Discussion: Q3 Volume 38

Posted by: @storysinger

This year will be different than many with the lateness of the gala. Results will be in earlier than we expect. I picked June 26 for the last quarter and missed by one day. Let's pick the number 26 again, as in August. So, feel free to twitch away.  

That's a good point--I forgot about the gala being in the fall, and that could certainly affect the timing of results.

(Not that my past response statistics are ever very good at predicting future results. I just think it's fun to look for patterns!)

Posted by: @physa

Posted by: @bethpowers

With August just a few days away, I was surprised to see that I've received results for Q3 in August before (twice--2015 and 2017), but most of them (5) have been in September along with two each in October and November. For the last three years, it's been right around the end of September or the beginning of October for me. So I guess no twitching yet after all!

I think in recent years all of the results are released at the same time. At least that's what it looks like. And the pattern seems to be results come in as the deadline for submissions to the next quarter closes. If so, that means we have a lot of time to wait so... may as well get cracking on those Q4 pieces.  

I think the reason results started getting released at the same time is because it's easier on Joni (when things got released in waves, there was a much higher chance that she'd get queries about results that hadn't been sent out yet).

Honestly, I'm not sure if the fall gala will make things go quicker or slower.

I was re-reading my entry to this quarter and just found out--to my demise--that it wasn't polished enough. I winced when I saw the red scribbles on my word processor.

Well, I hope this serves as a lesson.

Anyways: typos, grammar mistakes and other erros--how much is tolerable?

@alexvss 

One or two will be forgiven, but the competition is very competitive and in the future triple-check your submissions before sending. I know Dave Farland has said that at the finalist level that a typo can make the difference. Don’t sweat it too much - and write your next!

I had to go back and read people's comments on when results for this quarter usually land to determine if I should start twitching or not. One person made a late August guess for results, the only time I entered Q3 before it was late September. But since this is, I think, one of the absolute best stories I've written, I'll just go ahead with the early twitching.

Anyone feel like joining me? Beverages in the pillow fort?

@czing My guess is mid Sept, but I don't know honestly.

Posted by: @czing

I'll just go ahead with the early twitching.

 Anyone feel like joining me? Beverages in the pillow fort?

Drags out a clinking cooler piled high with a three-blanket fort expansion kit.

Don’t mind if I do! 

Well, my ability to foretell the future is not on the level of Nostradamus. All that twitching for nada.  

I’ll ask a little bird for you guys. After my master class is over—must focus!😊

I guess I'm game for a little bit of twitching... I'll start collecting some pillows and get some icecream out of the freezer (too hot for hot cocoa) 

Do you want to swap a little bit of the hot weather you have for a little bit of the cold and rainy I have so that we can both have pleasantly comfortable and can therefore feel free to choose any hot/cold beverages that will help get through the twitching?

I am picturing that blanket fort expansion kit and worrying it will be automated and have that creepily ominous feel of those robot dog demonstrations. Perhaps I've just come up with a sci-fi/horror concept for a future story 😉

Posted by: @czing

Do you want to swap a little bit of the hot weather you have for a little bit of the cold and rainy I have so that we can both have pleasantly comfortable and can therefore feel free to choose any hot/cold beverages that will help get through the twitching?

 

I am picturing that blanket fort expansion kit and worrying it will be automated and have that creepily ominous feel of those robot dog demonstrations. Perhaps I've just come up with a sci-fi/horror concept for a future story 😉

I wish I could do that weather swap, 😉

robot dog demos sounds like an intriguing story seed... go for it!

Posted by: @czing

I am picturing that blanket fort expansion kit and worrying it will be automated and have that creepily ominous feel of those robot dog demonstrations. Perhaps I've just come up with a sci-fi/horror concept for a future story 😉

The mechanical fort didn’t have that comforting feel, so I’m going with good old fashioned blankets, safety pins, and binder clips to connect to whatever furniture is available. With extra pillows, of course.  

I'm in for a little twitching. I have cookies and popcorn ready.

Posted by: @physa

I guess I'm game for a little bit of twitching... I'll start collecting some pillows and get some icecream out of the freezer (too hot for hot cocoa) 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Amy. But I hate seeing people twitch when they don’t have to. Q3 results will be late this year.

Hang in there!

 Thanks @wulfmoon I can use time to work on Q4 rather than twitching

I already stopped too as I was thinking about my story not really matching some of the stated preferences of the judges - so I was hoping for a good enough result to get the feedback but I suspect my best result would probably be SHM - all good if that is what I get but maybe not super early twitch worthy especially now that we know results will be later.

But, I'm happy to provide some nice chai lattes (hot or iced) to anyone who wants to sit in the blanket fort and continue twitching or maybe just talking about next quarter

While I always twitch eventually, I have found the best remedy is working on the next thing. Currently, I'm so deep in my Q4 work I can't remember the title, plot, or characters of my Q3. Probably helps that last night/this morning I felt all the pieces click (he says even though he's not done). Wrote an outline from where I was in the story to the end, and now I'm filling out the prose. Ain't got no time to twitch. Write on, write on, write on.

@wulfmoon no worries... my favorite part is the not knowing and wondering if maybe this time I'll get something better than an R. I'm too busy to twitch much anyway. Really enjoyed your KYD workshop! Wished my connection had been better on my end.  

@babooher I love it when everything clicks like that! Write on!

Posted by: @physa

my favorite part is the not knowing

Really, Amy? So adventurous!

@wulfmoon 
Aw, I just took the ice cream out of the freezer! Back it goes.

Sorry, pillows. You're going away, too.

Posted by: @physa

@wulfmoon no worries... my favorite part is the not knowing and wondering if maybe this time I'll get something better than an R. I'm too busy to twitch much anyway. Really enjoyed your KYD workshop! Wished my connection had been better on my end.  

Thank you! Happy to have you in the KYD workshop and to see you produce good words! The connection was tough on your side, as you mentioned it likely would be. I’m glad you posted your KYD in here. I’ll get a chance to give you some clear comments on it! Thanks again for your support!

Posted by: @scott_m_sands

@wulfmoon 
Aw, I just took the ice cream out of the freezer! Back it goes.

Sorry, pillows. You're going away, too.

<cracks the whip> Back to work, slaves! You think winning the biggest speculative fiction talent search in the world was going to be easy?😁 Write, write, write! Go look at my Facebook page, latest post. Those were just from my tries with Dave as judge. Rack ‘em up for the win! 😊

Posted by: @wulfmoon

Posted by: @physa

@wulfmoon no worries... my favorite part is the not knowing and wondering if maybe this time I'll get something better than an R. I'm too busy to twitch much anyway. Really enjoyed your KYD workshop! Wished my connection had been better on my end.  

Thank you! Happy to have you in the KYD workshop and to see you produce good words! The connection was tough on your side, as you mentioned it likely would be. I’m glad you posted your KYD in here. I’ll get a chance to give you some clear comments on it! Thanks again for your support!

Thanks @wulfmoon, I shall look forward to seeing your comments.

@wulfmoon checked out your FB. Just wow.

Posted by: @scott_m_sands

@wulfmoon checked out your FB. Just wow.

Thanks, Scott! Glad you took the trouble, and glad to have you as a new FB friend. 😊

@wulfmoon Any idea how late the results will be in? Beginning Oct?

Posted by: @craydimensional

@wulfmoon Any idea how late the results will be in? Beginning Oct?

That's my bet. Last year for this quarter was October 5th. 

No News is No News. And with the gala at the end of October, this year is more of a wild card than usual. Butt in chair, hands on keyboard, ignore all else!