Writers and Illustrators of the Future

らいたーずあんどいらすとれーたーずおぶざふゅーちゃー

A public contest for new SF and fantasy short story writers and illustrators founded by L. Ron Hubbard. Selects winners quarterly and presents annual Gold Awards.

SF (Science Fiction)FantasyShort story contests for newcomersIllustration contests

Established: 1983
Organizer: Author Services Inc. (Galaxy Press)
Category: Genre Fiction
Selection Method: Open call
Target: Newcomer
Frequency: 4 per year
Status: Active

Description

Writers and Illustrators of the Future is a contest for new stories and illustrations initiated by L. Ron Hubbard in 1983, with the first awards ceremony held in 1985. The writers' division is held quarterly, undergoing blind review to select the top 3 each quarter (quarterly prizes: $1000/$750/$500). The four quarterly first-place entries compete for the annual Gold Award (additional $5000). The illustration division requires submission of a 3-piece portfolio, with up to 3 selected quarterly; the annual Gold Award is determined solely by the final illustration works (Grand Prize $5000). Winning entries are included in the annual anthology, and winners are invited to workshops and the awards ceremony. Organized by Author Services Inc. (Galaxy Press), no entry fee required. Note that there are discussions surrounding the publisher and operators (connections to Scientology-related organizations).

Prize

Main Prize: Writers division: Quarterly 1st $1000 / 2nd $750 / 3rd $500. Additional $5000 for annual Gold Award (selected from 4 quarterly 1st-place entries). Illustration division: Up to 3 per quarter each $500, annual Gold Award $5000. Winners receive trophies, publication in annual anthology with payment, invitations to workshops and awards ceremony (expenses covered by organizers), and other benefits.
Cash Prize: 5,000 USD

Trophy
Publication in annual anthology with payment (additional compensation)
Invitation to workshops and awards ceremony (expenses covered by organizers)
Compensation for publication rights

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
Preliminary screening (Coordinating Judge)	Coordinating Judge (past examples: Algis Budrys, K. D. Wentworth, Dave Wolverton, etc.)	Unknown	Coordinating Judge selects quarterly candidates from a large volume of submissions.
Semifinal	Sorting by Coordinating Judge	Unknown	Advances through semifinals to select final finalists (sent to next stage)
Final selection (quarterly)	Panel of professional writers (e.g., Kevin J. Anderson, Gregory Benford, Orson Scott Card, Brandon Sanderson, etc.)	3/8 (approx. 37.5%) * Select top 3 out of 8 finalists	Quarterly top winners are published on official site, announcement materials, and annual anthology, and honored at the awards ceremony.
Annual Gold Award (Grand Prize)	Judging panel (re-reviews 4 quarterly 1st-place entries)	1/4 (25%)	Gold Award winners announced at annual ceremony and published in anthology, etc.
Illustration division: Portfolio review (quarterly)	Panel of professional artists (past examples: Ciruelo Cabral, Edd Cartier, Frank Wu, etc.)	Unknown (up to 3 selected per quarter)	Quarterly illustration winners officially announced, with works included in annual anthology.
Illustration annual Gold Award	Panel of professional artists (judged on final illustrations only)	1/12 (approx. 8.3%) * Select 1 from 12 annual illustration winners	Gold Award winning illustration announced at annual ceremony.

Preliminary screening (Coordinating Judge)

Judges Coordinating Judge (past examples: Algis Budrys, K. D. Wentworth, Dave Wolverton, etc.)

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Coordinating Judge selects quarterly candidates from a large volume of submissions.

Semifinal

Judges Sorting by Coordinating Judge

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Advances through semifinals to select final finalists (sent to next stage)

Final selection (quarterly)

Judges Panel of professional writers (e.g., Kevin J. Anderson, Gregory Benford, Orson Scott Card, Brandon Sanderson, etc.)

Pass Rate 3/8 (approx. 37.5%) * Select top 3 out of 8 finalists

Announcement Quarterly top winners are published on official site, announcement materials, and annual anthology, and honored at the awards ceremony.

Annual Gold Award (Grand Prize)

Judges Judging panel (re-reviews 4 quarterly 1st-place entries)

Pass Rate 1/4 (25%)

Announcement Gold Award winners announced at annual ceremony and published in anthology, etc.

Illustration division: Portfolio review (quarterly)

Judges Panel of professional artists (past examples: Ciruelo Cabral, Edd Cartier, Frank Wu, etc.)

Pass Rate Unknown (up to 3 selected per quarter)

Announcement Quarterly illustration winners officially announced, with works included in annual anthology.

Illustration annual Gold Award

Judges Panel of professional artists (judged on final illustrations only)

Pass Rate 1/12 (approx. 8.3%) * Select 1 from 12 annual illustration winners

Announcement Gold Award winning illustration announced at annual ceremony.

Criteria

Story completeness (structure, plot, characters)
Originality
“Sense of wonder” (ability to give readers surprise and appeal)
Genre suitability (SF/Fantasy) and compliance with submission rules (word count, format, etc.)
For illustrations: composition, draftsmanship, lighting consistency, facial expressions, storytelling (ability to make readers want to read that story)

Application Tips

Dos

応募規程（応募資格、プロ出版の定義、字数上限17,000語など）を事前に必ず確認する。
原稿は匿名審査の対象となるため、本文に氏名や連絡先を入れない。
短編としての完成度（冒頭の掴み、構成、キャラクター）を高める。
イラスト部門はポートフォリオ3点を用意し、物語に合う表現力を意識する。
提出前にルール（フォーマット、提出方法）・字数を守っているか再確認する。

Don''ts

詩、脚本、ノンフィクションなど対象外の形式を送らない。
過去の商業出版歴を偽る／誤解を招く申告をしない（プロ出版の定義に注意）。
作者名や個人情報を原稿内に残したまま送らない（匿名審査に反する）。
応募規約や字数制限を無視して送らない。
有料の不審な代行サービスに頼らない（公式に応募料は不要）。

From Judges

最初の数ページで読み手を引き込むことが重要。
独創性（オリジナリティ）と完成度の両立が評価される。
イラストは『その作品を読みたくさせる力』が重要な評価点になる。
提出物はプロフェッショナルな仕上がりを心がける。ワークショップでの振る舞いが直接の決定要因ではないと審査員は述べているが、印象は影響しうる。

Related Awards

Clarion Workshop
Clarion West Writers Workshop
Odyssey Writing Workshop
Viable Paradise
Astounding Award for Best New Writer (formerly Campbell Award)
Locus Awards
Various newcomer short story literary awards / illustration awards (regional newcomer awards)