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Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS Workshop & Challenge!

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This is where Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS Workshops all began, with a simple post of a new topic. It appears below the Table of Contents I am now entering because, well, this baby kraken has turned into a MONSTER, and members have requested a TOC at the start. We're into our fourth year now--skip to the end of the thread to find us. The results for those who signed up for this workshop and challenge have been truly amazing--multiple Silver Honorable Mentions, Semifinalists, and Finalists in the Writers of the Future Contest; a Contest winner in Volume 36; another winner AND a published finalist in Volume 37; FOUR more winners AND a Published Finalist in Volume 38; another winner in Volume 39; three more winners in Volume 40, multiple first sales and first professional sales; and both a grand prize win and a third place win in the Mike Resnick Memorial Award for New Writers. The results from applying the teachings here just keep rolling in.

On top of that, this workshop and writers’ resource has won seven industry awards. Every year, thousands of readers from around the world vote for their favorites in the field of publishing in the Critters Readers’ Choice Awards. Wulf Moon’s Super Secrets won Best Writers’ Workshop of 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022; and Best Writers’ Resource in 2020, 2021, and 2022 as well! Word is out that this workshop and writers' resource has helped many writers get published, and I couldn’t be happier. That’s why I created it, and donated so much of my time to these writers and this project. 

With over 860,000 views and thousands of posts, assignments, and exercises, this hyperlinked Table of Contents has become a necessity to make it easier to navigate. Please note that for four years workshop enrollment happened here at the start of each contest year and was always a free labor of love to help emerging writers, but due to demands on my time, I’ve moved the workshop onto my own Wulf Pack Writers group platform now. 


Why did I design this workshop and challenge? Simple. To help you write professional stories that have the potential to win Writers of the Future, or to get published in other respectable markets that will help launch your career. It's all here. The proof that the Super Secrets work are in the results obtained by the hard-working members.

Best of success on your writing! Here's the TOC. And below that is the original post that started it all!

If you would enjoy more detailed Super Secrets, including e-books and print books, I have good news! First, I published The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing, Vol. 1, in September 2022. This is a full color, fully illustrated, magazine-sized workbook with questions and goal areas to help embed the lessons, sold direct through my website. Second, the set of the Super Secrets in this thread and more have now been published in a bestselling book! How to Write a Howling Good Story was published in e-book, paperback, and hardcover on November 7, 2023 by Mark Leslie Lefebvre of Stark Publishing Solutions. It was the #1 New Release on Amazon virtually every day in Fiction Writing books for the first month, and has remained on their Bestsellers list almost every day since its release. Published through Draft2Digital, it is currently their #1 bestseller in five writing books categories, and recently ranked #3 Bestseller of their entire Nonfiction books catalogue at the time of this update. Please join my free Wulf Pack Club at www.TheSuperSecrets.com for the latest updates. Cheers!

(All pages are for ascending order in the forum. Links will take you directly to the comments explaining each Super Secret. Many thanks to SwiftPotato (our Volume 36 winner!) and Jason Toth of Author Services (WIotF) for compiling this list!)

Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS Bonus Challenge, Vol. 36

BOOK ONE
Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS: How to Write a Winning Story

Copyright 2018 by Wulf Moon. All Rights Reserved. No copying, duplicating, or printing without author's consent.

