GET READY FOR THE NEW VOLUME OF AWARD-WINNING TALENT!
Have you heard of Writers of the Future—the world's largest Science Fiction and Fantasy writing contest for aspiring authors? Imagine an anthology that publishes the best sci-fi short stories from new international authors each year!
And who would be qualified to hand-pick those entries that measure up? None other than famed authors Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, Nnedi Okorafor, Jody Lynn Nye, Kevin J Anderson, Larry Niven, and more of your favorites.
As author and contest judge Robert J. Sawyer says, “See the best-of-the-best culled for you, curated and selected in a single volume every year.”
While the Gold Award winners will be announced at the Gala Black-Tie Awards event on April 28th, I got a sneak peek and have outlined highlights and winning stories for your pleasure.
With unforgettable yarns ranging from aliens in your TV set to shapeshifters; from challenging your concept of how to decide what’s real to regaining your innate powers; and immortal tips from the great Masters, you’re sure to be entertained and expanded.
All you have to do is turn the page and enter your private multiverse of pure imagination. So grab a cup o’ joe, and let’s whet your appetite.
.
Tips from the Top:
“Every year the Writers of the Future Contest inspires new writers and helps to launch their careers. The combination of reward, recognition, instruction, and opportunity for beginning authors is unparalleled. There is no contest comparable to the Writers of the Future.”—Rebecca Moesta Writers of the Future Contest judge
In every issue, you’ll find insights for writers from contest founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Here are his thoughts about the power of science fiction to change the world.
“Science fiction does NOT come after the fact of a scientific discovery or development. It is the herald of possibility. It is the plea that someone should work on the future. Yet it is not prophecy. It is the dream that precedes the dawn when the inventor or scientist awakens and goes to his books or his lab saying, ‘I wonder whether I could make that dream come true in the world of real science.’…
“You have satellites out there, man has walked on the moon, you have probes going to the planets, don’t you? Somebody had to dream the dream, and a lot of somebodies like those great writers of The Golden Age and later had to get an awful lot of people interested in it to make it true.” —L. Ron Hubbard Battlefield Earth, Introduction
And this from his introduction to the first volume launching the Contest:
“A culture is as rich and as capable of surviving as it has imaginative artists. The artist is looked upon to start things. The artist injects the spirit of life into a culture. And through his creative endeavors, the writer works continually to give tomorrow a new form.
“In these modern times, there are many communication lines for works of art. Because a few works of art can be shown so easily to so many, there may even be fewer artists. The competition is very keen and even dagger sharp.”
“It is with this in mind that I initiated a means for new and budding writers to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged.” —L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Volume 1, Introduction
Welcome to the largest forum on planet Earth for inciting interest in speculative fiction!
.
Tip from WOTF Podcast 44: Writing Short Stories that Sell, from Contest Judges
“Have a purpose for your story, know where you’re going with it, and don’t go off on tangents because you don’t have the real estate to do that [in a short story]. You need to keep in mind what your story is, what your character’s goal is and go there! Of course, don’t forget your twist at the end.” —Jodi Lynn Nye, Lead Contest Judge
.
Tip from the King of Illustrators, Frank Frazetta:
“The definition of artist is a creative person who is totally honest and original. Bingo! If you want to appear to be an artist, if you want to convince me that you’re an artist, I don’t care how detailed it is, I don’t care whether it’s less than perfect. If it’s original, it comes from the heart and makes a statement that appeals to people like me emotionally, I’ll just love you to death. That’s my recommendation.” — “Advice from a Master: Frank Frazetta” on YouTube
.
Ready for Volume 39 story teasers? Here we go!
Reserve your copy today. It will release in US and Canadian bookstores on May 16th and international markets on July 18th.
Art and Writing Tips from the Masters:
“Circulate” by L. Ron Hubbard: Do you ever wish for an effective cure for writer’s block?
“What Is Art Direction?” by Lazarus Chernik: How can artists realize their dream in the fast world of marketing?
“Prioritize to Increase Your Writing” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: What does it mean for a creative person to take care of yourself?
.
Bonus Short Stories:
“Fire in the Hole” by Kevin J. Anderson: Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I., ‘nuff said!
“The Unwilling Hero” by L. Ron Hubbard: What would you do if your editor ordered you to outer space?
“Constant Never” by S. M. Stirling: Knights and dragons, unexpectedly perverse.
.
12 Award-Winning Authors—Story Synopses
“Kitsune” by Devon Bohm: A miracle? An omen? Or something else? One day, they arrived in droves—the foxes of the desert, the field, the imagination…
“Moonlight and Funk” by Marianne Xenos: When a vampire, a dragon and a shape-shifting Chihuahua meet on a beach in Key West, fireworks go off! But that’s just the background.
“Death and the Taxman” by David Hankins: The Grim Reaper, trapped in an IRS agent’s dying body, must regain his powers before he dies and faces judgment for his original sin.
“Under My Cypresses” by Jason Palmatier: In a metaverse future, a woman who exposes falseness in others must decide what is real to her—the love she lost or the love she may have found.
“White Elephant” by David K. Henrickson: Dangerous opportunities present themselves when an alien ship arrives in the solar system seeking repairs.
“Piracy for Beginners” by J. R. Johnson: With her spaceship at the wrong end of a pirate’s guns, a former war hero must face down her enemies and demons to save Earth’s last best chance for peace.
“A Trickle in History” by Elaine Midcoh: Years after the Second Holocaust, the last surviving Jews on earth attempt to rewrite the past.
