Wotf Critique Group -- 2009 Q04 -- Regular Timetable


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Author	Topic: Wotf Critique Group -- 2009 Q04 -- Regular Timetable
WriterDan Member	posted June 30, 2009 03:58 PM This is a critique group for writers that will be entering a story for the fourth quarter (yes, already!) of 2009 in the Writers of the Future contest (26th year). Anyone is welcome to join. If you do though, please follow the directions for such. Currently, the group consists of me: WriterDan If you want to join the group for this quarter, please re-post the current names list in a reply and add your name to the bottom. Deadlines for this quarter's crits are as follows: July 1st: Start writing Aug 14th: First drafts out for crits Sept 7th: Second drafts out for crits Sept 30th: Mail-in final drafts for Q04 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 is okay too, but won't allow for in-text comments.) Sign up! And let's get busy writing! Helpful links: Short story advice from Dave Wolverton IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted June 30, 2009 07:24 PM I'm working on a next story. The one that I didn't get finished for Dec '08 IP: Logged
JohnMac Member	posted June 30, 2009 10:07 PM Ok, I'm in for this. What better way to do this than with a bunch of others just as crazy about doing it as me? I have a story already started that shows promise, so I'll be working on that one for this. Gosh, I hope I'm ready... -John IP: Logged
annepin Member	posted July 10, 2009 09:35 PM IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted July 13, 2009 01:40 PM So's that mean you're in, Annepin? IP: Logged
annepin Member	posted July 13, 2009 04:03 PM As much as I was in last quarter which, I'm afraid to say, really wasn't that in. I'll try to do better this time. IP: Logged
Icared Member	posted July 28, 2009 04:26 PM I am definitely gonna be in the quarter after this one. So prepare yourselves... I am at that phase where you keep starting stories but never finish any of them. There is a phase like that, right? [This message has been edited by Icared (edited July 28, 2009).] IP: Logged
annepin Member	posted July 29, 2009 10:06 AM lol, Icared, I've been at that phase forever. IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted July 29, 2009 10:58 AM I think that lots of people get into ruts like that, Icared. The trick is to get yourself out of it as soon as possible. Force yourself to finish a story, even if the thing absolutely sucks by the time you finish. Just completing something will give you confidence to hit the next one. Finish it too. Wash, rinse, repeat. Finishing stories, unfortunately, is part of the profile. Luck! IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted July 31, 2009 10:58 PM Yeah. In first drafts I give myself "permission" to write absolute garbage. Without the pressure to make it great from the first, I can usually pump out the whole story. The rest is all clean up and revision and sweating it out, but I DO have "a" story to work with. Saying that, I'm halfway through the story about Cory. This is I don't know what level of revision so I'm sort of cheating compared to those of you who are starting from ground zero. It's allowed thank heavens. Where are you guys? IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted August 05, 2009 12:12 PM Hit the 7k word mark late last night, and I'm guessing that the end of this one will come in somewhere around 11-12k words. Of the six scenes that I have planned, four are out, and that just feels marvelous. Doubt that I'll make the 14th deadline though. Will probably be about a week late. Going to Yellowstone this weekend with family and friends. Hope everyone is well. Looking forward to seeing some good stuff from you all in the next couple of weeks. Anyone else care to elaborate on their progress? IP: Logged
annepin Member	posted August 06, 2009 03:08 PM Will. submit. this. time! IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted August 06, 2009 03:32 PM With luck -- no more car repairs or other disasters -- I will have a good version of CORY maybe as soon as next week. IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted August 07, 2009 08:11 AM Actually. I've been working hard and I think CORY is ready for a first reading. Who's game? It's a fantasy. Two fantasies in a row! How unlike me. I'm already contemplating my next which should be another sf story. IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted August 08, 2009 09:58 PM Anyone willing to read CORY? IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted August 11, 2009 01:11 PM I'm back from vacation and need another one to recover. What else is new? Deadline for first drafts is coming up in the next three days. Arriki, if you're ready I'd say just start sending them out. You're close enough, and people will get them back to you as they are able. I'm excited to finish up and should be able to in the next few days or so. Shooting for the end of the week. Luck to everyone! IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted August 13, 2009 05:44 PM I think (read, hope) that Cory's ready to ship out finally. Anyone else willing to give it a final read? IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted August 14, 2009 01:08 PM I don't think I've read it this time around, arriki. Send it to me. IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted August 15, 2009 02:24 AM So, mine is out. If anyone didn't get it that wants it, let me know. IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted August 15, 2009 11:43 PM I had to take a break from critiquing. I'm working on RESCUE MISSION, a lysiscan story. It was 29,521 words. The WOTF max is 17,000. That's over 12,000 words to cut out. I'm learning a lot about what's important to the story and what's not. I only THOUGHT my prose was lean. 12,000 words. Can I do it? Going to have to kill a lot of my babies - stuff I really, really liked to reach 17K. IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted August 17, 2009 08:29 AM You know, RESCUE MISSION is down to 23,000 words already. I may be able to cut it down in time for the wotf 2010 first quarter after all. I don't think anyone here has read this retread of mine. It's got aliens and they've got interstellar ships but we don't get to see any of those. And it's all played out in the cold, a bit like FISH STORY only on a world far, far away. IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted August 17, 2009 08:47 PM anyone here whose story I haven't returned yet? annepin, Icared, JohnMac -- where are you in writing your stories? [This message has been edited by arriki (edited August 17, 2009).] IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted August 17, 2009 11:02 PM I've only received the first half of a crit from you, arriki IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted August 28, 2009 02:25 PM Any luck peoples? How's the writing coming? We're coming up on one-month-to-go. Anyone need pre-draft advice? I'm open for just about anything at this point. IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted August 30, 2009 06:41 PM It is just me or as this and the other WOTF gone a bit inactive? IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted September 12, 2009 09:49 PM It's about as polished as it's going to be. I'm printing CORY off today and mailing it out Monday. Good luck to all of us. Isn't it about time to hear about the third quarter stories? IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted September 14, 2009 12:05 PM If it was a "normal" quarter, then I'd say yes. But this last quarter had not only the writer's workshop, but it was also the 25th year anniversary. So, BIG celebration, and lots of planning to be sure. I'm guessing things will be a little delayed. Can't say that I'd be disappointed to be disappointed in that though. I'm bout halfway through my second draft. Things are coming along smashingly well. Tell you what, stories under 10k words are certainly much easier to get through than those that are longer. I should have learned this a long time ago. IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted September 14, 2009 03:52 PM Cory is off. On its way to California. Thanks everyone who read through it for me. IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted September 16, 2009 04:24 PM AHOO-GAH! Two weeks peoples! Deadline approaching fast! How's it coming along? I've noticed that a few have already sent off their final drafts. Congrats! Anyone else in need of any last-minute help? Nose to the grindstone. Let's get those entries in! Good luck everyone. IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted September 22, 2009 01:11 PM Hey all, 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. Thanks. IP: Logged
arriki Member	posted September 22, 2009 02:24 PM I'll try. arriki But you know how tough a critic I am. IP: Logged
WriterDan Member	posted September 30, 2009 06:38 PM And it's off! Hallelujah, this quarter is over. Thanks, everyone. This story turned out really good. I appreciate all your efforts on my behalf. See you all next time. IP: Logged

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