BitsHammer Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Finally got a reply: Hi, Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm in writing for Games Workshop. Unfortunately, your submission is not right for us at this time, and therefore we will not be taking your current application any further. We fully appreciate that you may want feedback, however due to the volume of applications we are not able to provide any. We wish you every success in your future writing endeavours. Kind Regards, The Black Library Author Team Looks like I need to spend more time writing to sharpen my skills some more so that next year I'll have a better shot at it. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4385762 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Carnelian Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Finally got a reply: Hi, Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm in writing for Games Workshop. Unfortunately, your submission is not right for us at this time, and therefore we will not be taking your current application any further. We fully appreciate that you may want feedback, however due to the volume of applications we are not able to provide any. We wish you every success in your future writing endeavours. Kind Regards, The Black Library Author Team Looks like I need to spend more time writing to sharpen my skills some more so that next year I'll have a better shot at it. But you keep those emails and letters, so that when you get that first success, you know what you beat to get there. I got a growing collection right now. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4385766 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aias Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Finally got a reply: Hi, Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm in writing for Games Workshop. Unfortunately, your submission is not right for us at this time, and therefore we will not be taking your current application any further. We fully appreciate that you may want feedback, however due to the volume of applications we are not able to provide any. We wish you every success in your future writing endeavours. Kind Regards, The Black Library Author Team Looks like I need to spend more time writing to sharpen my skills some more so that next year I'll have a better shot at it. Don't feel bad, I just got my rejection, as well. Can't say I'm terribly surprised, but still. Was definitely worth a shot, right? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4385782 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BitsHammer Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 But you keep those emails and letters, so that when you get that first success, you know what you beat to get there. I got a growing collection right now.Currently I've only got rejections from BL once and FW once. Guess I need to get more letters. Don't feel bad, I just got my rejection, as well. Can't say I'm terribly surprised, but still. Was definitely worth a shot, right?I was hoping for success but prepared for rejection. Besides, there is always next year. That's a whole year to refine my writing even further and increase my chances for next time! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4385797 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Idaho Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Don't be disheartened. Even an expertly crafted novel might not be what they're looking for as you have to bear in mind all the factors we might not be aware of - has one of their existing authors already made a similar pitch and had it granted? Did they want a greater focus on a particular aspect for a target audience we aren't aware they're going for? Was it overly complicated and too well written for a short story anthology where they've already filled up on such stories and just want some quick action in opposite to it? Or maybe they didn't like your choice of antagonists at this time? Not that I know what criteria they're looking at but we shouldn't worry too much for not getting through. It's no slight on our abilities or personal. Hell, they got so many submissions, it might have just slipped through the net! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4385952 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigismund229 Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 But you keep those emails and letters, so that when you get that first success, you know what you beat to get there. I got a growing collection right now.Currently I've only got rejections from BL once and FW once. Guess I need to get more letters. Don't feel bad, I just got my rejection, as well. Can't say I'm terribly surprised, but still. Was definitely worth a shot, right?I was hoping for success but prepared for rejection. Besides, there is always next year. That's a whole year to refine my writing even further and increase my chances for next time! How can you have been rejected by Forgeworld? I wasn't aware that they held similar contests? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4386010 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Carnelian Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Don't be disheartened. Even an expertly crafted novel might not be what they're looking for as you have to bear in mind all the factors we might not be aware of - has one of their existing authors already made a similar pitch and had it granted? Did they want a greater focus on a particular aspect for a target audience we aren't aware they're going for? Was it overly complicated and too well written for a short story anthology where they've already filled up on such stories and just want some quick action in opposite to it? Or maybe they didn't like your choice of antagonists at this time? Not that I know what criteria they're looking at but we shouldn't worry too much for not getting through. It's no slight on our abilities or personal. Hell, they got so many submissions, it might have just slipped through the net! Exactly. All you can ever do is make your art as good as you can make it. You can't control someone else's perception or what they're looking for. That goes for everyone, including Black Library editors. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4386027 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aias Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 How can you have been rejected by Forgeworld? I wasn't aware that they held similar contests? They had a job opening for a writer a couple years ago. I did that one, too, and failed out of it as well. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4386069 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqui Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Still haven't heard anything yet, so who knows? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4386097 Share on other sites More sharing options...
