What to Know Before Submitting: Writers of the Future Contest
Last Updated: September 6, 2024
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What I Wish I Would’ve Known Before Submitting to Writers of the Future Contest
The Writer’s of the Future Contest tops most writing competitions lists for new speculative fiction writers. Speculative fiction includes, but is not limited to, science fiction, fantasy, horror, superhero fiction, alternate history, utopian and dystopian fiction, and supernatural fiction.
The Writers of the Future Contest Judge and Editor is Jody Lynn Nye.
The current Contest Director is Joni Labaqui. Joni is the one who contacts winners and sends out announcements.
The First Reader is Kary English.
It’s up to you to decide whether the contest is worth your time, especially after the presentation of the dramatic statistics below (0.29%).
A main goal when entering this contest (any writing contest, really) is to become a professional writer with a career. That doesn’t mean winning the contest. That means publishing consistently and getting paid professional rates. The contest is just one of many career launching platforms.
Every year since 1984, the contest has published twelve quarterly finalists and one top winner in an award-winning short story anthology. That’s 40+ volumes that, in totality, have awarded upwards of “$1 million in cash prizes and royalties,” (Joni Labaqui. https://writersofthefuture.com/some-important-facts-you-should-know-about-writers-illustrators-of-the-future/. Jun. 29, 2018).
The live stream of the 2022 awards event reached over “3.7 million people in 100 countries around the world,” (Marissa Tomeo. https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Winners-Announced-for-L-Ron-Hubbard-Achievement-Awards-Gala-20220411. Apr. 11, 2022).
United Public Radio Network broadcast the 2024 awards show to “50,000 viewers on Roku, 10,000 viewers on Amazon Firestick and over 1.1 million on the live broadcast, and an additional 4 million on an event broadcast re-air, (https://writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-40-2024/).”
Judges are masters in the field, including Kevin J. Anderson, Doug Beason, Dr. Gregory Benford, Orson Scott Card, Eric Flint, Brian Herbert, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Nancy Kress, Todd McCaffrey, Rebecca Moesta, Larry Niven, Jody Lynn Nye, Nnedi Okorafor, Tim Powers, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Brandon Sanderson, Robert J. Sawyer, Robert Silverberg, Dean Wesley Smith, Sean Williams, and S.M. Stirling.
For a new writer’s career, it’s clear the contest has a positive impact. Consider that “The 559 winners and published finalists of the Writing Contest have published over 8,000 novels and short stories, created 36 New York Times bestselling novels, and their works have sold over 60 million copies,” (John Goodwin. https://writersofthefuture.com/l-ron-hubbard-writers-of-the-future-received-122-awards-recognitions-and-trophies-on-its-40th-anniversary. Jun. 11, 2024).
The contest has controversial ties with Scientology, enough so that some past winners don’t want to be associated with the contest. However, it’s very clear that the contest judges and professional writers involved wish merely to assist new generations of talent (See https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/writers_of_the_future_contest. Also, https://writersofthefuture.com/frequently-asked-questions/).
Everyone who works for Author Services Inc. or Galaxy Press is a Scientologist associated with the Church of Scientology; such as Joni Labaqui (Director of Public Affairs for Author Services, Inc.), Emily Goodwin (Vice President of Public Relations Author Services), John Goodwin (President of Galaxy Press Inc.), and the publishing and marketing side of the contest.
The funds to underwrite the contest—including the cash prizes, the gala awards ceremony and the weeklong pre-awards festivities—come from the Hubbard estate. The Hubbard estate is separate from the Church of Scientology and earns royalties from sales of Hubbard's books, including his fiction. L. Ron Hubbard estate is owned and controlled by the Church of Spiritual Technology, a non-profit Scientology-related entity, since 1993.
Recommended introductions
2023 SFE: The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction: Writers of the Future Contest
2014 WotF Article: The Writers of the Future Contest
How do you win?
There are two ways to win: make the top 12 finalist winners for the year, or “pro-out” by making professional sales determined by how many copies you sell of pro-paying work per the contest rules.
Professional sales include: No more than three short stories publishing contracts or one novelette, with professional rates, and which have over 5,000 sales. Writers cannot have a traditional publishing contract for one or more novels. Self-publishing and vanity publishing (you pay them to publish you) do not count unless you are supporting yourself with your self-publishing.
The contest is split into four submission quarters: First Quarter (1 Oct - 31 Dec); Second Quarter (1 Jan - 31 Mar); Third Quarter (1 Apr - 30 Jun); Fourth Quarter (1 Jul - 30 Sep).
Key points
Speculative fiction — both short stories and flash fiction. Science fiction, fantasy, light horror is what is meant by speculative fiction with a PG-13 rating if it was a movie.
