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Discussion: Q3 Volume 36

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(@jacob-schafer)
Posts: 2
New Member
 

An R for be... bummer.

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 4:33 am
Dragonchef
(@dragonchef)
Posts: 385
Silver Star Member
 

clapper   salute
Congrats to all who placed! You guys rock!

For those who didn't...like me...the commiserating commences.
There will come a day when we will RULE! fistinair

3 HMs
6 SHMs
Umpteen Rs
Still hoping and working toward better -
One of these days, Alice . . . POW! We're going to the moon!

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 4:40 am
(@kd-julicher)
Posts: 137
Bronze Star Member
 

HM for me too, which is what I expected for this story. Can't win if you don't play though.

WOTF: HM x 16, SHMx2, SF x 1, F V31 Q3, V32 Q2, V32 Q4, V34 Q3, V36 Q1
Baen Fantasy Award Winner 2014
V32 Published Finalist
3rd place V37 Q1!

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 4:59 am
Disgruntled Peony
(@disgruntledpeony)
Posts: 1283
Platinum Member
 

I woke to an R
I'm going back to bed. I'll try the morning again later.

*big hugs* I feel you, hon.

Shall we share one more cup of coco and a brownie before digging out way out of the pillow fort for another quarter? wotf035

Sounds like a plan. wotf007 *mixes cocoa, cuts brownies, sets everything out*

If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it. ~ H.G. Wells
If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain
R, SF, SHM, SHM, SHM, F, R, HM, SHM, R, HM, R, F, SHM, SHM, SHM, SF, SHM, 1st Place (Q2 V38)
Ticknor Tales
Twitter
4th and Starlight: e-book | paperback

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 5:09 am
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

R for me.

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 6:52 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Congratulations to all that entered, and kudos to those that placed. In a quarter with "thousands" of entries from around the world, placing in any category means a great deal. It means your story hit professional marks, and Dave wanted to let you know that it did, and the certificate is the contests' way of encouraging you to stay at it! Savor that certificate. Frame it and put it up on your wall. It's a BIG DEAL.

For those that got Silver HM--and I know at least one of you did--first reader Kary just told me every single one of those this quarter were FINALIST QUALITY. Yes, the stories were so good, every one of the semi's and silvers could have been a winner. Had the wind been blowing differently that day, Dave could have reached out and chosen another beautiful leaf, and it would have been yours in the finalist eight-pack. That's how tight the upper end is. Congratulations for being so close!

Some have been getting consistent certificates each Q. It doesn't really matter if they were semi, silver, or HM. It means you are consistently writing stories hitting the pro mark, or close to it. Take pride in that. Someone that hits the target just about every time they draw bead on it has the skill necessary to hit the bullseye. Each quarter is like another contest on the firing range. You are a strong contender in the championships, so don't ever give up.

And that's true for all of us. The more we work at something, the better we get at it. When we write, we are spending time on the range. Practice does make perfect.

Don't lose heart! Keep writing. It's what writers do. : )

And make sure you get your Q4s in! Last call!

All the beast!

Wuf Moon

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 7:09 am
babooher
(@babooher)
Posts: 217
Silver Member
 

Got an Honorable Mention this time. The email mentioned that an Honorable Mention puts the story in the top 2%. Oof! That is a tough target! Keep your nibs wet and flowing.

2012 Q4: R
2016 Q3: SHM
2019 Q2: HM, Q3: HM
2020 Q2: HM, Q4: SHM
2021 Q1: HM, Q2: SF, Q3: SHM, Q4: SHM
2022 Q1: SHM, Q2 RWC, Q4 RWC
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3:Nope Q4: WIP

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 8:08 am
Jamesblakey
(@jamesblakey)
Posts: 50
Bronze Member
 

Honorable Mention here, too.

On thing that puzzles me. In my email Joni wrote:

"Congratulations!!! You were in the top 2% of all entries."

Going by the previous quarter where there were over 200 HMs and higher, that implies over 10,000 entries. Which means Kary has to look at (she certainly can't read them all) at least 110 stories every day.

Isn't the general consensus that an HM gets you in the top 10%, implying somewhere over 2000 entries a quarter?

Rx2
HMx9
SFx1

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 10:44 am
Corbin.Maxwell
(@corbin-maxwell)
Posts: 269
Silver Member
 

It was top two percent this quarter, not ten.

I ain't cut out to be no Jesse James.

