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A review by Sandra Scholes
For every budding writer there is a period in their lives when they think they will never manage to get
published, that their name will simply never be seen on the cover of a bestseller. Back in 1983, there
were plenty out there who had that viewpoint, but if science fiction and fantasy is what they are
aiming for, then back in 1984, there was some good news, as a new contest had been organized especially
for aspiring authors; The L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. It had many bonuses; no fee
to enter it, just follow the writers' guidelines to the letter and the budding writer might end up
the published writer who receives big prize money and publication in an anthology of that year. For
the budding writer there was no better contest as they would not have to be trying to best well-known
authors who were already established -- this was different, in fact only those entrants who had not been
published before were allowed to enter their stories:
"The contest has opened the way for scores of writers and has got them out in the fine careers they deserve."
Jack Williamson's comment tells the readers all they need to know if they want to have an outlet
for their writing. There is a writer in all of us, and many don't get the chance to have their work in
print. Williamson, among many writers just by saying the above has encouraged writers to go the extra mile
to produce something SF of worth to be printed.
"A culture is as rich and as capable of surviving as it has imaginative artists...it is with this in mind that
I initiated a means for new and budding writers to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged."
Readers can truly appreciate what L. Ron Hubbard is trying to say, and through it people of varying talents
have been able to write something which took them to the very pinnacle of their careers.
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future: The First 25 Years shows the reader the amount of writers
who have been influenced by his writing, and his enthusiasm for getting a new generation of writers
published. It is great to see his work carried on in the years after, and also the other work going into
an artist's version of the contest too. There are a lot of photos of the various winners receiving their
respective awards at specially arranged conventions made for the contest. Also, there are pieces of fantasy
art doted around the book that give it a real fantasy feel.
People who have gone on to get published by them, and come to receive their awards have gone on to become
recognized authors in their own right; K.D. Wentworth started out winning third place at one of their
contests in 1989, which catapulted her to the heights of recognition and caused her to write for other
notable SF and Fantasy magazines. Years later, she became a judge who selects the novelists each quarter and she says:
"It feels...like I finally understand what I'm doing, that I'm on the brink, about to make the grade,
and it's all really going to happen this time. But, mostly, it feels like I need to work harder."
Stephen Baxter, author of Firstborn never thought he would get published until he took part in one of
their contests -- now he has published many books, Emperor, Voyage, Flux, and Transcendant
as a result of his efforts. Other writers include; Mark A. Garland of Dinotopia and Sword of
Prometheus fame; Sean Williams' Star Wars novels have inspired a new generation of writers
to enjoy his work; Lisa Smedman and her Shadowrun fantasy novels is the new Dungeons & Dragons,
and best known for these books; while Jim C. Hines's fantasy is of a different kind, pirates and goblins -- along
with his Goblin Hero, Goblin Quest and Goblin War novels he received a lot of acclaim.
This is only a small list of the many writers over the years. This book serves as a fitting tribute to
all the judges who have made it possible for all the writers to get their work published and is a real
achievement for all concerned.
Copyright © 2011 Sandra Scholes
Sandra Scholes just remembered where she left her plot bunny -- in a cabinet on the wall of her bathroom.
When she remembers most things, she writes for Quail Bell magazine,
Love Romance Passion, and Love Vampires.
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