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I received the HM re-notification. Apparently anyone who responded to the earlier e-mail was sending to the wrong address.
Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2008
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I received the second notice also. But I also got the first one but evidently they didn't get my reply. I wonder who did. One of her sentences makes it sound like someone-like a hacker- did it purpose.
Hmmm, that's right it went to my spam file.
her note not my reply.
[This message has been edited by LDWriter2 (edited September 07, 2011).]
posted
Congrats Melanie. Yours was another I read I thought deserved at least an HM. I know a lot of people on here are down on the HMs, but I was reading another thread from the contest that said if you got an HM you were in the top five percent of entries. I don't know how true that is, but if it is that's not anything to feel bad about. It's probably that your story just didn't click as well as another one in the pile.
Posts: 459 | Registered: Mar 2010
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Hmmm, Utahute I didn't realize there were a lot of people here down on them. The quarter before this one seemed to get a lot of congrats for HMs. Some of us might be not so excited about them but I don't think that is the same as down on them.
Or have I missed some conversations? That is possible.
And I add my congrats to Melanie. Niiice.
[This message has been edited by LDWriter2 (edited September 07, 2011).]
posted
I am definitely down on getting an HM. My first one had me dancing in the living room. The second one, too, because it meant the first one wasn't a fluke. After that, they started to feel like old hat. Now I'm on number six, and it comes on the heels of two quarters in which I placed better, so it feels like a step down. It's all a matter of perspective.
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Jennifer, I can definitely see your point, but since I'm a glass half full kinda guy, I would look at it as your writing is consistently good, but maybe the material doesn't quite fit KDW's view as well as some others.
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There's a Dustin Adams in that list, who might be Axeminister...I'm still trying to think of whether I "know" anyone else.
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I'm not in the group, but want to add a huge Congrats to you both, and all the HM's, too. Excellent!
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Congrats to you both! Maybe you will follow up Brad and Adam and make it the second time with two Hatrack winners.
Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2008
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Despite Dustin's 'revelations of mediocrity', I hope we both win. I read and critiqued his story twice before his final edit and it's great, fully deserving of a win. I look forward to playing tour guide when he comes to LA for the workshop and awards ceremony (whether I win or not).
I was very excited to learn that we were both finalists. His cryptic e-mail tease had me accusing an entirely innocent person of having loose lips. Glad I didn't say anything before I learned the truth.
It's interesting that when Joni called, she didn't identify the organization, she just gave her name. My heart paused for a moment, then I remembered to breathe and I realized this was The Call. I was actually working on the outline for my next WotF entry when the phone rang. We talked for a bit where I kept saying 'wow' and how I'd given up on this quarter because I thought she would have already made the calls.
After I got off the phone, my excitement kept me from being able to focus on anything. Of course, I made all the requisite phone calls. No one in my family is tech saavy enough to leak the big secret. Then my boyfriend took me out for a celebratory dinner, but being late and a Monday, we ended up at Carrows. I got a more proper celebration on Wednesday night.
So now is the big wait and the wondering what I might have done to make the story better. On Dustin's advice, I haven't looked over my story. Evidently there's a risk of finding typos that will drive you crazy at this stage.
So thanks to everyone who read and critiqued and help me make this a better story. Your input has been spectacular.
posted
Dustin has now, of course, doomed himself to 1st place.
Well done, Trina and Dustin both.
Folks, seriously, all you have to do is keep trying. You can get there. Dustin and Trina are up for the big win. Hopefully the judges are swift and the placement can be announced before too much agony has been endured.
posted
I do have to admit my ears picked up on Monday night when my wife came out of the house holding the phone saying, "It's Joni from Writers of the Future." Alas only checking to see if I had seen the e-mail.
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What great news! Good for both of you, Dustin and Trina. And best wishes on the judging.
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quote: LD, you referred to it as a rejection with exceptions
I didn't really mean it as a put down of HMs, just not as excited as some.
In a way I kinda feel the same way as Jennifer but not for the same reason.
My first three HMs, the third one is the one Joni called and the first one listed on their blog, I got by myself with one to three revisions of each story. Now I need all the help I can get from the people here and a few revisions to get one. I seem to have forgotten how I once wrote.
Still not sure why Joni called me except she seemed to have called everyone that quarter.
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Ack! Brad, don't say that. I have to stay under Fate's radar...
Actually, I'm going to move that long post to my blog where folks have to volunteer to read it, instead of it filling up pages of the forum.
@Owasm. Aw, come on Ken, was it not an honor to read mine too?
*story time*
I'm as green as can be. Sure I've been writing for years, but I've never submitted anywhere or really given my writing out for anyone to read. I finally find this forum, finally join, then finally join this group.
I send out my behemoth of a story and rub my hands together in anticipation of my first crit telling me I have a masterpiece.
Ken's crit comes in. I open the e-mail with a smile. He says: (paraphrasing) "If I didn't have to critique this, I would have stopped reading early on."
I was like, "hmm." Then I was like, "I wonder if I can find out where this guy lives based on his IP #, which has been logged..."
As it turns out, of course, the advice was perfectly sound, and exactly what I needed to hear. I scrapped the story completely, and rewrote it from word one.
posted
You know what, Axe? I looked back at my emails to try and find your story. I thought I worked on it, but couldn't find evidence. I did for Genevive.
So it is DOUBLY an honor to have given you both input. It looks like that may be as close as I'm going to get to a win.
posted
Figures that the one day I don't check this freaking forum is the day that everything happens... lol
WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big time congrats for Trina and Dustin!!! Best of luck your way for the next level. Will be waiting to hear about the results of that one, as I'm sure you will each be too. Let us know asap.
Updated my "Woo-hoo list" on the first post of this discussion. If anyone has more for me to add, send a note my way.
posted
Has anyone heard from any semifinalists and silver HMs? Has everything already gone out? I still haven't heard a thing, and Joni responded to my e-mail saying to please be patient. Anyone else waiting, too?
[This message has been edited by Grayson Morris (edited September 10, 2011).]
posted
Hmm. Well, I guess that makes this another rejection. Presumably that email will come or else it got eaten in the same glitch that caused trouble with the HMs.
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I'm still unsure. I entered the story on the last day and had trouble the day before. The confirmation came the day after, so I am not sure which quarter it got entered. What are your recommendations, should I follow up?
Posts: 789 | Registered: Aug 2007
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Yes, send a query to Joni. You should know which quarter you were entered in, especially if you have another story lined up for Q4.
Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
A straight rejection here, too. There were lots of those in that last group waiting to hear, it seems. It's kind of hard to swallow, but having folks I know write well rejected along with me makes me feel better. It doesn't mean I'm a bad writer, or even that I wrote a bad story; it just means KD didn't like it.