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Guest Post: L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future, Volume 40
The month of April is half finished, and I suspect I’m not the only one wondering how a month could rush by so fast. Whether we are busy with work, family, or creative endeavors it seems there is little time for recreation, and the time we do have is easily sucked away by less intentional sinks, like the exhausted scroll of social media, so while I have been anxiously awaiting the latest Volume of Writers of the Future, I admit I was reticent and slow to start reading my ARC copy. I knew it would be good based on past volumes, but my fatigue and the demands of my ever-refilling list of projects held me back. Once I dug in and started reading, however, it became effortless, and more than that, I couldn’t stop, had no desire to stop, and instead let the stories flow over me like a tidal wave of wonder.
The first story I read, from somewhere in the middle, was a science-fiction offering, Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbon Fiber by James Davies, featuring a dystopian world both unique and painfully familiar. Another time, another planet where those that have are few, and those that have not are many. To get by and survive, dire sacrifices must be made. I connected with it so viscerally, that I wept reading it, and yet, I felt uplifted at the finish. My appetite for story now sharpened to a fine edge, I read the first story in the volume, The Edge of Where My Light is Cast by Sky McKinnon. I found myself gripped by the heart and pulled along on a journey that was as human as it was strange, a cat that was the formless computer-generated rendering of a lost pet’s personality and so much more than that—Science fiction at its best, the kind that connects to what makes us human and inspires us to new heights of wonder. I held my breath, I cried, I made little sounds of dismay and worried I’d wake my sleeping teens upstairs and they’d find me with tears streaming down my face and a smile of awe on my lips.
Volume 40 isn’t just the delightful diversion that we all need between work and more mindless play, it is a gift. Inspiration, adventure, comfort, depth, excitement, and wonder, crafted and pulled together by the best debut authors writing today under the mentorship of our old and oh-so-dear favorites. I said it last year and I say it again with renewed certainty, Volume 40 is the most inspiring Writers of the Future anthology to date. It features twelve stories by the winners of Writers of the Future 2023 plus four bonus stories by best-selling authors, all illustrated by winners of the Illustrators of the Future contest.
Starcatcher (detail) by Dan dos Santos
Now for the good news, Volume 40 is up for preorder now and there are preorder bonuses at this link: Preorder here. Preorder bonuses include early access to audio and ebook copies of a Volume 40 story, wallpaper for desktop and phone of the V40 cover art, and other ebook treats. The release date for Writers and Illustrators of the Future Volume 40 is May 7th so you’ve no time to lose and little time left to wait!
Writers and Illustrators of the Future anthologies are an invaluable resource for readers as a means to finding stories, novels, and whole worlds in fresh new voices from around the globe. Each volume is diverse thanks to a blind judging process and the judges’ commitment to bringing us stories from multiple perspectives and styles of writing. While the stories in volume 40 have depth and complexity, they are suitable for sharing with middle-grade readers. Volume 40’s cover image is graced by a moonlit sorceress amid the tusks of mammoths. The artist sets a tone of mysticism that feels unbridled by time or genre. In an age of AI saturation, this masterful art is human-made as are the lush illustrations inside.
For authors and Illustrators, volume 40 contains articles on story and illustration craft written by industry professionals and an even more useful tool, the stories themselves. I have learned more reading the winning stories of Volume 40 than any craft book and highly recommend reading Volume 40 cover to cover if you are looking to improve your skills, especially if you are looking to win Writers and Illustrators of the Future.
If you want to springboard your writing or illustrating career, the Writers and Illustrators of the Future contest has more to offer aspiring authors and artists than any other contest, with zero entry fee, prize money, and a professional publication in your name. Each winner participates in a book signing, award ceremony and gala, and a week-long training and mentorship from industry professionals like Jody Lynn Nye, Kevin J. Anderson, Bob Eggleton, Echo Chernik, and so many more greats including two new judges (congratulations to them both) Mark Leslie Le Febvre, and Hugh Howey. The official website has an easy-entry submission portal with the contest rules and guidelines. On the website, there is a forum of over 10,000 writers and illustrators where you can find support for learning about, entering, and winning the contest. The website has a free online writers training course on the fundamentals of short story writing.
The Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest creates a unique training ground for authors and Illustrators with clear deadlines and goals—four quarters a year to enter and four opportunities to win. If you write or illustrate, don’t self-reject. Enter and see what happens. You’ll either win, get close, or learn what it takes to win and improve along the way.
By CL Fors
CL Fors lives and breathes stories in multiple mediums: the written word, illustration in watercolor, acrylic, digital, and ink, and the creation of custom jewelry and other artifacts of story. She is an artist with a myriad of interests and experiences that inform and flavor her writing and illustrating. A multipotentialite, mother, author, and adventurer, CL is a science and science-fiction enthusiast with a passion for research based sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction in general.
CL’s debut novel, Cradle of Mars, is the first installment of the Primogenitor series and is releasing with a shiny new cover on April 20th (available for preorder now). The second, third, and final books in the series are all available on Amazon and will be getting new covers soon.
CL just won Illustrators of the Future for Quarter one, Volume 41. If you’d like to see her non-fiction work, she also writes science articles and short stories and has articles published at Genetic Literacy Project and Midwifery today Magazine. To explore CL’s writings and illustrations check out her Website: https://CLForsauthor.com
Or subscribe to her newsletter at Epitome Press
Writers of the Future Quick links:
- Preorder Offer https://galaxypress.com/new-release/writers-of-the-future-volume-40/
- Enter the Writing Contest https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/
- Free Writing Workshop https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writing-workshop/
- Writing Podcast: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/podcast/
- Writers Forum: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/forum/
- Writing Contest Rules https://www.writersofthefuture.com/contest-rules-writers/
- Contest Judges: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-judges/
- Contest Blog: www.writersofthefuture.com/blog
- List of Writers of the Future & L. Ron Hubbard books https://galaxypress.com/l-ron-hubbard-books/
Social media links:
Guest Post: Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. by Kevin J. Anderson
Dear Worlds Without End Readers,
We have a personal message from Science Fiction and Fanytasy Master Kevin J. Anderson and an opportunity to participate in his Kickstarter with some pretty special offers:
Dear Readers,
Many of you know me for the Star Wars or Dune universes. I also have my very fun and popular Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series — like The Naked Gun meets the Addams Family.
Shamble’s next adventure, “Fire in the Hole,” is the cover story of Writers of the Future 39. This was a cool, unique project—the story is inspired by the amazing cover art, and I agreed to write the story before I even saw the painting. After seeing the fire dragon, how in the world was I going to fit a Zombie Detective into THAT? Well, I did—and the result is hilarious.
As a judge for the Writers of the Future Contest, I’m thrilled to present this year’s award-winning stories and stunning illustrations by the best of tomorrow. And for the audiobook, my actor friend Jim Meskimen knocked it out of the park!
More Dan Shamble news: I’m almost finished with the draft of BATS IN THE BELFRY, the new novel. Check out the Kickstarter campaign where I am offering some very special bonus items. You’ll laugh so hard, brains will come out your nose!
Happy reading.
KJA
Guest Post: Writers of the Future Contest and Volume 39 — Are you ready?
The highlight of the year, for aspiring writers and readers alike, is fast approaching with the release of the latest volume of the Writers of the Future Anthology. Volume 39 promises to be the most inspiring offering to date, featuring twelve debut stories by the winners of Writers of the Future 2022 and three bonus stories by best-selling authors, all illustrated by winners of the Illustrators of the Future Contest.
It starts off with a deeply human and feminist science-fiction offering about a miracle, a tragedy, and the connection between the two, unexpectedly and delightfully followed by a clever romp with a vampire, a dragon, and a were-dog. Volume 39 begins with thought-provoking, powerful narrative and, story by story, weaves and builds in insight, inspiration, and wonder.
Readers of this volume will find themselves pulled in and captivated by the discovery of new worlds, the exploration of clever technologies, and the imagining of futures with complex problems. They’ll experience alien worlds, first contacts, clever and convincing AI, and life and death choices. Skilled storytelling and artful Illustration go hand in hand with the beauty and caliber of art included in Volume 39, coming together with the narratives in flawless union. The imagery lives up to the high bar set by the stories.
