generic responses seems to be the order of the day. I received this yesterday...
"Dear Writers of the Future Contestant,
Just a quick note to let you know that if you have not entered the contest recently, we encourage entering as often as you possibly can. I know life does get in the way sometimes, but we are still here and are still encouraging you to write. If you have entered since last year, this does not apply to you. If you have not, we are still here.
Looking forward to your next submission!
Best,
Joni Labaqui Contest Director"
Hmm, maybe entries have dropped off? What d'you think?
posted
Obviously not Jennifer but I have received E-mails like that before.
I too wonder if submissions have dropped off when I get them. But at the same time it is said they have a record number of entries. (Shoulder shrug)
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posted
I didn't get one of those e-mails this time. I doubt it's a drop in submissions. It might be routine to send them out once in awhile to encourage writers to continue entering.
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posted
Well, Jennifer, another week, another Thursday and... nothing!
I wonder why it is taking so long. Could it be due to the award ceremonies in addition to the unfortunate passing of KDW?
In my case (since I submitted early), it is almost six months. With a little more than a month until the next submission deadline, that will mean the judges will soon be sitting on three sets of entries. Wow - holy backlog!
Posts: 216 | Registered: May 2011
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posted
Mbwood, you beat me to it this week. Nothing on my end, either. I am now one day away from my longest WotF wait ever in 14 quarters of entering. The last time I waited this long, I got a straight rejection on the same day the finalists were announced. Here's hoping for better this time.
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posted
Someone on the WotF forum said that he/she (don't know which by the handle) has talked with David Wolverton, who confirmed he will be the new coordinating judge and that there will be an official announcement next week. Maybe after that, they'll get with announcing the rest of the Q1 results. The thread is here.Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
You can understand if they get two quarters behind. Losing KD Wentworth is a big blow to their judging.
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posted
We can hope so. But if not, keep hammering away at Q3 or Q4 or whatever Q you're now working on. The results will come ... eventually.
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posted
Oh, dear, Jennifer, another Thursday has come and gone, and no news... Whatever is happening now? Will we ever know?
Yes, I'm working on Q3 & Q4, but what about the results of Q1? Yes, another Thursday... Oh, me! Oh, my!
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posted
I think Dustin and Crystal are also still waiting, so that makes four of us. Anyone else? It doesn't help that someone reported a 66-day rejection to Duotrope this afternoon. Was the person confused or messing with our minds? Hmm.
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quote:Originally posted by JenniferHicks: It doesn't help that someone reported a 66-day rejection to Duotrope this afternoon. Was the person confused or messing with our minds? Hmm.
Could be they received the rejection a while ago and are just reporting it now.
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posted
If I remember right they indicated that KDW hadn't gotten to reading the snail mail submissions when she passed, so it's conceivable that some of those rejections could be coming out now.
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posted
Hey, Jennifer, I just received this e-mail from Joni Labaqui:
"This is a note to let you know that your story has indeed been entered in the 2nd quarter of the 2012 Writers of the Future contest. Yes, we start a bit early around here, only because way back in 1984 when this contest started the very first quarter was in October. So we just rolled from there and here we are now into the 29th year!
I'll start sending out results starting and we'll have winners in June."
Does this mean we should hear something soon?
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posted
Yeah, I got that e-mail this morning and had a small freak-out because I figured it had to be a Q1 straight rejection. At this point, I can almost see some of us receiving a response on Q2 before Q1.
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posted
Some of us are in one quarter, some in two quarters and a few in three quarters--depending if they have sent in the next story yet.
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posted
I echo your sentiments. Since I entered early, I don't know the number of day, but it's a lot. I've got my fingers crossed.
Posts: 216 | Registered: May 2011
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posted
The day isn't over, but no. Nothing. At this point, I kind of hope the wait goes through the weekend so I can enter my Q3 story and have three stories to WotF at the same time.