Don’t submit overused tropes, only original ideas, well written, and engaging for the reader.
You can enter every quarter until you win.
Read and follow the rules before you submit.
No previously published stories.
Learn more on winning
How are stories judged? What do you win? When?
The seven phases of judging:
There are seven main (tiers, phases, categories, etc. — take your pick) of judging and associated awards every quarter (the longer you’ve waited to hear results, the higher the tier of judging your story has achieved).
Phase one — Rejection by First Reader
Rejection. These are poorly written stories, filled with grammar and spelling errors. Most stories are rejected because they are not speculative fiction short stories, 17000 words or fewer, did not follow submission guidelines such as not leaving your name on the manuscript itself, being previously published stories, or those which did not contain some hint of the genre in the first four pages.
Phase two — (No set number, but usually 100+) Honorable Mentions
An Honorable Mention is a form of polite rejection, but it’s still a signed certificate award. For some, it may be their first validation as a writer. These stories are nicely done with good solid writing skills. However, they could have an over-used trope or the characters aren’t engaging enough, etc. (Blog Announcement & Award Certificate)
Phase three — (No set number, but usually 50+) Silver Honorable Mentions
A silver mention is enough to put you in the top 150 contestants for the year and are very good stories. (Blog Announcement & Award Certificate).
Phase four — (6 to 13) Semi-Finalists. Jody Lynn Nye, with the input of Kari English, has the sole discretion for the eight stories which make it to the voting judges.
Semi-finalists receive a critique from the coordinating judge & editor, Jody Lynn Nye.
Phase five — (5) Finalists are decided by the voting judges.
Eight Finalists will be contacted by the Contest Director. (Blog Announcement, Award Certificate, critiques by the coordinating judge.) Of the eight Finalists, three winners will be chosen as winners, leaving just five as finalists.
Phase six — (3) Winners
Once final judging comes in from all the voting judges, the three top winners for each quarter will be called by the Contest Director. They will be published in the annual anthology, invited to the annual week-long workshop and the gala awards ceremony. ( $1,000 for 1st place, $750 for 2nd, $500 for 3rd; press releases; and interviews. The first place winners receive a silver star-and-plume handcrafted trophy at the awards ceremony.) Of the three winners one grand prize winner will be announced at the annual gala in April.
Phase seven — (1) Grand Prize Winner
The Grand Prize Winner ($5,000 additional & Golden Pen Award.) From the 1st place quarterly winners of the year, a panel of judges selects one story as the grand prize winner to be revealed at the annual achievement awards gala. Each Golden Pen Award is a pyramidal trophy individually made with a silver star-and-plume ornament handcrafted by a silversmith without a mold. Each is one-of-a-kind, reflective of the unique individualism of the new authors and their works.
Note: If you refuse to attend the workshop and gala, they won't acknowledge you as a winner or publish your work. However, some exceptions may allow someone to attend virtually, for example, because of Covid-19, or a regional conflict such as the wars in Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine, etc.
FAQ
See FAQs on submissions: https://jarridcantway.substack.com/p/entering-the-writers-of-the-future
See WotF’s FAQ page: https://writersofthefuture.com/frequently-asked-questions/
Each year multiple thousands of writers submit to the contest, and in recent years that number has increased drastically. Only 12-14 stories are published in the annual anthology.
The annual awards event is a lavish, televised affair.
Submission deadlines, winner announcement dates, the writing workshop, and the awards event all have a small range of dates when they occur.
a.) The workshop and awards event are typically in April. The Grand Prize Winner is announced at the awards event.
b.) Final submission dates are on the last day of the months:
December (Q1)
March (Q2)
June (Q3)
September (Q4)
c.) Standings are typically announced:
Q1. May - Jun.
~5 to 6 months after December deadline
about a month before the Q3 Jun. deadline
Q2. Aug.
~4 to 6 months after March deadline
about a month before the Q4 Sep. deadline
Q3. Oct.
~4 to 5 months after June deadline
about a month before the Q1 Dec. deadline
Q4. Dec.
~3 to 4 months after September deadline
by the first week Jan.
How is Writers of the Future Contest different?
The international L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest is one of the largest, most prestigious merit contests for new talent in speculative fiction.
The contest is free to enter and offers some of the best prize money and professional pay rate for any writing competition.
Writers keep all rights to their story.
The stories are judged anonymously, so nationality, race, gender, religion or ideology play no part in the judge’s selection of who wins.
It has one of the highest word count limits for any short story contest: 17K words.
