HM or two.

Look forward to getting to know you guys,

Regards,
Tony Creeney

 
Posted : May 16, 2020 3:05 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Welcome aboard, Tony!

Sounds like you've found your Tribe!

It's good to remember every writer began with a first story that was crap. But they wrote a story, and that's a huge step. And then they wrote another, and another, and got good at their craft. Eventually, they had their brilliant idea matched by mastery of craft, and they figured out how to touch hearts and a star was born.

We all begin somewhere. You've found a great place to keep growing. Smile
How did you hear about us?

All the beast!

Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : May 16, 2020 7:00 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

If any of you new members heard about us through the Writers of the Future Blog I just wrote, please sound off! I'd love to know if it's working. (Actually, I know it is, we had ten new enrollments right after I wrote it. Question is, are you one of them?)

Cheers!

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : May 16, 2020 7:01 am
(@tonycreeney)
Posts: 3
New Member
 

Thank you, Wulf!

I heard of WOTF after reading about Brandon Sanderson journey to publish-hood. I think everyone loves reading about how their favourite authors find success; it kind of gives you the feeling that you can do it, too, if you work hard enough.

As for where I heard about the forum, then you're correct about that---the blog. I think, after coming across it, I decided to just take the plunge. I read everywhere that successful people find other like-minded people who spur them on. I read it in Think And Grow Rich recently, too---yes, I read a self-help book, and yes, I'm slightly embarressed by it, but whats-done-is-done and I've made peace with it.

Thank you for warm greeting. I can't wait to get to know you guys!

Regards,
Tony Creeney

 
Posted : May 16, 2020 6:20 pm
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Tony,

Great! Glad my blog article worked! Pull up a chair by the fire and sing along! It's a good idea to post in the current quarter's topic (Q3) your plans for entering. The most support goes on under the current Q's topic.

I haven't read Think and Grow Rich, but I enjoyed Eat That Frog, another self help book, on organization. Something many creative types need.

All the beast!

Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : May 17, 2020 4:59 am
Rey Nichols
(@rnichols)
Posts: 63
Bronze Member
 

It's good to remember every writer began with a first story that was crap. But they wrote a story, and that's a huge step. And then they wrote another, and another, and got good at their craft. Eventually, they had their brilliant idea matched by mastery of craft, and they figured out how to touch hearts and a star was born.

I learned this lesson right about this time last year. I was eight chapters into a manuscript when my cousin--who was my critique partner at the time--legit told me it was garbage. (I asked for brutal honesty, and I got it).

He then started challenging me my sending me daily writing prompts where I would have to compose 300 words based on whatever the prompt was. Oddly enough for two weeks straight, my prompt responses all resolved around the same three characters. He looked at me and said, "Nikki, this is the book you SHOULD be writing, not that other hot mess."

To be honest, I was a little upset, after all, I was 24k words deep into HOT MESS (not really its title, but thats what I refer to it as now as an inside joke), that I had put a lot of thought and effort into. So I looked at my prompts, developed a world build, and got to work from the beginning on a completely new concept. After a few chapters, he asked me straight out if I was the same writer who sent him the garbage-script a month earlier. I worked on this story off and on, attending workshops, writing short stories for WOTF, and taking a crack at NaNo last year. In that time, just from constant writing, learning, and networking, (also reviewing and critiquing the works of my peers) I got much better with every short and novella I completed. I finished that second novel, ending at around 76k at the end of last month.

Submitting things to market is still terrifying, but I'm doing it anyway, and it becomes less of a scare-fest every time. I'm not afraid of rejection, as its just one more step toward that first publication credit.

I'm now at a point where I complete everything I start, and I feel myself improving every day.

That original novel I talked about, the one where I was 8 chapters into the manuscript? I looked at it over the weekend and realized that it WAS garbage. But, knowing that I can recognize that offered me one of two options. I could 1) trash it, or 2) fix it.

I didn't trash it. Something about the concept still fascinated me and it was time for me to take it off life support.

Instead, Using what I've learned over the past year, I took those eight chapters, took them apart, and sat and made a world build using the existing material. Over the next few weeks, I plan on overhauling the content, writing new outlines, and starting over and doing a rewrite. I talked to my cousin and my writing group about the new concept for HOT MESS and none of them can believe I salvaged and formed a concept from the guts of the original material.

Am I published yet? Nope...But I did get an HM for Q1, so there's that Smile I'm fairly certain that If I keep up and maintain all the habits I've developed in the story I mentioned above, that I'll get there soon.

SHM: 1
HM: 9
R: 1
www.reynichols.com

 
Posted : May 17, 2020 5:19 pm
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

nreavis, glad to hear you are writing, and recognize the need to improve craft. Keep up the good work. We get there by never quitting, and always striving to up our game.

Don't forget to post in the Q you are entering. Letting people know you plan to submit a story helps you actually do so. And you get a cheer squad, which also helps. Writing can be very lonely business, but having a team supporting you helps.

