Writers of the Future

Writers of the Future (WOTF) is a science fiction and fantasy story contest that was originated by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s. Hubbard

Related Topics:
Science fiction - Fantasy - L. Ron Hubbard - 1980s

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characterized the contest as a way of "giving back" to the field that had defined his professional writing life.

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The contest may be entered quarterly, and is open to writers who have no, or few, professional publications (the definition of professional publication being one paying more than a certain amount per word). Manuscripts are blind-judged, and are separated out in quarterfinal and semifinal award rounds by the Contest Judge (originally Algis Budrys, although Dave Wolverton was the judge during much of the 1990s, and currently K.D. Wentworth). Finalists are sent to a panel of professional sf writers, who determine the quarterly awards. The four quarterly first place winners compete for a separate annual award. The first, second and third place winners and a selection of the other finalist stories are published annually. All winners and published finalist attend the annual writers workshop and Awards gala at the invitation of the contest administration.

Related Topics:
Algis Budrys - Dave Wolverton - K.D. Wentworth

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An artists' contest, the Illustrators of the Future, was added in 1988.

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The original sponsors of the contest were

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Bridge Publications, Inc. Recently, the sponsorship moved to Galaxy Press,

Related Topics:
Bridge Publications - Galaxy Press

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a company publishing, among other works, Hubbard's fiction and

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the contest anthologies.

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The contest has also served as a promotional vehicle

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for Hubbard himself, who returned to science fiction publishing

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with Battlefield Earth at about the same time as he began

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the contest.

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Hubbard's name appears "above the title", and in at least

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as prominent fonts, in the contest publicity and anthologies.

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Although Hubbard is also the founder of the Church of Scientology, entering or winning the contest does not in any way require or imply endorsement or membership in the Church of Scientology, and the contest itself has been endorsed by a wide range of well-known speculative fiction writers who have no relationship to Scientology whatsoever.

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