“The Withering Sky” by Arthur H. Manners: When I said I’d do anything to pay off my debts and get back home to Earth, I didn’t mean survey a derelict spaceship at the edge of the solar system—but here I am.
“The Fall of Crodendra M.” by T. J. Knight: High-powered telescopes bring galactic life to our TVs, and network tuner Hank Enos figures he’s seen everything—until the day an alien boy stares back.
“The Children of Desolation” by Spencer Sekulin: Determined to save his wife, Tumelo takes an unlikely client through South Africa’s ruins to the heart of the Desolation—a journey that will cost or save everything.
“Timelines and Bloodlines” by L. H. Davis: When a terrorist smuggles a nuclear weapon into London, a team regresses in time to AD 1093 to assassinate a knight on the battlefield, thereby eliminating the terrorist a millennia before his birth.
“The Last History” by Samuel Parr: The Grand Exam, a gateway to power for one, likely death for all others—its entrants include ambitious nobles, desperate peasants, and Quiet Gate, an old woman with nothing left to lose.
Early Accolades!
The International Review of Book’s Gold Badge of Achievement:
The International Review of Books has conferred its gold badge of achievement on Volume 39!
Well done! No corner of the speculative fiction genre has been left untouched with these epic stories told by the hottest new authors and illustrated by the most talented within the industry.
Winning a spot in the Writers of the Future Contest is a serious career-making event for writers and illustrators, many of whom send in submissions for years. Upon winning they are ferried off to Hollywood to revel in their new fame and glory, rubbing shoulders with the greats of the past and present in a glittering lights and black-tied affair. They are chosen for their freshness and skill, offering the judges their rare stories and gifted illustrations.
The book was transcendent, and as my only focus should be on recommending it to fellow readers, that I can do with heart and soul, and argue that the worlds to which the stories teleport their readers are far more special and grand than a black tie event in Hollywood.
The true winners in the Writers of the Future Contest? Readers!
These stunningly talented authors and illustrators can have their well-deserved fame, and I will remain at home greedily devouring their stories a second time, and perhaps a third. The beauty of this compilation of short stories is the pure pleasure in the myriad writing styles, voices, characters, and worlds. Each story is completely different from all those that came before and after.
So for speculative fiction readers everywhere, this book represents the best and brightest upcoming authors and illustrators within the genre, and with this breakout introduction to their work, you’ll one day be able to brag that you were their devoted fans from the beginning!
Want to Enter the WOTF Contest? It’s quarterly!
.
First, you’ll want to peruse the anthology itself, to assess the market and get a feel for today’s standard in speculative fiction. Of course, also for fun while thinking outside the box.
Next, look over the contest guidelines to be sure you qualify as an amateur writer.
Then, write the story that’s inside you!
Personally, I felt thrilled to receive the Semi-Finalist Award the first time I entered a few years ago. It represented the validation I needed from top professional science-fiction authors, to keep on going! I also revere the handwritten note I received from top judge Dave Farland on my strengths and how to improve further. When I need inspiration, I remember his opening words, “I read every line of your story with great interest.”
Many who enter the contest regularly, say that the quarterly deadline gives them a calendar target to shoot for. Not to mention the carrot on the stick—a chance for attendance at a high-profile one-week workshop given in Hollywood by industry leaders on craft and marketing.
And all culminating with the annual Gala event to match up illustrators with authors, announce the winners on-stage, and marvel as the crowd lines up for your book signing!
Winners have gone on to grace the pages of New York Times bestseller lists; while illustrators have contributed to movies, comic books, and album covers.
Let’s get writing; and see you there!
.
Bonus Gift when you purchase your Anthology!
This year, the publisher is offering a free e-Bundle bonus for anyone ordering the book!
They will send you the beautiful cover art by Tom Wood, “Wyvern Crucible,” for your phone and desktop, two free short stories from Volume 38 and several articles with advice from New York Times bestselling authors, including Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, L. Ron Hubbard, Algis Budrys, Tim Powers, Kristine Katherine Rusch, and Mike Resnick.
Redeem bonus by sending your receipt to customers@galaxypress.com
You will love this collection of the best new voices in science fiction and fantasy because, as Locus magazine puts it, “Not only is the writing excellent…it is also extremely varied. There’s a lot of hot new talent.”
Get it now and scoop up your bonus!
.
By Dr. Lee Carroll
Working abroad in 10 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America, both as a doctor and teacher, has shown me life as a prism of viewpoints. That experience has enriched my writing to the point where I enjoy showcasing the admiration I feel for varied cultures. For example, my WOTF Semi-finalist entry is published for Kindle as Death Clearinghouse: The Novelette, featuring Apache ingenuity. When I'm not writing, I'm yanking swords out of stones around the world. (Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07TRC1F4V/about)
Readers and writers are always looking for great stories, but even more so for that special author who strikes every note with an audience, making the readers actively search out anything and everything they publish.
Well, here is a resource for discovering new talent!
There is an international writing contest for NEW writers. You have not yet discovered these authors because they are not professionally published. The winning stories are published in an annual anthology, so the judges have already done the work of seeking out the best of the best of these new voices.
As bestselling author and contest judge Robert J. Sawyer describes it, “the best of the best culled for you, curated and selected in a single volume every year.” .
Writers of the Future Contest
L. Ron Hubbard created the Writers of the Future Contest to help authors succeed in an industry that can be hard for new talent to break into.
The Contest accepts submissions four times a year, with NO reading fee.