For readers, the Writers and Illustrators of the Future provides a singular opportunity. It is a veritable buffet of offerings from fresh new voices in speculative fiction, a genre that includes science fiction, fantasy and the less definable stories that skirt the borders between realism and fancy. The blind judging process ensures that each volume is composed of diverse new voices from around the world. The stories that win are themselves compelling, meaningful, and boast the forward thinking insight that speculative fiction is known for.
Writers and Illustrators of the Future volumes are uniquely suited for sharing among family members because it comes in a digestible style that is appropriate for middle grade readers. Volume 39 is no exception, with its flaming dragon bedecked cover and a collection of stories and illustrations that manage to uphold the same standard for excitement, adventure, and immersion.
Each volume boasts articles with exclusive advice and trade secrets for success in writing and illustration. Volume 39 in particular includes a very useful article on priorities, by Kristine Kathryn Rush, that outlines how to write (or meet other priority goals) without forsaking health or relationships.
For aspiring writers and artists finding out about the contest for the first time and wondering how to be the next winner included in the Writers of the Future anthologies, picking up a copy of Volume 39 and reading it cover to cover is the first, most important step. It’s the most comprehensive way to learn your market, to get a feel for what kind of material is right for Writers of the Future and to learn from the previous winners, judges, and pros affiliated with the contest.
You may be wondering if the contest is as worthwhile as it sounds, or if all this excitement over a single anthology contest is warranted.
The short answer is: yes, get excited; entering the contest is free and easy to do, with very tangible rewards if you win. The long answer is still yes; setting your sights on getting into the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest is one of the most worthwhile goals out there for an aspiring writer or illustrator.
The official website has an intuitive, easy-entry submission portal with all of the rules and guidelines displayed clearly. The support and free-training is invaluable for beginners as well as more seasoned writers teetering on the edge of pro-writing. On the website you’ll find a lively forum of over 10,000 writers and illustrators with active discussions, critique trades, support threads, and advice for winning the contest. There are posts by judges, editors, and past winners geared towards helping entrants build their knowledge and skills.
The website also features a free online writers training course that teaches the fundamentals of short story craft with articles and video lectures by legends like Orson Scott Card, David Farland, and Tim Powers. It’s free—have I mentioned that enough times yet? It’s broken up into manageable chunks, and you get a completion certificate at the end. Once you’ve registered, you can move through the course at your own pace or come back to it to revisit and refresh your memory.
Even the judging system provides more support and feedback than writers and illustrators can expect elsewhere, featuring Returned with Comments, Honorable Mentions, Silver Honorable Mentions, Semi-Finalists, and Finalist rankings, to show entrants their current level and progress.
With four entry quarters a year and three winners each quarter, writers and illustrators can use the contest as a quarter by quarter goal-marker for their own progress and benefit from multiple opportunities to win the contest. The culmination of winning is a free trip to Los Angeles for a week of workshops, networking, and hands-on mentorship with industry professionals, the whole event ending in a red carpet award ceremony and a professional book signing. Aspiring authors and illustrators have nothing to lose by entering the contest and everything to gain: practice, support, community, and, maybe, the biggest win of their career.
What are you waiting for?
By CL Fors
CL Fors lives and breathes stories in multiple mediums: the written word, illustration in watercolor, acrylic, digital, and ink, and the creation of custom jewelry and other artifacts of story. She is an artist with a myriad of interests and experiences that inform and flavor her writing and illustrating. A multipotentialite, mother, author, and adventurer, CL is a science and science-fiction enthusiast with a passion for research based sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction in general.