The quarterly deadlines give writers an achievable goal to aim toward. Writers can submit every three months, and even edit and resubmit the same piece (at least until it makes Finalist). Finalists typically receive feedback, which is priceless. Prizes of $1000, $750, and $500 are awarded every three months to the top three quarterly winners.
The thirteen writers are published in the award-winning yearly anthology. There have been four instances where the published anthology made Publishers Weekly’s Sci-Fi bestseller list, making 52 writer winners national bestsellers. In addition, Volume 35 won four awards: Benjamin Franklin Gold Award, Critters Annual Readers Poll, NYC Big Book Award, and Foreword Reviews INDIES Book of the Year Silver Award.
Even if you’re not a finalist, honorable mentions winners get certificates and their names published on the Writers of the Future blog.
The contest flies all winners to Los Angeles for an expense-paid, weeklong workshop given by contest judges and culminates in an invitation-only, black-tie gala award.
The contest has a free online workshop taught by Orson Scott Card and Tim Powers, a writer’s discussion forum, a blog, and even a podcast, all with amazing life stories and proven tips from contest judges, winners, and industry pros.
Statistics
Knowing the odds elevates the achievement of published winners who go on to successful careers. With any statistic, it can be significant to note distribution. For example, I suspect the judges who won the contest previously or those who participated at some point but “pro-out” account for many of the 36 New York Times bestsellers.
Chance of publication in any given year: 0.29%
(Source: https://writersofthefuture.com/category/quarterly-winners/; https://writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology)
Between 2015 (Vol. 31) and 2024 (Vol. 40), 10 anthology volumes account for 127 winners and published finalists. Assuming there are at least three rejections per every Honorable Mention and above on the published standings lists (43,400), there is an estimated mean average of 0.29% chance of being published in any given year in the last decade of the contest’s history.
Between 1984 (Vol 1) and 2024 (Vol. 40), 40 anthology volumes account for 561 winners and published finalists in the contest’s history.
Between 1984 (Vol 1) and 2018 (Vol. 34), of the 484 total published writers, 192 or 40% went on to publish consistently, meaning there was a 60% chance of career failure even after publication by the contest. (Labaqui. https://writersofthefuture.com/some-important-facts-you-should-know-about-writers-illustrators-of-the-future/. 2018).
Winner stats & announcement dates
Source: https://writersofthefuture.com/category/quarterly-winners/page/
Vol. 31 (2015 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: June 2, 2014 (119 Honorable Mentions | 10 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
1st Place Winner – “Twelve Minutes to Vinh Quang” by Tim Napper – currently of Vietnam and from Australia
2nd Place Winner – “A Revolutionary’s Guide to Practical Conjuration” by Auston Habershaw of Massachusetts
3rd Place Winner – “Unrefined” by Martin L. Shoemaker of Michigan
Q2: July 14, 2014. (124 Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
1st Place Winner – “Poseidon’s Eyes” by Kary English of California
2nd Place Winner – “Half Past” by Samantha Murray of Australia
3rd Place Winner – “Purposes Made for Alien Minds” by Scott R. Parkin of Utah
Q3: October 8, 2014 (125 Honorable Mentions | 13 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
1st Place Winner – “The God Whisperer” by Daniel J. Davis of North Carolina
2nd Place Winner – “The Graver” by Amy M. Hughes of Utah
3rd Place Winner – “Wisteria Melancholy” by Michael T. Banker of New York
Q4: January 3, 2015 (*Not Listed* | 7 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
1st Place Winner – “Stars That Make Dark Heaven Light” by Sharon Joss of Oregon
2nd Place Winner – “Switch” by Steve Pantazis
3rd Place Winner – “Planar Ghosts” by Krystal Claxton
Grand Prize Winner 2015: “Stars That Make Dark Heaven Light” by Sharon Joss
Published Finalist: “Between Screens” by Zach Chapman
Total of number of Honorable Mentions and above listed on winner announcements for Vol. 31: 439+
Category Totals: HM: *368+ | SHM: *0 | SF: 38 | F: 20 | W: 12 | GW: 1
Total published in anthology: 13
Estimated chance of an entry being published (assumes for every HM+ there are at least three rejections): 13 / (438*4=1752 est. rejections) = 0.74%
Workshop Week - Day One: April 7, 2015
Awards Event: April 12, 2015 | Wilshire Ebell Theater Los Angeles, CA | 1200 Person Capacity | Steampunk Theme | Volume 31
Vol. 32 (2016 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: July 1, 2015 (84 Honorable Mentions | 0 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
