Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Ready for Market Challenge Jan 2009

This is topic Ready for Market Challenge Jan 2009 in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by TaleSpinner (Member # 5638) on :

In the December 2008 issue of Analog, editor Stanley Schmidt says (in answer to a writer's request for more than a standard rejection letter) that Analog gets about 500 submissions each month. "This means," says Schmidt, "that 98-99% of stories must be rejected, and it's simply not because of anything conspicuously wrong with them, but simply because they don't stand out as sufficiently special from 98% of the competition."

This is what the monthly Ready for Market challenge is about: making our stories sufficiently special to stand out in the slush pile. It's about taking a story you've revised and polished, perhaps had critiqued here at Hatrack or elsewhere, and getting a quick read on its good and bad points; not a line-by-line, it should not need it, but an informed reader's take on aspects like characterization, plot, originality, style and willing suspension of disbelief--the critical factors that should help it to stand out from the crowd.

In exchange you merely agree to read and grade at least one story, although most contributors do more. Since the stories have been worked on with diligence, you can expect a reasonably good read and an engaging learning experience.

The grading system is designed to be quick to do, not onerous for the reader, and to help identify stories that might stand out from the others in the slush pile by scoring in the 7s, 8s and 9s on the critical factors that we grade. Also, if your story does well on most factors but not so well on one or two, you know those are the elements that need most work.

So, any takers for the January Reaady for Market challenge, our first of 2009?

More guidance and past challenges here:
http://www.hatrack.com/forums/writers/forum/Forum1/HTML/005296.html
http://www.hatrack.com/forums/writers/forum/Forum7/HTML/000091.html

I plan to open the challenge in the Writing Challenges forum on Jan 3rd.

Happy New Year,
Pat

Posted by TaleSpinner (Member # 5638) on :

Zac chimed. "Nobody has expressed interest in the January Ready for Market challenge."

"No," I said.

"Somebody has?" asked Zac.

"No, nobody has."

"But you said 'No.' "

"Yes. Humans say 'No' when they agree with the previous speaker's negative assertion," I said.

"So nobody's interested, right?"

"Yes. Nobody, apparently, is interested."

"Do you know why?"

"No."

"Shall we ask?"

"Good idea. Maybe they're busy, or too fat from Christmas turkey, or recovering from too much booze--"

"--Or maybe the challenges are too frequent, or there's something wrong with the grading scheme, or it's too complicated to understand--"

"--Could be any of those things. Or perhaps aliens have invaded and eaten everyone but us. Or Hatrack is a figment of our imagination--"

"Our imagination?"

"Let's ask," I said.

"Yes," said Zac. "So here's the question: If you're interested in RFM please tell us, and if not, it would be helpful to know why."

Posted by tempest (Member # 8242) on :

I'd like to give it a try.

Posted by JenniferHicks (Member # 8201) on :

I'm in again.

Posted by C L Lynn (Member # 8007) on :

Do novellas get to participate?

Posted by LAJD (Member # 8070) on :

I'm in -that is I'm in if I can post something that is not really new....

I'd like to post something that has been rejected a couple of times. Maybe I can better understand what is wrong with it. Is this a reasonable way to use the challenge?

thanks
Leslie

Posted by Tiergan (Member # 7852) on :

While I have never gotten around to particapting since the first month. I am familiar with the rules.

1)C L Lynn, yes, a novella does count, and can be entered.

2)LAJD, yes, in fact this was, if memory serves me right, the reason TaleSpinner started and maintains this challenge. Rejection was considered at one point a requirement to having entered a piece, but the rules were changed to consider a piece that was at least workshopped. So Leslie, your piece sounds perfect.

Posted by C L Lynn (Member # 8007) on :

Hurray, I'm in.

LAJD, you've extensively worked on the novella that I intend to submit here, so you'll either avoid it like the plague or get to read it in "one large chunk," as you put it, instead of broken up into confusing segments.

I'm excited to start reading!

[This message has been edited by C L Lynn (edited January 01, 2009).]

Posted by TaleSpinner (Member # 5638) on :

Yep, Tiergan's right, rejects welcome--maybe we can help identify what's wrong, if anything, or encourage submissions elsewhere if it looks good--as are novellas.

Watch out for the start Saturday ...

Cheers,
Pat

Posted by TaleSpinner (Member # 5638) on :

If you have a story all polished and ready to go, maybe you'd like to offer it to the first Ready for Market challenge of 2009, which is now open here:

http://www.hatrack.com/forums/writers/forum/Forum7/HTML/000094.html

I look forward to some great stories ...

Posted by Merlion-Emrys (Member # 7912) on :

I'll be partaking since I'm all back and stuff.

Posted by TaleSpinner (Member # 5638) on :

Welcome back, Merlion, and welcome to all who are joining the challenge.

Pat

Posted by LAJD (Member # 8070) on :

Oh good! I'm definitely in then.

CL- I would love to take another look at Mists, but in one big hunk this time! I think you will find that you have seen the one I plan to post as well. Maybe its a bit better this go- around!

Sounds like fun.

Leslie

Posted by aspirit (Member # 7974) on :

I'm in. I need more opinions of my story. (Though, Leslie, I would appreciate a rating from you, too!)

CL- I'm excited to see your novella here. I've been wondering how it ends.

Posted by Nick T (Member # 8052) on :

Hey,

I'm in, and have a form-letter rejected story ready to go...

Cheers,

Nick