The entries are judged blind, so there is no discrimination according to sex, race, country of origin, etc. I appreciate the fair playing field for the diversity of talent.
The judges include New York Times bestselling authors such as Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, Nnedi Okorafor, Kevin J. Anderson, Brian Herbert, Jody Lynn Nye, Larry Niven, Robert J. Sawyer, Katherine Kurtz, Eric Flint, Dean Wesley Smith, and many others.
Each year, the three winning stories from each quarter are published in the anthology, giving the 12 new authors the writing boost of a lifetime. Their stories are illustrated by the 12 winning illustrators. Each book has a 14-page full-color art gallery of these illustrations.
The winning authors and artists are paid professional rates for their work and awarded $1,000, $750, and $500 for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. The artists win $500 each. They all keep the rights to their work.
The winners are flown out to Hollywood a week before the awards ceremony for an exclusive writing and artist workshop. Those leading the workshops are bestselling authors, world-class artists, and other industry professionals. They share insights into the industry’s business side that are not taught in university. The workshops are often more sought after than the awards or prize money.
The week culminates in a black-tie awards gala with celebrities. The winners are given trophies and an opportunity to share their stories while the event is streamed live to millions of viewers. This is when the Golden Pen and Golden Brush (the grand prize) winners are announced and presented with an additional $5,000.
There is nothing like this for new authors of genre fiction.
.
The Annual Anthology
In addition to the winning entries, the Writers of the Future volumes always include bonus short stories and non-fiction articles detailing expert writing advice by L. Ron Hubbard and the Contest judges.
For example, here are some of the previous volumes with insightful essays for new authors:
Many of the books in the series are still available here.
Volume 38 paid special a tribute to Frank Herbert, the author and creator of Dune. Frank was one of the original judges for the Contest and wrote an article for the Contest before passing on. This article and one of his rare short stories are in the new book.
Also, long time coordinating judge for the series and the Golden Pen Award winner of Writers of the Future Volume 3, David Farland, wrote an original piece of flash fiction inspired by the cover. Sadly, he passed away earlier this year. The book and cover art were dedicated to him. His personal passion for helping new authors will inspire many generations to come.
Here is a short description of all of the bonus content in Volume 38:
Included in Volume 38:
“Boos and Taboos” by L. Ron Hubbard: L. Ron Hubbard challenges the restrictive “taboos” of writing for publications that bind stories in formula straitjackets. Urging writers to flout by-prescription storytelling, he describes his own conspicuous success in doing that, with a final, telling reflection on creative energy, sales—and writing stories that will be remembered.
“The Single Most Important Piece of Advice” by Frank Herbert: The last essay from Frank Herbert was written with the clear purpose of fulfilling what he saw as a paramount obligation to his art and craft—he provided the single most important piece of advice he would give a beginning writer.
“Teamwork: Getting the Best Out of Two Writers” by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson: Together, Brian and Kevin have written over twenty novels and numerous short stories. They expanded Frank Herbert's Dune universe and wrote the original SF epic Hellhole Trilogy. Here they share the pitfalls and successes of their process and how they make it work.
“The Third Artist” by Diane Dillon: Leo and Diane Dillon chose to blend their talents, working together as one artist—the third artist—beginning a career that spanned fifty-four years. As an interracial couple, they dedicated their career to being inclusive of all races and cultures to reflect the world we live in.
The Bonus stories:
“A Word of Power” by David Farland: When Fava, a Neanderthal shaman, discovers the men of metal driving away her mammoths, she must find magic powerful enough to save the herd.
“The Daddy Box” by Frank Herbert: An abused boy finds an alien artifact that gives him the strength to reshape his life and stand up to his violent stepfather.
“The Professor Was a Thief” by L. Ron Hubbard: Grant’s Tomb—missing! Pennsylvania Station—missing! The Empire State Building—missing! New York City is disappearing piece by piece…
The critical acclaim for the new book has already started to come in:
“It’s a binge read. Just one more, you think, and the next thing you know, the entire book is gone!
“My favorite line from any book ever (pure gold): ʻEveryone’s got a story to hide, and I enjoy stealing it out of them.ʼ
“I truly enjoyed it. As each story comes up, you never quite know what you’re going to get, and it's so delightful finding out.” —The International Review of Books, Gold Badge
“This anthology includes last year’s WotF winners, which is reflected by the overall high quality of the stories. This anthology contains thirteen original stories that are described as powerful, unpredictable, nicely crafted, appealing with many twists, engaging, one successfully re-invents time travel stories, and another pulls the reader in from the mystery’s opening and zips along until the shadowy end.” —Tangent Online
“Captivating, compelling, and exceptionally well-edited. It delivers.” —OnlineBookClub.Org
You can download the Book Club questions and discussion guide here.
.
Great Authors Discovered By the Contest
I have discovered many authors whose work I love, and I read anything I can find from them.
Here are a few of the authors that have gone on to be New York Times bestselling authors since winning the Contest or becoming a finalist: Nnedi Okorafor, Eric Flint, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Sean Williams, Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Martin Shoemaker, Ken Liu, and Elizabeth Wein.
Writers of the Future enables writers and artists to succeed and spread their words and images to the world. Of the past Contest winners, 33 have gone on to be New York Times bestsellers selling over 60 million books. Past illustrator winners have equally impressive stats: artwork for 68 TV shows, 40 movies, 360 comic books, and 624 album/book covers.
