Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Date Published: 04-22-2025
Publisher: Galaxy Press
This anthology blends science fiction, fantasy, and literary brilliance,
showcasing thrilling adventures, fresh perspectives, and thought-provoking
themes. Paired with stunning illustrations, each story immerses you in
boundless imagination. Step outside the norm and explore worlds of
wonder—order your copy today!
EXCERPT
Most speculative-fiction collections have an overall theme that
the contributors adhere to, such as cats, time travel, spaceships,
artificial intelligence, and so on. The stories in the Writers of the
Future anthologies are different. They don’t follow a single style,
trope, or subject since the stories come from writers in all walks of
life around the globe. What do they have in common? Two things:
they are excellent examples of science fiction, fantasy, or light horror.
Second, the writer had not read anything like it anywhere else and
believed it needed to exist.
When I was new to the industry, more experienced writers gave
me an excellent piece of advice: write the book or story you know is
missing from literature and that you always wanted to read. So bring
us your fresh ideas or innovative approach to a classic theme. Wow
your readers with your insights into world-building and characters.
We’re hoping for those unique outlooks. Feel free to experiment
with style. Explore a cool concept. The more enthusiastic you are
about an idea, the more it will show in your writing. The story that
always should have existed will come into being.
That’s not the only reason the Writers of the Future Contest is
unique. It’s also one of the few major writing contests that is free
to enter. That lowers the bar for aspiring creatives who, let’s face
it, are probably not rolling in money yet. The Contest is open for
submissions four times a year. That means you have four chances
to send in a story.
Not only that, but the rewards for winning the Contest are
very desirable. There are several levels of recognition that we can
award to you for a well-written, thought-provoking story. The first
is Honorable Mention. With that, we recognize you’ve crafted a
readable tale. It might not be perfect yet, but it could be. The Contest
is designed to encourage you to raise your game. Be proud that you
received an Honorable Mention, but review your work to see what
might improve it. Is the dialogue a little flat? Is the story being told
from the wrong point of view? Can you find something new to say
about a familiar storyline?
For stories that rise higher, there is the Silver Honorable Mention,
stories that have a recognizable spark. Can you craft your work so
that it stays in the reader’s mind even after they put down the book?
The next step up is Semifinalist. For stories that come very close
to the top but don’t clear the fence for one reason or another. Yours
might be nearly perfect, but it might be too close in plot to another
submission to make the jump. Or it might be excellent, but it isn’t
something the Contest would publish. These anthologies are a
market, after all, and we have standards we must apply to entries.
If it’s too adult, too violent, doesn’t have a recognizable science
fiction or fantasy element, but is too wonderful to ignore, it may
become a Semifinalist. Those stories, like the final category, cannot
be resubmitted. Still, I would absolutely love to have you send me
something else. Please. If you get a Semifinalist award, I admire your
writing. You can do it.
Eight stories become Finalists, and from those three winners are
chosen every quarter. Those winning writers are flown to Hollywood
for a weeklong writing seminar taught by some of the best names
in the field. They attend a black-tie, red-carpet gala, are awarded
trophies and prize money, and enjoy their very first book signing
of a beautiful volume with their work inside. These benefits can be
yours. You don’t have to fit in any other mold than being an excellent
writer with a unique point of view.
But, in the meantime, these stories are meant for you to enjoy
reading. If they inspire you, start working on your own writing.
You could be in our next anthology.
I look forward to reading your submissions to the Contest, those
new stories you know need to exist.
Authors
L. Ron Hubbard; Jody Lynn Nye; Tim Powers; Robert J. Sawyer; Sean Williams;
Tom Wood; Seth Atwater Jr.; Randyn C. J. Bartholomew; Barlow Crassmont;
Andrew Jackson; Ian Keith; Robert F. Lowell; Patrick MacPhee; Lauren
McGuire; T.R. Naus; Joel C. Scoberg; Sandra Skalski; Jefferson Snow
Illustrators: Craig Elliott; John Barlow; Cam Collins; Haileigh Enriquez;
CL Fors; Dwayne Harris; David Hoffrichter; Gigi Hooper; HeatherAnne Lee;
Marianna Mester; Daniel Montifar; Breanda Petsch; Jordan Smajstrla; Tremani
Sutcliffe
Contact Links
Purchase Links
