Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Adding on to a finished story

This is topic Adding on to a finished story in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Omega (Member # 8502) on :

Hello everyone! I've been gone for a very long time now and I kind of doubt anybody really remembers me (I don't think I ever made much of an impression) BUT I am back a little bit now that I am just starting to submit things to magazines for publication (hopefully!).

Anyways, the deal is this. There is a literary magazine on my college campus that is made up of undergraduate submissions. I submitted a story to it and all is well with that.

Then, stalking hattrack a bit, I noticed talk of the WotF contest. After that, I decided what the heck, I'll just submit this story there. The only thing is, the maximum submission for the magazine at my college was 10 pages (my story is aprox 3500 words) and the max for WotF is 17000. So, this begs the question, is my story any less likely to win because it's shorter (by what feels like a lot) than the max?

I would be more than willing to add on and flesh things out a bit, but I feel like the story is very complete. I spent a lot of time editing and had a lot of people read it to make sure of that fact and I would much rather leave it as it is (maybe with some more edits from people here if interested ), but I don't want to ruin my chances with a really short story.

Also I have a question about whether I can even submit to begin with. Now, on the WotF site it says the story cannot have been professionally published, and then goes on to say that it is only prof published if the author was paid. I am not getting paid IF my story is picked for my school's mag, so can I still submit?

I know this is a mouthful, but I appreciate the help and look forward to being back!

Posted by Foste (Member # 8892) on :

Hello Omega.

My opinion:
Don't add more words just for the sake of beefing up your word count. The guidelines are there to limit the word count and confer some brevity. That means that 17000 isn't the ideal length of the story you can submit. It is entirely up to you if you want to add more. Try adding more if you feel up to it and see where it leads you; you never know. In the end it will be a good experience. Part of being a writer is learning how to edit and rewrite.

I don't know about your other problem though. Sorry.

Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :

"Just Don't" by Eolake Stobblehouse is a published finalist in W&IOTF Volume V at 184 words.

http://goldenagestories.com/beta/bb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=218&highlight=shortest+ winner#218

Edit: The "Just Don't" story at Stobblehouse's Web site.

http://stobblehouse.com/arthome/stob/justdont.html

[This message has been edited by extrinsic (edited December 07, 2009).]

Posted by Omega (Member # 8502) on :

well that is certainly refreshing to read. Thank you very much extrinsic, and Foste too! Oh, I also forgot to mention that the first 13 lines are posted in the fragments forum if anyone is interested.

Though if anyone has any idea about my other question, it'd really help

Posted by Teraen (Member # 8612) on :

Their definition of professionally published probably doesn't include your college paper:

"The Contest is open only to those who have not had professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment, and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits."

Did you get paid? Did it get more than three hits? Is it your third published story?

If any of those answers is "no," you are good to go....

Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :

What deems professional publication is a regular topic at the W&IOTF forum and in Ms. Wentworth's, WOTF coordinating judge, blogs at sff.net. But in essence they're reflections of Teraen's citation of the contest rules.

Ms. Labaqui, contest administrator, Author Services, Inc., will reply to e-mails in that regard if there's any residual doubts.

Posted by tchernabyelo (Member # 2651) on :

My understanding of the WOTF rules is that a "profesionally published" author cannot enter the competition, which is not an issue in your case. However I also believe that a previously published - professionally or otherwise - story should not be submitted as WOTF are likely to be purhasing first world rights if you win.

Certainly I have only ever sent unpublished stories to WOTF and would not consider doing anything else.

Posted by Omega (Member # 8502) on :

mmm, good point. Maybe I'll e-mail the person extrinsic mentioned. I can find her e-mail on the WotF site?

Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :

In online comments of Ms. Wentworth, and Mr. Breyer, president Galaxy Press, publisher of the anthology, and W&IOTF forum site administrator, the general sense I get is that publication in a university "memento" journal doesn't constitute professional publication, either for an author or a story. They're not typically offered to the public at large. In a university literary journal likely might; they are offered to the public at large. In other words, the interpretation of what constitutes publication is fairly liberal, to a point.

However, Ms. Labaqui is the final arbiter. Her contact information is posted at the W&IOTF blog. Out of some vain attempt to protect her privacy, I'm reluctant to post her contact information here, though. And the blog is worth reading, lots of useful information there.

http://wotfblog.galaxypress.com

[This message has been edited by extrinsic (edited December 07, 2009).]