Editing Writers and Illustrators of the Future

{{Short description|Science fiction and fantasy story contest}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Advert|date=March 2023}}
{{One source|date=March 2023}}
{{Self-published|date=March 2023}}
}}
{{Infobox award
| name = 
| subheader = <!-- or | current_awards = -->
| image = 
| image_size = <!-- or | image_upright = -->
| alt = 
| caption = 
| awarded_for = 
| sponsor = [[Galaxy Press]]
| date = {{start date and age|1985||}}
| venue = [[Taglyan Grand Ballroom]]
| country = [[United States of America|United States]]
| reward = Trophy + $5000
| year = 1985
| winners = [[#Winners|List of winners]]
| award1_type = Golden Pen Award
| award1_winner = [[Jack Nash (author)|Jack Nash]] (2024)
| award2_type = Golden Brush Award
| award2_winner = [[Tyler Vail]] (2024)
| website = {{URL|http://www.writersofthefuture.com/}}
}}
'''Writers and Illustrators of the Future''' is a [[science fiction]] and [[fantasy]] story and art contest that was established by [[L. Ron Hubbard]] in 1983 as '''Writers of the Future'''. A sister contest, '''Illustrators of the Future,''' was launched in 1988 and presents awards for science fiction art.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-17 |title=Winners Announced: 2nd Quarter Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests |url=https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/644702532/winners-announced-2nd-quarter-writers-and-illustrators-of-the-future-contests |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=EIN News |language=en-US}}</ref> Hubbard characterized the contest as a way of "giving back" to the field that had defined his professional writing life. The contest has no entry fee. 

Notable past winners include [[Robert Reed (author)|Robert Reed]], [[Dave Wolverton]], [[Nancy Farmer]], [[James Alan Gardner|James Gardner]], [[Scott Nicholson]], [[Ian McHugh]] and [[Randy Henderson]].<ref name="wotf all">{{Cite web |title=Writer Winners: Complete Listing by Year |url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110164339/http://www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-winners/ |archive-date=November 10, 2014 |access-date=April 10, 2018 |publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]}}</ref>

==Contest==

===Writers of the Future===
In 1983, L. Ron Hubbard initiated the "Writers of the Future Writing Contest" with the first awards ceremony held in 1985. Since Hubbard's death in 1986 contests have been organized by the [[Scientology|Scientologist]] organization [[Author Services Inc.]] under the [[trade name]] [[Galaxy Press]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> 

The "Writers of the Future" contest is run quarterly and is open to authors who have no, or few, professional publications. The contest rules state that entrants cannot have had published "a [[novel]] or [[novella|short novel]], or more than one [[Novella|novelette]], or more than three [[short story|short stories]], in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment and at least 5,000 copies or 5,000 hits. Works that are less than 3,000 words and for which payment was less 6c/word do not count as "professional" publications. Stories of up to 17,000 words in length can be submitted to the contest. Poems, screenplays, non-fiction, etc., are not eligible.<ref name="rules">
{{Citation
 | title = Contest Rules
 | url = http://www.writersofthefuture.com/rules.htm
 | publisher = Writers of the Future web site 
}}</ref>

Manuscripts are judged with the authors' names deleted and are separated out in quarterfinal and semifinal award rounds by the Coordinating Judge (previously [[K. D. Wentworth]], [[Dave Wolverton]] in 2015, and originally [[Algis Budrys]]). Eight finalists are sent to a panel of professional science fiction writers, who determine the top three awards. Prizes are $1000 (first place), $750 (second) and $500 (third). The process is repeated quarterly. At the end of the contest year, the four quarterly first place stories compete for a separate annual grand prize, the "Gold Award," which includes an additional $5000. The first, second and third-place winners and often a selection of the other finalist stories are published annually, for which the writers receive additional compensation for publication rights. Thus, a grand prize-winning author can make over $6000 for a single story.<ref name="rules" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-02-17 |title=Author Advance Survey (version 2.0) at Tobias Buckell Online |url=http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2005/10/05/author-advance-survey-version-20/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217121226/http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2005/10/05/author-advance-survey-version-20/ |archive-date=February 17, 2010 }}</ref> 

Some finalist stories not considered among the top three (in effect, the fourth or fifth placers) may be included in the annual anthology. These are called "published finalists." The writers were compensated for publication rights but are not considered winners and receive no prize money. They are eligible to re-enter the contest. 