1st Place Winner – “The Sun Falls Apart” by J.W. Alden of Florida
2nd Place Winner – “Dinosaur Dreams in Infinite Measure” by Rachael K. Jones of Georgia
3rd Place Winner – “A Glamour in the Black” by Sylvia Anna Hivén of Georgia
Q2: August 24, 2015 (83 Honorable Mentions | 0 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
1st Place Winner – “Images Across a Shattered Sea” by Stewart C Baker of Oregon
2nd Place Winner – “The Broad Sky Was Mine, And the Road” by Ryan Row of California
3rd Place Winner – “Freebot” R.M. Graves of London, England
Q3: October 7, 2015 (114 Honorable Mentions | 29 Silver Honorable Mentions | 7 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Squalor and Sympathy” by Matt Dovey of Horncastle, United Kingdom
Second Place Winner – “Last Sunset for the World Weary” by H.L. Fullerton of New York
Third Place Winner – “Möbius” by Christoph Weber of Nevada
Q4: January 7, 2016 (142 Honorable Mentions | 21 Silver Honorable Mentions | 7 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “The Star Tree” by Jon Lasser of Washington
Second Place Winner – “The Jack of Souls” by Stephen Merlino of Washington
Third Place Winner – “Cry Havoc” by Julie Frost of Utah
Grand Prize Winner 2016: “Squalor and Sympathy” by Matt Dovey
Published Finalist: “Swords Like Lightning, Hooves Like Thunder” by K.D. Julicher
Total of number of Honorable Mentions and above listed on winner announcements for Vol 32: 535
Category Totals: HM: 423 | SHM: *50 | SF: 30 | F: 20 | W: 12 | GW: 1
Total published in anthology: 13
Estimated chance of an entry being published (assumes for every HM+ there are at least three rejections): 13 / (534*4= 2,136 est. rejections) = 0.61%
Workshop Week - Day One: April 5, 2016 | Loews Hotel
Awards Event: April 10, 2016 | Wilshire Ebell Theater Los Angeles, CA | 1200 Person Capacity | Dragons and Dreamers Theme |Volume 32
Vol. 33 (2017 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: September 13, 2016 (106 Honorable Mentions | 9 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Envoy in the Ice” by Dustin Steinacker
Second Place Winner – “Adramelech” by Sean Hazlett from California
Third Place Winner – “A Glowing Heart” by Anton Rose from the United Kingdom
Q2: September 16, 2016 (129 Honorable Mentions | 13 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “The Armor Embrace” by Doug C. Souza from California
Second Place Winner – “The Woodcutters’ Deity” by Emeka (Walter) Dinjos from Nigeria
Third Place Winner – “Moonlight One” by Stephen Lawson from Kentucky
Q3: November 3, 2016 (156 Honorable Mentions | 42 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Acquisition” by Jake Marley from California
Second Place Winner – “The Fox, the Wolf, and the Dove” by Ville Meriläinen from Finland
Third Place Winner – “The Drake Equation” by C.L. Kagmi from Michigan
Q4: December 28, 2016 (105 Honorable Mentions | 24 Silver Honorable Mentions | 7 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Useless Magic” by Andrew Peery from North Carolina
Second Place Winner – “The Long Dizzy Down” by Ziporah Hildebrandt from Massachusetts
Third Place Winner – “Tears for Shülna” by Andrew L. Roberts from California
Grand Prize Winner 2017: “Acquisition” by Jake Marley
Published Finalists:
“The Magnificent Bhajan” by David VonAllmen
“Obsidian Spire” by Molly Elizabeth Atkins
Total of number of Honorable Mentions and above listed on winner announcements for Vol. 33: 648
Category Totals: HM: 496 | SHM: 88 | SF: 31 | F: 20 | W: 12 | GW: 1
Total published in anthology: 14
Estimated chance of an entry being published (assumes for every HM+ there are at least three rejections): 14 / (647*4= 2,588 est. rejections) = 0.54%
Workshop Week - Day One: March 28, 2017
Awards Event: April 2, 2017 | Wilshire Ebell Theater Los Angeles, CA | 1200 Person Capacity | Red Dragon Theme | Volume 33
Vol. 34 (2018 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: May 30, 2017 (66 Honorable Mentions | 12 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “The Minarets of An-Zabat” by Jeremy TeGrotenhuis from Washington (AKA J.T. Greathouse)
Second Place Winner – “Miss Smokey” by Diana Hart from Washington
Third Place Winner – “The Face in the Box” by Janey Bell from Illinois
Q2: July 26, 2017 (71 Honorable Mentions | 34 Silver Honorable Mentions | 9 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Odd and Ugly” by Vida Cruz from the Philippines
Second Place Winner – “All Light and Darkness” by Amy Henrie Gillett from Texas
Third Place Winner – “Flee, My Pretty One” by Eneasz Bodski from Colorado
Q3: September 13, 2017 (91 Honorable Mentions | 15 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Mara’s Shadow” by Darci Stone from Utah
