Much has been said and written about the prolific speculative fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, especially after the publication of his highly controversial book Dianetics and the founding of the Church of Scientology. Many of the accounts are endless, painting the picture of the author as a greedy opportunist who used forays into other drugs and instituted religions as vehicles to promote and enrich his work. Because there are so many contradictory stories about the man and his attachments, that the true truth is always speculation.
Regardless of what conclusions can be drawn about the character of the author, the competition For Future Writers that Hubbard started in 1983 has always been a contribution to new and upcoming science fiction and fantasy, encouraging many more and more to set foot at the door of the publishing world. The back of the competition’s DVD program proclaims: “For decades, the dreams of new and enlightened writers have crashed against the reality of a publishing industry that couldn’t take a chance.” The contest provides, for those who submit, a forum for exposure to potential through the Future Writers anthology quarter published by Galaxy Press.
This allure is no empty boast: over the years of competition he has compiled more than 250 stories and 2,500 short stories. > on bookshelves around the world. L. Ron Hubbard’s literary agency, Author Services Inc., continued as a sponsor after the author’s death in 1986.
Those who are still cautious, lest such a controversy should be instituted, will doubtless be strengthened by fair and just words. There is no entry fee, and authors retain full rights to the work they submit. All genres of science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy are welcome. Prose content should be up to 17,000 words.
Entries must not have been previously published in any professional media (the rules “professional publication” means sales of five 000 or more. In addition, contributing authors must not have a new profession, have published more than one novel, or more than three short stories in any medium.
Perhaps the most impressive and prestigious aspect of this competition is its number of judges (all career writers in their own right), who include such luminaries as Kevin J. Anderson, Algis Budrys, Orson Scott Card, Brian Herbert and Anne McCaffrey. .
The Future Writers contest selects winners throughout the year in four quarters: October, January, April and July. Competitors are admitted only one entry per quarter, and always by the first of the month. Mediums who work in painting and other graphic arts also have reason to rejoice: a unique competition for illustrators was opened in 1988, and was judged by such masters in the field as Frank Frazetta. The Writers of the Future anthology combines stories from award-winning authors with artwork created by award-winning illustrators.