SUPER SECRET #0: Proper manuscript format for the win! Improper manuscript format for the lose!
SUPER SECRET #1: Enter EVERY quarter.
SUPER SECRET #2: DON'T drive to the story!
SUPER SECRET #3: Set the hook!
SUPER SECRET #4: Pick a major emotion and make your reader FEEL it down to their core!
SUPER SECRET #5: A story is a PROMISE.
SUPER SECRET #6: Hint in your opening the grand vista of your world.
SUPER SECRET #7: To be revealed in the SUPER SECRETS upcoming books!
SUPER SECRET #8: Kill "as you know, Bobs" in your story!
SUPER SECRET #9: Open your story with your protagonist.
SUPER SECRET #10: To be revealed in the SUPER SECRETS upcoming books!
SUPER SECRET #11: Triple check that your name is OFF your manuscript!!!
SUPER SECRET #12: MAGIC UP FRONT!
SUPER SECRET #13: DON’T OVEREDIT!
SUPER SECRET #14: Do not overthink your story!
SUPER SECRET #15: Open your short story with 1. A CHARACTER, 2. in a SETTING, 3. with a PROBLEM.
SUPER SECRET #16: Read your story out loud.
SUPER SECRET #17: Know thy judge!
SUPER SECRET #18: Start your #%$@#%!& hero’s quest! We’re on the clock!
SUPER SECRET #19: Mock-up your story!
SUPER SECRET #20: Employ the 7 Point Plot model.
SUPER SECRET #21: KISS.
SUPER-DUPER SECRET #1: Take your reader on a *deep* emotional journey.
SUPER SECRET #22: THINGS GET WORSE!
SUPER SECRET #23: READ!
SUPER SECRET #24: Study your judge!
SUPER SECRET #25: The pros and cons of first, second, and third person point of view. (To be revealed in the SUPER SECRETS books!)
SUPER SECRET #26: Find your wise reader! Preferably, someone with more pro sales than you!
SUPER SECRET #27: To be revealed in the SUPER SECRETS upcoming books!
SUPER SECRET #28: YOU MUST WRITE.
SUPER SECRET #29: Help your subconscious to ENGAGE.
SUPER SECRET #30: Experience life, don't just read about other people's experiences.
SUPER SECRET #31: Not too long, not too short. Your story needs to be jusssst right.
SUPER SECRET #32: Deploy your MAGIC SWORD.
SUPER SECRET #33: KILL YOUR DARLINGS: The Economy of Words Flash Exercise
SUPER SECRET #34: A Climax Goes Big Badda Boom
SUPER SECRET #35: "Who was that masked man?"

ASSIGNMENTS:

Kill Your Darlings phase 1
Kill Your Darlings phase 2
Kill Your Darlings phase 3
Ray Bradbury article

Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS Bonus Challenge, Vol. 37

BOOK TWO
Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS: RELEASE THE KRAKEN! How to Get Professionally Published

Copyright 2019 by Wulf Moon. All Rights Reserved. No copying, duplicating, or printing without author's consent.

SUPER SECRET #36: RELEASE THE KRAKEN!
SUPER SECRET #37: Aim Your Baby Kraken at a Ship it Can Take Down!
SUPER SECRET #38: Cover letters--how you dress to kill
SUPER SECRET #39: Protect your voice
SUPER SECRET #40: It takes two to make it out of sight!
SUPER SECRET #41: Heart's Desire. It's Really the 8 Point Plot!
SUPER SECRET #42: Hidden Super Secret. To be revealed in the SUPER SECRETS upcoming books!
SUPER SECRET #43: "Write smart dialogue!" Moon exclaimed emphatically.
SUPER SECRET #44: A Rose by Any Other Name Is Not Just as Sweet.
SUPER SECRET #45: SET. YOUR. STAGE.
SUPER SECRET #46: The Three-Act Structure
SUPER SECRET #47: Stick Your Landings!

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

Challenge enrollment
Pournelle video
Copper Nickel on effective flash
Denouement
Jokes
WotF winners in HOW I GOT PUBLISHED…
Brian Trent interview
Simon Sinek video
Shunn’s format
Questions on voice
Personal introduction
Prepare to release the kraken (assignment at the bottom of the comment - this is also the first vol. 37 super secret)
Read Moon’s HOW I GOT PUBLISHED… article
Install your market search engine
Questions on targeting markets
Reread super secret #26
Questions on "Never Let Go"
Read the next story you're going to give to someone out loud first
Cover letter reading and questions
Subscribe to a zine (if you can)
Super secret review questions
Questions on super secret #39
Questions on Dave Farland's essay
Questions on Brad Torgerson's podcast
Questions on Dave Farland's "mapping your career" writing tip
Map out your career path
Create five prompts
Questions on Martin Shoemaker’s “How I (Almost) Didn’t Get Published”
Positive visualization
Make a plan for getting published at ultimate goal and current goal markets
Take the WotF online course
Suggested: Write something that will destroy souls
Reading and questions on “flow state”
Ping pong dialogue
Ping pong dialogue, part 2
Name notebook + check your names
Questions on Moongirl opening scene
Opening scenes part 2: any opener from WotF v34, v35, or v36
Opening scenes part 3: any opener from your favorite non-WotF short story
Opening scenes part 4: write your own opening
Opening scenes part 5: write your own first line
Super Secret journey part 1: KYD contrast
Super Secret journey part 2: Reflection

