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I'mma space cadet. Sorry this is so late, peoples. Probably has something to do with the fact that I'm now an official rocket scientist. Passed my dissertation defense on Nov 30th.
Anyhow, looking forward to some good stories this quarter, and oping I can accomplish getting mine out as well. Posts: 599 | Registered: Sep 2007
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@Annepin: I actually haven't had the energy to write anything for the last couple of quarters. You can ask just about anyone that's been there. lol. Good to see you around again! You've given me a burst of motivation.
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Thanks, WriterDan. Good to be back, and good to see familiar faces! Can't wait to get started.
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I'll join. In fact I was just thinking that someone should be starting this thread about now.
I finished the story for Q2 and have started to revise it today. I'm doing it at work instead of starting a new story there. Of course my inner editor is acting up, I don't think the emotion is as good or strong as I want it to be. But we shall see.
In quarter 2 for 2011, Ben Mann offered to critique WOTF entries as he'd won in Q2 2010 and the quarter held special significance for him. I'd like to do the same. If you want an extra critique, then send me an email. I'm not the quickest of critiquers and I'll be busy leading up to Christmas, but I'll do what I can within reason. I can't offer any special insight, but I'm happy to offer an extra pair of eyes.
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Nick, I think I would take you up on that offer. Mine probably won't be ready until after Christmas anyway. I need to finish the first revision and since I'm doing it at work during breaks, that could take a week or two. Then I have to spellcheck it and spend time looking for certain words I have a habit of interchanging. That might take another week, or one long afternoon. Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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Speaking of WotF stories. I just finished one that seems to break out of their normal routine. For one thing it's one a lot of Older Masters could have written; Isaac Asimov or even writers before him. The ending was a bit different but from I've heard about them I think most would have liked the humor in it.
Second: I think this story ends kinda quickly. I don't mean it is rushed I mean it's very short. Almost like the writer wasn't sure exactly how to end it, he finally put something in.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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Don't forget to take a look at my critique suggestions in the "Ways to Critique" thread. Maybe one or two or all will be helpful.
Also, I recently heard from a semi-finalist that one of KDW's nits is when people place the # separators on the left side. She prefers them in the middle.
So, if you had them on the left, (like me) then move them to the middle.
quote:Originally posted by axeminister: Also, I recently heard from a semi-finalist that one of KDW's nits is when people place the # separators on the left side. She prefers them in the middle.
Interesting. I wonder if little formatting quirks like this really make a difference in the judging process. Man. I just looked back at my submissions for the past couple of years and apparently I've been using pound signs that are centered, left-justified, and left-justified with a tab. Talk about a need for some consistency. Sheesh! Anyhow, Axe, I'll add a link to your suggestions in our initial post for each quarter. Thanks for putting something together on this. Every piece helps in this process.
@Utahute: My PhD is in Chemical Engineering. Title is: Modeling Solid Propellant Ignition Events . Sooo glad that it's finally done. Now I just have to try and shrug off the writing funk that these last few months of writing/formatting the actual document has given me. Well, that and find a job. Posts: 599 | Registered: Sep 2007
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Small world Writer, I spent a year working on burn rate kinetics for the solid propellant fuel for the Poseiden missle Hercules after I graduated. Also did some work on coating materials for the HMX used in the mixture and the effect on burn rates. Interesting work.
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quote:Originally posted by axeminister: Also, I recently heard from a semi-finalist that one of KDW's nits is when people place the # separators on the left side. She prefers them in the middle.
Axe
It seems to me all she's really stating here is that she prefers standard manuscript format (a la Shunn) since that's what he states to do for line breaks in his document.
Posts: 14 | Registered: Nov 2011
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Who is Shunn? I was going with the Mcintyre link that's on the OP. I've followed that exactly all along. I'm sure it's fine, but with KDW, knowing she prefers the # in the center, not the left, seems like a handy tip.
Louis, look at the Vonda Mcintyre manuscript preparation link above. You'll see her # separators are tabbed to 5 spaces. KDW prefers them centered.
It's the standard manuscript format document that is referenced at Analog, Asimovs, and Lightspeed Magazine. (Though I just checked and F&SF Mag references the Mcintyre one. I'd never looked at it before).
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I can't decide if I am in or out, because I do not believe I am writing WOTF material (based on my first two submissions).
Not that I think the quality of my writing is so terrible, but the stories I tend to write don't seem to fit. They're, I suspect, star-shaped pegs (six-pointed) for an WOTF round hole .
I had another story written for Q1 but withheld it because it was the same genre (urban fantasy) as my prior rejected entries, and even had the same protagonist.
My mother (of blessed memory) taught me if banging your head against the door receives no response, try ringing the doorbell. So last week, in time for Q1, I completed a new tale (a classic old world fable) different in voice and style from my earlier entries though still lightly seasoned with my particular ethnic flavor (kapish?).
But I didn't submit it.
On review, I believe it, too, is a poor fit for WOTF.
Nick T kindly read my last two stories (one of which I submitted) so I don't wish to impose on him further. If someone cares to give it a read and tell me (complete honesty necessary) whether it is or is not WOTF material, I'd be appreciative. If you give it the nod, I'll put my two shekels in and participate with you this quarter; if not, I'll move on to my next story and try to complete it by Writer Dan's JAN 14th deadline (though that is doubtful).