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 10:58 am
(@einstein36)
Posts: 85
Bronze Star Member
 

I received an HM. Congratulations and commiserations to all! This is the third time I’ve woken up to results. Also I’ve broken my alternating streak and got two HMs in a row, which is nice.

Congrats.....You are a professional writer in my book :)…

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 11:27 am
(@einstein36)
Posts: 85
Bronze Star Member
 

congrats to all of those that placed....and to all those that like me, got a R....like they say in Texas, 'Get right back on that horse and try again.' Smile

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 11:29 am
chuckt
(@chuckt)
Posts: 431
Silver Member
 

Congrats to all! I can reveal the very stupid thing I did: When I deleted my identifying information, I also deleted the title. And the story was one where the title itself was important to the story. I really like the story and may resubmit it next year.

Chuck Thompson
6 Rs, 5 HMs, 2 SHMs

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 1:05 pm
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Congrats to all! I can reveal the very stupid thing I did: When I deleted my identifying information, I also deleted the title. And the story was one where the title itself was important to the story. I really like the story and may resubmit it next year.

Sorry, Chuck. Like they say in Texas, "Don't shoot yourself in the foot!" wotf004

Sorry that happened. I agree with your cool down and then resubmit plan. That mistake alone probably got it rejected.

As they also say in Texas, "Stuff happens." Or something like that. wotf001

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 1:20 pm
Henckel
(@henckel)
Posts: 465
Silver Star Member
 

Sounds like there was some strong competition this last quarter.

I'm the least competitive person you'll ever meet. And yet I feel very very determined to do even better next time. ...a nd then the next ...and then the next...

WOTF Stats
(2014) V31 – R
(2018) V35 – HM
(2019) V36 – HM, SHM
(2020) V37 – R, HM, SHM, Finalist
(2021) V38 – SF, SHM, SHM, HM
(2022) V39 – HM, SHM, SHM, SHM
(2023) V40 - HM, SF, tba, tba

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 2:06 pm
SwiftPotato
(@swiftpotato)
Posts: 585
Silver Star Member
 

Congrats to all! I can reveal the very stupid thing I did: When I deleted my identifying information, I also deleted the title. And the story was one where the title itself was important to the story. I really like the story and may resubmit it next year.

...I just realized I did the same thing. Crap. Well...at least that guarantees that I'll never do it again, because I'll be anxiously checking it twelve times before I submit. And now I definitely don't have to play rejectomancy anymore. 😀

R, 3rd place Q4 v36!!!
Stories in Apocalyptic, Cossmass Infinites x2! PodCastle, Spirit Machine; forthcoming in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apex Magazine, Human Monsters

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 3:28 pm
(@eagerink)
Posts: 118
Bronze Star Member
 

Hmm, if the HM's are in the top 2% this quarter, I am interested in seeing how many there are. It seems like maybe this quarter was a tough one.

Also want to say thanks to Wulf, and everyone else, for always being so encouraging. It really helps.

On to Q4!!!

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 3:52 pm
LDWriter2
(@ldwriter2)
Posts: 1292
Gold Star Member
 

I just remembered I had a story still in. Couldn't remember which one. Still can't. But whatever one it was, it failed completely again.

Working on turning Lead into Gold.
Four HMs From WotF
The latest was Q1'12
HM-quarter 4 Volume 32
One HM for another contest
published in Strange New Worlds Ten.
Another HM http://onthepremises.com/minis/mini_18.html

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 5:10 pm
Alex Harford
(@alexh)
Posts: 292
Silver Member
 

Honorable Mention here, too.

On thing that puzzles me. In my email Joni wrote:

"Congratulations!!! You were in the top 2% of all entries."

Going by the previous quarter where there were over 200 HMs and higher, that implies over 10,000 entries. Which means Kary has to look at (she certainly can't read them all) at least 110 stories every day.

Isn't the general consensus that an HM gets you in the top 10%, implying somewhere over 2000 entries a quarter?

Most of the stories will be rejected by the second page. No speculative element, name on manuscript, gratuitous sex/violence, poor grammar and that sort of thing.

David Farland mentioned somewhere that it's generally the top 5% that get HMs, from over 2,000 entries per quarter. Maybe there were more entries in Q3, but more of a lower quality, meaning the percentage of HMs was lower. WotF has been getting increasing publicity in the past year, as far as I can tell.

