Discussion: Q2 Volume 38

I already have the story written. One I tried already but it probably needs a critique or ten. Maybe I can improve on it.

I just today finished my revisions for my Q2 entry. It's not a new story, but it is new to the contest, and I've made some extensive changes to the story before preparing to submit it. I'm giving some serious consideration to submitting it as soon as the window for Q2 is open, to buy some time to work on some more challenging ideas that I have for Q3.

I honestly have a glut of stories I want to sub to WotF; unless I get surprised by a sale, I already have the rest of my submissions year planned out.

I probably won't be writing fresh shorts next year unless one grabs me by the lapels and mugs me in an alley. I've got other writing and artistic projects to work on for the first few months of the year, and once those are set I'm going to focus my writing efforts on finishing the novel that keeps screaming my name. (I've got half a rough draft in screenplay format! Just need to get to the point where I can finish it up and convert it to prose.)

I honestly have a glut of stories I want to sub to WotF; unless I get surprised by a sale, I already have the rest of my submissions year planned out.

I probably won't be writing fresh shorts next year unless one grabs me by the lapels and mugs me in an alley. I've got other writing and artistic projects to work on for the first few months of the year, and once those are set I'm going to focus my writing efforts on finishing the novel that keeps screaming my name. (I've got half a rough draft in screenplay format! Just need to get to the point where I can finish it up and convert it to prose.)

Great for you! I really envy you for being able to write "a glut of stories" that are eligible for wotf!! Good luck on finding all of them a home!

Honestly, writing short stories is very difficult for me, since I have more experience with writing novels, and writing novels is just so different from writing short stories! I tend to make my short stories a bit (or maybe more than a bit) redundant because I did that while writing novels. I guess that’s a huge no-no in short stories, and I’m trying to fix that bad habit of mine.

And wow, I'm not the only one who writes drafts in screenplay mode and then converts it to prose? For some reason, that makes me feel kind of relieved!

And wow, I'm not the only one who writes drafts in screenplay mode and then converts it to prose? For some reason, that makes me feel kind of relieved!

Not the only one at all. I don't do it with every story, but it really helps me gain momentum if I'm getting stuck on details (which is especially a risk for me on larger projects).

And wow, I'm not the only one who writes drafts in screenplay mode and then converts it to prose? For some reason, that makes me feel kind of relieved!

Not the only one at all. I don't do it with every story, but it really helps me gain momentum if I'm getting stuck on details (which is especially a risk for me on larger projects).

Totally agree. Screenplay format is much easier and quicker to write
And the part about gaining momentum, I can definitely relate to that

And I'm in for Q2--probably the earliest entry I've put in, but I wanted to tie this off this month to ease the pressure on myself a little bit.

And I'm in for Q2--probably the earliest entry I've put in, but I wanted to tie this off this month to ease the pressure on myself a little bit.

Good job! I've got a few potential options to send in, but I'm waiting to see if I get one of them back from another market in February before I make my final decision.

I have an idea I'm excited about. I've spent more time plotting than normal - now got to reel it back in to s/s length!

And I'm in for Q2--probably the earliest entry I've put in, but I wanted to tie this off this month to ease the pressure on myself a little bit.

Totally jealous.

I am about to hit my slow time of year for work, so I should be able to focus in and write - and crit in Feb.
But nowhere near done, let alone submitting...

I have no idea what I'm sending for Q2 yet. I'll wait until March and see what's available that Dave hasn't seen.

Wow. Sending early good idea? Why not spend 2+ months on another piece, then submit the best? Although this does give 5+ months for the next one, but a pro shouldn't need that. If your flat out elsewhere in life I get it.

I've got this month's story written, now onto major first editing, chiasmus-fun. It may go over a month, but should be close enough to allow me three stories to choose from by the due date.

Yeah, down-time is at something of a premium right now. I generally do wait until the deadline, even if only to do further reads and revisions, but this buys me a little mental peace that I need at the moment.

Sending early can be a good idea if only because the judges will be fresher when they read it, but you want to make sure your story is in tip-top shape, of course. I'm fortunate in that I actually managed to write extra stories for a few months during the summer last year, and I have some older stories I've revised enough to consider resubbing. (I'm especially glad to have a backlog of stories built up because I've had to focus almost all of my attention on the twins and self-care over the last couple months. I haven't had time or energy to write since the end of November, although I have been listening to Brandon Sanderson's lectures online and doing other writing-adjacent things.)

And I'm in for Q2--probably the earliest entry I've put in, but I wanted to tie this off this month to ease the pressure on myself a little bit.

*buries head under pillow, turns over and goes back to sleep.* I haven't started thinking about my q2 yet, although I'm writing new. I need to finish three stories that are in various states of completion first, and revise a fourth. If things go well, maybe next week...