===Illustrators of the Future===
An artists' contest, the Illustrators of the Future, was added in 1988. Like the writers' contest, the illustrators contest is only open to amateurs/beginners. The rules state: "The Contest is open to those who have not previously published more than three black-and-white story illustrations, or more than one process-color painting, in media distributed nationally to the general public, such as magazines or books sold at newsstands, or books sold in stores merchandising to the general public. The submitted entry shall not have been previously published in professional media as exampled above."<ref name="rules" />

Entrants submit a portfolio of three pieces of artwork, which are circulated among the judges. Up to three winners are selected every quarter, each given a prize of $500. Unlike the writers, the illustrators are not ranked. After the completion of the contest year, each of the twelve illustration winners is assigned one of the stories from among the twelve writer winners and given a month to return the finished illustration. A single grand prize, also called the Gold Award, is accompanied by a prize of $5000 - judging is based only on the final illustration, not the initial portfolio. While the art is judged according to standard artistic considerations (composition, draftsmanship, consistency of lighting, [[sense of wonder]], facial expressions, etc.), a key consideration during the final judging is whether or not the art would make the viewer want to read the accompanying story. The art is also included in the annual anthology, and illustrators are additionally compensated.<ref name="rules" />

===Awards and workshop===
No official tallies are given for the number of entrants in either contest, but it is believed that thousands enter the Writers contest every quarter, while only hundreds enter the illustration contest. Thus, the Illustration judges are sometimes often unable to find three deserving winners, and only pick one or two. Should the illustration winners number less than twelve in a year, each illustrator is - as usual - assigned a single story to illustrate for purposes of determining who wins the Gold Award. All winners and published finalists were invited to attend the annual week-long writers' and artists' workshops and awards gala at the invitation and expense of the contest administration. Various Hollywood actors are generally in attendance, in addition to prominent science fiction authors and artists. These include the present judges in addition to a famous and generally elderly writer given a Lifetime Achievement Award. While it is not required to attend the week-long festivities and seminars, it's thought by some that those in the running for the Gold Award may advance their cause by displaying professionalism and hard work at that time, judges for the contest, however, refute this.

==Judges==
Many noted writers and artists have judged the awards or have won them themselves.

Notable writing judges have included: [[Kevin J. Anderson]], [[Gregory Benford]], [[Algis Budrys]], [[Orson Scott Card]], [[Brian Herbert]], [[Nina Kiriki Hoffman]], [[Anne McCaffrey]], [[Larry Niven]], [[Andre Norton]], [[Frederik Pohl]], [[Jerry Pournelle]], [[Tim Powers]], [[Brandon Sanderson]], [[Robert J. Sawyer]], [[K. D. Wentworth]], and [[Jack Williamson]].<ref name="writing judges">
{{Cite web |title=Writer Judges: From its beginning |publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]] |url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-judges/ |access-date= April 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528195637/http://www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-judges/ |url-status=live |archive-date= May 28, 2014 }}</ref> 

Prominent art judges have included: [[Ciruelo Cabral]], [[Edd Cartier]], Echo Chernik, [[Leo and Diane Dillon]], [[Bob Eggleton]], [[Will Eisner]], [[Frank Frazetta]], [[Frank Kelly Freas]], [[Stephen Hickman]], and [[Stephen Youll]].<ref name="illustrator judges">{{Cite web |title=Illustrator Judges: From its beginning |publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]] |url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/illustrator-judges/ |access-date= April 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608032551/http://www.writersofthefuture.com/illustrator-judges/ |url-status=live |archive-date= June 8, 2015 }}</ref>