35: - R R R | 36: R HM R R | 37: HM HM HM SHM | 38: HM HM HM HM | 39: HM HM HM SHM | 40: HM R SHM SHM |
4 SHM / 12 HM / 7 R

 
Posted : September 28, 2019 9:58 pm
WriterGirl0426
(@writergirl0426)
Posts: 70
Bronze Member
 

HM for me on a resub of a previous submission. Smile

Tracy
V36 - SHM, SEMI-FINALIST!!!, HM, SHM
V37 - Q1:SHM --COVID INTERRUPTUS--
V40 - Q3: SHM

 
Posted : September 29, 2019 12:49 am
(@ajzach)
Posts: 105
Bronze Star Member
 

I had always heard that Honorable mentions were 10% of entries. If that is true of 2000 entries (although there is surely many more) we are looking at 200 honorable mentions. The official results from last quarter seemed to confirm this. If Dave says the number is 5%, it is still 100 honorable mentions. If they cut that number down to 2% we are now looking at 40. A pretty significant cut. It is possible they decided to give out less honorable mentions, so perhaps some stories that would have achieved that level in a previous quarter are now rejected.

V35: R, R, R
V36: R, HM, R, HM
V37: HM, R, SF, HM
V38: HM, HM, HM, SHM
V39: HM, HM, SHM, RWC
V40: HM, SHM, HM, SHM
V41: RWC, ?
"The Soul of Trees" published in Third Flatiron's Things With Feathers: Stories of Hope

 
Posted : September 29, 2019 4:09 am
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

My entry was on Dave's 15 story ideas he does auto reject on so I got what I expected. You can be sure I will pay attention to that detail from now on. wotf004

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : September 29, 2019 6:36 am
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

Congratulations to all that achieved something better than R. Good going. wotf010

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : September 29, 2019 6:38 am
DoctorJest
(@doctorjest)
Posts: 835
Platinum Member
 

I ran into what I thought were a couple of these auto-reject, story bloating sections this time around, and was feeling for sure I was steaming headlong into an R. I guess I did enough things right in the rest of it that those things were forgiven enough to earn an HM, though I wonder how it would fare if I actually fixed those problems, too.

DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex

 
Posted : September 29, 2019 6:47 am
(@willshadbolt)
Posts: 39
Advanced Member
 

My entry was on Dave's 15 story ideas he does auto reject on so I got what I expected. You can be sure I will pay attention to that detail from now on. wotf004

Do you have a link to that list? Hope I haven't sent any on that list without realizing it

R, HM, R, Pending

 
Posted : September 29, 2019 7:09 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3143
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

I had always heard that Honorable mentions were 10% of entries. If that is true of 2000 entries (although there is surely many more) we are looking at 200 honorable mentions. The official results from last quarter seemed to confirm this. If Dave says the number is 5%, it is still 100 honorable mentions. If they cut that number down to 2% we are now looking at 40. A pretty significant cut. It is possible they decided to give out less honorable mentions, so perhaps some stories that would have achieved that level in a previous quarter are now rejected.

I do know total entries for the year, but since the contest does not publish them, I will not either. Rest assured, we are beyond 2000 entries per quarter now. As the contest grows, so does the quality at the top, and the volume at the bottom. This contest is a dragnet--the biggest of its kind--for aspiring writer stories. Many types of fish are netted--the net does not discriminate. It's up to the fishermen on the boat to sort, and Kary English and David Farland are excellent fisherman and know what's in highest demand at market. They are seeking prime #1 tuna for their finest sushi restaurant, and they know the look of prime because they know the grading system by look, by touch, by years of experience.

It might please you to know the Silvers on up this time were all graded as #1 prime. It might scare you to know the Silvers on up this time were all graded as #1 prime. : ) The decisions at the top ride on a razor's edge, and often become very fine details boiling down quite likely to personal tastes or needs to round out this volume. If you got a Silver or above--and I know two of my friends did--it is quite likely you will sell that story to another pro or close to pro market. They were exceptional this quarter. I've never heard they were ALL at that level before. I trust all that got such grading will be sending those stories out to markets!

If Joni says HMs are the top 2% of the stack this time, then two percent it is. They are not required to select 10% of the stories to give HMs. Getting an HM is an honor, not a right. You have to hit professional marks in your story to get one. I was told how many HMs there are this time, but let's leave it for the public announcement. Do remember you have to throw out previous years' statistics because this will be the first complete year Dave has had a first reader culling for him. He has less fish to sort through because his deck hand has already tossed the promising tuna over to him for final market grading.