ORIGINAL POST THAT BEGAN WULF MOON'S SUPER SECRETS:

Rats. You overheard. Now it's not a secret! Well, as long as you're eavesdropping...

Dustin started it all with 4 in 35. Storysinger started another with 4 in 36. This one is mine, and it's just for extra credit...and the win. We hope!

Do sign up for 4 in 36. All the support will happen there. It's a great challenge and a big secret to winning. But this secret is just a tiny bit bigger. Trust me on this!

Sign up for this challenge, and you are serving notice to the world that you will ONLY submit a FRESH story for EACH quarter of Volume 36. Scary? That's why it's the bonus challenge. You don't have to commit. But fresh writing, NOT rewriting old, is where we grow our skills, push our boundaries, and become professional writers. If you aren't pushing your boundaries, you will never win against those that are. Writers of the Future is the Olympics of speculative fiction. People submitting from around the world include the best of the best in new writers. If Olympians aren't pushing their limits to the breaking point at every meet, they aren't going to win the gold, the silver, or the bronze in the final. Fresh stories are where we push our limits as writers. It's how we win the gold.

So here's the challenge: A new story. For each quarter. In Volume 36.

Are you in?

~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 : November 24, 2018 7:18 am
Anna X, Lauren, Todd Jones and 6 people reacted
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1498
Platinum Plus
 

Count me in for that. The one I'm working on for Q1 is all new so I'll be off to a good start.

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

 
Posted : November 24, 2018 9:45 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

Count me in for that. The one I'm working on for Q1 is all new so I'll be off to a good start.

Awesome! We have our first victim, er, victor! Everyone who does the bonus will have FOUR NEW STORIES from this challenge. These cookies will be fresh from the oven and piping hot! Who could resist? Certainly not Kary, and surely not Dave!

Who else is in? Don't be afraid. Step right up! Put your X right here and KEEP WRITING FRESH! So fresh, your manuscript SLAPS you in the face and says, "Well I NEVER!"

And then, when you submit a fresh story for the Q, come back in here and report. We'll cheer you on!

THIS IS FOR BONUS!

Cheers!

~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 : November 24, 2018 1:58 pm
 TimE
(@time)
Posts: 400
Silver Star Member
 

I'm in. Already submitted for Q1. Working on stories for Q2 and Q3 now.

But I have a question. I've been thinking of writing a humorous story. I see humour as being more difficult to judge but even more difficult to provide feedback on. I think I've read that Dave would like to see more humour, but do any of the judges write humour - and doesn't it take a different expertise to provide a critique of humour? (Of course, given my own lack of experience in writing humour, I doubt I'll get beyond another 'R'.)

?

 
Posted : November 24, 2018 8:51 pm
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

Another has taken up the bonus challenge! Well done, TimE! Like they say at every casino: WINNERS HAPPEN HERE! : )

And we already have your Q1 submission notice, so only 3 to go to fulfill the challenge!

As to humor, on Q3 I submitted a humorous story. I had the same idea. I saw Dave calling for more humor and horror. Well, I already tried my version of horror--surrealism--and got a Silver with it. So, thinking of my friend Jonathan Ficke's win with humor in vol. 34, I thought I'd take a stab at it. I do write humor, and have had it published, and was hired to narrate it as well. If you'd like to check it out, you can listen to it at: http://www.thirdflatiron.com/beastofthemonthclub.mp3

By the way, that piece got a certificate from every coordinating judge in the history of WotF, so it's a good example of humor that tickled WotF judges' funny bones. I finally sold it last year after shopping it around for almost 25 years!

