Name: L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest
Category: Science fiction
Word count: 3,000 -17,000
Entry fee: free
Prize: 1st prize winner gets $1000 and publication, 2nd prize winner gets $750 and publication, 3rd prize winner gets $500 and publication
Closing Date: last day of each quarter
L. Ron Hubbard’s Writer of the Future Contest was created to encourage writers of speculative fiction in the world. Over the years, the contest has discovered and trained emerging writers of science fiction. Are you a writer of speculative fiction? Here is an opportunity to get discovered, rewarded, and promoted. The contest is divided into four quarters. The first quarter starts from 1st October, second from 1st January, third from 1st April and the fourth from 1st July. Entry for each quarter closes on the last day of the quarter. For each quarter, three cash prizes are available for winners. The First Prize winner gets $1,000, the Second Prize winner gets $750, and the Third Prize winner gets $500. The winners’ works are rejudged at the end of the year and a Grand Prize winner is awarded $5,000. Submission guidelines:
- No entry fee is required, and all rights in the story remain the property of the author. All types of science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy are welcome.
- By submitting to the Contest, the entrant agrees to abide by all Contest rules.
- All entries must be original works by the entrant, in English. Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party poetry, song lyrics, characters or another person’s universe, without written permission, will result in disqualification. Excessive violence or sex, determined by the judges, will result in disqualification. Entries may not have been previously published in professional media.
- To be eligible, entries must be works of prose, up to 17,000 words in length. They do not consider poetry or works intended for children.
- The Contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment of at least eight cents per word, and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits.
- Entries submitted in hard copy must be typewritten or a computer printout in black ink on white paper, printed only on the front of the paper, double-spaced, with numbered pages. All other formats will be disqualified. Each entry must have a cover page with the title of the work, the author’s legal name, a pen name if applicable, address, telephone number, e-mail address and an approximate word count. Every subsequent page must carry the title and a page number, but the author’s name must be deleted to facilitate fair, anonymous judging. 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 will separately include the author’s legal name, pen name if applicable, address, telephone number, e-mail address and approximate word count.
- Manuscripts will be returned after judging only if the author has provided return postage on a self-addressed envelope.
- Hard copy submissions should not require a delivery signature for the organizer to receive them.
- There shall be three cash prizes in each quarter: a First Prize of $1,000, a Second Prize of $750, and a Third Prize of $500, in US dollars. In addition, at the end of the year the first place winners will have their entries judged by a panel of judges, and a Grand Prize winner shall be determined and receive an additional $5,000. All winners will also receive trophies.
- The Contest has four quarters, beginning on October 1, January 1, April 1 and July 1. The year will end on September 30. To be eligible for judging in its quarter, an entry must be postmarked or received electronically no later than midnight on the last day of the quarter. Late entries will be included in the following quarter and the Contest Administration will so notify the entrant.
- Each entrant may submit only one manuscript per quarter. Winners are ineligible to make further entries in the Contest.
- All entries for each quarter are final. No revisions are accepted.
- Entries will be judged by professional authors. The decisions of the judges are entirely their own and are final and binding.
- Winners in each quarter will be individually notified of the results by phone, mail or e-mail.
- This Contest is void where prohibited by law.
For electronic submissions visit – Writers of the Future Contest
To send your entry in hard copy, mail it to:
L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest
7051 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90028
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