So, whether you are a writer working hard to get your next break or simply a reader looking for your next favorite author, Writers of the Future is a resource you need to check out! For more information on the Writers of the Future Contests, writing course, podcasts, and writer’s forum, visit their website: www.writersofthefuture.com. .
The newest installment in the Writers of the Future anthology has just released in Kindle and will release in paperback on June 28th!
The Writers of the Future contest is dedicated to discovering and nurturing new creative talent. It is one of the longest running awards in science fiction and fantasy and the only one limited to new authors and artists. This yearʼs winners are featured in the anthology, and their stories are illustrated by the winning illustrators. Gorgeous—what a masterpiece.
Here is the scoop.
What is the Writers of the Future?
Ron Hubbard initiated the Writers of the Future writing contest in 1983 to provide “a means for new and budding writers to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged.”
It was so successful, the sister contest, Illustrators of the Future, was created five years later to provide that same opportunity for the aspiring artist. There has always been strong connection between artist and author, and this partnership shines in the final anthology each year with each winning story illustrator by one of the winning illustrators.
Over the last 38 years, the intensive mentoring process has proven very successful. Over 500 past winners and published finalists of the Writing Contest have published over 1,800 novels and nearly 6,200 short stories. They have produced 33 New York Times bestsellers, and their works have sold over 60 million copies.
The 370 past winners of the Illustrating Contest have produced over 6,000 illustrations, 360 comic books, graced 624 books and albums with their art, and visually contributed to 68 TV shows and 40 major movies.
Several great authors you are likely familiar with were discovered by contest. For example, Brandon Sanderson was a finalist and gives credit this this win providing encouragement to keep going. Nnedi Okorafor, Sean Williams, Patrick Rothfus, Jo Beverly, Eric Flint, and many others were winners or finalist in the program, and this win helped to jump start them on the road to success.
Earlier in March, the cover art for Writers of the Future Volume 38 was revealed to an international online audience by the cover artist Bob Eggleton. John Goodwin, President of Galaxy Press the publisher of the fiction works of L. Ron Hubbard and the Writers of the Future series, hosted the event. Bob presented the process and inspiration for the cover, saying “My idea was taking this older work of mammoths and merging it with these new elements, humanoid robots exploring a past earth. Or is it someplace else? That is for you to decide.”
Bob Eggleton is a winner of nine Hugo Awards and twelve Chesley Awards, the 2019 L. Ron Hubbard Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts, a 2015 Rondo Award in Classic Horror, and an award from the Godzilla Society of North America. His art is on the covers of numerous magazines, professional publications, and books in science fiction, fantasy, and horror worldwide, including several volumes of his own work. He has also worked as a conceptual illustrator for movies and thrill rides. He has been an Illustrators of the Future Contest judge since 1988, of which he stated, “L. Ron Hubbard ignited the spark of imagination, which in the minds of these new artists has become ablaze.”
The presentation of the new cover took on special significance this year. After this book was finalized, the book’s editor, David Farland, tragically left us. One of his last acts was to write a short story to accompany Bob Eggleton’s cover art. To this, Eggleton stated, “I feel privileged to have worked with David Farland on his last story, and so dedicate this cover art to him and the memory of his life.”
Attendees of the online event were quick to make known their excitement for the cover art.
Illustrators of the Future judge Lazarus Chernik commented, “This perfectly represents Bob Eggleton to me. He emotes with his brush as much as his characters and compositions, breathing life to fantastic scenes like no other. No faces? No problem. The paint itself becomes a person.”
Bookseller Jean-Paul L. Garnier of Space Cowboy Books stated, “Year after year, Writers of the Future remains an important anthology and a great read. If you’re looking for stellar new voices in science fiction and fantasy, look no further.”
About Writers of the Future Volume 38
This year’s collection includes 3 Bonus Short Stories by Frank Herbert, David Farland, and L. Ron Hubbard. Frank Herbert was a judge for the contest, and in recognition of the success of his science fiction classic Dune, we have republished his last essay with advice for new writers and one of his rare short stories.
“A Word of Power” by David Farland: When Fava, a Neanderthal shaman, discovers the men of metal driving away her mammoths, she must find magic powerful enough to save the herd.
“The Daddy Box” by Frank Herbert: An abused boy finds an alien artifact that gives him the strength to reshape his life and stand up to his violent stepfather.
“The Professor Was a Thief” by L. Ron Hubbard: Grant’s Tomb—missing! Pennsylvania Station—missing! The Empire State Building—missing! New York City is disappearing piece by piece.
And art and writing tips by Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson, L. Ron Hubbard, and Diane Dillon.
“The Single Most Important Piece of Advice” by Frank Herbert: The last essay from Frank Herbert was written with the clear purpose of fulfilling what he saw as a paramount obligation to his art and craft—he provided the single most important piece of advice he would give a beginning writer.
“Boos and Taboos” by L. Ron Hubbard: L. Ron Hubbard challenges the restrictive “taboos” of writing for publications that bind stories in formula straitjackets. Urging writers to flout by-prescription storytelling, he describes his own conspicuous success in doing that, with a final, telling reflection on creative energy, sales—and writing stories that will be remembered.
“Teamwork: Getting the Best Out of Two Writers” by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson: Together, Brian and Kevin have written over twenty novels and numerous short stories, primarily expanding Frank Herbert’s Dune universe, but also on their original SF epic, the Hellhole Trilogy. Here they share the pitfalls and successes of their process and how they make it work.
