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I'll be holding my breath. After I sent it I realized there were flaws that prevented it from being a real contender, but I'm hoping for an HM. This is my first entry ever.
Posts: 299 | Registered: Oct 2008
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Just Curious, How many HM's do they award? Dozens, Hundreds, or Thousands? This question is not meant to diminish anyone's Honor, I just don't know.
Posts: 340 | Registered: Jan 2008
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Last I heard, HMs were about 15% of submissions. Whether that's a stat they deliberately keep to, or whether it fluctuates according to the quality in a given quarter, I don't know.
Posts: 1469 | Registered: Jun 2005
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I don't believe Galaxy Press shoots for any particular number of HMs, I think it just comes out to 15% on it's own. They have a pre-set number of semi-finalists, finalists, and winners, but I think they can have an arbitrary number of HMs.
Posts: 299 | Registered: Oct 2008
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I hope I'm not shooting myself in the foot by saying this, but I've learned not to take everything on the blog literally. When a date of something is promised AND fulfilled, I'm pleasantly surprised. I'm guessing there's a bit of work behind the scenes since their work goes beyond just this contest, and it might be easy to lose track. And there might be all sorts of things that can put a delay in the process.
Posts: 1275 | Registered: Mar 2004
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It seems one advantage to submitting as late as possible is delaying getting your manuscript back flat rejected or being terminated as an honorable mention, or rather, delaying hearing about it. Allowing one to continue the illusion that his entry might win or place, and not just show.
Posts: 2195 | Registered: Aug 2006
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Me too. Last time I was early and had my rejection in my hand before the first HM's were posted!
Posts: 2995 | Registered: Oct 2007
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I'd like to say that entering at the last minute was a choice, but in truth, no matter when I finish a story, it doesn't seem to make it in the mail until the final week before deadline.
On those lines, I've had my hopes dashed by the same wait, thinking a story did well, only to find out it was a reject. That kind of rejection seems to hit even harder.
In a way I kind of liked it the way they used to do it and not announce HM's at all. The reason is that before they started doing this, I had always thought that all HM's had a shot at the Semi and Finals pile, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Instead, it seems there are those HM's that are considered for that Finals batch and held back, and some that aren't. Because of that, I think I'd really rather have an entry in early, that way I'd know that if it was listed in the last batch of announced HM's it was at least considered to be a winner.
As a final note, just because a story doesn't make it into that last batch for consideration doesn't mean it's a bad story, or one not worth winning. It was just that Kathy didn't think it was. That's an important thing to remember about rejections and HM's, even with this contest. It's still just one person's opinion.
I've heard of at least one rejected story from WOTF selling to Asimov's, so don't ever take an HM or rejection too hard. Just keep writing and submitting, that's the only way to win and get published.
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Yep - I'm in there (Karen T. Smith) but...er, I still don't know for which story! (there was a snafu I believe with my last quarter's entry - so I have a feeling this is last q's entry because I'm a late late late submitter, usually my MS is mailed on the last day of eligibility. I haven't been able to get any replies from the authorservices emails I have tried. Not sure how to solve this issue, as I don't want to be disqualified for being entered twice in the same quarter.)
I'm relieved/excited, of course dejected at not winning the big kahuna, but that I can cope with. I'm starting to also take the HM from WOTF very seriously as an indicator that I'm in the game now. My work is of sufficient quality to earn an HM - that's big for me. So not getting an HM is a big negative. Anyway, there's a little writer neuroses for you for the day. Thanks for the congrats!
You just revealed my secret Idenity! Oh well, time to throw in my cape, my crime fighting days are over. An HM? Really? Why am I always the last to know?
[This message has been edited by snapper (edited November 05, 2008).]
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I solved my personal mystery today by calling them and finding that it was my most recent entry that received the HM, which is great (though again, disappointing because it didn't win the big kahuna, but it's my suburban mom story - it's not a perfect match for the contest. I'm excited to start subbing it out elsewhere.)
The bad news is my 3rd quarter was indeed a no-place, which is too bad because I was hoping the snafu had my 3rd quarter entry as HM for this most recent quarter, then they could just bump my recent entry to the current quarter. Alas, no such luck - now I have to write a new story for the current quarter!
Best of luck to everyone else who has a story in! And congrats snapper!
[This message has been edited by KayTi (edited November 06, 2008).]
I share your mixed emotions. An HM is nice, very nice. Hell it was better than the 'you didn't win' I got for my last submission, but still it is a rejection. Perhaps this old message from a friend that first convinced me to start submitting to WOTF will but it in perpective.
quote:There is no such thing as reduced competition for WOTF. Send away. It's free, and it will tell you something. (On the other hand, don't send something that is clearly not their cup of tea. (Sex, bad languagee, too dark etc)
For instance, "Spirit of Spring" didn't make the top 10%. After analysing the contest and the work, I finally decided that it is too risque for them. I learned something.
The very best non-pros send their very best work there every quarter. You are competing to get into the top 10%. After that, you are competing to get a named prize. After that, for the top prize.
When you have honed your skills enough that you hit the top 10% almost every quarter, then you are in the pro range. After that, it's a crap shoot. So start shooting craps every time.
You don't gain anything by *not* submitting.
That was back almost a year ago. This will make it two for three on the HM's for me. A little soon to categorize myself in that 'pro range' that he ellude too but it is good sign. I have noticed a few names here at hatrack that clear do fall in that range.
A nice thing about WOTF is you have an idea on how your writing stands. Too many magazine leave so little feedback for an author to know. Good luck on resubmitting it elsewhere. I'll think I'll do the same.
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KayTi, out of curiosity, when did you mail the mom story off? For some reason, in my mind, I thought I sent mine out shortly faster reviewing your story (which I enjoyed), which makes me wonder if mine if back in the mail heading my way. ... shudder...
Posts: 2195 | Registered: Aug 2006
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Edit - to delete my previous speculation post, as I have new information. What I had hoped/thought happened did indeed happen. Through a snafu at the WOTF office, my 3Q story (june 30 deadline) was not judged in that quarter, so instead the HM I just got was for that story, called Market Day if anyone cares (nobody critted it here, though it originated in a Liberty Hall Flash challenge, which is one of many reasons why I'm stunned and amazed at the HM.) It was added to the 4Q pile and was probably near the beginning since it had been in their hands for a few months. This means my other story (title omitted) is still in play for the quarter that ends Dec 31.
So sit tight. Your story is in the pile somewhere and will eventually get judged.
[This message has been edited by KayTi (edited November 06, 2008).]
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Alethea Kontis (silver? Siver fox? don't remember her Hatrack handle), tnwiltz, and arriki are the Hatrackers I recognize on the list. Congrats, guys!
Posts: 2185 | Registered: Aug 2007
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Silver3 is Aliette, not Alethea. Alethea Kontis is her Hatrack handle, if I remember correctly.
Posts: 3687 | Registered: Jan 2007
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Congratz everybody who won an HM. My fingers are crossed for everyone who didn't. (I didn't submit for this quarter. darn!.)
Posts: 604 | Registered: Mar 2008
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Alethea went by Thieftess before she changed it to her real name. I miscounted last quarter when I said I had 8 honorable mentions/quarter finalists. That is, however, now an accurate figure. My 8th.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Aug 2010
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Congrats, I thought I saw your name in there, Spaceman. Congrats to everyone else, too. Great Hatrack showing! (and more names/announcements to come, exciting!)
Posts: 1911 | Registered: Mar 2007
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