But back to Q3. I wrote a humorous detective story for that Q, and Dave gave it an HM. It made me laugh writing it. And it must have made Dave laugh enough to give it an HM. But humor is tricky, as you've pointed out. Tell a joke to a group of friends and you'll see the problem. Someone might laugh hysterically. Another might groan but smile. Another will knit their brows and say, "I don't get it." Humor is very subjective. Hats off to Jon Ficke for figuring out how to make Dave laugh and believe in his story so much he gave it a win and published it!

Here's my suggestion. Write the story that makes YOU laugh. Test it on a friend. Tweak the jokes if they don't get it. And send it in. The only person you have to make laugh is Dave. He also has to perceive it will work on others. Humor is tricky. But there is never enough good humor, which is why we must see so little of it published in WotF. Which is also why Dave keeps calling for it. So go be funny! Make us snort!

Congrats on taking the challenge!

Cheerios!

~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 : November 25, 2018 5:55 am
(@lnguyenng)
Posts: 2
New Member
 

Hello, I'm Linh, and I'm new here. I received my first HM a couple of weeks ago. I would love to take on this challenge, but Q1 might be a stretch for me. I'll definitely try for Q2. Thank you, Wulf, for this challenge!

 
Posted : November 25, 2018 6:32 am
Todd Jones reacted
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

You're welcome, Linh. Congrats on the HM! And you still have plenty of time for Q1, even if it's just a flash piece. I've written a couple on the last day of the contest, and have gotten certificates with each of them. Not that I recommend it, they are prone to errors, but they do have high energy when you write them under the gun. Don't forget to go over to NEW USERS INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. And it's a good idea to post in the quarter you are entering...most of the support happens there.

Welcome!

Best of success! Write fresh!

~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 : November 25, 2018 7:09 am
DoctorJest
(@doctorjest)
Posts: 835
Platinum Member
 

Okay, deal. I'm in on this insanity too.

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

 
Posted : November 25, 2018 8:35 am
 TimE
(@time)
Posts: 400
Silver Star Member
 

Thanks for a great reply, Moon. I'll certainly have a listen when my wife's not got the TV on! Well done on getting an HM for your piece.

mmm.. should have gone for a humorous horror story.

?

 
Posted : November 25, 2018 8:56 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

Okay, deal. I'm in on this insanity too.

Dr. Jest! Welcome back! I remember you, but I think it's when I was posting under another Moon. shades Good to see you again! If you win with my challenge, you better not forget me when you take that stage! giggle Honestly, anyone that takes this challenge will win. Okay, I now define *you* here as all of us taking the challenge. Unless we win, of course, then we can kick back, let our skills go to flab, and tell stories to our grandchildren about how we once fought as a prizefighter in the ring. winking Until then, we go into the cooler every day and, like Rocky, pound slabs of meat into hamburger. My wife just looked over my shoulder and asked what I will give forumites if they take the challenge. What??? The world gives you nothing you don't work for, and neither do I! giggle But here is what you'll give yourself, and it's the gift that keeps on giving. You'll have four completely fresh stories! You won't have the opportunity to grind away all the naturalness in your work thinking you are *polishing it* each quarter. You will improve your skills. You will also learn to work against a deadline, just like reporters, just like bestselling authors that have publishers breathing down their necks for their next novel that's pushing its delivery date. And most of all, you'll have pride in the fact you took the challenge and didn't look back. This is a game changer, whether you win or not. This is pro. And maybe, just maybe, your skills will advance so much through the course of this challenge, your story will outshine the others, and you'll be in Volume 36. You'll get the workshop with the best names in the biz. You'll take that stage, and after talking to the world and walking back into the audience with your chunk of Lexan, it will dawn on you how you got there. By writing fresh stories. Fortune favor the brave! ~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 : November 25, 2018 10:34 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

So Storysinger, you were here first. Would like like to be the Keeper of Records? Just an updated post now and then listing those that sign up for the challenge? Later, for those that completed each Q with a new story as it goes by? If that doesn't work for you, we've still got Court Jester open. And Cheermeister. And Dungeon Master, to carry off those that fail to the Twister rack--hey, there has to be acountability, or where's the fun?