==Winners==
The following is a list of Grand Prize winners in each contest year. Stories by the grand prize winner, the quarterly top-three, and selected others ("published finalists"), are collected into an anthology each year. Winners and published finalists in the contest have included the writers [[Robert Reed (author)|Robert Reed]], [[Dave Wolverton]], [[Nancy Farmer]], [[James Alan Gardner|James Gardner]], [[Scott Nicholson]], [[Ian McHugh]] and [[Randy Henderson]], and the artist [[Frank Wu (artist)|Frank Wu]].<ref name="wotf all" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Illustrator Winners |url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/illustrator-winners/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Writers & Illustrators of the Future |language=en-US}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" width="100%" cellpadding="5" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-
! width="4%" scope="col"|Year
! |Author(s)
! |Work(s)
! |Illustrator(s)
! |Vol.
! |Anthology [[ISBN]]
! width="3%" scope="col"|Ref.
<!-- use the following as a template for each row
|-
!YEAR
| [[AUTHOR]]
| "TITLE"
| [[ILLUSTRATOR]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | VOL#
| {{ISBNT|}}
|align="center"| <ref name="...">{{cite web|publisher=[[]]}}</ref>
-->
|-
!1985
| [[Dennis Pimple]]
| "Arcadus Arcane"
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#555;" |&nbsp;
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 1
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-170-0}}
|align="center"| <ref name="1985 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-01-1985-winners/|title=Volume 01 - 1985 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072216/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-01-1985-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1986
| [[Robert Reed (author)|Robert Reed]]
| "Mudpuppies"
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 2
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-254-5}}
|align="center"| <ref name="1986 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-02-1986-winners/|title=Volume 02 - 1986 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072213/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-02-1986-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1987
| [[Dave Wolverton]]
| "On My Way to Paradise"
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 3
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-245-6}}
|align="center"| <ref name="1987 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-03-1987-winners/|title=Volume 03 - 1987 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410134722/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-03-1987-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1988
| [[Nancy Farmer]]
| "The Mirror"
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 4
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-314-2}}
|align="center"| <ref name="1988 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-04-1988-winners/|title=Volume 04 - 1988 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="all illustrator winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/illustrator-winners/|title=Illustrator Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=June 8, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608032529/http://www.writersofthefuture.com/illustrator-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1989
| [[Gary Shockley]]
| "The Disambiguation of Captain Shroud"
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 5
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-379-7}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1989 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-05-1989-winners/|title=Volume 05 - 1989 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072150/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-05-1989-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1990
| [[James Alan Gardner|James Gardner]]
| "The Children of Crèche"
| [[Derek Hegsted]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 6
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-504-8}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1990 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-06-1990-winners/|title=Volume 06 - 1990 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410134630/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-06-1990-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1991
| [[James Glass (writer)|James Glass]]
| "Georgi"
| [[Sergey Poyarkov]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 7
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-641-9}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1991 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-07-1991-winners/|title=Volume 07 - 1991 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072129/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-07-1991-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1992
| [[Brian Burt (writer)|Brian Burt]]
| "The Last Indian War"
| [[Evan T. Thomas]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 8
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-772-5}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1992 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-08-1992-winners/|title=Volume 08 - 1992 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072152/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-08-1992-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1993
| [[Karawynn Long]]
| "Adjusting the Moon"
| [[Denis Martynec]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 9
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-823-3}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1993 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-09-1993-winners/|title=Volume 09 - 1993 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410134633/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-09-1993-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1994
| [[Alan Barclay]]
| "Schrödinger’s Mousetrap"
| [[Jana Komarek]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 10
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-900-0}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1994 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-10-1994-winners/|title=Volume 10 - 1994 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072237/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-10-1994-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1995
| [[Julia H. West]]
| "Sea of Chaos"
| [[Dale Ziemianski]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 11
| {{ISBNT|0-88404-999-X}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1995 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-11-1995-winners/|title=Volume 11 - 1995 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410134745/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-11-1995-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1996
| [[Arlene C. Harris]]