Second Place Winner – “Turnabout” by Erik Bundy from North Carolina
Third Place Winner – “A Bitter Thing” by N.R.M. Roshak from Canada
Q4: January 8, 2018 (154 Honorable Mentions | 9 Silver Honorable Mentions | 6 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “A Smokeless and Scorching Fire” by Erin Cairns from Texas
Second Place Winner – “What Lies Beneath” by Cole Hehr from Oklahoma
Third Place Winner – “The Howler on the Sales Floor” by Jonathan Ficke from Wisconsin
Grand Prize Winner 2018: “Mara’s Shadow” by Darci Stone
Total of number of Honorable Mentions and above listed on winner announcements for Vol. 34: 516
Category Totals: HM: 382 | SHM: 70 | SF: 31 | F: 20 | W: 12 | GW: 1
Total published in anthology: 12
Estimated chance of an entry being published (assumes for every HM+ there are at least three rejections): 12 / (515*4= 2,060 est. rejections) = 0.58%
Workshop Week - Day One: April 4, 2018
Awards Event: April 8, 2018 | The MacArthur Theater Los Angeles, CA | 450 Person Capacity | Magic and Wizardry Theme | Volume 34
Vol. 35 (2019 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: May 10, 2018 (88 Honorable Mentions | 7 Silver Honorable Mentions | 7 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “A Harvest of Astronauts” by Kyle Kirrin from Colorado
Second Place Winner – “A Certain Slant of Light” by Preston Dennett from California
Third Place Winner – “The First Warden” by Kai Wolden from Minnesota
Q2: July 18, 2018 (191 Honorable Mentions | 14 Silver Honorable Mentions | 5 Semi-Finalists | 4 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Dark Equations of the Heart” by David Cleden from the United Kingdom
Second Place Winner – “Release from Service” by Rustin Lovewell from Maryland
Third Place Winner – “Dirt Road Magic” by Carrie Callahan from Kentucky
Q3: October 25, 2018 (220 Honorable Mentions | 17 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Untrained Luck” by Elise Stephens from Washington
Second Place Winner – “An Itch” by Christopher Baker from the United Kingdom
Third Place Winner – “Are You the Life of the Party?” by Mica Scotti Kole from Michigan
Q4: December 1, 2018 (219 Honorable Mentions | 34 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Thanatos Drive” by Andrew Dykstal from Virginia
Second Place Winner – “Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler” by Wulf Moon from Washington
Third Place Winner – “The Damned Voyage” by John Haas from Canada
Grand Prize Winner 2019: “Thanatos Drive” by Andrew Dykstal
Total of number of Honorable Mentions and above listed on winner announcements for Vol. 35: 851
Category Totals: HM: 718 | SHM: 72 | SF: 28 | F: 20 | W: 12 | GW: 1
Total published in anthology: 12
Estimated chance of an entry being published (assumes for every HM+ there are at least three rejections): 12 / (850*4= 3,400 est. rejections) = 0.35%
Workshop Week - Day One: March 30, 2019
Awards Event: April 5, 2019 | Taglyan Complex Hollywood, CA | … Person Capacity | Retro Robotics Theme | Volume 35
Vol. 36 (2020 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: May 15, 2019 (229 Honorable Mentions | 21 Silver Honorable Mentions | 7 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “A Word That Means Every thing ” by Andy Dibble from Wisconsin
Second Place Winner – “A Prize in Every Box” by F. J. Bergmann from Wisconsin
Third Place Winner – “Automated Everyman Migrant Theater ” by Sonny Zae from Texas
Q2: August 16, 2019 (196 Honorable Mentions | 36 Silver Honorable Mentions | 9 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Educational Tapes ” by Katie Livingston from Oklahoma
Second Place Winner – “As Able the Air ” by Zack Be from Maryland
Third Place Winner – “Molting Season” by Tim Boiteau from Michigan
Q3: October 21, 2019 (237 Honorable Mentions | 29 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Catching My Death” by J. L. George from United Kingdom
Second Place Winner – “Foundations” by Michael Gardner from Australia
Third Place Winner – “Stolen Sky” by Storm Humbert from Michigan
Q4: January 8, 2019 (307 Honorable Mentions | 46 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 4 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “The Trade” by C. Winspear from Australia
Second Place Winner – “Trading Ghosts” by David A. Elsensohn from California
Third Place Winner – “Yellow and Pink” by Leah Ning from Virginia
Grand Prize Winner 2020: “The Trade” by C. Winspear
Total of number of Honorable Mentions and above listed on winner announcements for Vol. 36: 1,166
Category Totals: HM: 969 | SHM: 132 | SF: 32 | F: 20 | W: 12 | GW: 1
Total published in anthology: 12
Estimated chance of an entry being published (assumes for every HM+ there are at least three rejections): 12 / (1165*4=4,660 est. rejections) = 0.26%
Workshop Week - Day One: Canceled due to Covid-19.