Best,

Wulf Moon

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : May 18, 2020 11:21 am
(@ajschultz6)
Posts: 46
Bronze Star Member
 

Hello,

I found this forum via the Writers of the Future website and thought I'd give it a shot. For a little background on me, I started writing SFF short stories at the urging of a teacher in high school, and wrote several (admittedly very bad) stories in those first couple of years. I actually got some good feedback on top of all the rejection, but life and my own perfectionism got in the way and I stopped submitting. I still wrote some, but not a ton, over the years after that, and I came up with several elaborate outlines. I just never wrote them down into story form.

The past year or so I've gotten back into it and have written half a novel and five short stories. I also joined a wonderful online critique group. Most importantly, I finally started submitting again last week with my first ever entry for this contest (Q3). I don't expect much to come of it, but I'm excited to be back in the game after months of writing and revision.

I hope to get to know some of you here!
-Adeline

v37: Q3HM
v38: Q1R, Q2HM, Q3HM
v39: Q2HM, Q3HM, Q4HM
v40: Q1 In Progress
I'm available for critique exchanges via PM. Note: I will not be available for exchanges from 12/17/22-1/1/23.

 
Posted : May 18, 2020 3:25 pm
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Welcome aboard, Adeline!

When you're submitting to WotF, this IS the place to be! Glad you found us.

Do post to the Q3 topic, as it's where most of the support occurs. We're glad to have you with us!

Welcome!

Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : May 19, 2020 7:23 am
(@pumpkin_1617101149)
Posts: 28
Advanced Member
 

Hello! I found WoFT through a google search and thought I could at least try. I’ve only started writing short stories because schools are closed, but I like it already. It’s a lot more... satisfying than the novel-length ones I could barely finish.

I just have two small questions. I live in England, is that still okay to enter the competition? And would WoFT prefer submissions in American English (e.g. color not colour) instead of the British versions?

Cheers!

Q3 V37: submitted after some time of staring at an unchanged word doc

 
Posted : May 20, 2020 12:00 pm
(@reuben)
Posts: 201
Silver Member
 

Welcome aboard Pumpkin! I'm new here as well, but you've come to the right place.

It is definitely fine to enter from England; I dunno about british english, but I suspect it's fine. Worse come to worse they could just edit it out. Check out Wulf Moon's super secret workshop, this was he doesn't have beast- er, I mean boast about it. He'll tell you all about how not to get your stories thrown into the garbage- I mean dustbin. : )

Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm ~ Winston Churchill
V37: R, R, R, HM
V38: SHM

 
Posted : May 20, 2020 12:34 pm
(@pumpkin_1617101149)
Posts: 28
Advanced Member
 

Welcome aboard Pumpkin! I'm new here as well, but you've come to the right place.

It is definitely fine to enter from England; I dunno about british english, but I suspect it's fine. Worse come to worse they could just edit it out. Check out Wulf Moon's super secret workshop, this was he doesn't have beast- er, I mean boast about it. He'll tell you all about how not to get your stories thrown into the garbage- I mean dustbin. : )

Excellent! Thank you very much wotf019

Q3 V37: submitted after some time of staring at an unchanged word doc

 
Posted : May 20, 2020 11:34 pm
 TimE
(@time)
Posts: 403
Silver Star Member
 

Hello!

I just have two small questions. I live in England, is that still okay to enter the competition? And would WoFT prefer submissions in American English (e.g. color not colour) instead of the British versions?

Cheers!

Hey up,
I enter in Brenglish. No problem there. Oooh - but then I haven't won yet...

Good luck.

?

 
Posted : May 20, 2020 11:47 pm
chuckt
(@chuckt)
Posts: 431
Silver Member
 

Welcome Jenny, Becca, Tony, Adeline, and Pumpkin. Glad to have you onboard.

Chuck Thompson
6 Rs, 5 HMs, 2 SHMs

 
Posted : May 21, 2020 1:50 am
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

Welcome Jenny, Becca, Tony, Adeline, and Pumpkin. Glad to have you onboard.

A hearty welcome to all of you, climb aboard the train of sharing knowledge of how to be a better writer. wotf010

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : May 21, 2020 7:11 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Welcome aboard, Pumpkin!

I've always been in the camp that until you've mastered the short story, you cannot master the novel. As Orson Scott Card says, a novel is just a series of short stories tied together. Win this contest, and you'll have the skills in place to write a successful novel, as so many winners have gone on to prove. Martin Shoemaker being the most recent example of this.

Don't forget to post to the quarter topic you plan to enter, and do take advantage of the critique swap topic. Lots of sharpshooters in here, that can help you level up!

Enjoy!

Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : May 21, 2020 7:33 am
(@pumpkin_1617101149)
Posts: 28
Advanced Member
 

Hey up,
I enter in Brenglish. No problem there. Oooh - but then I haven't won yet...

Good luck.

Thank you! I hope you don’t mind me stealing the term Brenglish for myself wotf001

And good luck to you too! Maybe Q3 is your quarter!

Q3 V37: submitted after some time of staring at an unchanged word doc

 
Posted : May 21, 2020 8:26 am
(@pumpkin_1617101149)
Posts: 28
Advanced Member
 

Welcome Jenny, Becca, Tony, Adeline, and Pumpkin. Glad to have you onboard.

