posted
This is a critique group for writers that will be entering a story into the third quarter of 2013 in the Writers of the Future contest (30th year). Anyone is welcome to join, but please follow the directions below for doing such.
Currently, the group is empty.
If you want to join the group this quarter, please post the current members list in a reply to this post with your name added at the bottom.
Tentative deadlines for this quarter are as follows:
Mar 1st: Start writing Apr 14th: First drafts out for crits May 7th: Second drafts out for crits May 31st: Mail in final drafts
[Note: The official entry deadline for this quarter is June 30th; however, this group's deadlines are set up so that all entries can be entered well before the deadline and hopefully beat the rush at the end of the quarter.]
When you send out drafts for critique, please do so in a generic format so that everyone will be able to open your file. (eg. rtf, txt, pdf. doc and docx [Microsoft Word] files are usually okay too, but you may get asked to resend in a generic format.) Also, please try keep to proper manuscript format so that we can all learn how these things should be correctly submitted. Last, we swap stories via email with addresses listed in the forum. So, be sure to keep your email address current on your profile here at Hatrack. The entire group of entrants this quarter will be split into smaller subgroups when it comes to critting. The subgroups should be in the realm of 4-7 people. So don't get too worried if the size of the whole group gets pretty big.
Also, a word about story limits. The officially published limitation for a Writers of the Future short-story submission is 17,000 words. There is, however, also a page-space limit that comes into play because of hard-copy publication issues. Thus there is an unpublished and fairly-hard limit of 68 pages of properly-formatted manuscript (check out the Vonda McIntyre link below). So when you're writing your entry, be sure to keep both of these story limits in mind.
Finally, (and I know that for some of you this will go without saying) if you sign up to swap stories and/or give critiques please give a full critique of the full story. Don't bail on a story just because it "isn't for you". If there is too much violence/profanity/sex in a story, you have the right to stop reading, make a comment saying so, and return the story to the author unfinished (this is what the Wotf judges will do, after all. Well, minus the comment.). Otherwise, please be respectful of the unspoken agreement that we each make to give a full, valid critique to every member of the group that submits a story. Also, try not to do too much re-writing in your crits. It gets tedious sometimes if there are more than just a few examples, and we're all pretty smart here. Thanks.
And in either case my story is written already for a first too.
Well, actually I have used other already written stories but those where older stories already sent out a couple of times this is a fresh story already written.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
This is a note for any thinking of doing a story for Q3.
Dr. Bob this may also reply to your last note on the Q1 thread.
Over on the WotF forum there are some There is a thread that is titled why David rejects stories HERE and One Post And
There is another one but I can't find it. Not sure how the last two links will work.
Anyway here is a short list of what David wants culled from his Kicks in the pants, and two discussions people have had with him.
He does think longer works are better because you can do more but short works are not impossible. Name the MC within a page or less. Three maybe four try-fail cycles. Variety He thinks the anthology should have lots of different types of stories--he stresses this more than the late Ms Wentworth did. So he would reject a story no matter how good it is if he already has a couple of the same type. But make it a semi-finalist though. Setting which includes the five or more senses. Evidently he has a Kick out that discusses seven of them. No F- bombs even though a couple of lesser cuss words probably would be Okay. If there is a F-bomb he might give you the chance to take it out. No blood and guts just for the sake of shocking or to get attention. On the variety he would take most any type of story. But he mentioned that there isn't enough humor stories and Medieval fantasy.
There is more but this should help.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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"- he usually strives for genre diversity in the finalist stories--one hard sci-fi, one space opera, one contemporary fantasy, one traditional fantasy, one horror, one paranormal, one comedy, etc. (those aren’t necessarily the genre categories he looks for, the point is that he strives for diversity in the finalists)"
It would be interesting to see if the winners are also this diverse. Given previous comments by KDW about the lack of hard science fiction, in reference to creating material in line with the judges tastes, it would be interesting to see if the winners had a bias in styles. Will the one hard science fiction story in each quarter be chosen by the judges?
Posts: 789 | Registered: Aug 2007
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There is a chance, small as it may be, that you are risking disqualification. The contest used to take great pains at preserving the anonymity of the entries. Even though you haven't shown the title, you left enough details so if a judge (say OSC) were to read your post, they'd have a pretty good idea which story is yours.
I recommend you delete your last post, sir.
Posts: 3072 | Registered: Dec 2007
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Hmm, I thought Dr. Bob was describing his next effort (the first draft to be done by 14 April).
Posts: 8826 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
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but the Finalist Q1 tale may not fit in with the genre diversity.
Of course I've read his Q1 story and if it's the same one he sent out I don't think it fits that many genres. Maybe two, possibly three not all five though probably not four well maybe not three, I think two but maybe not, it does one but three at that or was it just two?
quote:Originally posted by LDWriter2: So who's ready to declare now? Or in other words who is going for it Now?
"Well, I do declare," Ellie Mae said, her bosom heaving. She placed her hands on her hips. "Whatever is Louis up to now?"
Um...I mean...what are we "to declare" or "going for", LD?
I hope to have my first ragged and rough draft completed Thursday and perhaps ready to share over the weekend after a first go-over snipping the most obvious annoying threads--if anyone who is interest.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posts: 1475 | Registered: Aug 2010
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Dr. Bob, we've never traded manuscripts before, so send it along if you like. I just started work on my own short, and would love your input if you are interested in an exchange.
