CONTEST RULES
L. Ron Hubbard’s WRITERS OF THE FUTURE ®
An international search for new and amateur writers of new short stories or novelets of science fiction or fantasy No entry fee is required Entrants retain all publication rights
All awards are adjudicated by professional writers only. Prizes every three months: $1000, $750, $500. Annual grand prize: $4000 additional!
Don’t Delay! Send Your Entry To:
L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of The Future Contest
P.O. Box 1630
Los Angeles, CA 90078
Contest Rules
1. No entry fee is required, and all rights in the story remain the property of the author. All types of science fiction, fantasy and horror with fantastic elements are welcome; every entry is judged on its own merits only.
2. All entries must be original works in English. Plagiarism, which includes poetry, song lyrics, characters or another person’s world will result in disqualification. Submitted works may not have been previously published in professional media.
3. Eligible entries must be works of prose, either short stories or novelets under 17,000 words in length. We regret we cannot consider poetry or works intended for children. Excessive violence or sex will result in disqualification.
4. The Contest is open only to those who have not had professionally published (more than 5,000 copies) a novel or short novel, or more than three short stories, or more than one novelet in any medium.
5. Entries must be typewritten and double spaced with numbered pages (computer-printer output O.K.) Each entry must have a cover page with the title of the work, the author’s name, address and telephone number, and an approximate word-count. The manuscript itself should be titled and numbered on every page, but the AUTHOR’S NAME MUST BE DELETED to facilitate fair judging.
6. Manuscripts will be returned after judging. Entries MUST include a self-addressed return envelope. U.S. return envelopes MUST be stamped; others may enclose international postal reply coupons.
7. There shall be three cash prizes in each quarter: 1st Prize of $1000, 2nd Prize of $750, and 3rd Prize of $500, in U.S. dollars or the recipient’s locally equivalent amount. In addition, there shall be a further cash prize of $4000 to the Grand Prize winner, who will be selected from among the 1st Prize winners for the period of October 1 through September 30. All winners will also receive trophies or certificates.
8. The Contest will continue yearly with the following quarterly periods: October 1 - December 31 January 1 - March 31 April 1 - June 30 July 1 - September 30
To be eligible for the quarterly judging, an entry must be postmarked no later than Midnight on the last day of the Quarter.
9. Each entrant may submit only one manuscript per quarter. Winners in a quarterly judging are ineligible to make further entries in the Contest.
10. All entries for each quarter are final. No revisions are accepted.
11. Entries will be judged by professional authors. The decisions of the judges are entirely their own, and are final.
12. Winners in each Quarter will be individually notified of the results by mail.
This contest is void where prohibited by law.
About The L. Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future® Contest
“A culture is as rich and 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 be even fewer artist. 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.
© 1985 L. Ron Hubbard Library
With this memorable statement of purpose, L. Ron Hubbard established and sponsored The Writers of The Future Contest in 1983. Publication of his own, first professional short story in 1932 had launched one of the most spectacular and prolific writing careers of the 20th century, embracing genres ranging from adventure, western, historical romance, mystery and horror to science fiction and fantasy and producing more than 260 published works of fiction.
As early as 1935, L. Ron Hubbard began helping other writers—a lifelong commitment – by publishing articles on the art and craft of writing. Later, in 1940, he launched his very first contest for aspiring writers over the radio in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Since its inception in 1983, the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future Contest provides extraordinary opportunities for new and aspiring writers of science fiction and fantasy to have their creative efforts seen and acknowledged. The foremost international showcase for new talent in the field of speculative fiction, the WOTF contest has enabled numerous beginning writers to go on to outstanding professional careers.
© 1988, 2000 L. Ron Hubbard Library All Rights Reserved. Writers of The Future is
a Registered Trademark owned by L. Ron Hubbard Library.
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