Discussion: Q2 Volume 38

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.

While it’s good to observe these things, write what you love to write. Your heart goes into what you love to write, and judges, editors, and readers will notice.

That said, this is Writers of the Future. There’s a goodly number of famous SF judges. Since they write what *they* love, it’s fairly obvious they tend to pick stories from the genre they love when judging. It’s worth a thought.

And then go back to writing something so brilliant, no one can ignore or hold their personal bias against its power.

Carry on.

The majority of the non-winning finalists I've read over the years have been fantasy.

I agree with Wulf: write what you love, or what inspires this quarter, and then on to the next quarter.

I recently bought V36 and I already owned 30-33. I had stopped purchasing them because the preponderance of contest pieces were sci-fi. 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)

I have to argue with you there. I've noticed an inclination toward sci-fi, but I think usually at least a third are fantasy, and sometimes more than half. Of the one's you mentioned, I'm most familiar with vol. 33. Looking at it, I see at least half are fantasy. Of those, around half could be called urban fantasy. Okay, I'm not genre expert, so I haven't the faintest idea which is which. but I'm pretty sure The Glowing Heart, and The Fox, The Wolf And The Dove aren't urban fantasy. I haven't read 36, but in thirty-five there are seven fantasy, at least two of which aren't urban at all, I think.

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, too, write mostly fantasy. I think both sides have merit, though. As important as it is to write what you're passionate about, it's also important to break out of your comfort zone. Nothing to do with the WotF. So I think it's a good idea to write both, but only submit the one you like best.

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.

I don't think you should let this discourage you. It could just be luck. But, pure armchair theorizing here: Perhaps what's holding you back is a tendency for infodumps, or perhaps it's that your infodumps aren't crystal clear. In either case, such things are more acceptable in sci-fi than fantasy. So maybe you aren't explaining your magic systems perfectly or your science systems, but science fiction isn't supposed to be totally comprehensible, whereas good fantasy should be.

That's my theory of the day. Who knows, maybe it's true?

I've been listening carefully to interviews where Dave Farland discusses the anthology and he's consistently said he tries to balance the stories between fantasy and science fiction stories. Fantasy does get through so don't hesitate to send it in. To confirm what Dustin said about non-winning finalists, mine was a medieval fantasy.

So that's what I know; here's my guessing. As a collection of mixed speculative fiction, this anthology wants fiction where the speculative idea is the engine of the story, very intimately tied to the emotional response and the theme. (Forgive this horrendous generalization) I think science fiction and slipstream short stories are usually constructed this way, growing around the speculative idea. The best examples in v36 are Catching my Death, Yellow and Pink, and Foundations. Traditional fantasy stories, especially from new writers, are more likely to tell a story that's not clearly thematically about new speculative elements because we're picking up the legacy of a genre that has often used those speculative elements to paint morality tales larger than life. And those fantasy stories are great, but less likely to hit this market. (And of course you can do both, like Matt Dovey's winner winner chicken dinner Squalor and Sympathy.)

Generalization and speculation, but it's what I'm aiming for myself.

So that's what I know; here's my guessing. As a collection of mixed speculative fiction, this anthology wants fiction where the speculative idea is the engine of the story, very intimately tied to the emotional response and the theme. (Forgive this horrendous generalization) I think science fiction and slipstream short stories are usually constructed this way, growing around the speculative idea. The best examples in v36 are Catching my Death, Yellow and Pink, and Foundations.

This is very helpful insight GlibWizard!! My 2nd Quarter story in progress is sci fi and you described it beautifully.

Vol. 36: 3rd -- R, 4th -- R
Vol. 37: 1st -- R, 2nd -- HM, 3rd -- HM, 4th -- SHM
Vol. 38: 1st -- HM, 2nd -- HM, 3rd -- HM, 4th -- HM
Vol. 39: 1st -- SHM, 2nd -- RWC, 3rd -- RWC, 4th -- HM
Vol. 40: 1st -- HM, 2nd -- R, 3rd -- RWC, 4th -- R
Vol. 41: 1st - R, 2nd -- pending, 3rd -- WIP

"Never give up! Never surrender!" -- Galaxy Quest

 

From what I understand, Dave generally chooses one story from each genre as finalists. In my first SF critique he said he had three great "space" stories and had to choose one from the three.

Fantasy is pretty broad, so there's probably one classic sword/magic story as a finalist, but then others that skirt genre can get in. This is where we see stories that are a challenge to instantly label. Some are mentioned above. The Pushbike Legion comes to mind for me.

From what I understand, Dave generally chooses one story from each genre as finalists. In my first SF critique he said he had three great "space" stories and had to choose one from the three.

Fantasy is pretty broad, so there's probably one classic sword/magic story as a finalist, but then others that skirt genre can get in. This is where we see stories that are a challenge to instantly label. Some are mentioned above. The Pushbike Legion comes to mind for me.