“The Third Artist” by Diane Dillon: Leo and Diane Dillon chose to blend their talents, working together as one artist—the third artist—beginning a career that spanned fifty-four years. As an interracial couple, they dedicated their career to be inclusive of all races and cultures to reflect the world we live in.
And for a taste of this year’s award-winning stories—thirteen captivating tales from the best new writers of the year—here are the short descriptions:
In a world where monster killing and trapping is big business, one girl from a Hunter family decides she won’t kill monsters. As a matter of fact, her best friend is one…. —“Agatha’s Monster” by Azure Arther
A “book wizard” wants to help a pair of young orphaned brothers repair their relationship. But a powerful new magic book with problematic spellwork stands in the way. —“The Magic Book of Accidental City Destruction: A Book Wizard’s Guide” by Z.T. Bright
The daughter of Neptune Station’s greatest hero is about to face her most daunting mission yet: elementary school on Earth. —“The Squid Is My Brother” by Mike Jack Stoumbos
A bartender with a vendetta against the future must determine if his customer is a time-traveling tourist. —“Gallows” by Desmond Astaire
Grant’s Tomb—missing! Pennsylvania Station—missing! The Empire State Building—missing! New York City is disappearing piece by piece…. —“The Professor Was a Thief” by L. Ron Hubbard
A disgraced Lark is forced to take the job nobody wants. His songs can sway minds, but there’s no margin for mistakes in the frozen north. —“Lilt of a Lark” by Michael Panter
When a lieutenant with a mysterious past discovers an exotic creature held captive by a traveling farrago, they must decide how far they will go to save what matters most…. —“The Mystical Farrago” by N.V. Haskell
Alone but for her grandchild and a fox spirit, Emily braves Russia’s winter and Napoleon’s army to keep her family alive and together. —“Tsuu, Tsuu, Kasva Suuremasse” by Rebecca E. Treasure
An abused boy finds an alien artifact that gives him the strength to reshape his life and stand up to his violent step-father. —“The Daddy Box” by Frank Herbert
A son must decide whether to follow his father’s footsteps and accept a responsibility he doesn’t understand. —“The Island on the Lake” by John Coming
When a desperate bid to recover stolen memories goes wrong, Alice must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect her best friend. —“The Phantom Carnival” by M. Elizabeth Ticknor
A botanist must cure a dying planet before an evacuation when she will be forced to leave her young daughter behind. —“The Last Dying Season” by Brittany Rainsdon
When Fava, a Neanderthal shaman, discovers the men of metal driving away her mammoths, she must find magic powerful enough to save the herd. —“A Word of Power” by David Farland
Technology suppresses crime on the generation ship Eudoxus until a body is discovered, threatening the years of peace. —“The Greater Good” by Em Dupre
A genetically engineered assassin, concubine, and bodyguard has to unravel the entirety of her being to save her son…. —“For the Federation” by J.A. Becker
Tyson doesn’t need to be psychic to know the invitation is a trap, but he can’t refuse a poker tournament with the highest stakes imaginable. —“Psychic Poker” by Lazarus Black
The Writers of the Future Week
Starting a week before the annual awards event, the winners are flown in to Hollywood for an exclusive workshop to learn from the professionals in the industry who share their insights and secrets for success. For more information see the articles covering the writing workshop (https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writers-workshop) and the art workshop (https://www.writersofthefuture.com/art-workshop).
The famous art reveal, where the artists and illustrators of this year’s anthology meet for the first time and see the artwork created for their story was held on April 6th at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel.
On April 8th, the Achievement Awards was held at the Hollywood Taglyan Complex. Judges, winners, and celebrities flew in from around the world to acknowledge this year’s winners and to announce the L. Ron Hubbard Golden Pen Award and Golden Brush awards. This Award was presented to this year’s winning authors and illustrators along with $5,000: Desmond Astaire won the Golden Pen for “The Gallows” and Zaine Lodhi won the Golden Brush Award for his artwork of “Agathaʼs Monster.”
Critical Acclaim
As the only program of its kind, with a consistent top-notch collection of talent, it continues to be applauded from industry professionals to bestselling authors:
“Science fiction as a genre has always looked to the future and the Writers of the Future looks to the future of science fiction.” —Kevin J. Anderson (co-author of the Dune sagas)
“Some of the most excellent speculative fiction that you can find. They’re cutting edge.” —Nnedi Okorafor
“These are the people who are going to be creating trends.” —Brandon Sanderson
“Writers of the Future, as a contest and as a book, remains the flagship of short fiction.” —Orson Scott Card
“The best new stories by new writers, anywhere.” —Larry Niven
“See the best of the best culled for you, curated and selected in a single volume every year.” —Robert J. Sawyer
“An absolute wealth of imagination, adventure, excitement, stimulation and joy, every possible human emotion.” —Sean Williams
“A very generous legacy from L. Ron Hubbard a fine, fine fiction writer for the writers of the future.” —Anne McCaffrey
“Writers of the Future is a terrific program for new writers, and goodness knows, there are few enough of those. It has my heartiest support and unqualified recommendation.” —Terry Brooks
“Some of the best SF of the future comes from Writers of the Future.” —David Hartwell Hugo-Award-winning editor
“This collection shows why I'm happy to be a judge for the Writers of the Future Contest it always finds great stories by the new writers who will be winning Hugo and Nebula Awards a few years from now.” —Tim Powers
“The Writers of the Future Contest has not only provided a place where new writers could break into print for the first time but it also has a record of nurturing and discovering writers who have gone on to make their mark in the science fiction field. Long may it continue!” —Neil Gaiman
“It all started when I won the Writers of the Future Contest. Without them, I can honestly say I would not be where I am today.” —Patrick Rothfuss
“Writers of the Future played a critical role in the early stages of my career.” —Eric Flint
“Writers of the Future was an accelerator to my writing development.” —Jo Beverley
“The best-selling SF anthology series of all time.” —Locus Magazine
“Writers of the Future collection is exciting and engrossing, with stories that range across the spectrum of SF and fantasy. Tried-and-true space opera and epic fantasy, these stories explore new mysteries and ideas.” —Publishers Weekly
“This is a fine collection that will appeal to both fans of science fiction and fantasy short stories and aspiring writers looking for ways to improve their craft.” — Booklist
“Verdict: Speculative fiction fans will welcome this showcase of new talent.” —Library Journal, Starred Review
Conclusion
If you have not yet read the Writers of the Future and love cutting edge science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories you need to check out this series.
