I'm sending snapper and JenniferHicks copies.

Good luck and happy thoughts to all of you.
~Sheena

I've got a couple of stories to critique and am ready for more if you'd like to send them out.

As for me, it looks like I'm going to be hugging the real deadline pretty close. Made the last connection that I needed to make for the next draft of mine. Been tossing ideas around for next quarter. Don't know if I should do a re-write of a past quarter's entry (Snapper might get excited about this possibility), try my hand at a humorous urban fantasy, or go with another tough, dark fantasy. Hmmm...

Anyhow, hope things are well with everyone else. As far as I know I only have one more crit to return (Darklight), and after that I'll be free again. Feel free to correct me if I've somehow forgotten yours.

Bit of clarification. I have a milieu story where the speculative element doesn't show up at all until page two (in the form of a bizarrely dressed person) and really comes out at page 5/6 (which the MC leaves our world for another one). The beginning's pretty tightly written, so the only way I see to move the speculative element up is to throw it into a "free" paragraph at the beginning.

Typical stuff like

It all started on Thursday but the moon didn't fall that day

or -- The Ari was watching humanity and had been for a long time. It saw Judy get into her car and drive...

That being said, there have been stories in past anthologies that haven't had that. In those cases, the writing was really well-done and pulled the reader into the story with just that. The speculative element, still, wasn't THAT far behind.

In return, if there's anyone who needs someone to look over their edits/revisions, send my way.

So I know we're late in the game, but was curious if anyone would have time to read through my close-to-final draft. Story line is pretty much the same as before, details have changed though. If you do, lemme know.

After thinking about things, I think I'm going to re-draft an old story that got straight up returned to me a couple of years ago instead of writing a new one this next quarter. That way I can get ahead of things and not find myself in this position any more.

http://wotfblog.galaxypress.com/

I think I'm about there now, just got a few final touches to put to it, and it'll be in the mail, if not monday, tuesday at the latest. Thanks to everyone for all your help on this story.

Hallelujah, this quarter is over.

Thanks, everyone. This story turned out really good. I appreciate all your efforts on my behalf.

http://webnews.sff.net/read?cmd=blogview&group=sff.writing.writersofthefuture&from=4203

(Link to the following comment on WOTF thread)

KD Wentworth commented on her judging style for picking finalists.

quote:

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The sad reality is that if a story does not look like a possible winner very
early on, I have to go on to the next one because (insert very large number
here) stories are waiting for my attention. So put your best ammunition on
the first page!

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Other nuggets from same thread

quote:

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Re: The tips on the wotfblog...
Kathy Wentworth
Article 4241, Sat 22 Dec 2007 07:32:36a

HMs are stories that have exceptionally well executed plots, concepts, characters,
and/or prose, but just don't rise to the very top of the pile. If you get an
HM, it means you've scored in the top fifteen percent of all entries, which
is no small achievement. And it definitely means you should keep entering.
You're on the right track.

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I think I have seen this one posted or linked here before but here it is again

quote:

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Re: Semi-Finalists Today?
Kathy Wentworth
Article 4338, Tue 12 Feb 2008 05:29:26p

An Honorable Mention (formerly Quarterfinalist) is a story that has at least one (and usually more) area(s) of excellence, such as prose, characters, premise, setting, or plot, but is not retained for the very small pile of possible Finalists.
Typically, an Honorable Mention means that you have scored in the top fifteen percent of all entries.

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Kathy Wentworth
Article 4666, Fri 18 Jul 2008 07:52:18a

quote:

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... no one's story gets rejected because of a typo or misspelling. It's incredibly difficult to get all of those out because the eye sees what it expects to see. That's why it's helpful to get someone else to proof for you.

The single most important quality in a winning story is its originality. The people with the best imaginations are the ones with the most potential to have a great career, and getting new writers launched into careers is what the Contest
is all about.

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Kathy Wentworth
Article 4811, Thu 09 Oct 2008 07:36:43a

quote:

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1. "Smirked" means a mean nasty little smile. It is not an all purpose synonymn for the words "smile" or "grin."

2. The past tense of sink is sank. "We sank the boat." "Sunk" requires an auxillery verb. "We have sunk the boat."

3. Paragraphs are your friend. Become one with your tab key.

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Kathy Wentworth
Article 4821, Fri 10 Oct 2008 08:05:59p

quote:

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4. When it comes to over the top metaphors and similes ("the night sky put the moon coin away in its black purse"), JUST SAY NO.

5. It's never a good idea to use the word "orb" as a synonynm for "eye" or "sun."

6. Don't start with poetry that you've written yourself.

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quote:

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Finalists and semi-finalists for the quarter to be finished by Monday of next week! Watch for those calls people. Wouldn't want to miss this one!

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One thing that is consistent about that WotF blog is they never do when they say they will do. Monday will come and go and not one Finalist or Semi-F will get notified (I bet).

So I shall sit on my hands, pace the room, chew my fingersnails down to the cudicles (I've been growing them long for this moment), peak out the window looking for the mailman, check my email; for the next two weeks now.

The damn problem is, I have no idea how my entry will do. I'll probably get a thanks but no thanks letter with my script but, what the hell, who knows? Maybe I'll be standing at the podium next August bragging to Skadder and Brad T that my trophy is bigger than theirs.

quote:

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Kathy Wentworth
Article 5185, Sat 09 Jan 2010 08:54:22a

I finished the first reading last night and am now sorting. Lots of good stories
this quarter!

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