Discussion: Q3 Volume 39

@craydimensional congratulations! I was all distracted with Q4 and caught by surprise on results too 😅

@amstard it’s because you are awesome AND you’ve been working hard on your craft!

Posted by: @axeminister

Silver on a mildly edited previous silver. Glad to know Jody also liked it well enough...

I was thinking of sending in a previous quarter's SHM that I've gone through and updated, but wasn't sure.  Now that you mentioned others have done it, I think I will.  Life has gotten in the way too much this last quarter for me to feel comfortable sending the new story I've been working on.

*squints, looking for finalists*

Posted by: @doctorjest

*squints, looking for finalists*

[enters the tent]

[Where are the finalists?]

[scrutinizes those who remain in the tent looking for twitchers]

[phone sits in the corner, silent]

[finalists, whoever you are good luck!]

[exits the tent]

[still have a Q4 story to finish]

[And where are the emails for the illustrator Q3 results?]

[this time isn't like Q1 and Q2]

Posted by: @toddjones

Got my first Semi-finalist.

A big "thank you" goes out to @wulfmoon for helping move my writing along. This was one of the first stories he worked with me on before submitting. 

I am so thrilled for you, Todd! Such a huge leap forward in record time! Semifinalist! Just outside of the eight finalists that the three winners are picked from. You'll get a critique from Jody! Well done!

Congrats to all who entered regardless of results.

Another HM for me. Congrats to everyone who placed! And keep submitting if you haven't gotten a certificate yet.

Posted by: @physa

Posted by: @doctorjest

*squints, looking for finalists*

[enters the tent]

[Where are the finalists?]

[scrutinizes those who remain in the tent looking for twitchers]

[phone sits in the corner, silent]

[finalists, whoever you are good luck!]

[exits the tent]

[still have a Q4 story to finish]

[And where are the emails for the illustrator Q3 results?]

[this time isn't like Q1 and Q2]

Update... the IOTF results are coming out... 

for IOTF and for WOTF for Q3...

My sincere thanks to Candice Lisle, Scott Sands, and Victoria Dixon for providing feedback on an earlier draft of my HM Q3 story! 

Any word from the finalists???

rwc

My first Silver! I'm so happy. And I love these sign emojis.

Posted by: @cweaver

My first Silver! I'm so happy. And I love these sign emojis.

Awesome, Catherine! That's a beauty! You're close!

Posted by: @doctorjest

Posted by: @cube

Does everything else being rejected but my first scribbles getting HM mean I actually became a worse writer over the past years? 😑

Not at all, but it may mean that there are some things right in that old story of yours, beyond the flaws you see in it. It might be interesting to sit with it and see if you can find what it actually did well.

Had some thoughts about it, and the one key thing that sets this story apart from the others is that it has one straight-forward but unique plot device, while the later stores are much more about philosophy or if they have such a prominent plot device, it's less unique and more ambiguous.

With plot device it's like how Maze Runner has a maze, even though it doesn't really do much, the characters are unlikable and the rest of the story doesn't really make any sense, it makes people go "Ohhh but what if you're trapped in a giant maze?????".

Now to write a good story with a unique but straight-forward plot device...  

Posted by: @physa

Update... the IOTF results are coming out... 

for IOTF and for WOTF for Q3...

My sincere thanks to Candice Lisle, Scott Sands, and Victoria Dixon for providing feedback on an earlier draft of my HM Q3 story! 

Any word from the finalists???

That is so cool, Amy! You got a HM for both WOTF and IOTF in the same quarter! Most of us will never be able to say that! Great job.

And I know you already have a WOTF HM, but congrats on this one, too. It was a terrific story. Now you have two HMs in a row! 

Posted by: @scott_m_sands

That is so cool, Amy! You got a HM for both WOTF and IOTF in the same quarter! Most of us will never be able to say that! Great job.

And I know you already have a WOTF HM, but congrats on this one, too. It was a terrific story. Now you have two HMs in a row! 

Thanks Scott! Your feedback on my Q3 story was invaluable and appreciated. And your encouragement is gold.

I got my result, and--

And so, my set is complete! 😀 And I'm looking forward to seeing what Jody will say about this piece. I'm glad it placed SF, I really love this story.

(...well, complete apart from a win. I still need to add that one.)

Posted by: @doctorjest

I got my result, and--

And so, my set is complete! 😀 And I'm looking forward to seeing what Jody will say about this piece. I'm glad it placed SF, I really love this story.

(...well, complete apart from a win. I still need to add that one.)

Congratulations! You'll add that W to your collection soon, I'm sure.

@doctorjest congratulations!

Posted by: @lost_bard

Congratulations! You'll add that W to your collection soon, I'm sure.

I'll certainly be continuing to try!

Posted by: @physa

 

Update... the IOTF results are coming out... 

for IOTF and for WOTF for Q3...

My sincere thanks to Candice Lisle, Scott Sands, and Victoria Dixon for providing feedback on an earlier draft of my HM Q3 story! 

Any word from the finalists???

WOW!!! Honorable Mentions in BOTH!!! Congrats!

Posted by: @doctorjest

I got my result, and--

And so, my set is complete! 😀 And I'm looking forward to seeing what Jody will say about this piece. I'm glad it placed SF, I really love this story.

(...well, complete apart from a win. I still need to add that one.)

CONGRATS, @doctorjest!!!

Posted by: @doctorjest

I got my result, and--

And so, my set is complete! 😀 And I'm looking forward to seeing what Jody will say about this piece. I'm glad it placed SF, I really love this story.

(...well, complete apart from a win. I still need to add that one.)

YOU ROCK!

Posted by: @doctorjest

I got my result, and--

Congratulations! That's a huge step. May you get the last one in the set next quarter!

Posted by: @doctorjest

I got my result, and--

And so, my set is complete! 😀 And I'm looking forward to seeing what Jody will say about this piece. I'm glad it placed SF, I really love this story.

(...well, complete apart from a win. I still need to add that one.)

I'm so happy for you!!! Congrats on the SF. Was worth being worried about with not getting the email along with everyone else.

Finally stopping by after a busy few days, and:

Wow, guys! What a nice showing. HMs & Silvers by the dozens. And two semis! Very cool. I'm very curious about you finalists out there. I wish the judges would let the finalists share the good news! Whoever you are, my fingers are crossed! Congratulations everyone. Keep entering. You can do it! Here's a link to an article by Jarrid Cantway. He interviewed a bunch of winners (including yours truly!) and put together a piece about HOW TO WIN THE WRITERS OF THE FUTURE CONTEST. Some of you might find it both interesting and inspiring. https://jarridcantway.com/2022/09/how-to-win-the-writers-of-the-future-contest/

Second submission, second HM!

I apparently tempted fate by traveling without reliable internet around results time, and I returned home to an HM for Q3! I'm 3 for 3 on resubmitted (whether they are revised or not) HM/SHM stories receiving the same results with the new judge. Congrats, everyone, on Q3 results!

Posted by: @zombiewife

Wow. So, a weird thing happened. I was just notified that I received this for Q3:

...

Thank you for reading and I'm so happy to share this status with others who are celebrating their own victories now. And, I'm happy to share space with folks who are still at it, even after a rejection, even after life woes. I see you as well and I'm rooting for you.

--Steph

Hi Steph,

Great to see you again! And grats on the silver. Must have been a good story.

Feel free to stop in and say hello on any other writing forums you may be a member of (hint hint).