| "His Best Weapon"
| [[Richard Moore (writer)|Richard Moore]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 12
| {{ISBNT|1-57318-027-0}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1996 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-12-1996-winners/|title=Volume 12 - 1996 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410134748/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-12-1996-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1997
| [[Morgan Burke]]
| "A Prayer for the Insect Gods"
| [[Eric Williams (artist)|Eric Williams]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 13
| {{ISBNT|1-57318-064-5}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1997 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-13-1997-winners/|title=Volume 13 - 1997 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072235/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-13-1997-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1998
| [[Brian Wightman (writer)|Brian Wightman]]
| "Nocturne’s Bride"
| [[Paul Marquis (artist)|Paul Marquis]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 14
| {{ISBNT|1-57318-154-4}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1998 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-14-1998-winners/|title=Volume 14 - 1998 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025941/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-14-1998-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!1999
| [[Scott Nicholson]]
| "The Vampire Shortstop"
| [[Yuri Chari]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 15
| {{ISBNT|1-57318-163-3}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="1999 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-15-1999-winners/|title=Volume 15 - 1999 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411030005/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-15-1999-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2000
| [[Gary Murphy (writer)|Gary Murphy]]
| "Pulling Up Roots"
| [[Frank Wu (artist)|Frank Wu]]<br />[[Yana Yavdoshchook]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 16
| {{ISBNT|1-57318-203-6}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2000 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-16-2000-winners/|title=Volume 16 - 2000 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411111408/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-16-2000-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2001
| [[Meredith Simmons]]
| "Magpie"
| [[Andy B. Clarkson]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 17
| {{ISBNT|1-57318-222-2}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2001 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-17-2001-winners/|title=Volume 17 - 2001 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025946/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-17-2001-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2002
| [[Dylan Otto Krider]]
| "Eating, Drinking, Walking"
| [[Irena Yankova Dimitrova]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 18
| {{ISBNT|1-59212-052-0}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2002 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-18-2002-winners/|title=Volume 18 - 2002 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025943/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-18-2002-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2003
| [[Matthew Candelaria]]
| "Trust Is a Child"
| [[Mike Lawrence (artist)|Mike Lawrence]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 19
| {{ISBNT|1-59212-165-9}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2003 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-19-2003-winners/|title=Volume 19 - 2003 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411030003/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-19-2003-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2004
| [[William T. Katz]]
| "The Plastic Soul of a Note"
| [[Laura Diehl]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 20
| {{ISBNT|1-59212-177-2}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2004 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-20-2004-winners/|title=Volume 20 - 2004 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411111502/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-20-2004-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2005
| [[John Schoffstall]]
| "In the Flue"
| [[Erik Valdez y Alanis]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 21
| {{ISBNT|1-59212-217-5}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2005 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-21-2005-winners/|title=Volume 21 - 2005 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025953/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-21-2005-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2006
| [[Brandon Sigrist]]
| "Life on the Voodoo Driving Range"
| [[Eldar Zakirov]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 22
| {{ISBNT|1-59212-345-7}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2006 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-22-2006-winners/|title=Volume 22 - 2006 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025950/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-22-2006-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2007
| [[Stephen Kotowych]]
| "Saturn in G Minor"
| [[Lorraine Schleter]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 23
| {{ISBNT|978-1-59212-398-8}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2007 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-23-2007-winners/|title=Volume 23 - 2007 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411112946/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-23-2007-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2008
| [[Ian McHugh]]
| "Bitter Dreams"
| [[Brittany J. Jackson]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 24
| {{ISBNT|978-1-59212-374-2}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2008 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-24-2008-winners/|title=Volume 24 - 2008 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411111420/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-24-2008-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2009
| [[Emery Huang]]
| "Garden of Tian Zi"
| [[Oleksandra Barysheva]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 25
| {{ISBNT|978-1-59212-436-7}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2009 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-25-2009-winners/|title=Volume 25 - 2009 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025938/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-25-2009-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2010
| [[Laurie Tom]]
| "Living Rooms"
| [[Seth J. Rowanwood]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 26