Awards Event: October 22, 2021 | Taglyan Complex Hollywood, CA | 300 Person Capacity | Centurion Theme | Volume 36 & 37
Vol. 37 (2021 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: April 30, 2020 (296 Honorable Mentions | 59 Silver Honorable Mentions | 10 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Sixers” by Barbara Lund from Utah
Second Place Winner – “Death of a Time Traveler” by Sara Fox from Georgia
Third Place Winner – “The Redemption of Brother Adalum” by K. D. Julicher from Nevada
Q2: July 28, 2020 (270 Honorable Mentions | 51 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “The Enfield Report” by Christopher Bowthorpe from Utah
Second Place Winner – “The Argentum” by Anj Dockrey from Texas
Third Place Winner – “The Widow’s Might” by Elizabeth Chatsworth from Connecticut
Q3: October 15, 2020 (255 Honorable Mentions | 59 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Soul Paper” by Trent Walters from Missouri
Second Place Winner – “How to Steal the Plot Armor” by Luke Wildman from Indiana
Third Place Winner – “The Skin of My Mother” by Erik Lynd from Washington
Q4: November 17, 2020 (351 Honorable Mentions | 118 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “The Tiger and the Waif” by John M. Campbell from Colorado
Second Place Winner – “Hemingway” by Emma Washburn from North Carolina
Third Place Winner – “A Demon Hunter’s Guide to Passover Seder” by Ryan Cole from Virginia
Grand Prize Winner 2021: “Sixers” by Barbara Lund
Published Finalists:
“The Battle of Donasi” by Elaine Midcoh
“Half-Breed” by Brittany Rainsdon
Total of number of Honorable Mentions and above listed on winner announcements for Vol. 37: 1526
Category Totals: HM: 1172 | SHM: 287 | SF: 34 | F: 20 | W: 12 | GW: 1
Total published in anthology: 14
Estimated chance of an entry being published (assumes for every HM+ there are at least three rejections): 14 / (1525*4=6,100 est. rejections) = 0.23%
Workshop Week - Day One: October 16, 2021 | Volume 36 & 37
Combined Awards Event: October 22, 2021 | Taglyan Complex Hollywood, CA | 300 Person Capacity | Centurion Theme | Volume 36 & 37
Vol. 38 (2022 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: May 4, 2021 (373 Honorable Mentions | 99 Silver Honorable Mentions | 9 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “The Squid Is My Brother” by Mike Jack Stoumbos from Washington
Second Place Winner – “The Last Dying Season” by Brittany Rainsdon from Idaho
Third Place Winner – “For the Federation” by J. A. Becker from Australia
Q2: July 8 2021 (290 Honorable Mentions | 107 Silver Honorable Mentions | 8 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “The Phantom Carnival” by M. Elizabeth Ticknor from Michigan
Second Place Winner – “The Island on the Lake” by John Coming from Ohio
Third Place Winner – “Agatha’s Monster” by Azure Arther from Texas
Q3: December 2, 2021 (376 Honorable Mentions | 63 Silver Honorable Mentions | 6 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Psychic Poker” by Lazarus Black from Washington (AKA Lazarus Chernik)
Second Place Winner – “The Greater Good” by Em Dupre from Florida
Third Place Winner – “The Mystical Farrago” by N. V. Haskell from Kentucky
Q4: December 11, 2021 (468 Honorable Mentions | 100 Silver Honorable Mentions | 7 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Gallows” by Desmond Astaire from Illinois
Second Place Winner – “The Magic Book of Accidental City Destruction: A Book Wizard’s Guide” by Z. T. Bright from Utah
Third Place Winner – “Lilt of a Lark” by Michael Panter from Sweden
Grand Prize Winner 2022: “Gallows” by Desmond Astaire
Published Finalist: “Tsuu, Tsuu, Kasva Suuremasse” by Rebecca E. Treasure
Total of number of Honorable Mentions and above listed on winner announcements for Vol. 38: 1,939
Category Totals: HM: 1507 | SHM: 369 | SF: 30 | F: 20 | W: 12 | GW: 1
Total published in anthology: 13
Estimated chance of an entry being published (assumes for every HM+ there are at least three rejections): 14 / (1938*4=7,752 est. rejections) = 0.18%
Workshop Week - Day One: April 2, 2022
Awards Event: April 8, 2022 | Taglyan Complex Hollywood, CA | 300 Person Capacity | Past and Future Theme | Volume 38
Vol. 39 (2023 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: May 12, 2022 (283 Honorable Mentions | 128 Silver Honorable Mentions | 10 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “The Last History” by Samuel Parr
Second Place Winner – “The Children of Desolation” by Spencer Sekulin
Third Place Winner – “Timelines and Bloodlines” by L. H. Davis