simison Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 I wrote about a successor chapter struggling to adapt to a new culture after it was discovered they hailed from a different parent legion. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4386100 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BitsHammer Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 But you keep those emails and letters, so that when you get that first success, you know what you beat to get there. I got a growing collection right now.Currently I've only got rejections from BL once and FW once. Guess I need to get more letters. Don't feel bad, I just got my rejection, as well. Can't say I'm terribly surprised, but still. Was definitely worth a shot, right?I was hoping for success but prepared for rejection. Besides, there is always next year. That's a whole year to refine my writing even further and increase my chances for next time! How can you have been rejected by Forgeworld? I wasn't aware that they held similar contests? FW was hiring writers a couple years ago. I was rejected for lacking professional writing experience. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4386345 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeritorA Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 80 % of success is having a lot of shorts, novellas, novels in your portfolio. If you do not have a long writing experience you chances are slim Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4386702 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BitsHammer Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 80 % of success is having a lot of shorts, novellas, novels in your portfolio. If you do not have a long writing experience you chances are slimEven if you do write a lot many want those to be published works to count. BL skips that but has much vaguer submission standards. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4386805 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldrick Shadowblade Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Keep writing and reading. I teach writing and success is 1 in 100. You'll be rejected about 99% of the time. find time to write everyday. Also, as others have pointed out, you could have had a perfectly fine story idea and they aren't going with that direction this particular time. Keep plugging away. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4387893 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BitsHammer Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Got some tips from a friend I have who cleared the first round. Going to rework my strategy for what I choose and what my pitch is. More open ended and more aiked at booking the reader than highlighting action. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388081 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqui Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 I'm still waiting on a reply. I did enter on the last day (last Sunday), so I dare say that I was one of the last entries to go in. If I don't get any further, well, I could only try Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388162 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelborn Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Wait, wasn't the deadline on the 29th of April? That was a Friday. oO Nevertheless, got no reply as well until now. Think that it will arrive in the next couple of days. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388173 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqui Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Wait, wasn't the deadline on the 29th of April? That was a Friday. oO Nevertheless, got no reply as well until now. Think that it will arrive in the next couple of days. Sigh - it's been a long day, I meant Friday Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388178 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelborn Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Mine, too. Was just confused . ;) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388185 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loddfafnir113 Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Wait, wasn't the deadline on the 29th of April? That was a Friday. oO Nevertheless, got no reply as well until now. Think that it will arrive in the next couple of days. Sigh - it's been a long day, I meant Friday Yeah mine was the Friday too and I'm still waiting. I expect they got inundated with submissions on the last day, plus the Monday they wouldn't be working due to the bank holiday so I'm expecting a yea or nay monday/tuesday. Still checking my email religiously on a daily basis though :P Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388221 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Rohr Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 I wrote a story about an Ultramarines strike force of three tactical marines including captain equipped with multilasers and allying with chaos marines to stave off a Tyranid invasion after defeating an entire Tau fleet with one strike cruiser. I got a three book deal with a hefty advance. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388239 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BitsHammer Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 I wrote a story about an Ultramarines strike force of three tactical marines including captain equipped with multilasers and allying with chaos marines to stave off a Tyranid invasion after defeating an entire Tau fleet with one strike cruiser. I got a three book deal with a hefty advance. Well played Mr. Goto. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388254 Share on other sites More sharing options...
veterannoob Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 3 books and hefty advance. From open submission or are you already a BL author finding your way in through a past open call? Either way? Grats :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388257 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frater Antodeniel Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 I wrote a story about an Ultramarines strike force of three tactical marines including captain equipped with multilasers and allying with chaos marines to stave off a Tyranid invasion after defeating an entire Tau fleet with one strike cruiser. I got a three book deal with a hefty advance. A Warning : Don't come near the Flesh Tearers with such alliances ideas ! (Having to do with a Flesh Tearers + Sisters and a Blood Angels + Necrons is enough to deal with, no need to put a second layer of non-sense and heresy). On a side note : GG =) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388496 Share on other sites More sharing options...
exetus Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 Mine was way too cookie cutter... Space Marines of one of my own Chapters taking their already extremist ideology to excess and there being a schism in the ranks as they fight for the soul of the Chapter, ending with exterminatus of a planet to hide all evidence of the event. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/7/#findComment-4388998 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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