Posts: 1043 | Registered: Jul 2010
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I think you just added me to the group. Lol. Okay, I guess I'm in. We are hitting crunch-time at Triangulation so I may be a little slow in responding, but I will!
Posts: 1043 | Registered: Jul 2010
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Let's see where I'm at in two weeks. If the group remains small, I may toss my story into the ring. Otherwise one-to-one may be better.
Posts: 1043 | Registered: Jul 2010
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As in I do declare my good Doctor I'm going for the writing project with the quaint name of Q3.
Unless, we're talking about third generation of a certain super powered godlike aliens.
She places her hand in front of her face to fan it, "In that case I do declare it's getting a bit hot in here I must go outside for some air."
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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quote:Originally posted by Jed Anderson: I'm game. Hows this all work?
Hi, Jed.
See Writer Dan's opening post regarding the time table for participants to have their first (and, later, second) drafts ready for critique.
The number of Members participating will determine how (or if) we break into groups. I like it when there are at least two Groups so I get different feedback between the two drafts. However, there is just a few of us so far:
LDWriter RyanB History/Dr. Bob Osiris (maybe) You (Jed)
...and the first draft deadline is only 11 days away (April 14th).
I just completed my messy first draft and hope I won't hate it when I reread it. In any case, I'll need to clean it up a bit before sending it out even for first critique. If anyone other than Osiris is interested, please let me know.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posts: 1475 | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
Okay, with only 6 ppl in this quarter, I'll throw my hat in the ring, we can remove the ? mark from my name. I probably won't make any of the deadlines save the last. Posts: 1043 | Registered: Jul 2010
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quote:Originally posted by Jed Anderson: Who do I send mine to?...On average, what are the lengths of the piece that are sent in?
Jed, you'd send your first draft to the members of Group 1 (LD, Ryan, and I). Your final draft I believe goes to your fellow Group 2 members. Is this right, LD?
Group 1: LDWriter RyanB History/Dr. Bob
Group 2: Osiris Jed AYeatts
Story lengths vary, but the WOTF cut-off is 17K words. I'd say most tend to write stories under 10K. I have tended to be the exception--though not this time, I am pleased to say.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posts: 1475 | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
Been revising my story--it won't be ragged any more
Well, it won't as ragged that is.
But for those whose stories I've critted I found a very nice, overly long sentence. Egads it took up almost half the paragraph it was in, had two but-s. Had to split it into two and I ended up deleting part of it.
Not to mention I also found this phrase "a very darker area" which is no long there.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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Story draft sent. Let me know if you do not receive it or if you cannot open it (.docx). If the latter, please instruct me on what file format you prefer. Thank you.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posts: 1475 | Registered: Aug 2010
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Oh, drat that reminds me if anyone wants to send me a story they will have to let me send them an E-mail first. So leave a note here.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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I don't recall how "last time" worked, or I don't remember as I've participated too infrequently (or I'm just getting old). That is why I asked you above (post April 05, 2013 10:53 PM).
I assumed Group 1 sends firsties to Group 2, and then finals to within their own Group. Was this bass-ackwards?
It has only been 7 hours since I sent my story. I can tell Osiris, Jed, and Anna to ignore it and resend it to Group 1 instead. Whatever you like.
Note: Osiris just informed me I should have sent the story to Group 1 instead. So I will, and have asked for his, Jed, and Anna's forgiveness and also asked they delete the story I sent them. Therefore, heads up Group 1. Incoming!
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
[ April 07, 2013, 08:06 AM: Message edited by: History ]
Posts: 1475 | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
Dr. Bob, I received your story and you are quite easily forgiven. If only all my unsolicited email were so well written. I look forward to reading for you next round!
quote:Originally posted by Utahute72: So did we finally make a decision as to where the stories are going?
Yes. Stick to convention (now that this has been explained to me)" First drafts go to members of your own group by April 14th. The subsequent revised draft will go to the other Group.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posts: 1475 | Registered: Aug 2010
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But mine will take a couple of more days. I'm almost through with the first revision but I decided I need a second to work on something specific.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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Hey, tomorrow's the deadline for sharing first drafts. Send them my way, LD and Ryan and Utahute. I'd love to get a start on them tomorrow if they are ready, because I'm working the next 12 days without break and short-staffed with my younger partners taking the school vacation week off, which will slow me down.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posts: 1475 | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
I'm still redoing mine. Well, just parts of it. Most is okay but I added a plot point and I need to make sure it fits in okay.
At the same time I am revising a longer story I want to send next weekend. It's two weeks late on a personal deadline so I want to get it out. But I will work on the WotF one tonight and tomorrow, but then I need to spell and proofreader check it that could take up to an hour altogether.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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Just an FYI, I'll be late as well. I had two stories to critique for my live group last week, and I'm working through the slush at Triangulation. Ten more stories left on my queue. I can always re-prioritize things so if anyone gets to the point where my crit is the last one they are waiting for please let me know. My story will probably go out to everyone in two weeks.
Posts: 1043 | Registered: Jul 2010
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Time got away with me while struggling with getting up to speed on a new gadget. I'm running behind (on almost everything), and wonder if I can join the group late...?
I see that Osiris is running late, too. So, can I submit a week late?
Thanks for your consideration. mbwood
Posts: 216 | Registered: May 2011
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