Q2: August 10, 2022 (293 Honorable Mentions | 109 Silver Honorable Mentions | 9 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Kitsune” by Devon Bohm
Second Place Winner – “The Withering Sky” by Arthur H. Manners
Third Place Winner – “Death and the Taxman” by David Hankins
Q3: October 7, 2022 (305 Honorable Mentions | 113 Silver Honorable Mentions | 10 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “White Elephant” by David K. Henrickson
Second Place Winner – “Piracy for Beginners” by J. R. Johnson
Third Place Winner – “A Trickle in History” by Elaine Midcoh
Q4: November 22, 2022 (294 Honorable Mentions | 115 Silver Honorable Mentions | 10 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Moonlight and Funk” by Marianne Xenos
Second Place Winner – “Under My Cypresses” by Jason Palmatier
Third Place Winner – “The Fall of Crodendra M” by T. J. Knight
Grand Prize Winner 2023: “White Elephant” by David K. Henrickson
Total of number of Honorable Mentions and above listed on winner announcements for Vol. 39: 1,711
Category Totals: HM: 1174 | SHM: 465 | SF: 39 | F: 20 | W: 12 | GW: 1
Total published in anthology: 12
Estimated chance of an entry being published (assumes for every HM+ there are at least three rejections): 12 / (1710*4=6,840 est. rejections) = 0.18%
Workshop Week - Day One: April 22, 2023
Awards Event: April 23, 2023 | Taglyan Complex Hollywood, CA | 300 Person Capacity | Volume 38
Vol. 40 (2024 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: April 16, 2023 (298 Honorable Mentions | 113 Silver Honorable Mentions | 10 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Life and Death and Love in the Bayou” by Stephannie Tallent
Second Place Winner – “The Imagalisk” by Galen Westlake
Third Place Winner – “Squiddy” by John Eric Schleicher
Q2: July 13, 2023 (280 Honorable Mentions | 100 Silver Honorable Mentions | 13 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “The Wall Isn’t a Circle” by Rosalyn Robilliard
Second Place Winner – “The Edge of Where My Light Is Cast” by Sky McKinnon
Third Place Winner – “Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbonfiber” by James Davies
Q3: September 18, 2023 (227 Honorable Mentions | 92 Silver Honorable Mentions | 11 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Five Days Until Sunset” by Lance Robinson
Second Place Winner – “Butter Side Down” by Kal M
Third Place Winner – “Summer of Thirty Years” by Lisa Silverthorne
Q4: November 14, 2023 (266 Honorable Mentions | 77 Silver Honorable Mentions | 9 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – “Son, Spirit, Snake” by Jack Nash
Second Place Winner – “Nonzero” by Tom Vandermolen
Third Place Winner – “Da-ko-ta” by Amir Agoora
Grand Prize Winner 2024: “Son, Spirit, Snake” by Jack Nash
Total of number of Honorable Mentions and above listed on winner announcements for Vol. 40: 1,529
Category Totals: HM: 1071 | SHM: 382 | SF: 43 | F: 20 | W: 12 | GW: 1
Total published in anthology: 12
Estimated chance of an entry being published (assumes for every HM+ there are at least three rejections): 12 / (1528*4=6,112 est. rejections) = 0.20%
Workshop Week - Day One: April 19, 2024
Awards Event: April 26, 2024 | Taglyan Complex Hollywood, CA | 300 Person Capacity | Volume 40
Vol. 41 (2025 Writer Winners)
Q1 - First Quarter Winners: March 27, 2024 (207 Honorable Mentions | 61 Silver Honorable Mentions | 9 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – Sandra Skalski from New Jersey
Second Place Winner – Jefferson Snow from Utah
Third Place Winner – Barlow Crassmont from Illinois
Q2: July 17, 2024 (243 Honorable Mentions | 45 Silver Honorable Mentions | 10 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – Randyn Bartholomew from New York
Second Place Winner – Lauren McGuire from Georgia
Third Place Winner – Seth Atwater from Missouri
Q3: September 18, 2023 (237 Honorable Mentions | 55 Silver Honorable Mentions | 9 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)
First Place Winner – TR Naus from Virginia
Second Place Winner – Ian Keith from Arizona
Third Place Winner – Joel C. Scoberg from Wales, Great Britain
More about Kari English
https://jarridcantway.substack.com/p/entering-the-writers-of-the-future
https://fyrecon.com/special-session/kary-english-the-slush-is-alive/
https://writersofthefuture.com/kary-english-megen-nelson-a-winning-pair/
https://writersofthefuture.com/writers-of-the-future-taps-kary-english-as-new-first-reader/
http://karyenglish.com/
Kary English won the contest in 2015 and was chosen by David Farland to become First Reader in 2018.