If you are an aspiring writer or illustrator with a passion for the genre, you need to enter this contest. It is recommended you also read the books as you will see quality of your peers that are winning and each volume has tips from the Judges to give you the edge.
CLASSIC SCIENCE FICTION MUST READS BY L. RON HUBBARD
Guest blogger John Carey
L. Ron Hubbard is well-known for his science fiction. While he has written many novels and short stories throughout his professional writing career, there are some which stand out as must-reads for any hard-core science fiction fan.
At the top of my reading list for any science fiction is the epic space opera book Battlefield Earth. This is one of the few books I have enjoyed so much that I’ve read it twice.
The good guys are good, and the bad guys play mean and dirty, some blatantly, while others work their evil by smiling to your face while simultaneously stabbing you in the back. This story is loaded with characters you will love, along with many you will love to hate.
This is one of the early post-apocalyptic dystopian stories with very grim beginnings. The story starts in the year 3000, more than 1,000 years after Earth has been decimated by an alien invasion—the humans are virtually extinct.
The hero, Jonnie, gets captured and is starving. While he wishes to escape, he quickly understands that force alone will not win his freedom against sadistic aliens standing nine feet tall and weighing over a ton. He compels himself to withstand their abuse while studying this overwhelming enemy.
Through his never-say-die drive, Jonnie bands his hastily assembled group of men together with a soldier’s esprit de corps and the power of the human spirit, which is so inspiring in the best military science fiction. And the hero soon finds himself leading the few human survivors in a revolt which has almost no chance of vanquishing the evil aliens.
What starts with an alien invasion on Earth and the struggle for freedom soon erupts across 16 galaxies with soldiers, space battles, and interstellar travel (both spaceships and teleportation) in a space opera of epic proportion. And when that battle has ended, an even more evil group of politicians and statesmen step in to take control of Earth, adding unexpected intergalactic twists and turns.
In open warfare, the enemy is clear, but not so when the battle for humanity moves into the political arena spanning numerous alien cultures and politicians. The statesmen smile and tell people what they want to hear while behind the scenes they are planning for evil and illicit gains. Jonnie can’t understand men of this nature and has no desire to work with them, but with the future of every remaining survivor in his hands, he is forced to rise to the challenge.
Will Jonnie succeed in a field he knows so little, inhabited by bankers and politicians who throw countries and planets around like a battlefield-soldier throws lead?
Well, I can’t give away everything; you’ll just have to read for yourself one of the best stories ever. The first 13 chapters or the first hour of the audiobook are free. (This is one of the best sci-fi audiobooks of all time!)
For the Battlefield Earth 40th anniversary, the publisher launched a page with a multitude of information about the book, including the movie, artwork, and science inspired by the novel.
Imagine a comedy adventure with an out-of-control time machine and an unlikely hero packed into a fun story to read! You will really enjoy this one.
This is the type of book you take to the beach in the summer and speed through in a day and are happy that you didn’t have any scheduled excursions to tear you away.
The plot hooks you in the first few pages as a young man is ripped from his family and the love of his life while being thrown into the army—where he is soon in charge of driving a military ATV full of experimental Russian top-secret equipment cross-country.
Each character you meet is entertaining yet still real-enough to have been someone you’ve met in life. Private Dumphee quickly stumbles into three beautiful women, who, although they come from a much different time, soon prove themselves capable of protecting him and the cargo.
This quartet handles the accidental time-travel as best they can, even though almost everywhere they travel, or rather when they travel, the locals promptly make them out as enemies.
The group continues back to earlier and earlier periods as the military ATV “time machine” hits rough terrain.
The reader will be sucked into this story, reading faster and faster to figure out how one adventure ends while trying to guess what the next adventure will be! This is a wild ride and a very funny story—it is hysterical at times and wickedly original.
This next novel was an addiction that I couldn’t put down. It also warrants the must-read list and can legitimately be called a page-turner as it pulls you right into the story.
I have read many novels by many authors, but few have left me with the impact of this one.
Written at the outset of World War II, this battlefield novel is set in a dystopian future, where continuous world war and disease have ravaged the land and the people. (Imagine if WWII never ended.)
An English force consisting of a strong group of soldiers, led by the Lieutenant, make their way across France, still in battle against whatever bands of both enemies and friends who try to do them in. Everyone in his force serves the Lieutenant with fierce loyalty because he has proven time and again that whatever he does, the Lieutenant does it for the good of his men.
And even once this group makes their way back to England, the fight has only just begun. Since Communists have long ago taken rule, the repatriated soldiers are vastly outnumbered and must battle to live and remain in their homeland.