CLʼs debut novel, Progeny, is the first installment of the Primogenitor series. The second and third books in the series, Adaptation and Reunion. are available on Amazon and the fourth book Schism will be released soon. CL also writes science articles and short stories and has articles published at Genetic Literacy Project and Midwifery today Magazine. Website: CLForsauthor.com
Writers of the Future Quick links:
- Preorder Offer https://galaxypress.com/writers-of-the-future-volume-39-pre-order-offer
- Enter the Writing Contest https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/
- Free Writing Workshop https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writing-workshop/
- Writing Podcast: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/podcast/
- Writers Forum: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/forum/
- Writing Contest Rules https://www.writersofthefuture.com/contest-rules-writers/
- Contest Judges: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-judges/
- Contest Blog: www.writersofthefuture.com/blog
- List of Writers of the Future & L. Ron Hubbard books https://galaxypress.com/l-ron-hubbard-books/
Social media links:
Guest Post – Yoon Ha Lee: Tarot (and Other) Cards as Writing Inspiration
Yoon Ha Lee is a Korean-American SFF writer. He has published short fiction in Fantasy & Science Fiction, Clarkesworld, Lightspeed Magazine and elsewhere. Three of his stories have been reprinted in Gardner Dozois’ The Year’s Best Science Fiction anthologies. Yoon’s new novel Nine Fox Gambit is out now from Solaris.
My first exposure to Tarot was through science fiction, specifically Piers Anthony’s books. I can’t remember which one–I think he used the imagery in a number of his novels–but I liked playing cards and I was fascinated by the symbolism. It wasn’t until I got my hands on Roger Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber, however, that my interest in Tarot really took off–and it wasn’t just the novels, it was Erick Wujcik’s Amber Diceless Roleplaying.
In Zelazny’s books, the royal family of Amber can be called upon by their Trumps or portrait cards. Even better, Amber Diceless Roleplaying wrote up Zelazny’s major characters as potential non-player characters (NPCs) and included beautiful black-and-white illustrations of their Trumps by Michael Kucharski. (I have a crush on Corwin’s portrait.) The idea of having characters represented by cards never left me.
Over the years I have amassed a very small collection of Tarot decks, from the grunge-flavored Darkana Tarot (the Wheel of Fortune is a revolver, and it has an extra card, the Badass) to Nathan Never’s science-fiction-themed Tarocchi del Futuro, and even a Tarot Ambre (a gift). At some point in the future I’m hoping to treat myself to a copy of Stephanie Pui-Mun Law’s Shadowscapes Tarot as well. When I’m stuck on a story, sometimes I dig one out and do a Tarot spread to help myself brainstorm.
One might consider this a very advanced form of fox-waxing. My favorite way to do this is to focus on a character so that I can get a sense of their story arc, especially in a longer work. Half the fun is poring over the set of cards and deciding what card should serve as the character’s significator. For example, when I was working on the first two hexarchate books, I thought of General Shuos Jedao as the Knight of Swords. Of course, then I went on to do a reading for him using an app where you don’t choose the significator, it just shuffles the whole spread, and freaked out when the Knight of Swords turned up in the “self” position anyway. I try not to be superstitious, but this doesn’t help!
I play pretty fast and loose with the spread, but sometimes the cards that look the most counterintuitive are the ones that make me think the hardest. Sometimes I reject what the spread tells me and go with something else. I mean, who’s going to stop me? Still, having a randomized source of archetypes to apply to my plots gives me a starting point.
As you can tell, I am not a Tarot expert; I do my best not to apply this stuff to real life. I often have to look up the meanings of the cards. But sometimes even that isn’t necessary–the pictures on the cards are enough to suggest to me what I want to do with my characters. It’s one of the reasons I collect different decks, because the art is different on all of them, and suggests different things to me.
I use a variant of this with collectible card game (CCG) cards, largely because my husband and I are sitting on a collection of them. (Misspent youth.) I pulled the ones 
with pretty, evocative art and put them in those plastic binder pages, arranging them to create a sort of associational portrait of the character. Here are some examples, mostly Legend of the Five Rings with a side of Shadowfist. Legend of the Five Rings works for me because it was one of the inspirations for the hexarchate setting, but you could probably find something out there for anything.
Other repurposed CCGs I have lying around include Blood Wars, Star of the Guardians, and Babylon-5 Wars. I imagine that if you write fantasy, you could get a lot of mileage out of Magic: The Gathering. My local game store sells old commons and uncommons for fifty cents apiece, and the beautiful thing about nabbing cards for the art rather than their play value is it’s not hard to find old, cheap commons that will do the job!
