Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Writers and Illustrators of the Future
What is the Writers of the Future?
There have been articles published throughout the years regarding not only L. Ron Hubbard’s fiction works, but also highlighting his work in other fields of the arts—most notably, his annual Writers of the Future competition.
L. Ron Hubbard initiated the Writers of the Future Contest in 1983 to provide a means for aspiring authors to gain a foothold in the field of speculative fiction. And based on the Contest’s success, its companion Illustrators of the Future Contest was established a few years later. Mr. Hubbard funded the Contest in its early years, and his estate continues to fund both Contests to this day. They are judged by leading authors and artists in the fields of science fiction and fantasy. Three winners are chosen each quarter for both Contests. All twelve winners for each Contest are announced at our annual awards ceremony, where they receive trophies and cash awards. Additionally, grand prize Golden Pen and Golden Brush trophies and a $5,000 check are awarded to one of the writer and illustrator winners. All winning stories and accompanying art are published annually in the L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Anthology.
As part of administering the Writers of the Future Contest, Author Services, Inc., works with many luminaries in the field of speculative fiction, including Kevin J. Anderson, Orson Scott Card, Hugh Howey, Larry Niven, Jody Lynn Nye, Nnedi Okorafor, Tim Powers, Brandon Sanderson, Robert J. Sawyer, Robert Silverberg, and S.M. Stirling. (For the full list, visit www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-judges)
And for the Illustrators of the Future Contest, Author Services, Inc., works with as equally celebrated art professionals, including Echo Chernik, Bob Eggleton, Craig Elliott, Larry Elmore, Brittany Jackson, Rob Prior, Dan dos Santos, Shaun Tan, and Tom Wood. (For the full list, visit www.writersofthefuture.com/illustrator-judges)
What is the Illustrators of the Future?
In 1988, based on the success of the Writers of the Future program, a companion contest was created for new and aspiring illustrators seeking to become speculative artists. Winning illustrators—three each quarter—are assigned the winning stories from the writers’ contest and illustrate them for the annual anthology. The list of judges for the illustrator’s contest is no less impressive than that of the writers’ contest and includes in its roster of judges such notables as: Echo Chernik, Ciruelo, Bob Eggleton, Larry Elmore, Rob Prior and Shaun Tan.
How do I enter the Writers Contest?
First familiarize yourself with the Writer Contest rules which you can find by clicking on CONTEST RULES. Once you’ve read through the rules, click on WRITER CONTEST and then follow the instructions under the section entitled “Enter the Contest Here.” If you plan to enter electronically, you’ll need to create a login for each quarter that you enter the contest.
Entries submitted electronically must be double-spaced and must include the title and page number on each page, but not the author’s name. Electronic submissions must separately include the author’s legal name, pen name if applicable, address, telephone number, e-mail address and the approximate word count of the story being submitted.
If you prefer, you may enter your story in hardcopy. To do so, follow the directions in the CONTEST RULES, and send your story to:
L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest
7051 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
How do I enter the Illustrators Contest?
- Minimum: 300 dpi
- Minimum: 5″ x 7″
- Maximum: 8.5″ x 11″
- Minimum: 5 MB
- Maximum: 100 MB
If you prefer, you may enter your three illustrations in hardcopy. To do so, follow the directions in the CONTEST RULES, and send your illustrations to:
L. Ron Hubbard’s Illustrators of the Future Contest
7051 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
How long do I have to wait to find out if I won?
You will find out by the end of the quarter following the one in which you entered. For example, if you entered at any time during the January 1–March 31 quarter, you will hear by the end of June.
How will I find out if I won?
If you are a Finalist, you will be contacted by the Contest Director. Then, once final judging comes in from all the voting judges, the three winners will be called by the Contest Director.
A press release announcing the Finalists and Winners is sent out each quarter along with a blog post and social posts on Facebook and Twitter.
Can I keep the rights to my story or art?
Is there an entry fee?
Is there an Anti-Harassment policy?
The Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contests are committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all participants in both Contests. This includes all online or offline activities, meetings, and events associated with the Contests.
We expect all participants to abide by this Anti-Harassment Policy.
- Exercise consideration and respect in your posts and comments.
- Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, harassing, or threatening behavior in any communication.
- Be mindful of your fellow writers and illustrators.
- Alert Contest Administration Personnel or Forum Moderators if you notice a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of the Anti-Harassment Policy, even if they seem inconsequential.
Unacceptable behavior includes:
- Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning posts or comments by any member;
- Posting or sharing hateful or vilifying sites or blogs;
- Harmful or prejudicial written comments or visual images;
- Real or implied threat of physical harm;
- Real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm.
In relation to, but not limited to:
Age Body size Citizenship Color Disability Gender Gender identity National origin Pregnancy Race Religion Sexual orientation
Actions which violate our Anti-Harassment policy are not allowed. These rules will be enforced by Contest Administration Personnel and Forum Moderators. The first infraction will receive a warning. The second infraction will result in the violating member having their Forum membership terminated or being escorted out of the Writers or Illustrators of the Future function. Additionally, obvious spammers and those sharing defamatory information against Forum members, or against entities or individuals affiliated with Writers of the Future, will be blocked from posting on any of the Contest social media pages and will have their membership terminated without warning.
Thank you and wishing you success with your career as a writer or artist!
Writers of the Future Contest Administrator
Questions about L. Ron Hubbard:
Is this the same person who developed Dianetics and Scientology?
Yes. Before the publication of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health in 1950 and his later founding of Scientology, Mr. Hubbard enjoyed a successful two-decade career as a fiction writer. A luminary to millions of pulp fiction devotees in the 1930s and 1940s, Mr. Hubbard was also one of the genre’s most prolific writers. He authored more than 300 short stories, novelettes and novels under his own name and 15 pen names. His published works from that era encompass adventure, detective, science fiction, western and fantasy works. He also wrote a number of scripts for films in that same time period.
Is L. Ron Hubbard still alive?
No, Mr. Hubbard passed away on January 24, 1986. In reply to demands for his literary works, all earlier titles have been republished. The first two, Final Blackout and Fear, promptly rode bestseller lists, repeating their popularity from fifty years earlier. In full, forty L. Ron Hubbard works have appeared on international bestseller lists. Moreover, combining the sales of his fiction and nonfiction titles, L. Ron Hubbard has become the most published and translated author in history, as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.