Beastmaster, alas, is taken by the Wulf.

~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 : November 25, 2018 11:24 am
 TimE
(@time)
Posts: 400
Silver Star Member
 

I do write humor, and have had it published, and was hired to narrate it as well. If you'd like to check it out, you can listen to it at: http://www.thirdflatiron.com/beastofthemonthclub.mp3

~

This is pretty neat. Imaginative. Love the narration.

?

 
Posted : November 25, 2018 9:22 pm
(@kd-julicher)
Posts: 137
Bronze Star Member
 

I've already failed this challenge - I re-entered my v35 Q3 about two weeks into the quarter....

It'll be new stories for the other three quarters, 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 : November 26, 2018 3:51 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

I do write humor, and have had it published, and was hired to narrate it as well. If you'd like to check it out, you can listen to it at: http://www.thirdflatiron.com/beastofthemonthclub.mp3

~

This is pretty neat. Imaginative. Love the narration.

Thanks, TimE! I wrote that at Rockaway twenty plus years ago, a writing retreat Eugene Wordos still hold on the Oregon coast every year. I sent that to every judge in WotF too, from AJ (Algis Budrys) to David Farland, and got honors from every judge too. Sent it to every pro market as well over the years, had it held by several, with eventual regrets that for various reasons they had to return it. In fact, Alex Shvartsman of UFO Publishing fame once sent me a rejection that said something to the tune of "this was really funny, and was number 14 of the 13 I accepted for Unidentified Funny Objects this year. I just had too many customer service stories." I finally sold it by lowering my standards just a teeny bit. I switched my search engine to search 'zines that met SFWA's pro rate of six cents a word, but did not meet SFWA qualification (this happens because they lack sales volume or haven't been in business one year or more). BAM! Found the perfect market for it, and it sold, and then they paid me to do the podcast, and then they reprinted it in Best of 2017. It was a rewarding sale.

But that wasn't the end of it. I didn't know how to do podcasts, that was my first. That is all one take, from start to finish, no cut and pastes, I didn't know how to do that then. Took a few tries, but I finally got a perfect read all the way through. I then used that as my demo tape. And immediately got work narrating for Gallery of Curiosities--Gallerycurious.com. And was approved to narrate for Apex Publications, PodCastle, EscapePod. Alex Shvartsman of UFO Publishing listened to my work, and asked me to come over to his new pro venture as podcast director for Future Science Fiction Digest (future-sf.com). That goes live December 15th. And if you go back to Third Flatiron in the next day or so, I was hired to read my story "War Dog" from their TERRA! TARA! TERROR! antho, and it should be up.

Why am I listing all of this? To make a point. That story was rejected by all pro markets, including this one (the HMs and Semi I got with it are still rejections) for over twenty years! But I didn't give up on that story, trunking it or selling it to an unknown 'zine. Because of that, I had first rights to sell when the time came that I found a good showcase for it and an editor that wanted it, and that sale led all the way up to my becoming a podcast editor for what will be a major 'zine in the industry. All because I believed in my story, and didn't let the rejections tell me otherwise.

Write your story. Put your heart in it. Send it here first, because there is no better market for new writers. And if it doesn't sell here, start at the top and work your way down to your threshold that still dignifies your story and you as a writer. Winning WotF is like an actor getting accepted into a Broadway production. But after exhausting the openings for Broadway plays, you might try *just off* Broadway. Same block, just not on the street with the name. Smile
And while I'm here, if I don't get an answer soon, you're next in line for the honor of recording, posting, and updating our list of SUPER SECRET Bonus Challenge members!

Fortune favor the brave,

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 : November 26, 2018 5:02 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

I've already failed this challenge - I re-entered my v35 Q3 about two weeks into the quarter....

It'll be new stories for the other three quarters, though!

No worries, KD. You didn't know this was coming. Thanks for taking the challenge. You're in for three piping hot stories fresh out of the oven for Volume 36! And as a published finalist, we are proud to have you in the challenge!

Just like at the casino: WINNERS HAPPEN HERE!