Finally, Joni called me yesterday, thrilled to have so many international contestants as finalists. It was funny, there is one she was super excited about. I said, "Is it [insert name here]." She said yes it was, and how did I know? I told her we're friends, and I've been encouraging this writer to keep submitting, and when the writer got the call, the writer let me know. And yes, the writer had permission to privately talk to friends, as long as titles are not discussed. So the strict gag order we had in Volume 35 must have been eased up. Nice. Because you go crazy being unable to share with anyone what's going on. It would take a little of the pressure off.

But here's the take away. You are not competing against 2000 plus. You are competing against those 24 or so at the very top each quarter. They are VERY good. Many already have pro sales. Some of their stories have already been graded as prime #1. You must be better. You must not make mistakes. Your manuscript and story must be as close to flawless as it can be. How you accomplish that is up to you.

But some things are no-brainers. You must write a lot. You must learn a lot. You must keep striving to improve. And you must do your best to enter every quarter if you hope to have a fish tossed over to Dave to be graded for market.

Q4 is not over yet! Don't surrender if you're down to the wire. That's my advice. Get something in. You have one more day.

Godspeed.

Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!

 
Posted : September 29, 2019 8:40 am
chuckt
(@chuckt)
Posts: 431
Silver Member
 

Congrats to all! I can reveal the very stupid thing I did: When I deleted my identifying information, I also deleted the title. And the story was one where the title itself was important to the story. I really like the story and may resubmit it next year.

...I just realized I did the same thing. Crap. Well...at least that guarantees that I'll never do it again, because I'll be anxiously checking it twelve times before I submit. And now I definitely don't have to play rejectomancy anymore. 😀

Ha ha. Yes. No mystery for us.

Chuck Thompson
6 Rs, 5 HMs, 2 SHMs

 
Posted : September 29, 2019 1:52 pm
LDWriter2
(@ldwriter2)
Posts: 1292
Gold Star Member
 

Congrats to the HMs I didn't see anyone higher but if so Congrats to you.

Working on turning Lead into Gold.
Four HMs From WotF
The latest was Q1'12
HM-quarter 4 Volume 32
One HM for another contest
published in Strange New Worlds Ten.
Another HM http://onthepremises.com/minis/mini_18.html

 
Posted : September 29, 2019 2:46 pm
Galen
(@galen)
Posts: 58
Bronze Star Member
 

Congrats to all!

I am also out of the race as well, but very content to report a SIlver HM.

As usual, I am indebted to the forumites who provided me with feedback this quarter. There are none better.

Here's to our finalists! And to all who braved rejection and risked diving in.

Finalist x2
Semi x1
SHM x5
HM x9
R - lots!

 
Posted : September 30, 2019 1:01 am
AVDutson
(@tony)
Posts: 26
Advanced Member
 

I also received a Silver HM. I was shouting for joy at work since it's my first. A lot of strange looks... DIDN'T CARE!

Thanks to all for the emotional boost and especially the PODCAST for picking me up regularly. It's a godsend.

Now, back to work. My Q4 entry needs a bit more polish before submission. 😀

~Tony
A.V. Dutson
R : 2, HM : 4, SHM : 4, SF : 1, F : 0, W : 0
"A good writer possesses not only his own spirit, but also the spirit of his friends."
~Friedrich Nietzsche

 
Posted : September 30, 2019 8:43 am
Disgruntled Peony
(@disgruntledpeony)
Posts: 1283
Platinum Member
 

Congrats to all!

I am also out of the race as well, but very content to report a SIlver HM.

As usual, I am indebted to the forumites who provided me with feedback this quarter. There are none better.

Here's to our finalists! And to all who braved rejection and risked diving in.

Congratulations, Galen. I enjoyed trading with you for Q3, and am thrilled your story did so well. wotf007 wotf010

I also received a Silver HM. I was shouting for joy at work since it's my first. A lot of strange looks... DIDN'T CARE!

Awesome! That first time is always a rush. wotf007 wotf010

If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it. ~ H.G. Wells
If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain
R, SF, SHM, SHM, SHM, F, R, HM, SHM, R, HM, R, F, SHM, SHM, SHM, SF, SHM, 1st Place (Q2 V38)
Ticknor Tales
Twitter
4th and Starlight: e-book | paperback

 
Posted : September 30, 2019 8:51 am
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