A hearty welcome to all of you, climb aboard the train of sharing knowledge of how to be a better writer. wotf010

Thank you! Happy to be here woo

Q3 V37: submitted after some time of staring at an unchanged word doc

 
Posted : May 21, 2020 8:27 am
(@pumpkin_1617101149)
Posts: 28
Advanced Member
 

Welcome aboard, Pumpkin!

I've always been in the camp that until you've mastered the short story, you cannot master the novel. As Orson Scott Card says, a novel is just a series of short stories tied together. Win this contest, and you'll have the skills in place to write a successful novel, as so many winners have gone on to prove. Martin Shoemaker being the most recent example of this.

Don't forget to post to the quarter topic you plan to enter, and do take advantage of the critique swap topic. Lots of sharpshooters in here, that can help you level up!

Enjoy!

Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator

Thank you very much! I think you are definitely right on the novel part. I will do my best, and maybe one day I will get close to winning wotf001

Q3 V37: submitted after some time of staring at an unchanged word doc

 
Posted : May 21, 2020 8:37 am
Shockhawk
(@shockhawk)
Posts: 42
Bronze Member
 

Greetings Writers -

I'm a newer writer (about 1 year old) and have been looking for a good group to help support my writing goals.

Recently I decided to research some of my favorite authors to see how they got there big break and guess how? That's right!! WOTF.... so what did I do? I bought 8 issues and started to read non-stop. Very soon after I decided I was going to write a piece ever quarter until I placed/won. My first entry was last quarter (2nd Quarter) and I am currently 3,000 words into my 3rd quarter piece.

While I felt awesome having a goal and direction I also found out that I needed a support structure and the current sites and groups that I was part of didn't really line up well... they were very casual and most people didn't post stories longer than 1000 words and if you did you didn't get very many comments or support (as I said casual). Then it dawned on me; why don't I google a writers of the future group and guess where that led me? That's right again... its like you guys are mind readers.

Anyways I'm so excited I found this site and cant wait to meet all of you!! Extroverts please line up on the right for high fives and lots of chit-chat... Introverts please line up on the left for a stiff handshake and silent head nod.

Shockhawk

Now! This is it! Now is the time to choose! Die and be free of pain, or live and fight your sorrow! Now is the time to shape your stories! Your fate is in your hands! - Auron FFX
Vol 37 - X, R, R, R
Vol 38 - HM, X, X, X
Vol 39 - HM, HM, X, X
Vol 40 - X, X, HM, R
Vol 41 - R, WIP,

 
Posted : May 21, 2020 9:30 am
(@pumpkin_1617101149)
Posts: 28
Advanced Member
 

Shockhawk

Nods at you in silence, also a thumbs up for luck

Q3 V37: submitted after some time of staring at an unchanged word doc

 
Posted : May 21, 2020 10:33 am
Retropianoplayer
(@retropianoplayer)
Posts: 233
Bronze Star Member
 

Hello Pumpkin,

I don't know the answer to your question about British English v. American English.

But I DO KNOW there's a reference book you could consult (with the assumption it's still in print). I've used it because one of the main characters in my SF novel is British. It's pamphlet sized. Its name is THE U.K. TO U.S.A. DICTIONARY - BRITISH ENGLISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH. It's written by Claudine Dervaes and John Hunter, Copywright 2005, from Solitaire Publishing Inc., 1090 South Chateau Point, Inverness, Florida 34450-3565, ISBN 0-933143-49-4.

Cheers,

Retro

 
Posted : May 21, 2020 11:14 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Welcome aboard, Shockhawk!

Smart work, tracking us down. Winners happen here!

You're actually on the goal I set for myself to win this contest. I talk about it in the linked video. I hope it reinforces your desire to stay on the path! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCRTi_YDyMs

If you'd like to refresh yourself on the many benefits of the Forum, please do read my latest blog about the Forum at writersofthefuture.com. Don't forget to post your goals in the quarter you are entering, and we hope you'll benefit from the critique swap section. Lots of other interesting topics as well, and everyone here has similar goals, so you'll find lots of good companionship.

Enjoy!

Wulf Moon
Forum Moderator

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : May 21, 2020 11:55 am
(@reuben)
Posts: 201
Silver Member
 

Welcome Shockhawk, and all the others  fistinair   (High five) Glad to have you here.

Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm ~ Winston Churchill
V37: R, R, R, HM
V38: SHM

 
Posted : May 22, 2020 1:52 am
Shockhawk
(@shockhawk)
Posts: 42
Bronze Member
 

Thanks for the warm welcome guys/gals!! Look forward to each and every moment here.

Now! This is it! Now is the time to choose! Die and be free of pain, or live and fight your sorrow! Now is the time to shape your stories! Your fate is in your hands! - Auron FFX
Vol 37 - X, R, R, R
Vol 38 - HM, X, X, X
Vol 39 - HM, HM, X, X
Vol 40 - X, X, HM, R
Vol 41 - R, WIP,

 
Posted : May 22, 2020 12:49 pm
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