More about Joni Labaqui
Joni Labaqui has been the Director of the Writers of the Future Contest since 1995. She has worked for Author Services since 1982, before, L. Ron Hubbard launched the contest 1983.
Interviews
2024 Podcast: Contest Director Joni Labaqui Discusses the History of the Contest
2020 TheBookFest YouTube Interview: Chat with Joni Labaqui from Writers
of the Future
2019 Podcast: Interview with Contest Director, Joni Labaqui
About Algris Budrys
Algris Budrys was the first Contest Director who helped establish the Writers of the Future Contest in 1983. Algris’s out-of-print book, Writing to the Point: A Complete Guide to Selling fiction, is often recommended to writers entering the contest as Dave referenced him frequently (find it here). He died from metastatic malignant melanoma on June 9, 2008.
“You can write. You can. Almost any damned fool can, and many of them do. If I can do it, believe me, you can, too.” —Algis Budrys
K. D. Wentworth
Kathy Diane Wentworth was a 1988 contest winner. In 2000, she became First Reader and Coordinating Judge, as well as primary workshop instructor and editor, until April 18, 2012, when she died from complications with pneumonia and cervical cancer.
More about Dave Wolverton (aka David Farland)
https://writersofthefuture.com/writer-judges/writer-judges-david-farland/
https://writersofthefuture.com/the-writer-whisperer-david-farland/
David Farland (Dave Wolverton) won the contest in 1987. He became a judge for the Writers of the Future contest in 1991 and was the Coordinating Judge and Editor until 2022.
After co-editing volume 8 with Algis Budrys in 1992, he took over editing of the annual anthology volume 9 through 14 before passing the role back to Algis Budrys. Wolverton again took over editing the anthology from K. D. Wentworth, beginning with volume 29 and continuing through volume 37.
Though Dave died on January 14, 2022, from hemorrhagic stroke, many of his lectures and teachings have been recorded by his team at Story Doctors, in his books on writing, and on the Writers of the Future’s website. So, it’s not too late to learn valuable advice from a master in the field, especially regarding the Writers of the Future Contest (WotF). Make sure to sign up for the Story Doctors newsletter to download 100 Daily Meditations for free and to receive valuable insights into WotF.
“I feel this is the most important thing I could be doing with all the things I’ve learned in my life.” —Algis Budrys on mentoring for Writers of the Future Contest.
More About Jody Lynn Nye
Jody Lynn Nye became a Writers of the Future judge in 2016 and became the Coordinating Judge an Editor in 2022. Jody has taught in numerous writing workshops and participated on hundreds of panels covering the subjects of writing and being published at science-fiction conventions. She also runs the two-day writers workshop at DragonCon, and reviews fiction for Galaxy’s Edge Magazine.
Interviews
2024 Podcast: Jody Lynn Nye Coordinating Judge on 40 Years of Writers of the Future
WotF Exclusive Insights from Jody Lynn Nye - May 18, 2024
Interview: WOTF Contest with Jody Lynn Nye - Jan. 13, 2023
Jody Lynn Nye Full Interview - Feb 10, 2022Final thoughts
Final thoughts
L. Ron Hubbard created the contest as a means for new and budding writers to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged. The contest is designed to instill the idea of professionalism being a lifelong attitude. It can help start a career, possibly the first to publish a new writer’s work, but also teach much about craft and the business side of writing from the workshop. At the very least, it helps improve a new writer’s skills in a significant way. Also, with each winner’s group that goes to the workshop, the emphasis is on forming a cohort or a networking support group between the writers. A perfect example of this networking is the 2023 collaborative book by past winners : Inner Workings: A Calendar of Fools Anthology.
If you’re interested in submitting your story to the competition, check out the submission guidelines and enter the contest.
Cheers,
Jarrid Cantway
Additional resources
Read the anthology: (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XXCD2DQ/).
“If you write, you are a writer – hopefully, a professional writer – and if you do not, you are not … no matter what you say.” — Algis Budrys