I didn’t think it would ever happen…but it did! I won Writers of the Future! And first place even!
First thoughts?
Yay! I’m going to the workshop to learn from real pros!
Yay! I’ll get to meet and talk to people who are as geeky as me without them judging my love of genre fiction!
Yay! I’m going to be published in an already well-received anthology that will actually sit on bookshelves in actual bookstores!
Yay! I’m going to get up in front of a whole bunch of people to give an acceptance speech and sign books with super shaky hands!
…uh. *hides under desk*
Yeah, okay, those last two have me nervous as hell, but I’ve a year to prepare. :)
Right now, I’m still in a state of shock. I kept expecting Joni to call me back and tell me ‘Oops, I totally tallied things up backwards and you actually were 8/8.’ As it was I had two loud children talking/crying next to me as I was trying to talk to her so she was probably grateful when she finally got off the phone with me. I’m not really sure I could do much about that so hopefully she’s the forgiving type.
My stats for the contest for any interested:
Total of 7 submission (8 if you count my Q2 2011 sub that just got pulled).
Q3 2009: Rejection
Q4 2009: HM
Q1 2010: HM
Q2 2010: Semi-Finalist
Q3 2010: Finalist
Q4 2010: HM
Q1 2011: 1st Place Winner
Q2 2011: Pulled
The two Finalists and the pulled story for Q2 were my attempts at writing to market. I owe a bunch to the Writers of the Future forum that I stalked for information. Goldmine there, if anyone is looking for tips. So thank you to all the peoples who asked questions so my shy, introverted self didn’t have to. :)
Also, previous winner Brad Torgersen has a great write-up here about his thoughts on how to win the contest and I highly recommend anyone submitting to give it a look. It helped me out alot. I especially want to reiterate buying a recent copy of the anthology, picking out the stories you love and delving into them to discover why you loved them so you can apply those basic elements in your own stories. Stress on the ones you love.
No sure things, but the research I did helped me rise from an HM to Finalist, though I admit to being convinced it would take me at least 5 Finalists before I might actually win – 5 being a generic big number that felt far away and impossible. (Yes, bad me went back and reread my story and mentally rejected myself before I got the results back from Joni.)
Yes, I’m rambling. Yes, I’m excited. My honey is probably tired of listening to me talk about the workshop next year. :) I guess he has almost a year to suffer. :)
Marie Croke 
Huge congratulations! Well done, and nice job sticking with it and keeping up the submissions despite not scoring with your first Finalist. I keep telling people, if they’re getting regular HM, Semi, etc, then it’s just a matter of time. And first place gives you a shot at the Gold Award money. Very cool!
Thanks! Your success is pretty inspiring for me – especially considering you seem to be going forward through some serious hard work. Helps keep me up at night working instead of going straight to bed once the kids are down :)
In truth, I should be working much harder than I currently am. (grin) But yes, there is no substitute for just putting your shoulder to the wheel and pushing, pushing, pushing, until you make it to your goal. I’m very pleased that you landed your win — and also pleased that you feel my advice played some small part in it. Makes me glad I sat down and typed that post up two years ago. Enjoy the next year of knowing you’re a winner. May it further spur your writing and help you be even more successful and more productive. Again, well done, Marie.
Congratulations! It’s good to see your persistence paying off.
And Congrats to you too on your recent Nebula win!
Congratulations! Get ready for your life to change. I’m a year ahead of you (1st quarter, 1st place, 2010) and am still trying to get it straight in my head.
Are you on Facebook?
Thanks :) Right now I have to keep reminding myself that I don’t have to get something in for the end of June, it’s like it slips my mind that I’ve won. I always have notes everywhere and keep finding some that say ‘WotF deadline!!’ Feels odd for that market to be off my list now after being a #1 priority for so long. How long did that adjustment take?
And technically yes, made an account a year or so ago, but I’m pretty sure it’s blank and friendless…
I just wanted to drop by and give you my congrats and all. I just started entering and hope to win someday too. I have two young kids too and it keeps me motivated to see another mom doing what I aspire to do. I’ll have to check out your short story collections now…after all – it’s now an excellent example of what kind of writing will win Writers of the Future :)
Thanks :) I know from experience writing when they’re littles isn’t the easiest so you have my admiration. With as many writers out there who either don’t have kids or their kids are old enough they don’t need 24/7 attention, it’s rather nice to see someone else who’s going at it the same as me :) Good luck with your writing and your subs!
Congrats on your WOF (1st place!) win! Hope this isn’t too forward of me, but I’d like to ask a couple of questions. Did you enter in the quarter that starts Oct 1 and and ends Dec 31st? (That would be the first quarter of 2011 if I figured it right). And how long, from the date you entered, did it take for a response? (A quick guesstimate makes it look like…five and half months). Thanks!
Actually, when I wrote Oct1-Dec21st, I should added 2010, and then wrote, that would be the first quarter _for_ 2011 (if I figured it right). Inaccurate typing/writing in my first note, aside, the questions still stand — and I remain on the edge of my seat, awaiting any answers. Thanks, again!
Yep – the quarter that ended dec 31st 2010 was quarter 1 for 2011, and that was the day I got my submission in. Got the finalist call end of March sometime and found out I won on June 1st. So a flat five months for me to find out. However it was 6 months before I found out that my first finalist didn’t place.
Congratulations on having won this! I just was introduced to WOF contest this past year and have been pouring over past winners and their writing. Excellent writing!! I’m looking forward to reading more of your work.