Discussion Q2 Volume 39

Posted by: @toddjones

@lambenttyto @ben-t-j-martin Getting rejected isn't fun, but don't let it get you down. And don't let it stop you from writing. Write, write, write. The more you write and practice the suggestions from this forum the better your stories will be. This contest, and the people I've met through the forum, have been instrumental in helping me develop my writing skills.

Bah! I don't do critique groups and all that, and I've never read a volume of WotF (though I probably should), I just write what I write and submit. I love novelettes, so I just submit when I have one. No one understands my genius!!! Haha, just kidding.

Posted by: @ben-t-j-martin

@jeschleicher how did you learn who judged your story?

@ben-t-j-martin I first submitted this story to WotF when Dave Farland was the coordinating judge, & it earned a SHM. Jody Lynn Nye is now the coordinating judge. She gave it an HM. 

@jeschleicher aaaaaaaah, I see. 

Here are the 2nd Quarter 2022 Illustrators of the Future Contest winners for Volume 39. Congratulations to you all!

https://writersofthefuture.com/writers-of-the-future-2nd-quarter-winners-announced-for-volume-39/

Congrats to winners (like you @lost_bard!), finalists, semi-finalists (two first timers to the contest? Fantastic!!), SHM'ers and HM'ers - and to all who submitted.

SHM for me. Satisfied, but now wondering where to sell a 12,000+ word sci-fi 'aliens come to Earth' story. Any ideas?

Also, someone in the thread previously mentioned that WotF doesn't take flash. They do, but it might be difficult to win with a flash story. One of mine (about 950 words) did get an HM some quarters back. Here are two online markets for flash sci-fi: Daily Science Fiction magazine and Flash Fiction Online magazine. 

And to person who got an R and who feels WotF is wrong market for his work, that certainly is possible. One of my WotF R's sold to a "professional" sci fi publication (8 cents a word) and is scheduled to be published sometime in Sept/Oct. So, you never know....Just keep writing!! 

Posted by: @elainemidcoh

. . . but now wondering where to sell a 12,000+ word sci-fi 'aliens come to Earth' story. Any ideas?

 

    

Go here and enter your desired filters (ie: word count)
https://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/Search/ByFilter

SHM. My first entry, and honestly, my first piece of speculative fiction (I usually plow the realism field).

May I ask a question? I entered before I read some posts above discussing profanity. There were two F-bombs in the first scene (contextually appropriate), and one brief sex scene (essential to the plot). Would these have been disqualifying for placing higher? I am not averse to making some minor textual changes, but I think the characters and narrative arc of the story just right. Curious if it is worth adjusting and resubmitting, or if this is just not the right market for the story. Thanks!

Counts:

SHM - 109

HM - 294

F - 5

SF - 9

@ceciblack not Q3. But possibly Q4! Not sure if I’m allowed to revise and resubmit. Or if I should just submit something else. 

Posted by: @alandian

May I ask a question? I entered before I read some posts above discussing profanity. There were two F-bombs in the first scene (contextually appropriate), and one brief sex scene (essential to the plot). Would these have been disqualifying for placing higher? I am not averse to making some minor textual changes, but I think the characters and narrative arc of the story just right. Curious if it is worth adjusting and resubmitting, or if this is just not the right market for the story. Thanks!

It's possible, but I doubt it. There have been winning stories with worse scenes. The winners were given the chance to edit to fit the target.

I personally support your choice not to change essential elements of the story, and you're the one who decides what's essential. Believe in your story, and find the market for it. Write different stories for different markets.

@lusine - If it's not a Finalist or Semi-Finalist which get a personal review (and therefore DQd from future submission to the contest), then you can resubmit to your heart's content.

Posted by: @lost_bard

<Reads Kary's post that finalist calls are going out>

<Writes a funny little post about burning marshmallows while twitching>

<Giggles to self>

<At the EXACT moment of hitting 'add reply,' phone rings>

<Hollywood, CA>

<OMG-OMG-OMG>

...

<Twitches through ten days of enforced silence>

<Phone rings>

<Hollywood, CA>

<OMG-OMG-OMG>

...

I am pleased to announce that I am no longer eligible to submit to Writers of the Future.

3rd Place, Volume 39, 2nd Quarter

Congratulations! See you in April!

@dragonchef thank you! Good to know!

Another HM for me. Congratulations to everyone who entered, and especially to our finalists!

@dragonchef Wow - thank you!!

SHM number five.

