I went ahead and revised my original story to meet the word count, gave it a new title, scheduled for publication 10/31/25 06:00AM CDT and copied the link to the form. I hope I did it correctly. Thanks.
Hi Larry, unfortunately, the link you provided does not match the example that was provided along with a step-by-step guide on how to find that link when you are in the Draft of your post. Please DM the TiF Team account the correct link to confirm your post is there so we can properly consider it a contest entry. As it stands, we are unable to accept it as a contest entry until we have the correct Secret draft link. Thanks!
I’m new to all of this. Thank you for the feature this month. I appreciate Wendy’s encouragement. I have a story that I wrote this summer after accepting Wendy’s invite to give her writing challenge a try. Can I submit it with a June Substack publish date? Also, it’s compact at about 408 words. Does that make it ineligible? If the date and length prevent submission, can I revise the story to 500 words and resubmit to participate? I’m sorry, I’m a bit of a Boomer. Thanks.
Hi Gerard, the deadline is October 15th for submissions. We have already started reading submissions immediately after they come in, but we also have two weeks before 10/31 to read and judge and choose a winner. When you submit your story you provide us with a link that gives us access to view your story before you actually post it on 10/31. Hope this answers your questions/concerns.
Hi Gerard, if you are wanting to enter the contest, please click the SUBMISSION link that is in the post. There is a step-by-step guide (with screenshots) that explain how to find the link you require in order to enter.
While an official copyright (through the copyright office) is your best protection, if you can prove you had first access (meaning you wrote it), with a time/date documentation, that's proof. When you publish it and receive your email confirmation, that should be saved with its identifying date and emailed to you. I archive everything I write via Gmail for easy retrieval. Such documentation is all you need (and lots of $$) to fight the bastards in court, where you'll probably settle with 'em when you can't afford to pay a lawyer to go to all the depositions. (Been there, done that!) But such documentation will win if you don't settle out of court.
I would say that the only reason for no copyright/IP characters is just so they can publish your piece with your permission without all the paperwork. It's just a kind of quid pro quo.
Hi Gerard, appreciate your attention to detail here but the reason for this is so we can avoid receiving any "fan fiction" stories or stories with characters/IP that the OP doesn't own. As you stated, "without all the paperwork" as we may choose it to win the prize or extend an offer to include it in the future anthology.
Done and published. https://gmdileo.substack.com/p/ideomancy
i hope i can get something done in time... i have an idea...
I went ahead and revised my original story to meet the word count, gave it a new title, scheduled for publication 10/31/25 06:00AM CDT and copied the link to the form. I hope I did it correctly. Thanks.
Hi Larry, unfortunately, the link you provided does not match the example that was provided along with a step-by-step guide on how to find that link when you are in the Draft of your post. Please DM the TiF Team account the correct link to confirm your post is there so we can properly consider it a contest entry. As it stands, we are unable to accept it as a contest entry until we have the correct Secret draft link. Thanks!
This may be beyond my boomer abilities, but I’ll try. Thanks.
(You'll need to be in the Draft of your post) Settings (bottom right) -> Secret draft link -> Click "Copy link" Button
Yes. I think I figured it out! Woo hoo!
I’m new to all of this. Thank you for the feature this month. I appreciate Wendy’s encouragement. I have a story that I wrote this summer after accepting Wendy’s invite to give her writing challenge a try. Can I submit it with a June Substack publish date? Also, it’s compact at about 408 words. Does that make it ineligible? If the date and length prevent submission, can I revise the story to 500 words and resubmit to participate? I’m sorry, I’m a bit of a Boomer. Thanks.
How can you read and judge all submissions that are published the same day? Is that possible?
Hi Gerard, the deadline is October 15th for submissions. We have already started reading submissions immediately after they come in, but we also have two weeks before 10/31 to read and judge and choose a winner. When you submit your story you provide us with a link that gives us access to view your story before you actually post it on 10/31. Hope this answers your questions/concerns.
My story now posted: https://gmdileo.substack.com/p/ideomancy
Maybe I'm an ingoramus, but how do I get a link you can view without actually posting it. I'm ready. Can I link to a draft?
Hi Gerard, if you are wanting to enter the contest, please click the SUBMISSION link that is in the post. There is a step-by-step guide (with screenshots) that explain how to find the link you require in order to enter.
I had some stories to share but then I read no copyright or IP characters 🥲
While an official copyright (through the copyright office) is your best protection, if you can prove you had first access (meaning you wrote it), with a time/date documentation, that's proof. When you publish it and receive your email confirmation, that should be saved with its identifying date and emailed to you. I archive everything I write via Gmail for easy retrieval. Such documentation is all you need (and lots of $$) to fight the bastards in court, where you'll probably settle with 'em when you can't afford to pay a lawyer to go to all the depositions. (Been there, done that!) But such documentation will win if you don't settle out of court.
I would say that the only reason for no copyright/IP characters is just so they can publish your piece with your permission without all the paperwork. It's just a kind of quid pro quo.
Hi Gerard, appreciate your attention to detail here but the reason for this is so we can avoid receiving any "fan fiction" stories or stories with characters/IP that the OP doesn't own. As you stated, "without all the paperwork" as we may choose it to win the prize or extend an offer to include it in the future anthology.
Sounds like a good time.
Wooo! Excited for this one.
sure.