[dragon13writer]

I know I don't get here very often, I have a limited amount of internet time. I just realized it's been almost two years since I last logged on. I'm surprised my account is still here.

I was wondering if anybody else had sent a story to these people. I sent a story to Parsec http://www.parsec-sff.org/ in April and according to the website notifications were to be received by June 15. I've been anxiously awaiting the results. So far the letter hasn't shown up and the contest page on their website hasn't been updated. Last year results showed up on time and even though I didn't win, I did like the response they sent with the letter. I'm looking for others who submitted and may have received a response so I can quit worrying about it.

Any help would be appreciated.

[kmtolan]

I would quit worrying about it in any case. They are either busy or defunct - I would bet they're just busy.

Kerry

[expatrie]

First, I'm surprised they even send notifications. Most contests publish the winner and move on from there.

Second, I've been following but gave up a few weeks ago, figuring there was no time for "me" to get a contract and return it and for them to then cast the story into the printers and get the programs in time for the convention.

When I checked the website just now, I saw they had a note late last week that the winners actually haven't been announced. Which is a surprise, I guess. Either the winner hasn't been picked, or the winner hasn't been announced.

Just figured out how to quote.

Writing Contest Delay
16 July 2010

The winners of the writing contest would normally have been announced at this time. Unfortunately, due to uncontrollable circumstances, that announcement has been delayed.

Please be patient and stay tuned.


Lastly, duotrope.com says there are "twelve reports outstanding." Two of those are mine. <strike>Those could very well both be me</strike>. I'm pretty sure I was holding the "rejected" update until they listed the winners. They allow multiple submissions so I mailed two stories.

Learned something new today, thanks to you for asking the question.

John Scalzi is the contest judge and he or his blog might have some information...

--Brian.

Added after reply below: I'm pretty sure they've picked and notified, so we didn't win. They need a signed contract and right to print before they go to press for the convention program, and the convention is (I believe) this weekend.

The literal read of the announcement is they haven't "announced" the winner.

[dragon13writer]

Thanks for the info. I was wondering if everybody else was in a pickle not knowing like I was. I'd sent them an e-mail about a week after the notification deadline but didn't get a reply. As for the notifications, they gave me a brief critique last year. I have no idea how many stories they get each year or how many first round judges. It's a whole different experience being a contest judge.

Thanks again, good luck.

[JohnKurt]

I was wondering if anybody else had sent a story to these people. I sent a story to Parsec http://www.parsec-sff.org/ in April and according to the website notifications were to be received by June 15. I've been anxiously awaiting the results. So far the letter hasn't shown up and the contest page on their website hasn't been updated. Last year results showed up on time and even though I didn't win, I did like the response they sent with the letter.

I didn't submit this year, but did last year. Wasn't a short, rather it was admittedly the first chapter in my book (that matched the theme). Wanted to see what would happen. I did get a response when contest moved to finalist stage. I think I made it to final 50 or something. They even commented on / complimented my writing, (shockingly).

They were very nice. Therefore, if you've not heard back, maybe there's a chance you're a finalist?? Dont want to get your hopes up, but I did get a response last year.

~J

[Sterling13]

I didn't submit this year either, but I did last year as well. I was shocked to actually get real feedback, which was pretty cool (a very long paragraph).

They did mention in my response letter how many stories they received... my letter states that there were '... 215 valid entries...'. Top 26 made a second round of screeners, and, from there, the top 10 made it to the final judges. (I made it as far as the top 26, so I thought that was pretty cool).

[expatrie]

I sent a SASE with my entries, and when I got an email saying they'd arrived (I had printer issues and had asked Ann Cecil about an electronic sub, but fixed it before she'd replied and so she said she'd received them) I wondered what the SASE was going to do.

Like I wrote earlier, I knew I hadn't won and cashed out the submission on duotrope so it wouldn't prompt me about being red (out past 90 days).

Anyway, I got the SASE today, with an 8 Sept postmark. So I updated duotrope. Ann wrote a nice just over a page note about the winners and a paragraph on each of my stories and why they didn't win. It was helpful feedback. Based on her feedback, I realize again I have a tendency to write stuff that's clear enough to me, the author, but not clear to a reader. That and this year's theme had me playing with insane or delusional first person narrators. Maybe my skills just aren't up to handling a crazy narrator in the first person and make it clear to the reader.

Anyway, if you sent a SASE with your entry, you might have mail coming soon.

--Brian.

Curiously enough, someone from my neighborhood won. I've probably cut them off in traffic.