posted
Anybody entering a story for Q3? Or anybody want to accept the challenge to get one ready? I'll start the crit group here. Who wants to join?
This thread/group is a good place to: -Update/vent about your progress on your Q3 story. -Ask for/offer crits on Q3 stories. -Encourage each other to get our Q3 stories polished and finished. -Pool our knowledge and help each other rise to our best stories.
Submission due date for Q3 is June 30. 1 rule (which Dr. Bob was nice enough to teach me last quarter): don't include more than a general genre description and story length when discussing your story on the forum, to avoid disqualification from the contest.
Just reply to join the group.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Dec 2003
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I even have a story in mind--I had three or five but decided on this one. I will have to add a bit to the opening to make it more like Dave likes .
Hint on that read his Daily Kicks. He's doing a series on "What is wrong with your story."
Here is one excerpt from part one, three things a story needs in the beginning: 1) a character—preferably one that is likeable or interesting
2) a setting—hopefully one that is intriguing
3) a substantial conflict—one that instantly pulls the reader into the story.
And I want to try to put in more personal angst. I noticed that even under Dave WotF seems to like that, but in this case it should make the changes in the MC stronger.
Since I have time I thought about sending it to a certain market that sends some feedback when they reject a story and see if they will list any flaws.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
If my plan goes on schedule I will be able to trade with one or more people this quarter. Last two quarters I took too long to write my story to be able to trade. But I have other writing stuff to do so this story is it--it has a unique setting and MC. That is I hope it does, one never knows what ideas will take off and get sent to Dave. And I think the plot has some original points at least, so I decided to use it.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
I'm caught up on my crits, so I'll be happy to trade with you. Yours is a bit longer, so it may take me a week or two to turn it around for you.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Anybody know WOTF's stance on profanity? My current one has it's fair share, and I'm deciding whether to edit.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
It's my understanding that WotF wants material they can flog to schools, which means little or no profanity. I'd suggest substituting made-up words in place of profanity.
posted
Off topic, but I notice that the number of 'Posts' attributed to each individual changes even in the past. Kind of odd.
Posts: 216 | Registered: May 2011
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Today's daily kick indicates that profanity is not necessarily a deal breaker, but is a "red flag." I'll interpret that to mean, If it isn't absolutely necessary, probably edit it out. I prefer the story with the profanity, but I think I'll edit. At least see if I can tone it down without killing the vibe.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Dec 2003
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However it has been said that if a story is good enough to be a finalist and yet has the F-word he will give the person a chance to take it out--or he has done that a time or two. It is reported that one person still refused to take it out. But better not to use it---part of his latest Kick deals with profanity in WotF.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
I think I might have my story finished and ready to send. Went through a round of crits, got some nice feedback (thanks those of you who read for me), and after one round of revisions, I feel pretty happy with it. I don't think I've ever gotten a story finished with only one round of revision before. Still got some time until the deadline, so I'll let it sit for a little bit and look it over again before sending it off.
I will read any of your stories when you get ready for readers.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
Okay my story is no longer stalled, I found out one thing wrong with it so I started working on it tonight. I added setting to the opening--don't know if enough, but there is more than originally. I also discovered that I misspelled the name of my MC twice in the opening. Yikes and used the MC's name for another character. Double Yikes.
So I have setting in the opening, more than a hint of the problem, I name the character and one other and have all five senses in what I hope is an entertaining way.
The story will be somewhere around 5500 to 6500 words when I change another scene. I expect to be done by Saturday if anyone wants to trade stories. For those who have read some of my previous tales, this one is different. I believe I am doing better with commas, etc., but I still need someone to look it over.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
Hey LD, I think I can have my story ready by Saturday if you are still interested in swapping! I could use a good critical eye one last time before turning it in.
Posts: 60 | Registered: Jul 2013
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quote:Originally posted by Dirk Hairychest: Hey LD, I think I can have my story ready by Saturday if you are still interested in swapping! I could use a good critical eye one last time before turning it in.
Okay Dirk. If you don't mind it taking a week or so, I have two other stories to crit.
If so leave a note here and I will send you my E-mail address.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
So I guess with only two weeks left its probably time to start writing. Honestly this last year has been horrible for carving out time to do this.
Posts: 459 | Registered: Mar 2010
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I might have something new done in a week or so. Not really enough time to give it a proper edit, but it's better than nothing.
Posts: 20 | Registered: Dec 2012
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Mine is almost ready. One more crit to run through then a final spell check. Since most of the problems the final crit might list have been found and fixed already--hopefully that is--it shouldn't take long. But then again this one might spot things that need fixing the first three missed.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
Mine is away. Thanks to three critters-two on another forum-it is better than it would have been without them.
I did redo the ending a bit to make it stronger, as to people said it needed--I knew it was weak too. Plus most of the nitpicks should be gone. It's different for me and has some originality to it. Plus it starts with conflict, has setting in the opening even if one person thought too much and introduces the MC in the opening. Of course all of that didn't help last time. The ending still could be too weak for Dave, but that assumes he gets that far to find out.
Maybe a HM if he does get that far and does decide it's too weak? At least than I will know he read the whole thing.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
Got mine in at the last hour before submissions closed. I didn't have as much time to edit this one so I'm not holding out much hope. We shall see, though.
Posts: 20 | Registered: Dec 2012
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I double checked since my rejection came in the first batch and I must have forgotten to number the pages. Unless of course I have another file somewhere. Which is possible the way I have been doing them lately, but at this point unlikely.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
This was the first story I've entered that had lots of outside help. Hatrack members are among those who gave me the greatest assistance. Thank you all very much. Kent
Posts: 133 | Registered: Mar 2014
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R for me. I thought it was a stronger story than my Q2 story, which got an HM. Oh well. Dave Farland disagreed.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Dec 2003
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I garnered a semi-finalist this time around. Not sure how/why. It's like Willy, but in reverse. My Q2 was a bigger, better, bad-a$$ier story, and that got an HM.
Who knows. We just keep shooting arrows into a dark barn. But the target is in there, so pull back, and fire again.
Posts: 1543 | Registered: Jan 2010
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posted
Hi axeminister, Congratulations on your Semi-Finalist. That's quite an honor.
The HM's I've received have been for well written stories, but for stories that have had admittedly less original plot and milieu. May I ask if your Semi-Finalist story had either a greater degree of originality or was more solidly rooted in Sci-Fi?
Posts: 133 | Registered: Mar 2014
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posted
Apt analogy axeminister. I definitely feel like I'm shooting into a dark barn. I just wish I were better able to determine what was wrong with my bow.
I've got a crapload of arrows, though, and I'm going to keep shooting until I nail that son of a gun.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Originality? That's up to Dave, really. I guess so, since it made it into the possible finalists pile. He's read more stories than I have, however.
He has said that a story could take an old trope and look at it a new way, or have strong characters that struggle and/or undergo change, etc.
I'm happy to send your way and let you decide, if you wish. Not tooting my own horn, just suggesting you read every semi, and finalist, and antho you can get your hands on.
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