Cheers!

~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 : November 26, 2018 5:07 am
Disgruntled Peony
(@disgruntledpeony)
Posts: 1283
Platinum Member
 

I've been debating on this for awhile.

...Screw it, I'm in.  salute

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 : November 26, 2018 5:15 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

Woo-hoo! Another Finalist joins the club! And while caring for newborn twins in the hospital! You have, as Lion said to Dorothy, COURAGE!

Who put the APE in Ape-pricot? You did!

Where's our secretary? I'm losing track of those signing up!

Cheers!

~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 : November 26, 2018 6:31 am
 TimE
(@time)
Posts: 400
Silver Star Member
 

But that wasn't the end of it. I didn't know how to do podcasts, that was my first. That is all one take, from start to finish, no cut and pastes, I didn't know how to do that then. Took a few tries, but I finally got a perfect read all the way through. I then used that as my demo tape. And immediately got work narrating for Gallery of Curiosities--Gallerycurious.com. And was approved to narrate for Apex Publications, PodCastle, EscapePod. Alex Shvartsman of UFO Publishing listened to my work, and asked me to come over to his new pro venture as podcast director for Future Science Fiction Digest (future-sf.com). That goes live December 15th. And if you go back to Third Flatiron in the next day or so, I was hired to read my story "War Dog" from their TERRA! TARA! TERROR! antho, and it should be up.

Impressive!

?

 
Posted : November 26, 2018 7:34 am
mikewyantjr
(@mikewyantjr)
Posts: 180
Bronze Star Member
 

I'll definitely be sending in rewrites of a few stories I've been thinking on for awhile, so I'm out of this challenge.

Best of luck to all of you writing new works this year!

WotF Results:

R:6
HM:17
SHM:1
SF:3
F:0
Last: SF, Q2 v41

 
Posted : November 26, 2018 8:16 am
Dragonchef
(@dragonchef)
Posts: 385
Silver Star Member
 

I'm in. Just submitted for Q1v36
A fresh, never been submitted story.
What is this "Bonus" I am hearing about?

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 : November 26, 2018 8:48 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

I'm in. Just submitted for Q1v36
A fresh, never been submitted story.
What is this "Bonus" I am hearing about?

Bonus challenge is not just sending 4 in 36 (do sign up for that one on another topic). Bonus is also making sure all four of those are fresh stories written for that quarter, no trunk stories, no rewrites. Fresh, new stories, one for each quarter. You're already down for one, Dragonchef! Good job! Three more fresh to go!

What do you earn for the challenge? RESPECT.

And I'll bet somebody that does this challenge will be able to post this sign:

wotf059

Fortune favor the brave.

~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 : November 26, 2018 9:35 am
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1498
Platinum Plus
 

Okay, here goes.
In order if appearance.

Wulf Moon salute -thread originator
storysinger sippincoffee -recordkeeper
TimE shades -ahead of the game
DoctorJest typing -back in action
disgruntledpeony clapper -where do you find the time?
Dragonchef popcorn -pass the dragon wings please

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

 
Posted : November 26, 2018 10:01 am
DoctorJest
(@doctorjest)
Posts: 835
Platinum Member
 

Back In Action!

(...and I shall endeavour not to stick those last two words back together again.)

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

 
Posted : November 26, 2018 2:16 pm
Thegirlintheglasses
(@thegirlintheglasses)
Posts: 171
Bronze Star Member
 

My quarter 1 is almost finished but it is a dusting of my silver. I promised myself I'd take the first quarter slow after baby...But I will take your challenge for the other three!!! Can I please?? 😉

Brittany Rainsdon
R-SHM-HM-R-HM-R-F-F-HM-HM-SHM-HM-HM-SF-PF-2nd place!
Published Finalist Volume 37 Quarter 4
Second Place Volume 38 Quarter 1

First publication was "Perfectly Painted Lies" published in Deep Magic Spring 2021 and reprinted in the anthology, Best of Deep Magic Volume 2.
Learn more about me at rainsdonwrites.com

 
Posted : November 26, 2018 3:00 pm
Disgruntled Peony
(@disgruntledpeony)
Posts: 1283
Platinum Member
 

disgruntledpeony wotf010 -where do you find the time?

