27d • Contests
Writers of the Future Contest submission date is June 30
Snapshot
- Type: Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing Contest
- Sponsor: L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future
- Entry Fee: None
- Payment: Cash prizes for finalists and winners
- Publication: Winning entries are published in the annual Writers of the Future anthology
- Rights: Limited publication rights; authors retain significant rights to their work
- Eligibility: New and amateur writers only
- Previously Published Requirement: Must not be a professionally published author under contest eligibility rules
- Submission Window: Quarterly
- Length: Up to 17,000 words
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction
- Response Time: Results announced after each quarterly deadline
What It Is
Writers of the Future is one of the most prestigious contests for emerging science fiction and fantasy writers.
Founded in 1983, the contest was created to identify and launch new voices in speculative fiction. Many winners and finalists have gone on to become bestselling authors, award winners, editors, and major figures within the science fiction and fantasy community.
Unlike most short fiction markets, Writers of the Future is specifically designed for unpublished and emerging writers.
What They Tend to Reward
The contest consistently favors stories that:
- Tell a complete story
- Feature proactive protagonists
- Deliver a strong emotional payoff
- Include a clear speculative element
- Demonstrate professional-level craft
- Balance originality with readability
Winning stories are often:
- Character-driven
- Plot-focused
- High-concept
- Emotionally satisfying
- Accessible to a broad audience
Many winners feel more like commercially publishable stories than experimental literary fiction.
What They Tend Not to Favor
Historically, the contest appears less interested in:
- Literary slice-of-life stories
- Stories with minimal plot movement
- Pure mood pieces
- Heavy exposition
- Experimental structures that sacrifice clarity
- Stories where the speculative element feels incidental
The strongest entries generally place the speculative premise at the center of the story rather than using it as background decoration.
Difficulty Level
👑 Elite Emerging Writer Competition
This is one of the most competitive opportunities available to unpublished science fiction and fantasy writers.
Winning or placing as a finalist is a significant professional credential.
Best For
- Science fiction writers
- Fantasy writers
- Emerging speculative fiction authors
- Writers building publication credentials
- Authors seeking industry visibility
- Writers interested in professional short fiction markets
Awards & Benefits
Winners receive:
- Cash prizes
- Publication in the annual anthology
- Professional illustrations for winning stories
- Workshop instruction from established authors and editors
- Networking opportunities with publishing professionals
- Significant visibility within the science fiction and fantasy community
Many past winners cite the contest as a major turning point in their writing careers.
Why Enter?
Writers of the Future offers something very few opportunities can provide:
Industry recognition before you have an agent, book deal, or major publication credits.
For emerging speculative fiction writers, it serves as both a contest and a talent-discovery pipeline.
Even placing as a finalist or honorable mention can provide valuable validation and résumé credentials.
Editorial Notes
A useful shorthand for Writers of the Future is:
"Professional-grade speculative fiction from emerging writers."
If your story features:
- A compelling protagonist
- A clear story goal
- Meaningful stakes
- A strong speculative premise
- A satisfying ending
it may be a good candidate for this contest.
Stories that combine excellent craft with strong entertainment value tend to perform particularly well.
Strategy Tips
Before submitting:
- Read previous winning stories.
- Make sure the protagonist actively drives the plot.
- Ensure the speculative element is essential to the story.
- Focus on emotional impact, not just worldbuilding.
- Give the reader a complete and satisfying narrative experience.
Many aspiring entrants focus heavily on the idea. Winners typically pair a strong idea with strong storytelling.
Links
- Contest Website: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/
- Submission Guidelines: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/
- Past Winners & Anthologies: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-winners/
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Writers of the Future Contest submission date is June 30
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Sci-fi storytelling, worldbuilding, and narrative architecture led by a science fiction author and a professional editor.
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