posted
@RyanB: Not at all. Feel free to send your story off immediately to Group 2. Be sure to (re-)read the first post of this thread to see what will be expected of you. Thanks for joining!
I was hoping mine would done this weekend but the revision and spell-proofreader check may not be finished until Monday. That depends on how much computer time I get.
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I redid the opening again. I hope I didn't mess it up bad but I have had all types of trouble with that opening. I think it's closer to what I first envision it to be. I had to modify that vision when I finally wrote it out when I wrote it originally. Now when I went back to add more of the five human senses to the opening--I had only sight--I also rearranged sentences so it is, as I said, closer to what it should be.
I also had to redo other sentences as I went along. I mentioned one character sooner, deleted a couple of points I never made use of and tried to cut a few of the He-s at the start of sentences. Not done yet. I played around too much and I had to do more work on this one to cut the stupid mistakes and unused stuff than usual for my stories. It better be one of my better stories when I get done.
Started the crit on the story I have received.
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posted
Couple of questions. Is it better to submit paper or electronically? I read that semi-finalists get critiques. Do you only get these if you submit paper and a SASE to get it back? Is the main reason to send a SASE so you might get notes jotted down from the judge(s)?
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quote:Originally posted by RyanB: Couple of questions. Is it better to submit paper or electronically? I read that semi-finalists get critiques. Do you only get these if you submit paper and a SASE to get it back? Is the main reason to send a SASE so you might get notes jotted down from the judge(s)?
I prefer electronic, and from what I understand, electronic subs get an answer faster. I am curious if they print out all the electronic subs before reading them, so that they evaluate both electronic and paper subs to make sure they are judging all of them the same.
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quote:Originally posted by RyanB: Couple of questions. Is it better to submit paper or electronically? I read that semi-finalists get critiques. Do you only get these if you submit paper and a SASE to get it back? Is the main reason to send a SASE so you might get notes jotted down from the judge(s)?
I prefer electronic, and from what I understand, electronic subs get an answer faster. I am curious if they print out all the electronic subs before reading them, so that they evaluate both electronic and paper subs to make sure they are judging all of them the same.
I read a comment (I think linked from the OP) that made me believe she reads electronic submissions electronically (something about author names in the filename).
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posted
Hi, Group 1; I've received and critted three submissions, sending them back to their authors, however, I've only got one crit back on my submission (Thank you, Liz)... If you haven't got your piece back, please let me know.
quote:Originally posted by mbwood: Hi, Group 1; I've received and critted three submissions, sending them back to their authors, however, I've only got one crit back on my submission (Thank you, Liz)... If you haven't got your piece back, please let me know.
mbwood
Hi Malcolm and rest of Group 1,
I've received critiques from everyone Thank you all. I've critiqued one story, and am in the process of the critiquing the second. I plan to have finished both Liz's and Malcolm's no later than Sunday. I'm just juggling a lot of projects, but will get it back to you soon.
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posted
Thought that might be the case. Will be ready day after tomorrow. Sweltering in almost 40 degree C temps today and tomorrow -- and me out in the noon-day sun for, well, a long time.
posted
Everyone in Group 2, feel free to send yours my way whenever you're ready I'll have mine out in the next day or two.
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posted
Hellooo Group 2. Been a heck of a week and the weekend is looking just as bad. I may not be up to my usual speed in replying.
On that note, there appeared to be different expectations in what a critique meant in the first draft phase. For me, a critique is a broad-brush look at plot, structure, setting, character etc. An edit, on the other hand, is where I'd take a large axe to your manuscript and make holous-bolous changes and insert acerbic comments. But I wouldn't change your story.
So, to avoid confusion, you can have from me either a critique or an edit. I'm sorry I can't do both, they both require a different mindset in my case. (Obviously a male failing)
Anna, I received your story, which treatment do you want. A considered, big-picture evaluation or the Grumpy old guy chewing up your pencil? And I extend that to all contributors -- ask for one and be careful what you ask for. I don't bite, but I can nibble savagely.
Phil.
PS: I'm ready to get your ms, I'll be sending out mine tomorrow. And, as a pps, check your spam folder if you don't get anything either as a submission or a critique.
