Hello forumites!
Having read the competition formatting guidelines, I'm still a little unclear about some of the specifics around electronic submissions -
"Entries submitted in hard copy must be typewritten or a computer printout in black ink on white paper, printed only on the front of the paper, double-spaced, with numbered pages. All other formats will be disqualified. Each entry must have a cover page with the title of the work, the author’s legal name, a pen name if applicable, address, telephone number, e-mail address and an approximate word count. Every subsequent page must carry the title and a page number, but the author’s name must be deleted to facilitate fair, anonymous judging. Entries submitted electronically must be double-spaced and must include the title and page number on each page, but not the author’s name. Electronic submissions will separately include the author’s legal name, pen name if applicable, address, telephone number, e-mail address and approximate word count." ( https://www.writersofthefuture.com/contest-rules-writers/ , point 6)
1. I'd interpreted the cover letter requirement as 'only required for hard copy submissions - and not electronic'. Is this correct?
2. Re: inclusion of the author's name on electronic submissions, should I be reading this as 'do not include the author's name on each page', or 'do not include the author's name within the submitted document at all?'
Thanks very much
The contest is anonymous - so for electronic subs, the name is attached to the story by the submissions system. Never ever put your name in the document or the file name - the story would be disqualified.
For paper subs, however, they have to have a way of knowing who the story belongs to, hence the need for a cover letter.
Does that help?
V34: R,HM,R
V35: HM,R,R,HM
V36: R,HM,HM,SHM
V37: HM,SF,SHM,SHM
V38: (P)F, SHM, F, F
V39: SHM, SHM, HM, SHM
Published Finalist Volume 38
Pro’d out Q4V39
www.rebeccaetreasure.com
Managing Editor, Apex Magazine
At all--if you notice, the electronic format doesn't say to include that cover page. With a hard copy, the cover page is how they receive your contact information--with electronic, they'll get your contact information from the form you fill out. The document you attach to it, however, should be anonymous.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Great, thank you @rschibler @doctorjest for clarifying. That clears things up for me.
Do people still even send in hard copies?
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
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Do people still even send in hard copies?
Yes. I’ve seen Kary post a big stack of them.
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Do people still even send in hard copies?
Yes. I’ve seen Kary post a big stack of them.
Crickey. Surely you need to go online to get the postal address.
Yeah, I want to tell them, have you read Going Postal? 😁
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!
I have been tempted to do that, though--a part of me misses the whole ritual of printing, packing, and mailing in a story, then waiting for the response to show up in the mailbox. It has an event feel to it that electronic submissions don't quite possess. However, I do like the convenience and reliability of electronic.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
I have been tempted to do that, though--a part of me misses the whole ritual of printing, packing, and mailing in a story, then waiting for the response to show up in the mailbox. It has an event feel to it that electronic submissions don't quite possess. However, I do like the convenience and reliability of electronic.
I did my first sub that way. Made me feel like a real writer. So did the rejection letter that I got a few months later 🤣
V34: R,HM,R
V35: HM,R,R,HM
V36: R,HM,HM,SHM
V37: HM,SF,SHM,SHM
V38: (P)F, SHM, F, F
V39: SHM, SHM, HM, SHM
Published Finalist Volume 38
Pro’d out Q4V39
www.rebeccaetreasure.com
Managing Editor, Apex Magazine
I have been tempted to do that, though--a part of me misses the whole ritual of printing, packing, and mailing in a story, then waiting for the response to show up in the mailbox. It has an event feel to it that electronic submissions don't quite possess. However, I do like the convenience and reliability of electronic.
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet only accepts paper submissions, and it's on my 2021 list to send them something just for the sake of ritual.
Vol36 - HM
Vol 37 - Finalist (upcoming on Podcastle), HM (published by Mysterion)
Vol38 - Q1 SHM, Q2 HM, Q4 pending...
Do people still even send in hard copies?
Yes. I’ve seen Kary post a big stack of them.
Crickey. Surely you need to go online to get the postal address.
Not if you buy the anthologies--pretty sure they include that info.
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)
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@disgruntledpeony I think they do but the only place I've seen them on sale is online anyway. Presumably they make it to bookshops too.
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
They do. Saw them in Dymocks.
"If writing is easy, you're doing it wrong." -Bryan Hutchinson
V36-37: R x6
V38: R, HM, R, HM
V39: HM, HM, HM, HM
V40: HM
The anthologies are stocked by Barnes & Noble when they’re released. Is that a big enough print bookstore for ya’? 😊
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!
I have been tempted to do that, though--a part of me misses the whole ritual of printing, packing, and mailing in a story, then waiting for the response to show up in the mailbox. It has an event feel to it that electronic submissions don't quite possess. However, I do like the convenience and reliability of electronic.
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet only accepts paper submissions, and it's on my 2021 list to send them something just for the sake of ritual.
Haha! I sent them something the other year for much the same reason. 
My favourite paper market, back in the day, was F&SF. I still have a handful of rejection slips from them, including my one and only second round rejection.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
The anthologies are stocked by Barnes & Noble when they’re released. Is that a big enough print bookstore for ya’? 😊
Not sure we get them over here in the UK. At least not in my neck of the woods. Think there's a Watersones nearby though. Used to be a great independent here but bookshops seem to be an endangered species now.
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
The anthologies are stocked by Barnes & Noble when they’re released. Is that a big enough print bookstore for ya’? 😊
Not sure we get them over here in the UK. At least not in my neck of the woods. Think there's a Watersones nearby though. Used to be a great independent here but bookshops seem to be an endangered species now.
Waterstone's is probably the best analogue in the UK, though most of their stores are still a fair bit smaller than a typical B&N.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
The anthologies are stocked by Barnes & Noble when they’re released. Is that a big enough print bookstore for ya’? 😊
Not sure we get them over here in the UK. At least not in my neck of the woods. Think there's a Watersones nearby though. Used to be a great independent here but bookshops seem to be an endangered species now.
Waterstone's is probably the best analogue in the UK, though most of their stores are still a fair bit smaller than a typical B&N.
Next time someone gets me vouchers I know where to go 
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