| {{ISBNT|978-1-59212-847-1}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2010 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-26-2010-winners/|title=Volume 26 - 2010 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411111417/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-26-2010-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2011
| [[R. P. L. Johnson]]
| "In Apprehension, How Like a God"
| [[Irvin Rodriguez]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 27
| {{ISBNT|978-1-59212-870-9}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2011 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-27-2011-winners/|title=Volume 27 - 2011 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025934/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-27-2011-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2012
| [[David Carani]]
| "The Paradise Aperture"
| [[Hunter Bonyun]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 28
| {{ISBNT|978-1-61986-076-6}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2012 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-28-2012-winners/|title=Volume 28 - 2012 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025936/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-28-2012-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2013
| [[Tina Gower]]
| "Twelve Seconds"
| [[Aldo Katayanagi]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 29
| {{ISBNT|978-1-61986-200-5}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2013 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-29-2013-winners/|title=Volume 29 - 2013 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411111422/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-29-2013-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2014
| [[Randy Henderson]]
| "Memories Bleed Beneath the Mask"
| [[Trevor Smith (artist)|Trevor Smith]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 30
| {{ISBNT|978-1-61986-263-0}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2014 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-30-2014-winners/|title=Volume 30 - 2014 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025948/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-30-2014-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2015
| [[Sharon Joss]]
| "Stars That Make Dark Heaven Light"
| [[Michelle Lockamy]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 31
| {{ISBNT|978-1-61986-322-4}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2015 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-31-2015-winners/|title=Volume 31 - 2015 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411111440/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-31-2015-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2016
| [[Matt Dovey]]
| "Squalor and Sympathy"
| [[Adrian Massaro]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 32
| {{ISBNT|978-1-61986-502-0}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2016 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-32-2016-winners/|title=Volume 32 - 2016 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411111429/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-32-2016-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2017
| [[Jake Marley]]
| "Acquisition"
| [[Michael Michera]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 33
| {{ISBNT|978-1-61986-529-7}}
|align="center"| <ref name="all illustrator winners" /><ref name="2017 winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-33-2017-winners/|title=Volume 33 - 2017 - Winners|publisher=[[Author Services Inc.|Author Services]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025950/https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-33-2017-winners/}}</ref>
|-
!2018
| [[Darci Stone]]
| "Mara's Shadow"
| [[Kyna Tek]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 34
| {{ISBNT|978-1-61986-575-4}}
|align="center"| <ref name="2018 winners locus">{{cite magazine|url=http://locusmag.com/2018/04/2018-writers-illustrators-of-the-future-awards/|title=2018 Writers & Illustrators of the Future Awards |date = April 9, 2018 |magazine=[[Locus (magazine)|LocusMag.com]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025827/http://locusmag.com/2018/04/2018-writers-illustrators-of-the-future-awards/}}</ref>
|-
!2019
| [[Andrew Dykstal]]
| "Thanatos Drive"
| [[Aliya Chen]]
| scope="row" align="center" rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal;" | 35
| {{ISBNT|978-1-61986-604-1}}
|align="center"| <ref name="locus wotf winners 2019">{{cite web |url=https://locusmag.com/2019/04/2019-writers-illustrators-of-the-future-awards/ |title=2019 Writers & Illustrators of the Future Awards |date=April 8, 2019 |publisher=[[Locus (magazine)|LocusMag.com]] |access-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128010246/https://locusmag.com/2019/04/2019-writers-illustrators-of-the-future-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!2020
| [[C. Winspear]]
| "The Trade"
| [[Anh Le]]
| rowspan="1" scope="row" align="center" style="font-weight:normal;" | 36
| {{ISBNT|978-1-61986-659-1}}
| align="center" | <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-10-26 |title=2020 and 2021 Writers & Illustrators of the Future Awards |url=https://locusmag.com/2021/10/2020-and-2021-writers-illustrators-of-the-future-awards/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=LocusMag.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!2021
| [[Barbara Lund]]
| "Sixers"
| [[Dan Watson (artist)|Dan Watson]]
| rowspan="1" scope="row" align="center" style="font-weight:normal;" | 37
| {{ISBNT|978-1-61986-701-7}}
| align="center" | <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-10-26 |title=2020 and 2021 Writers & Illustrators of the Future Awards |url=https://locusmag.com/2021/10/2020-and-2021-writers-illustrators-of-the-future-awards/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=LocusMag.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!2022
|[[Desmond Astaire]]
|"Gallows"
|[[Zaine Lodhi]]
|align="center"|38
|{{ISBNT|978-1-61986-763-5}}
|align="center"|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Volume 38 - 2022 |url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/the-anthology/anthology-volume-38-2022/ |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=Writers & Illustrators of the Future |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!2023
|David K. Henrickson
|"White Elephant"
|Dao Vi
|39
|
|<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Writer Winners |url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writer-winners/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Writers & Illustrators of the Future |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Illustrator Winners |url=https://www.writersofthefuture.com/illustrator-winners/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Writers & Illustrators of the Future |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!2024
|Jack Nash
|"Son, Spirit, Snake"
|Tyler Vail
|40
|
|<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />
|}