It would be dismissive to simply call this a “war” story, or military science fiction, or even alternate history, because it is all of these and much more. You are drawn into the character of leaders and the behind-the-scenes politics where the real battles take place.
You can’t help but think that this novel was a warning of the upcoming World War II and other future wars and the catastrophes which happen to a populace when weak, angry, and controlling men are allowed to rule.
This is a must-read for anyone who considers themselves a student of mankind and politics.
This story illustrates space travel in its most vivid and harsh form. You as the reader are thrown into a time when traveling to the stars is performed only by a small percentage of hardy souls who literally give up everything connected to life on Earth.
To the Stars opens with one of my favorite lines:
“Space is deep, Man is small and Time is his relentless enemy….” —L. Ron Hubbard
The hero, Alan Corday, has run into a string of bad luck. He recently graduated an an engineer 10th class with no employment waiting. His family’s fortune has been squandered which means he will have to fend for himself in a brutal world. And on top of that, the woman he loves is out of reach unless he can change his financial standing.
Shanghaied from the spaceport at New Chicago, Alan is taken aboard the Hound of Heaven. When he wakes, he discovers the spacecraft is bound for the stars at 186,000 miles per second!
The impact of realizing that traveling at the speed of light for three months means that half a century on earth will have passed, hits him. And suddenly Alan understands that the world he left behind is truly vanishing into the distant past. Everything he loves, everything he believes in … is becoming history. He is a wanderer in eternity and nothing in the cold, dark forbidding reaches of space can prepare him for the astounding discovery he will make upon his long-awaited return from the stars.
This early look at Einstein’s Time Dilation theory hits home hard. I could not put it down until the very last page… and what an unexpected ending is waiting for the reader!
Another of my favorite classic sci-fi authors has this to say about the story:
“One of the greatest science fiction novels that has ever been written” —Jerry Pournelle, (Lucifer’s Hammer)
This is the first in a ten-volume series. Initially, the idea of committing to a decalogy was overwhelming—but after I read the first 30 pages I strapped myself in for this amazing tale and was hooked.
The story moves quickly: imagine seeing our world, and all of its craziness through the eyes of an alien.
What I loved about The Invaders Plan is how the story is told through the viewpoint of the villain.
Of course I wasn’t rooting for Sultan, but being exposed to the mindset of someone really evil was unique and fun, along with seeing all the traps he sets for the hero. I was always full of anticipation wondering as to how Jettero Heller would overcome them. I was also left wondering if Jettero would ever catch on to these evil plans Sultan was a part of.
When our planet really is going crazy as you see the fake news and odd priorities of those in control, it can be refreshing to see it from a different view. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the similarities to today’s world.
Sometimes you just have to laugh!
CONCLUSION
These stories yank you in with more force than a tractor-beam pulling in a rebel spaceship. L. Ron Hubbard knew how to take you out of this world, and he really delivers with these stories. They are a great escape from the daily grind and are highly recommended.
With so many great L. Ron Hubbard fiction books to choose from, these top five books are a fantastic place to start. You won’t be disappointed, except when you finally finish, but even then you’ll still have over 250 more Hubbard novels and short stories from which to choose!
The publisher has also created several resources for book clubs if you are part of a reading group.
What is your favorite book? Let me know in the comments!
John Carey paid the bills working as a programmer and IT project manager while he honed his writing skills at night and on the weekends.
John has just published his second book, Not Worthy of the Air you Breathe set in the future where nations have taken a cue from the business world and terminate their low performing citizens at the end of each year.
When it comes to marketing a horror movie, the trailer is everything. A good trailer can be shared all over social media and attract just the right audience to go and see it. Promoting a horror novel is much the same. Here are 5 marketing tactics horror movies use that you can also use to promote your horror novel.
5 – Show Audience Testimonials and Ratings
A lot of movie trailers show quotes from critics praising the movie. This technique is commonly used to sell books as well.
One technique that has become a best practice is to start your book description on Amazon with a quote praising the book or your work. You can also put additional quotes on your book cover and at the bottom of your book description.
You can get quotes by pulling from favorable reviews or by reaching out to other authors. Many authors will be happy to blurb your book in exchange for a free copy.
4 – Creativity Can Be More Effective than Money
There's a reason a lot of up and coming directors start with a horror movie: small budgets. With a little creativity, there are ways to make a good horror movie without spending a lot of money. Look at movies like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. Both had tiny budgets and both found humongous success.
There are a lot of great promotional sites for authors, including BooksGoSocial, but there's also something to be said for being creative. You may be able to find a fun and creative way to promote your book on social media without spending a lot of money.
I photoshopped this image to help promote my horror novel, Violent Hearts, and it drew a lot more traffic, likes and comments, then a regular book cover post.
“Bradbury on acid.” Greg Gifune, author of The Bleeding Season
3 – Show Your Characters
Horror movie trailers often revolve around their characters. If they can make you care about what happens to these characters, you are much more likely to go and see the movie.
Same is true for books. Be sure to include details about your characters in your book description and promotions that will make your audience sympathetic to your characters.
2 – Use Mystery to Entice Readers to Buy
Horror movie trailers often hit us with something unexpected and mysterious. Where did that come from? What is causing that? These questions draw us into the story and make us want to go and see the movie.
You can offer excerpts and short cliffhanger teasers on your social media feeds to build an audience and entice readers to buy your book.
