Discussion Q2 Volume 39

Posted by: @axeminister

Sadly, I haven't gone silent. Just hadn't checked in.

Best of luck to those who can't say anything - yet.

I await results via e-mail at this point.  

Sounds like there were a lot of top entries this quarter based on what Kary said... 

I wonder when those emails will be released. I'm both terrified and anxious to see mine...

I'm looking forward to seeing who the finalists are so we can cheer them on!    

@physa I am hoping email go out soon. I want to see how this story went since I tried something new.

Likewise! No calls here, alas, so fingers and toes pre-emptively crossing on behalf of any more successful forumites this quarter...

I miss being able to cheer on Finalists

No calls here either. 

Not gonna lie, and this goes to most of you cause I’m sure I’m outta the contest at this point, BUT they did say this was an extremely difficult quarter to judge. There’s a very big chance they’re still trying to finalize who is a finalist and gets the call. Considering emails haven’t seemed to have gone out yet, have hope.
They may be just trying to pick those finalists out of the many they wish they could pick.

And I know Jodi and Joni are extremely busy with conferences and other things too.

Yes, I'm waiting for the email as well. My goal was an HM because this is my first short story ever!  But, based on what everyone is saying maybe my hopes are too hight. 

Based on past announcements it looks like they are most likely going to send emails on weekday.

https://www.writersofthefuture.com/forum/the-contest-quarterly-topics-and-other-items/discussion-q3-volume-38/paged/20/#post-41982  

Posted by: @annmarieinlr

Yes, I'm waiting for the email as well. My goal was an HM because this is my first short story ever!  But, based on what everyone is saying maybe my hopes are too hight. 

Be positive. Let your awesomeness shine

Posted by: @annmarieinlr

Yes, I'm waiting for the email as well. My goal was an HM because this is my first short story ever!  But, based on what everyone is saying maybe my hopes are too hight. 

Don't self reject. 

And don't put yourself down, that's what other people are for  

Double post. Duh. 

Posted by: @craydimensional

Based on past announcements it looks like they are most likely going to send emails on weekday.

https://www.writersofthefuture.com/forum/the-contest-quarterly-topics-and-other-items/discussion-q3-volume-38/paged/20/#post-41982  

Up above somewhere between yesterday to Monday was mentioned by Kary. 

@pdblake yeah my wishful thought was to check on weekend, but I think you right and it will be Monday.

@craydimensional Happy New Year) I have just come back to the forum) I have an idea about creating the App for Android and Apple, it's comfortable to talk with each other and visit our forum more often) I am interested to talk with all our members, have the jokes, discuss our stories, to ask about any advices. I need a computer for visiting a forum. So, I am not often here, but I want to know more about the writers of the future. My pleasure for your opinion. 

@annmarieinlr The beauty of the HM is it's non-competitive.  They give out as many as they feel are deserving, so even if there are a lot of finalist-worthy stories out there stressing poor Jody out, that doesn't impact anyone's ability to earn an HM.

@chwalter HMs are beautiful things and receiving one is truly a mark of skill. Looks like you've accrued a few of them. Totally awesome. Congrats! HMs lead to finalist which leads to wins. It's all possible. Keep your positivity flowing. Good luck!

I'm kind of new to this, being a first time twitcher and all. Is the email the one to the blog post? Or is it a personal email stating what your result is? No call on my front, though.

Posted by: @writhmic

I'm kind of new to this, being a first time twitcher and all. Is the email the one to the blog post? Or is it a personal email stating what your result is? No call on my front, though.

They’ve had some technical issues over the past few quarters that messed things up, but what usually happens is that you will first get an email with your result (Congratulations, you earned XXX!) while they finish up the judging of the finalists. Then they post the blog with all of the results with another announcement email. That order of events has been a little flip flopped recently (like I said, technical issues) so who knows.

Posted by: @writhmic

I'm kind of new to this, being a first time twitcher and all. Is the email the one to the blog post? Or is it a personal email stating what your result is? No call on my front, though.

You will receive an email, at least for the SF, SHM, and HM categories (I don't have any experience with the other categories). The emails are form emails, unless, I'm guessing, you receive a RCW (rejected with comment). When I semifinaled, I received my feedback a few weeks later, not with the initial email.

Posted by: @wahlquistj

Posted by: @writhmic

I'm kind of new to this, being a first time twitcher and all. Is the email the one to the blog post? Or is it a personal email stating what your result is? No call on my front, though.

