Writers & Illustrators of the Future Podcast: Learning Things You Never Knew

Have you ever wondered how the lightsaber in Star Wars came about? Or how Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces perfectly describes the journey of Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker or Battlefield Earth’s Jonnie Goodboy Tyler? How did Frank Herbert evolve from a news reporter to author of one of the most beloved books in science fiction—Dune? How did a poor artist in rural Kentucky become one of the visionary forces behind Dungeons and Dragons and Dragonlance?

Four-time finalist in the Podcast Awards: The People’s Choice, Writers and Illustrators of the Future Podcast, based on the internationally acclaimed Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest created by L. Ron Hubbard—now completing its fourth decade—answers these and hundreds of other such questions with listeners learning things in every interview. The podcast has posted over 250 episodes in four years, with over 58 million downloads and listeners from over 120 countries.

The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Podcast was created to provide writing tips and art advice from Contest judges, winners, and industry professionals for those writers and artists wanting to take their next step. Contributors have included Roger Christian, Academy Award winner for Star Wars set design; Larry Elmore, creator of Dungeons and Dragons and Dragonlance illustrations; Brian Herbert, son of Frank Herbert and author of Dreamer of Dune; Tom Doherty, founder of Tor publishing; Toni Weisskopf, Publisher of Baen Books; Robin Whitten, Editor Audiofile Magazine; Andrew Gulli, Publisher The Strand Magazine; Scott Dickey, CEO Podium Audio; Dr. Beatrice Kondo, Senior Lecturer for Biotechnology University of Maryland; Pat Henry, CEO Dragon Con; Dan Farr, CEO FanX Salt Lake; and dozens of international bestselling authors and acclaimed artists. For the complete listing of guests, go to www.soundcloud.com/writersofthefuture.

When asked about the podcast, here is what some of the guests-turned-listeners had to say.

Multiple award-winning author of The Oppenheimer Alternative Robert J. Sawyer wrote, “Imagine the best possible course in writing science fiction and fantasy. Now imagine it taught by the best writers in the business. That’s the Writers of the Future podcast.”

International bestselling author James Rosone stated, “Writers & Illustrators of the Future podcast is a luminary treasure-trove, unearthing the world’s literary giants and their priceless insights. The spectrum from traditional to self-published virtuosos is staggering. By synthesizing their wisdom, I shattered barriers, selling an astonishing 240,000 books last year alone. This isn’t just a podcast; it’s an odyssey of knowledge.”

Senior Lecturer, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Dr. Beatrice Kondo, wrote, “The Writers of the Future Podcast is a fun, warm, and informative podcast ranging widely over the fields of science fiction and fantasy, featuring well-known professionals in the field, winners of the contests, and others involved fantasy and sci-fi.”

Film and television writer/producer Thomas P. Vitale commented, “In addition to having been a guest, I am also a listener to the podcast and greatly enjoy hearing from all the accomplished and fascinating guests! Amidst a seemingly endless array of podcasts available to listeners, The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Podcast really stands out, which is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the hard and smart work of this talented team!”

Dave Chesson, the Kindlepreneuer, stated, “I created Kindlepreneuer as a tool to help authors get books published on Amazon. There are literally millions of self-published books every year. The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Podcast is one of the best podcasts I know to provide that much-needed boost to aspiring and established writers by interviewing A-list authors, artists, industry pros—including me—as well those writers and artists on their way up, providing both inspiration and tips. Highly recommended.”

The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Podcast is one of several tools made available for aspiring writers and artists by the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests. For nearly forty years—and over 900 writers and artists—L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests have discovered and nurtured a steady stream of new talent who have changed the face of science fiction and fantasy. These Contests have provided “a means for new and budding writers to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged,” as per the mission statement by L. Ron Hubbard in the first volume.

The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Podcast is available at Soundcloud.com/writersofthefuture and on all major platforms including Google, iHeart, iTunes, PocketCasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.