I'm not sure yet, but I'll find out. wotf001 I'm determined that if I'm going to be a full-time mom instead of working, I want to make time for writing--even if it's just a few minutes a day. I took about six months off from writing during the pregnancy, and I'm ready to get back in the game.

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 : November 27, 2018 1:53 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

Okay, since I got this challenge off a little late in Q1, I'm throwing some of you a bone. WOOF! Storysinger, oh Keeper of the Illustrious Records, please add an additonal category below those that signed up for the full challenge. THE THREE QUARTER CHALLENGE. These friends are off, but only slightly! Heh! As some have already submitted, and others have plans to enter JUST ONE RESUBMIT to Volume 36, we'll give them a wildcard. This category says you are committing to THREE original stories and submitting them for Volume 36. Doesn't matter which Q. You still get all the secrets, but we pluck one banana from the mandatory Chiquita banana hat all members MUST wear. Here, if you spin your fruit-filled hat around just so, ahh, that's it, no one will even notice.

NOW WRITE FRESH STORIES! SO YOU CAN GET THIS!

wotf059

Oh Keeper of the Illustrious Records, make it so! Burn up every smiley on the planet as we receive the hordes into our hallowed halls.

Signed,

Wulf the Beastmaster

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 : November 27, 2018 4:08 am
(@kd-julicher)
Posts: 137
Bronze Star Member
 

My quarter 1 is almost finished but it is a dusting of my silver. I promised myself I'd take the first quarter slow after baby...But I will take your challenge for the other three!!! Can I please?? 😉

Brittany, you and I will be in the "three fresh, one canned" category of the challenge. Pretend it's like the other pre-baby stuff you did to make the post-baby phase easier - like freezing meals or doing taxes early or whatever! I am glad you're doing the 4 in 36 challenge (well, assuming you don't win this quarter!) - contest deadlines are wonderful for keeping you on track post baby.

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 : November 27, 2018 4:17 am
Thegirlintheglasses
(@thegirlintheglasses)
Posts: 171
Bronze Star Member
 

My quarter 1 is almost finished but it is a dusting of my silver. I promised myself I'd take the first quarter slow after baby...But I will take your challenge for the other three!!! Can I please?? 😉

Brittany, you and I will be in the "three fresh, one canned" category of the challenge. Pretend it's like the other pre-baby stuff you did to make the post-baby phase easier - like freezing meals or doing taxes early or whatever! I am glad you're doing the 4 in 36 challenge (well, assuming you don't win this quarter!) - contest deadlines are wonderful for keeping you on track post baby.

I will definitely look at it that way! Fingers crossed! Volume 36 will be EPIC!!!

Brittany Rainsdon
R-SHM-HM-R-HM-R-F-F-HM-HM-SHM-HM-HM-SF-PF-2nd place!
Published Finalist Volume 37 Quarter 4
Second Place Volume 38 Quarter 1

First publication was "Perfectly Painted Lies" published in Deep Magic Spring 2021 and reprinted in the anthology, Best of Deep Magic Volume 2.
Learn more about me at rainsdonwrites.com

 
Posted : November 27, 2018 4:37 am
RETreasure
(@rschibler)
Posts: 957
Platinum Member
 

I'm down for the glass-three-quarters-full challenge. I know I won't have time for Q1, but I can do the other three.

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

 
Posted : November 27, 2018 10:55 am
(@wulfmoon)
Posts: 3135
Platinum Plus Moderator
Topic starter
 

So we've added KD, Brittany, and now Rebecca to the three fresh, one canned quarters challenge. Welcome aboard! Soon, we share the secret handshake. Mysteries shall be revealed. Smiley armies shall be deployed.

To all you lurkers, time is running out! Sign up before Q1 ends. After that, we hammer up the KEEP OUT clubhouse sign, and begin our secret rituals. Now, who wants to be our first sacrifice? Volunteers? Class? Anyone? ....

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 : November 27, 2018 6:24 pm
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