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posts: 1475 | Registered: Aug 2010
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What Snapper said. Submit it. For all of our guessing on what KDW looks for, none of us really know for sure. Last spring, I submitted a story I was sure was going to get a rejection, and it ended up being a semi. And last quarter, I sent in The One that was going to be my winner, and it got a straight reject. You never know.
Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2008
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Dr. Bob I agree with the others. A two story test isn't a very big sample. You are a good writer no doubt about it but not even the best succeed all the time.
And it's free to enter so why not? Even if they don't particularly like UF stories one of yours might be the one that changes their minds
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Alright, I get it: nothing ventured nothing gained. But then I'll have nothing ready in time to participate with this Q2 critique group. Thanks to all for the encouragement.
Have a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
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Just wanted to check in and see how folks are doing. i've got most of a first draft with a few critical holes. Hopefully I can patch them up before the 14th.
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Annepin, it sounds like you're in good shape. I haven't even started writing yet, but I have got a story percolating in my head. The 14th is what, five days away? Yikes.
Posts: 108 | Registered: May 2011
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I've got the scenes listed and have started plowing through them. I did a lot of groundwork this time based on advice from two books: Beginnings, Middles and Ends (Kress) and Characters and Viewpoint (Card). Two scenes down, four to go.
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Mine is done. Well, one more run through maybe to add some more of the five human senses and to double check on nitpicks for sure.
For a change I had the idea and got to writing it very early. Thing is that I almost did the same for the next quarter but forgot my idea.
But I'll come up with another one by then it just might not be done early.
Thinking of what Dr. Bob said about Urban Fantasy and WotF--which supports what I have thought with the UF stories I sent in except he's a better writer-- I want to write a really great UF story: one with emotion and guts(The MC's not mine) and life changing for him. But we shall see if I come up with an idea.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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I'm doing pretty well. Have quite a few pages written, but they are all in longhand. I need to finish this draft up and when I type it up, I'll fill in the details and stuff that I left out when writing in a hurry. I should be able to finish and be ready for a first round of critiques somewhere between the 14th and 21st.
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I like to think of these deadlines as more like guidelines. If it's a few weeks late... <shrugs>.
Posts: 2185 | Registered: Aug 2007
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I'm finished with 2/4 scenes for my current attempt at a story, with the last two scene well-sketched out in my head. Sitting at just over 5k words now. I knew I'd never make the cut to hang out with the cool kids, but at least I don't have to wonder now. My hat's off to Snapper. Great idea. I just can't hack it. All my stories end up at 10k. lol.
I'll have group lists up by Friday. Just in case anyone is ready for a swap then because, you know, there IS a deadline posted and all.
I've had an interesting experience this last week, and it's not yet over. After graduating from college last month, I've been on the hunt for a job. Unfortunately, the resources for finding the kind of job I'm looking for are finite. Which means that I ran out of stuff to do. Well, minus formatting technical papers based on my dissertation work, but that's beside the point. Thus, I decided to spend the week at the library, working on my writing and current stories. I've spent about forever "saying" that I want to write for a living and never having had the time to try. Given my current employment situation, I decided to give it that try. Liking this gig so far, but then again, this is only my second day at it.
Keep up with the stories, everybody. If you get stuck, take a quick break and then sit back down and keep writing. It'll come out right eventually!
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quote: I knew I'd never make the cut to hang out with the cool kids, but at least I don't have to wonder now. My hat's off to Snapper. Great idea. I just can't hack it. All my stories end up at 10k. lol.
Totally. Mine clocked in at 13,000 words. I've got a lot of editing to do, but even if I cut 30 percent we're still looking at 9,000 words or so.
After this year, I've decided to focus on books. This short business hurts my head!
Posts: 2185 | Registered: Aug 2007
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Awesome Dan! It's good that you have something like writing to keep you busy, too. I've had friends out of work for over a year, and they are starting to drive themselves nuts, they have nothing to do. But I think this is the perfect opportunity for you to give this a serious try .
Not sure how long my story is going to be yet. Probably long than 5,000. But probably not more than 8 or 10. But I'm at the point in writing it where suddenly it seems like a big mass of words with no real "story" to it! Ugh. It will shape up, but i hate this phase .
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If it makes you feel any better Writer, I started two stories figuring I could get one under the limit. Both ended up being significantly over that.
Posts: 459 | Registered: Mar 2010
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After suffering massive ankle trauma last night at basketball, I nearly forgot to post our crit groups today. Good thing I have a mind like a steel trap. Whatever.
Here we go for round 1.
Group 1: WriterDan Greenroom LDWriter2 owasm anarresti
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Mine's going to be about a day late, unfortunately. I was not able to put in any time this week, but should be able to on Saturday and Sunday.
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I think that's okay. That will mean the reading will be staggered and we won't be faced with reading 50,000 words in, like, two weeks!
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Mine is ready to go but I think I will wait until tomorrow to send it. Without checking my E-mail in the last hour or so, I haven't received any stories at this date, but that could change any time.
Maybe I shouldn't say it yet but I'm proud of this story, it might be one of my best with the writing and the story. But we shall see about the writing, I've thought that before. I've noticed a couple little glitches. Commas are another matter but I feel like they better be better then usual for me but we shall about that too.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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