Discussion: Q2 Volume 37

For the record: yes, Joni will leave you a voicemail if you miss her. I was out walking my dog when she called me. (Yes, I kept the voicemail.)

For the record: yes, Joni will leave you a voicemail if you miss her. I was out walking my dog when she called me. (Yes, I kept the voicemail.)

Heh. Leah has the distinction of one of the most unusual calls of all time.

Q2 was my first time entering the contest so I'm enjoying the veterans of the contests insights! I actually like my story for Q3 better than Q2, so don't have expectations of winning this quarter, but I'm twitching anyway.

My Q4 story is a combination of historical fiction with fantasy so I'm mostly reading, researching and taking notes this month. I plan to dive into the outlining and writing in August. This is the fun part for me!

I love historical fantasy (both my Q2 & Q3 entries), so if you need a critique in future, lmk. Good luck and may all the unknown area code calls NOT be political polls.

I just read an official media release from Google Inc:

“To the contestants of the Writers of the Future Contest, please stop refreshing your email. You’re slowing the internet across the world. (Sundar Pichai, Googel CEO)”

Can anyone explain the published finalist thing? I'm there to read the stories, not the bios, but I do usually read the bios and I don't recall anything about a finalist's story...

Can anyone explain the published finalist thing? I'm there to read the stories, not the bios, but I do usually read the bios and I don't recall anything about a finalist's story...

My understanding is that, sometimes, they will choose to include stories from Finalists who did not win 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, as additional stories in the volume. In these cases, I believe the Finalist is paid (it is a paid sale) but not considered a contest winner (yet!). KD Julicher could clarify if I'm off on anything!

I was going to say “I guess it won’t be today, then”, but I guess it’s not 10.35pm there like it is here. Will try and get some sleep... good luck everyone for today or whenever we get results.

The acronym for Every Day Is Thursday is EDIT.

Maybe it's a higher truth, telling us to stop twitching and get back to work 😉

Best of luck to all. Results should be soon, I think.

LOVED this! Thanks R! And just gotta say, I finished my Q4 draft today. Four days ago, I feared I'd have to revise an old ms because the well done dried up. LOL Whoever told me to research, I owe you a drink, should we ever meet. (If the story wins, I'll buy you a whole darn meal. LOL)

Can anyone explain the published finalist thing? I'm there to read the stories, not the bios, but I do usually read the bios and I don't recall anything about a finalist's story...

My understanding is that, sometimes, they will choose to include stories from Finalists who did not win 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, as additional stories in the volume. In these cases, I believe the Finalist is paid (it is a paid sale) but not considered a contest winner (yet!). KD Julicher could clarify if I'm off on anything!

Thanks, CCrawford! That would be a sweet deal, too.

Q2 was my first time entering the contest so I'm enjoying the veterans of the contests insights! I actually like my story for Q3 better than Q2, so don't have expectations of winning this quarter, but I'm twitching anyway.

My Q4 story is a combination of historical fiction with fantasy so I'm mostly reading, researching and taking notes this month. I plan to dive into the outlining and writing in August. This is the fun part for me!

I love historical fantasy (both my Q2 & Q3 entries), so if you need a critique in future, lmk. Good luck and may all the unknown area code calls NOT be political polls.

Thanks Empressed! I will definitely take you up on that once I have something ready to be read! (Glad to return the favor as well)

Can anyone explain the published finalist thing? I'm there to read the stories, not the bios, but I do usually read the bios and I don't recall anything about a finalist's story...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7988
Is a good thread.
Basically if the volume is thin or unbalanced, like 11 sci-fi and 1 fantasy, they may buy another fantasy or two from a finalist. Then, having bought the story to be included in the volume, the author is also invited to the workshop!

That was an excellent thread and answered all my questions. Thanks for providing it. 😀

Get thee to a Twitchery!

Ha! But don't forget what Hamlet says just before that...

To know, or not to know, that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous rejection,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die—to sleep,
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to: ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep.
To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there’s the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of rejection,
The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,
The pangs of dispriz’d love, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin?

For me, I don't have such high hopes for Q2, so, really, I'm fine with wait.

Get thee to a Twitchery!

Ha! But don't forget what Hamlet says just before that...

To know, or not to know, that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous rejection,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die—to sleep,
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to: ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep.
To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there’s the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,
The pangs of dispriz’d love, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin?

For me, I don't have such high hopes for Q2, so, really, I'm fine with wait.

Bravo!

So it wasn’t Thursday after all

So it wasn’t Thursday after all

Not this past Thursday, anyway. Unless, of course, those who are/were to get phone calls got theirs yesterday, and the rest of us are in the wings.

I’ve been emailing Joni due to some issues with the email I submitted under, and she let me know this morning that it will more likely be sometime mid-late next week. So maybe next Thursday!

So it wasn’t Thursday after all

Not this past Thursday, anyway. Unless, of course, those who are/were to get phone calls got theirs yesterday, and the rest of us are in the wings.

Yes I did wonder that too.

I’ve been emailing Joni due to some issues with the email I submitted under, and she let me know this morning that it will more likely be sometime mid-late next week. So maybe next Thursday!

Aha! Bit of a shame as if not successful there was somewhere else I wanted to submit my story and it closes on 15th July. Ah well. These things happen.

Yes I did wonder that too.

It is awfully quiet out there today. Gag order?

I’ve been emailing Joni due to some issues with the email I submitted under, and she let me know this morning that it will more likely be sometime mid-late next week. So maybe next Thursday!

On one side this is fantastic news, there is still a chance to win. On the other side, we are still stuck in limbo!

Yes I did wonder that too.

It is awfully quiet out there today. Gag order?

<pops open his umbrella as the bomber rumbles past and the sound of whistling ordnance rains from the sky>

INCOMING!

I’ve been emailing Joni due to some issues with the email I submitted under, and she let me know this morning that it will more likely be sometime mid-late next week. So maybe next Thursday!

Okay, good to know--

<pops open his umbrella as the bomber rumbles past and the sound of whistling ordnance rains from the sky>

INCOMING!

Oh Jeebus.

<pops open his umbrella as the bomber rumbles past and the sound of whistling ordnance rains from the sky>

INCOMING!

Ha ha ha.

<pops open his umbrella as the bomber rumbles past and the sound of whistling ordnance rains from the sky>
INCOMING!

Well my twitch-o-meter just broke the needle.

Woodstock Writer, I read your post. I don't see why your two choices have to be mutually exclusive. Why couldn't you submit the story you wish to your respectable market before the date closes on July 15th, as you said? If you succeed and win WOTF, you could simply notify the publisher, or drop an e-mail, to them stating you wish to withdraw your manuscript for their consideration. If the story you submitted to WOTF doesn't place, then, at the least, you've submitted it to said respectable market.

Again, it's your choice. I don't see it as a dilemma.

It's just the way my mind works, lol.

Best,

Retro

Many markets don't allow simultaneous submissions.

That's a good point, R Schibler!

I would research the respectable market first, before I gave up the opportunity. Any opportunity.

Best,

Retro

Thanks both, it does allow simultaneous submissions and I did think of that. But I’ve only submitted there once before and they got back to me within days. Although it was a rejection, so I guess an acceptance would probably take longer! It’s just that I’d much prefer to get somewhere with WotF. It’s really unlikely, I know, that they’d get back to me with a positive response before WotF, who would have placed me high and I’d have then lost the chance with them. But even a minuscule chance would play on my mind. I think I’ll just wait until they open up again.