Sending early can be a good idea if only because the judges will be fresher when they read it, but you want to make sure your story is in tip-top shape, of course.

You sure about that? I heard that Joni sends all the entries at the end of the quarter; right now Kary's judging q1. Not that submitting early isn't a good idea, though--it forces you to stop thinking and overthinking the story and focus on the next one. Ideally it might be better to keep it till the end, but what ends up happening often is that you could just get hung up on fixing the story you've already written that you push off writing the new one. (Which, incidentally, is what happened to me this past quarter, and I'm paying for it now.)

Sending early can be a good idea if only because the judges will be fresher when they read it, but you want to make sure your story is in tip-top shape, of course.

You sure about that? I heard that Joni sends all the entries at the end of the quarter; right now Kary's judging q1. Not that submitting early isn't a good idea, though--it forces you to stop thinking and overthinking the story and focus on the next one. Ideally it might be better to keep it till the end, but what ends up happening often is that you could just get hung up on fixing the story you've already written that you push off writing the new one. (Which, incidentally, is what happened to me this past quarter, and I'm paying for it now.)

I mean, I can't be sure, but it's an educated guess. It makes sense to me that submissions would be read in the order they're received. (I can't guarantee this is how it's done, but it seems to be the way most magazines operate.)

In the end, the most important thing is that you enter something you're happy with. I have a lot of stories saved up right now, and I like submitting early when I can because it takes that stress off my back. (The twins are two now, so I need all the stress removal I can get. )

(The twins are two now, so I need all the stress removal I can get. )

Terrible two's times two, how do you find the time to write?

(The twins are two now, so I need all the stress removal I can get. )

Terrible two's times two, how do you find the time to write?

I don't!

Actually, my husband watches the kids and lets me have quiet time for an hour or so after he gets off work. It's not enough for a deep dive, but it helps. Nap times have been very touch and go for awhile (they've gone down to one a day), but we shifted the boys' morning nap back to an afternoon nap last week and that seems to be working better (they're napping for two to two and a half hours again instead of one to one and a half hours). Just need to get it through my head that that's a safe creative time again and I'll be able to get more done.

"Terrible two's times two, how do you find the time to write?"

It's called television.

I'm trying to follow the "only half an hour of TV a day" rule, and they rarely sit still through a whole episode of Mr. Rogers anyway. I call the twins my little dragons for a reason--they're cute, but they definitely have a wild side. Things will get better once the weather warms up enough that they can play outside regularly again.

Doing some research for my next short. Please don't judge me, Google.

I read up on Mr Rogers recently.

Have you tried Bob Ross? The joy of painting? Worth a try. Everyone likes "happy little trees".

Bob Ross will come later, but it's on the list. XD

Things will get better once the weather warms up enough that they can play outside regularly again.

If you don't have one already, invest in a large trampoline (and get those long ground staples to keep it grounded in the wind) . It wears them out nicely - did for all five of mine.

I am in for Q2 v38 as of 01/17

Good job, Dragonchef!

I am pretty sure I've settled on what I'm sending in. I'm waiting on a crit, and then I'll probably sub just to get it off my mind.

I am pretty sure I've settled on what I'm sending in. I'm waiting on a crit, and then I'll probably sub just to get it off my mind.

You regularly offer for everyone. Can't imagine your short of critters, but I'll take a look if you want one more.

Things will get better once the weather warms up enough that they can play outside regularly again.

If you don't have one already, invest in a large trampoline (and get those long ground staples to keep it grounded in the wind) . It wears them out nicely - did for all five of mine.

I'll take that under consideration when they're a bit older. We have a little slide playscape outside at the moment, which works great when it's not cold out. I have no doubt we'll be slowly but surely expanding our outdoor toy repertoire in the coming years.

I am pretty sure I've settled on what I'm sending in. I'm waiting on a crit, and then I'll probably sub just to get it off my mind.

You regularly offer for everyone. Can't imagine your short of critters, but I'll take a look if you want one more.

Thanks! I might take you up on that for a final read.

Thanks! I might take you up on that for a final read.

Can't imagine I can help a lot, but it wouldn't take me long. Drop me a line if/when you do.

I recently bought V36 and I already owned 30-33. I had stopped purchasing them because the preponderance of contest pieces were sci-fi. I bought V36 because of the discussions on the board about studying what has been working. My quick take is that aside from urban fantasy, there is no fantasy in v36 from contestants (that's me scanning the first page or two to get setting and such). So is the lesson to write sci-fi? If I insist on fantasy I should write urban fantasy? Am I just an old fuddy-duddy wanting to write something with a top technological level being the same as around 1900? I've submitted sci-fi before (one of my two SMs) and I've submitted something I'd call speculative and gotten my other SM, but all of my fantasy peaks at HMs.