Intro to Writers of the Future Contest Part 2

Deadlines, Quarterly Announcement Dates, and Awards Events

Aug 19, 2022

One of the most known and respected vehicles for supporting new writers is the free-to-enter international contest called L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future, now in its 39th year.

The merit-based contest was initiated to discover and encourage talented beginning writers of science fiction and fantasy.

Every quarter there are winners, finalists, semi-finalists, and honorable mentions. The quarterly winners are published in the annual anthology, receive cash prizes, and attend an all-expenses paid gala awards ceremony and writing workshop.

The second article

This article is the second in a series and comprises a list of significant dates. For example, I’ve compiled the winner announcement dates for each quarter starting from 2014, including the winners and hyperlinks to the relevant articles.

To those new to the contest, it gives a general outline of significant events, deadlines, and when results are typically announced for each quarter. Read the first article in the series by clicking on Intro to the Writer of the Future Contest.

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).

Winner announcement dates

Vol. 31 (2015 Writer Winners)

Q1 - First Quarter Winners: June 2, 2014 (119 Honorable Mentions | 10 Semi-Finalists | 8 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 | 8 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 | 8 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 (Unknown Honorable Mentions | 7 Semi-Finalists | 8 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: ~572+

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 | 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 | 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

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: 647

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: 515

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: 849

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: 1,164

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: 1,495

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 (99 Honorable Mentions | 118 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 (469 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: 1,684

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 – Samuel Parr from Great Britain
Second Place Winner – Spencer Sekulin from Canada
Third Place Winner – L.H. Davis from Florida

Q2: Aug 10, 2022 (294 Honorable Mentions | 109 Silver Honorable Mentions | 9 Semi-Finalists | 5 Finalists | 3 Winners)

First Place Winner – Devon Bohm from Connecticut
Second Place Winner – Arthur H. Manners from Great Britain
Third Place Winner – David Hankins from Iowa

Conclusion

Each year multiple thousands of writers submit to the contest, and for the last three years the number has increased drastically in no small part to the Covid-19 pandemic. Only 12-14 stories are published in the anthology.
The annual Awards event is a lavish, televised affair.
Frequently, there are many more submissions in the Fourth Quarter than the First Quarter, indicating that there is a slightly greater chance of winning the contest in Q1 than in the remaining quarters.
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, awards event, and top winner are announced in early April.

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.
The Grand Prize Winner is announced in the first two weeks of April at the awards event.

Additional resources

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Next week I'll share an article featuring advice for submitting to the Writers of the Future Contest from past contest winners.

Cheers,

Jarrid Cantway