You will receive an email, at least for the SF, SHM, and HM categories (I don't have any experience with the other categories). The emails are form emails, unless, I'm guessing, you receive a RCW (rejected with comment). When I semifinaled, I received my feedback a few weeks later, not with the initial email.

For R's, the email will be worded "did not place".

For RWC's, the email will begin something like: "We appreciate your talent and hard work to produce this story. However, this one is not quite ready for us yet. Keep writing though, don’t give up. In order to help you, we’ve provided the list below of common reasons that a story needs some work.  Definitely consider revising it accordingly and entering it again."

Also, it is important to keep in mind this is a market, not a measuring stick for how good you are as a writer. People have been able to get R's published simply because it was a. a strong piece, but b. not the right market for WOTF.

If your piece is a DQ (disqualified), the most likely issue is you left your name on the file or in the story's header. But, Kary has also received some really weird submissions that were obviously not stories, but perhaps a grocery list or a transcript or some such. I know, right?

Anyway, welcome to our twitch fest. Hopefully everyone is remaining calm and are well supplied with blankets, snacks, and beverages while we wait...

Posted by: @chwalter

The beauty of the HM is it's non-competitive.  They give out as many as they feel are deserving, so even if there are a lot of finalist-worthy stories out there stressing poor Jody out, that doesn't impact anyone's ability to earn an HM.

It's been a while since I've submitted to the comp, so I'm pretty rusty on all the terminology. Are HMs and SHMs stories that were weeded our of the "finalist" pile?

Re: DQs

The most common reason by far is leaving your name on the manuscript.  😉

The second most common is submitting something we don't accept - screenplays, novels, poetry, essays, non-speculative stories, graphic novels, Amtrak tickets, pharmacy invoices, etc.

I am still trying to decide to do with last qtr RWC, but for now I am writing new. Waiting for email in 2QTR.

Matters of degree - sometimes the difference between DQ, R and HM is one of degree.

Example (using creative wording to avoid being indexed by nosy bots):

DQ: Your opening scene involves 12 curse words, heroin, and an anatomically unlikely encounter between a thirty year old teacher and a high school freshman.

R: Your opening scene features 6 curse words and two teenagers smoking pot outside the school.

HM: You've written an epic fantasy novelette worthy of Game of Thrones. The prose is amazing. There's a brothel scene just past the halfway point where there's a bishop who likes young boys. The scene isn't explicit, but there's aphrodisiac incense and it's right on the edge. You've got amazing skills my friend, but we can't print that.

Also under matters of degree.

DQ: You entered a well-written, cozy Amish romance with nothing speculative whatsoever.

HM: Your cozy Amish romance takes place on a spaceship, but nothing about being in space is integral or necessary for the story.

HM: You entered a story about a boy running errands on the docks of what might be a fantasy town. The diction feels like really good fantasy, but there's no magic at all in the story, none. (We think this might have been Ch.1 of a novel where the spec is revealed later, but for the contest, there *must be* a spec element in the story.)

Semi: You wrote a seriously amazing story about a talking marionette who appears during the worst moments of people's lives. You made us cry for half the story. In the reveal at the end, the marionette is operated by regular people, and isn't fantastical at all. We loved it. It was good enough to be a finalist, but it didn't have a speculative element. It *felt* speculative, but it wasn't. Please send us something with an actual speculative element because you could totally win this if you did.

@karyenglish Thanks for clarification.

[takes a stroll through the blanket fort]

[grabs a cup of hot chocolate]

[the marshmallows tickle my nose as I take a sip]

[notices that most people are focused on new emails]

[however a few are glued next to the phone, are their smiles wider than normal?]

[hoping the gag order is removed soon so we can cheer them on]

[reads Kary's post clarifying the nuances of R vs HM vs Semifinalist entries]

[eyes widen as I wonder whether my story had enough speculative elements]

[wow! the bar for speculative elements is extremely high]

[takes another sip of hot chocolate to calm my nerves]

[vows to put speculative elements all throughout my Q4 entry]

[and make sure there are no non-speculative reasons behind my Q4 story revealed later for said speculative elements]

Posted by: @karyenglish

Matters of degree - sometimes the difference between DQ, R and HM is one of degree.

Kary, I love your creative examples. Made me smile, thanks.

@wahlquistj I have a question about the semi-finalist. Does Joni call you along with the finalists? It seems like she would, but I wondered. And congratulations on that!

@physa Yeah, I know what you mean. I tried referring to magic throughout, but there wasn't any blatant magic until about halfway through. That might have stabbed me in the foot. With a magically enhanced blade, of course.  

@karyenglish 

Thanks, Kary! I love your amazing, practical examples.