Here's one I've used to promote my horror novel, Violent Hearts:
It started that cold night spent in the woods, all those years ago. Owen and Chloe wakened something, something inside them both. But, for a while at least, they thought they could live normal lives…
Same is true for promoting your book. Give your readers characters they care about, with sympathetic backgrounds you can sum up in a few words you can use in your book description. This helps to put a “face” to your characters and give them life for your readers.
We've all seen movie trailers that give away too much of the plot. Don't be that person. Instead, tell them what the blood and guts are in your book.
When someone picks up your book, what's in it for them? Tell them! Be explicit. If your book is an exciting adventure, then tell them it's an exciting adventure. If your book has uncanny hauntings or violent gore, don't be afraid to share this fact. Not only will you keep away readers who don't like such things and might leave bad reviews, but you will get the right readers interested in your book.
Keith Deininger is the award-winning and #1 Amazon bestselling author of many horror and fantasy titles, including WITHIN, THE FEVER TRILOGY and THE GODGAME series. He has been called “one of the finest writers of imaginative fiction” and “Ray Bradbury on acid.” His latest novel, VIOLENT HEARTS, has been compared to Stephen King’s fantasy-based work. He lives in Albuquerque, NM with his wife and kids. Although he loves a good nightmare, in person he’s a really nice guy. Promise.
Here lies the ancient book of Horror Novel Promotion. But beware, for it is dark and full of terrors!
When it come to promotion, social media is our largest asset and our biggest crutch. Thanks to internet communication, everyone has something to promote. Without it, there is no indie author. But with it, suddenly everyone's decided to write a book, whether they have what it takes or not.
In the horror world, using social media to promote your writing is just like any other genre. Interaction and personality are key. Using social media is about creating a platform and cultivating an audience by making friends and people you interact with.
Just posting your book and Amazon link on social media is not an effective strategy. At most, such posts may serve as an announcement of a new release and encourage fans of your work to buy it, but that's as far as such posts go.
Effective promotion on social media means putting your books in the background and sharing and creating content that fans of your genre and writing may like. It also means interacting with others and commenting on their posts that you find interesting and that relate to your message.
Here are a few tips to help you with the larger social media platforms for promoting horror books:
FACEBOOK
Facebook is a great place to market your horror books, but it takes time and effort. You can start out by making an author page to promote your horror books. Then you will need content that is relevant to your audience, and lots of it, as well as a way to attract people to like your page.
This can be done either by “boosting” your posts, which costs a little money, or engaging in groups and posting your page content to those groups.
Here are some horror groups worth checking out:
Horror Writers. This is a page for horror writers, readers, and fans.
Horror Writers Net. This group is for anyone who appreciates horror fiction.
Horror Readers and Writers. This forum welcomes anyone posting about horror, whether it be books, films, editing, or producing.
Horror Promotion. This page encourages readers and fans of horror to post their favorite horror books.
Literary Darkness. This group focuses on intelligent discussion about literature with dark themes.
Q: How is anyone to find the book they want? A: Social Media!
TWITTER
Twitter is a big ‘place' and a lot of tweets are lost in the noise. When tweeting it's important to use hashtags so others will see your tweet. Also, if you're going to post a link to your website or Amazon book page, be sure to use a link shortening service like bit.ly so you'll have enough characters to write something snappy that others will respond to.
Here are some important hashtags for horror authors:
Social media for book lovers, Goodreads is a site owned by Amazon that has its own catalogue of books and reviews. It is also home to some old-school type message boards perfect for horror authors. Just remember, interaction is key, not blind posting of your books.
Here are two of the biggest horror groups on Goodreads:
Horror Aficionados. This group features discussions on all things horror, mostly books, of course, but also movies and horror culture.
Literary Horror. A group dedicated to dark fiction of the literary sort.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments.
Keith Deininger is the award-winning and #1 Amazon bestselling author of many horror and fantasy titles, including WITHIN, THE FEVER TRILOGY and THE GODGAME series. He has been called “one of the finest writers of imaginative fiction” and “Ray Bradbury on acid.” His latest novel, VIOLENT HEARTS, has been compared to Stephen King’s fantasy-based work. He lives in Albuquerque, NM with his wife and two kids. Although he loves a good nightmare, in person he’s a really nice guy. Promise.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Reserve your copy today. It will release in US and Canadian bookstores on May 16th and international markets on July 18th.
Ron Hubbard initiated the Writers of the Future writing contest in 1983 to provide “a means for new and budding writers to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged.”
This year’s collection includes 3 Bonus Short Stories by Frank Herbert, David Farland, and L. Ron Hubbard. Frank Herbert was a judge for the contest, and in recognition of the success of his science fiction classic Dune, we have republished his last essay with advice for new writers and one of his rare short stories.
When it comes to marketing a horror movie, the trailer is everything. A good trailer can be shared all over social media and attract just the right audience to go and see it. Promoting a horror novel is much the same. Here are 5 marketing tactics horror movies use that you can also use to promote your horror novel.
Same is true for promoting your book. Give your readers characters they care about, with sympathetic backgrounds you can sum up in a few words you can use in your book description. This helps to put a “face” to your characters and give them life for your readers.
Keith Deininger is the award-winning and #1 Amazon bestselling author of many horror and fantasy titles, including 
When it come to promotion, social media is our largest asset and our biggest crutch. Thanks to internet communication, everyone has something to promote. Without it, there is no indie author. But with it, suddenly everyone's decided to write a book, whether they have what it takes or not.