Congratulations to the winners. 

Trajectory: (V37 - DNP, DNP, F, HM); (V38 - DNP, SHM, SHM, HM); (V39 - SHM, SHM, TBD

Have fun

Another HM for me. 

I'm a little confused. "Did not place." What does that even mean?

Posted by: @lambenttyto

I'm a little confused. "Did not place." What does that even mean?

Possibly Joni's kind way of saying, "Rejected."

@alandian First, congratulations on the SHM. Regarding the question about content, I think for the WotF submissions it's good to lean toward PG13 as much a possible, even if R-rated content is justifiable for the story.

Here's a metric that might help: "Can the story be placed in a middle school classroom library without parents calling to complain?" Still interpretive, but it's a place to start. I have heard behind the scenes commentary that a couple of SFs in years past were not named as finalists or winners because some aspect was too extreme or potentially offensive to be marketed to teachers.

That's my perspective, but I'll admit, as a teacher, I'm biased.

Posted by: @martin-l-shoemaker

Posted by: @lost_bard

I am pleased to announce that I am no longer eligible to submit to Writers of the Future.

3rd Place, Volume 39, 2nd Quarter

Congratulations! See you in April!

Thanks! Looking forward to meeting you!

Posted by: @alandian

SHM. My first entry, and honestly, my first piece of speculative fiction (I usually plow the realism field).

 

May I ask a question? I entered before I read some posts above discussing profanity. There were two F-bombs in the first scene (contextually appropriate), and one brief sex scene (essential to the plot). Would these have been disqualifying for placing higher? I am not averse to making some minor textual changes, but I think the characters and narrative arc of the story just right. Curious if it is worth adjusting and resubmitting, or if this is just not the right market for the story. Thanks!

Yes, it's possible that your story wasn't considered as a finalist due to the sex scene and / or the profanity.

John Goodwin, head of Galaxy Press, has said that he will not print the f-bomb, full stop. We won't reject you for using it, especially if the use is sparing and judicious. That said, we've had a problem before where a winner refused to remove the f-bomb during editing, so now you flat-out can't win if you insist on having the f-word in your story.

We also won't print explicit sex. Fade to black is fine. Some sensuality is fine, but no sex on the page.

The good news is that getting Silver with f-bombs and sex in the ms. means you wrote a f-ing amazing story.  😉 I can't guarantee you would have placed higher without them, but it's possible.

When we look at an amazing story with f-bombs in it, we ask ourselves what we'd do if the author refuses to take them out...  and then we look at the pile of 20-odd equally amazing stories that *don't* have f-bombs in them.

I flat-out haven't won without having the f-bomb in my story. Maybe I should try it...

....

..

Kidding!

Thanks very much for the responses. While I've read a couple recent WotF volumes, I wasn't really paying much attention to whether or not there were f-bombs or sex scenes. New to this, as I said, and this is very helpful. Thanks again.

@ceciblack Congratulations!

Posted by: @physa

[dances around the tent]

[party confetti and streamers everywhere]

[huge cake, huge congrats, and lots of pats on the back for the finalists]

[Well done Brandon and David!!!]

[and well done to all who placed!]

[everyone looks like they could use some sleep]

[thank goodness it's way too early to twitch for Q3]

[I don't think my little heart could take it]

[So happy for David and his win and his upcoming trip to Hollywood!!!]

 

Thanks for the confetti and streamers! Ooooh, and cake! Congrats on your HM!

<realizes that almost every sentence today has exclamation points>

<doesn't care! it's time to party!>

Posted by: @lost_bard

<Phone rings>

<Hollywood, CA>

<OMG-OMG-OMG>

Congratulations on your "One Giant Goosebump" moment

Looking forward to reading the story

Posted by: @mikejackstoumbos

Posted by: @lost_bard

<Phone rings>

<Hollywood, CA>

<OMG-OMG-OMG>

Congratulations on your "One Giant Goosebump" moment

Looking forward to reading the story

Yeah, I was actually thinking about your comments about saying that you were 'One Giant Goosebump' while I was talking to Joni. Didn't say anything crazy (I don't think), but I did realize a few times that I was completely rambling and then abruptly stopped talking. Which may have been worse than the rambling . 

Congratulations to all who placed! 

Another HM for me; I'm seeing a definite pattern. ? Now I'm just tempted to rework and resubmit my story that got the R just so I can make my signature a fully matched set!

Congrats to the winners and all who placed. Let's keep our fingers on the keys!