Writers & Illustrators of the Future Workshop Week
2025 – Day 3

The Writers’ Workshop Continues and the 24-Hour Story Begins!

Contributed by Leah Ning

The writers began the morning with Contest Coordinating Judge Jody Lynn Nye and Contest Judge Tim Powers, who spoke about working as professional writers and networking with industry professionals at conventions. They discussed how to behave on panels, the best ways to network and socialize, as well as how to approach and collaborate with editors and agents. They also emphasized the importance of presenting professional-looking manuscripts and highlighted common formatting pitfalls to avoid.

Tim and Jody then covered how to obtain blurbs for novels, shared valuable advice on navigating film and television contracts, and explained the differences between options and shopping agreements.

Next came the most eagerly anticipated part of the week: the art reveal! Staff, judges, and winners gathered in the L. Ron Hubbard Theatre as the writers discovered the illustrations commissioned for their stories and met the artists for the first time. Emotions ran high as winners were interviewed, smiling, hugging, and even crying over the powerful connections formed through their art.

After a lunch break, the writers briefly reconvened to receive final words of encouragement and advice from Tim and Jody before being sent off to begin one of their biggest challenges of the week: the 24-hour story. This exercise is designed to build confidence, skill, and speed. When the writers return tomorrow, some of their stories will be workshopped by their peers and the judges.

The Illustrator Workshop Begins

Contributed by Martin L. Shoemaker and Kary English

The first day of the illustrator workshop opened with Coordinating Judge Echo Chernik

She introduced her background and showcased her work, regaling students with stories of the challenges she faced while getting started in advertising art. She also discussed the impact of AI and emphasized the importance of adaptability.

Art Reveal!

Mid-morning, the writer winners gathered outside the workshop doors while staff bustled inside, arranging easels and artworks hidden under velvet drapes. Each artist had created a custom illustration for a writer winner’s story, and they were about to meet their writers in one of the Contest’s most beloved moments—the big art reveal. With the easels arranged in a semi-circle and the drapes pulled away, the writers filed in. The theater soon filled with a dozen excited conversations as Writers met their Illustrators for the first time.

Making a Living as an Artist and Illustrator

After lunch, Echo offered tips on making a living in the arts, covering fields like commercial design, typography, and animation. She also walked through the illustration process from contact to delivery, including how to interact with clients and representatives. She provided helpful resources for copyright, marketing, pricing, and promotion, and then discussed negotiation and getting paid.

Using Reference in Illustration

After tuxedo fittings and gown consultations, the illustrators returned for some artistic playtime as Contest staff handed over the keys to the prop closet. Emerging with armfuls of swords and pirate hats, the illustrators staged a sword fight—costumes and all—to shoot reference photos for the next day’s sketching assignment. Contest Judge Lazarus Chernik gave pointers on lighting, working with models, and building a reference library.

Tour of the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition and Q&A

After a dinner break, the illustrators boarded shuttles for a trip to the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition. The biographical museum explored Hubbard’s early life as he traveled the world and worked in a variety of high-adventure jobs. These experiences led him to believe that the best way to create was to live and learn authentically—to work alongside people and draw from a background of real-life experiences.