My Writers of the Future experience started with a 4 hour drive through L.A. to travel just 150 miles. I expected such delays, so I wasn’t bothered by it, but my back felt like an army of micro-orcs were harvesting my muscles as construction material for a new battering ram.
The students and judges stayed at the beautiful Renaissance hotel. I arrived at 7:30 pm and joined some of them for a late dinner. Also at the table sat Tim Powers, K.D. Wentworth, and Bob Eggleton. I sat with Ursula, wife of Eric Kotani, and Brad from Galaxy Press, enjoyed some fine Alaskan Halibut, and had a fascinating discussion about the German language. I studied German in college, so it really was fascinating! I hope I can visit the country before I turn 65.
Thursday saw an array of workshop activities for the students. I spent some time listening to various presentations by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta, Steve Savile and Eric James Stone, my roommate for the weekend. I recorded Sean William’s presentation, and I interviewed him Saturday. Expect a Sean Williams love-fest in the podcast soon.
Friday night was the ceremony itself. I’ve been to the ceremony for three years now, and this was my favorite. The venue, housed at the beautiful offices of Author Services, Inc., was intimate and personable. Steve Savile sat with me so I wouldn’t be alone, and we had a great time continuing our talks about how important Writers of the Future is to the science fiction and fantasy field. Ian McHugh won the L. Ron Hubbard Gold Award for best story. I am currently reading the story, and it is really, really good.
Saturday was a big day for recording. I conducted brief group interviews will all 25 winners. They were a great group, and they interviewed like seasoned pros.
Overall, the weekend was one of inspiration and self-inspection for me. I walked away refocused to pursue my own writing, more confident that I can develop the tools needed to craft good stories. I suppose that was the real goal for Mr. Hubbard: to give young writers the hope they can succeed, the tools to have continued success, and a venue for them to share their stories with the world.
And I was once again astounded by the royal treatment Author Services and Galaxy Press painstakingly provides the winners. The workshops, the presentations, the social connections, the parties, the awards ceremony that puts most to shame — it is all a bit overwhelming and wonderful. Their commitment to this contest is inspirational, and if I am invited back to participate again next year, I will be lucky, indeed.
The anthology will be published in September. Buy it. You won’t be disappointed.
Links: Galaxy Press, Author Services, Inc.
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