[ February 08, 2013, 02:38 PM: Message edited by: Grumpy old guy ]
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posted
A ppps, if there is even such a thing. I don't mind giving feedback and answering questions -- so don't be shy if I've said something you want to know more about.
posted
For anyone waiting on a crit from me, I'll be sending them out this week, and thank you to those from Group 2 who have sent me crits already.
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posted
I've returned crits to everyone who sent me one--if anyone has sent me their story but not gotten a crit back, please let me know and I'll resend it:)
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Hmm, I may have forgotten, did you change your E-mail address without changing it here? A couple hatrackers did change addresses as I recall.
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posted
I resent the story and he got it evidently.
But I have one more story to crit for here. I think I'm doing it out of order of when I received it but it should be done by Wednesday or earlier.
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posted
Well, it seems that life, the fates and circumstance have all conspired to ruin my day. I won't be submitting my story to WotF this quarter, maybe another go, next time. To all who've provided critiques and feedback: Thank-you so very much.
So many of the suggestions were useful in polishing the story and have even prompted some structural changes. I shall put Caitlin aside for a few months and let it 'mature'. When I get around to doing the re-write, I hope some of you may be interested enough to want to have a read.
Again, thanks for the help all of you have provided.
posted
I've critiqued three stories from group 2 (all the ones I received - if you are expecting a critique from me and haven't received it, let me know, as I probably missed the e-mail for your story), and received all my critiques. Thank you all for your comments and good luck to everyone!
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quote:Originally posted by Grumpy old guy: Well, it seems that life, the fates and circumstance have all conspired to ruin my day. I won't be submitting my story to WotF this quarter, maybe another go, next time. To all who've provided critiques and feedback: Thank-you so very much.
So many of the suggestions were useful in polishing the story and have even prompted some structural changes. I shall put Caitlin aside for a few months and let it 'mature'. When I get around to doing the re-write, I hope some of you may be interested enough to want to have a read.
Again, thanks for the help all of you have provided.
Phil.
I agree with Ryan even though it took me a while to get back tho this.
Your story is written after all and you have to the last day to mail it in or if you do it electronically you may have to 11 that night. I would say five to 12 but they sometimes cut it off early.
You know how much time you need to work on it but even if it's not quite polished as you want it to be try it anyway.
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posted
This was my first time doing a Hatrack group and my first time submitting to WotF. I just wanted to say it's been a great experience so far. I received many helpful comments which I think have greatly improved my story.
I also read several great stories and I hope my comments helped their authors half as much as their comments helped me.
Thanks everyone and Good Luck!
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For those who have read it, I cut around 500 words, that is with a few I added. That was with help.
More people disliked than liked it by a good percentage. Which is probably not good but THANKS a bunch you all.
A very hard story, the opening was a pain to get the way I wanted it and other sections were redone and/or moved. I quit working on it for a while but it's done and sent.
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posted
As usual, I am squeaking in at the last minute. This will be the first time I submitted a story I wasn't completely happy with, but here goes nothing.
posted
Been awhile since anyone has posted here, while we wait.
But I want to say that my birthday is toward the end of the month and it would be great to get a phone call from a certain Nice lady with a lovely voice between now and a day or two after.
According to the Quarter thinkers over at WotF forum it is possible that phone calls could go out between now and then.
Of course if I get one, that is another matter.
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posted
I noticed that Dave has been talking about reading entries in his kicks. I wonder how long it takes to sift through 1000+ entries?
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posted
BTW, Q2 was my first ever entry. I successfully put it out of my mind these last few months, but now that rejections have started I'm all nervous again.
Being my first entry, I had pretty much written it off as a loser. At this point I have no idea whether it was any good or not. But there's something about having your work judged in a high-stakes contest that's nerve wracking.
At least I have this quarter's story to think about.
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posted
Mine came in last night, instead of waiting for the last batch like usual.
On another forum I had mention how it would good to get a call from a certain lovely lady this week because of my birthday at the end of the week. But no birthday gift from David even if technically someone could say it would a gift from me to myself--and with a lot of rejections coming in at the moment, no gifts from any other editor either, not even a nice personal comment. Scott P over at F&SF would probably tell me to spend more time on the stories if he said anything.
I forgot to mention that I'm also excited to see how everyone else in group did. When last quarters' results were announced I knew a few of the names from around here. But I actually got to read your HM story and the others in the group (though not the final/submitted versions I guess).
So the results will be doubly or triply exciting this time.
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