==Connections to Scientology==
[[File:WOTF22cover.png|thumb|121px|Cover of Volume 22 of the anthology series ''Writers of the Future'', prominently featuring Hubbard's name]]

The original sponsor of the contest was [[Bridge Publications (Scientology)|Bridge Publications]], Inc., the publishing arm of the [[Church of Scientology]]. Prior to the 2004 contest, the sponsorship moved to [[Author Services Inc.]] under the [[trade name]] [[Galaxy Press]], which was spun off from Bridge<ref>{{Cite web|title=SFE: Writers of the Future Contest|url=https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/writers_of_the_future_contest|access-date=2022-02-15|website=sf-encyclopedia.com}}</ref> to publish Hubbard's fiction and the contest anthologies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://galaxypress.com/about-us/|title=About Us|website=Galaxy Press|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref>

The contest has also been characterized as a promotional vehicle for Hubbard himself, who returned to science fiction writing with ''[[Battlefield Earth (novel)|Battlefield Earth]]'' at about the same time as he began the contest. On the covers of the annual WOTF anthologies, Hubbard's name appears prominently. The prominence of Hubbard's name and the lavish funding of the contest awards, publicity and ceremonies have led some to speculate that the contest is part of a campaign by the Church of Scientology to promote Hubbard's status in the science fiction and literary communities.<ref>
{{Citation
 | last1 = Clute
 | first1 = John
 | author-link = John Clute
 | last2 = Nicholls
 | first2 = Peter
 | author2-link = Peter Nicholls (writer)
 | title = [[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]
 | publisher = St. Martin's Press
 | year = 1995
 | page = 1351
 |isbn=0-312-13486-X
}}</ref>

Entering or winning the contest does not appear to require or imply endorsement or membership in the Church of Scientology, and the contest itself has been endorsed by a wide range of well-known speculative fiction writers (see Judges and Winners above) who have no relationship to Scientology.<ref>
{{Citation
 | title = Acclaim For: Writers of the Future
 | publisher = Writers of the Future web site
 | url = http://www.writersofthefuture.com/wof06/acclaim.htm
}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2024}}

According to Director of the Writers and Illustrators Contests Joni Labaqui, the funds to underwrite the contest—including the cash prizes, the gala awards ceremony and the weeklong pre-awards festivities—come from the Hubbard estate. The Hubbard estate is separate from the Church of Scientology and earns royalties from sales of Hubbard's books, including his fiction. Labaqui also reports that staff of Author Services Inc. is entirely made up of Scientologists.<ref name=":2">
{{cite web
 | last =Wu
 | first =Frank
 | author-link =Frank Wu (artist)
 | title =Illustrators and Writers of the Future Contest
 | work =Letter from Joni Labaqui (bottom of page)
 | date =May 23, 2006
 | url = http://www.frankwu.com/illo.html
}}</ref>

Records with the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] show that the rights to the Writers of the Future name were transferred from the L. Ron Hubbard estate ("Family Trust-B") to the [[Church of Spiritual Technology]] in 1989,<ref>{{cite web | title = Trademark Assignment Abstract of Title | url = http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&sno=73703450 | publisher = [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] | date = 1989-01-03 | access-date = 2008-02-26 }}</ref> and under the [[Scientology 1993 IRS closing agreement|1993 IRS closing agreement]] with the Church of Scientology, the L. Ron Hubbard estate became part of the Church of Spiritual Technology, a "Scientology-related entity".<ref>{{citation | title = Scientology Settles With IRS | date = 1997-12-30 | newspaper = [[Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Author Services Inc.]]
* [[Bridge Publications (Scientology)]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{SpecFicWorkshops}}
{{L. Ron Hubbard}}
{{Scientology}}
{{science fiction}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Writers Of The Future}}
[[Category:L. Ron Hubbard]]
[[Category:Scientology organizations]]
[[Category:Creative writing programs]]
[[Category:American speculative fiction awards|W]]