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posted
Hello, Jennifer, I didn't get anything today, either. I just sent in my Q3 story, and I'm already finishing up my planned Q4 piece.
This waiting is kind of nerve-wracking. Yes, I want to win, I want validation for the time and effort spent becoming a writer. I'm sure you feel the same.
Remember the first rule of writing... Write!
Posts: 216 | Registered: May 2011
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posted
So Mb, do you even remember what story you sent in for Quarter one. Joni asked for the name of mine and I honestly couldn't remember which one it was.
Second question, has anyone received their HM certificates for Quarter one. There was a flurry of e-mails about them a month or so ago and then nothing.
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posted
Not mb but I had problems remembering my story's title also but I don't recall Joni asking for the title, but maybe she did since I looked for it.
But she did say the HMs were going out soon. But nothing yet and I think it's a bit beyond soon. Even though that is subjective.
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posted
Having a Duotrope account is wonderful for remembering those sorts of pesky things like titles and submission dates ...
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posted
Hey, Utahute, for some strange reason I do remember the title of my Q1 entry (and my entries rest for this year - including Q4, which isn't due yet). However, I only have a vague idea as to the date of their entry. I'm only hoping Joni will call and ask me for the name of my Q1 entry... How about you, Jennifer?
Posts: 216 | Registered: May 2011
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posted
WotF has finally put out the press release announcing Dave Wolverton as the new coordinating judge. They also released this one about "off world" being the top theme among recent entries. I hope these are signals that we're about to get the final responses for the quarter.
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posted
That's a good thing that your Q1 story isn't part of the crowd, Dustin. Maybe by next quarter, the trend will be something else, like cybernetic puppies or space pirates. I have written no stories at all that take place in beyond known space, so I'm good.
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posted
There are reports on the WotF forum of some Q1 responses going out today. Nothing on Duotrope yet.
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posted
Hi, Jennifer, I haven't heard or received anything - have you? What kind of Q1 responses on the WotF forum (I don't know anything about that forum)? Are they rejections or notifications?
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posted
Honorable mentions are being sent to folks in the "hold" pile. Three that I've heard of second-hand. Nothing for the paper subs so far.
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posted
Yeah, it's getting kind of intense with all the hearsay over on the Q1 thread. With no responses in the actual report thread, I'm curious if we have some pranksters, or if forum folk are just fairing better than others. Posts: 35 | Registered: May 2012
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Even I hope it doesn't hurt anyone feelings that I got my HM certificate today. As I looked at the title of my story I thought there could be as many as three or four people who would be surprised to see it on the HM certificate.
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posted
I'm glad the certificates are going out. Shiny!
Again, I'm passing on information from the WotF forum, this time from someone who talked with David Wolverton at a workshop. He didn't get to reading the entries left after KDW's death until this past week. He had planned to finish Q1 by yesterday.
The good news is that those of us still waiting should hear very soon. The bad news is we've all been obsessively looking for responses for weeks for no reason. Grr.
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posted
Oh, Jennifer, I do have a reason to obsess over the long-overdue response - I want to hear the good news, yes, I pine for it... I'm sure you understand.
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posted
David Farland (aka Wolverton) announced on his facebook page that he has finished judging all the Q1 entries.
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I haven't heard a thing. My silence is due to the distraction of yard cleanup and other home owner duties. I have my fingers crossed and offering silent prayers at regular intervals. I'm puzzled as to where Axe got his info on the finalists... And, whether it is true. If so, I shall contemplate a suitable end... mbwood
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This is from someone with mad connections: "Anonymous source said Joni told them they were the last two to be notified, and so they were free to tell people."
Jeremy Brink from Texas Holly Heisey from Arizona Marina J. Lostetter from Arkansas Sean Monaghan from Manawatu, New Zealand Tina Smith from California Martin Shoemaker from Michigan Stephen Sottong from California Chris Stamp of Perthshire, United Kingdom
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