I loved Pushbike Legion, and was shocked it only made published finalist. But that’s the great thing about PFs. It allows Dave to bring back in stories he believes should have passed the four independent judges’ cut. It also gives him the power to balance out the anthology a little more. Happy to see more PFs this year. I know some that get in this way feel inferior to the winners. They should not. This is Dave saying he believes this story is just as good as the others.

Cheers!

... I know some that get in this way feel inferior to the winners. They should not. This is Dave saying he believes this story is just as good as the others.

Cheers!

To take this a step further, I've read several SF crits where Dave comes right out and says "this is a finalist, but I didn't have room."
A few years ago, when a finalist was removed, a SF took its place - then won.
The top 8-16 stories are all about equal and could win. Maybe even beyond 16...

I try to improve my chances and go for the laser and sorcery subgenre

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.

It's harder to win with fantasy. Possibly less hard than in the past, due to certain judges passing on and others being added. I took 6 tries to make it from finalist to winner with fantasy and some of those entries were, I think, as good as the eventual winners. But it *is* possible to win with fantasy. My v37 Q1 3rd place winner (mouthful there!) is traditional fantasy.

Write what you love. Make it amazing. What the judges do is out of your hands.

Actually a non winner may even be the best story, going by comments above, but it may not fit the needs of the current volume). You also don't have to give a speech, jet jabs, buy insurance you shouldn't need, crash and burn in a plane, so on.
.

Just so everyone knows, published finalists get invited to the workshop, presented a trophy at the gala, and are paid pro rates for their stories. It is in every way like being a winner except for the title and the prize money, and it is definitely NOT second class citizenship at WOTF! Being Published Finalist was an incredible experience and I'm so glad we have two this year to join our big party in LA!

I've spent the last few days hacking and slashing something into a story I'm happy with.

I am now in

NNINN (No News Is No News) and EDIT (Every Day Is Thursday). Given the Covid disruptions, there's really no telling.

The email I received after submitting said 3 months for q2 results. I make that around June. So q1 maybe March?

The email I received after submitting said 3 months for q2 results. I make that around June. So q1 maybe March?

Every plan is perfect until you meet the enemy in battle.

The email I received after submitting said 3 months for q2 results. I make that around June. So q1 maybe March?

Every plan is perfect until you meet the enemy in battle.

Yeah

I did say maybe though.

I'm in!

I'm in!

Well done. I like my concept, struggling to finish it.

I know what I'm sending, just waiting to get a crit back and I'll go ahead and sub.

Good luck, Disgruntledpeony.

For some reason, after reading your post and then RSchibler's, I panicked and thought the quarter ended this month.

Good luck, Disgruntledpeony.

For some reason, after reading your post and then RSchibler's, I panicked and thought the quarter ended this month.

Sorry to panic you! The quarter ends on March 31st. I just like to get in early when I can. (I was in during the first week or two of Q1.)

One downside to entering early is that I'm finding I have completely lost track of time around the contest now. I keep feeling like I'm running out of time, then realising that I have until the end of June. It's weird. I bought myself time that I really need to focus on other things without distraction, but it's actually a little disorienting--I think I've become a little accustomed to having WotF marching alongside my year as a slow, punctuating beat.

I have a spreadsheet to track everywhere my stories are/have been (including what WotF quarters I've entered), so I'm usually pretty good on that score.

The point is chopping and changing is not wise and shows a lack of consistency, a habit worth kicking.

Hmm, if it was a habit, perhaps. In this case, it was born of necessity, to accommodate other demands on my time.

I have a spreadsheet to track everywhere my stories are/have been (including what WotF quarters I've entered), so I'm usually pretty good on that score.

I actually have something similar, a mini webpage that I wrote and that tracks everything--so if I don't know, I can check and see what I have out (currently, I show 2 WotF entries, plus seven other stories out at eight other markets, as one market is a probable dead-letter that I'll scratch off for good in a week or two, and the second market accepts simultaneous submissions).

Honestly, I built it just because I never learned to use spreadsheets very well. I generally code what I need. It's six shades of ugly, though...

I actually have something similar, a mini webpage that I wrote and that tracks everything--so if I don't know, I can check and see what I have out (currently, I show 2 WotF entries, plus seven other stories out at eight other markets, as one market is a probable dead-letter that I'll scratch off for good in a week or two, and the second market accepts simultaneous submissions).

Honestly, I built it just because I never learned to use spreadsheets very well. I generally code what I need. It's six shades of ugly, though...

Hey, whatever works for you. Aesthetics aren't particularly much of a problem in situations like this.

Completed a draft for this quarter's submission. Shared it to my writer's group. Everyone asked where the story was going. Apparently the story is going under serious revision if they can't see that it's done. Oof!

Ouch. 🙁

I'm in.