Writers of the Future Podcast
Episodes
85. Illustrator Mark Payton talks about his career and the Star Trek fan film Axanar
19 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Payton was an Illustrators of the Future winner in volume 25. At 57, he is now back in school studying graphic illustration. Currently, he is one...
84. Melissa Yuan-Innes: From medical doctor to fantasy author
08 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Melissa Yuan-Innes (WOTF 16) loved reading and writing as a child. She was taught to play "the safe" game for her career. So she put off being a write...
83. Bea Jackson discusses her success by growing with the art industry
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Brittany Jackson had a different set of artistic goals when she started out with her career: comics or video games. She eventually realized that for a...
82. James Glass from writing to PhD in Physics back to writing
25 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James C. Glass, the 1991 Grand prize winning author (WOTF 7) has written 10 novels and 4 compilations, primarily hard science fiction. His first love ...
81. Jean-Paul Garnier Indie owner Space Cowboy Bookstore talks about SF
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jean-Paul Garnier is a poet, science fiction author and has become an indie bookstore owner ⎯ Space Cowboy Bookstore in Joshua Tree, CA ⎯ to pay b...
80. Michael Michera from Poland: It's hard work that gets you in the right place at the right time
11 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Michera, from Warsaw, Poland, was Illustrators of the Future Golden Brush Award winner for volume 33. He worked three weeks on the art he subm...
79. L. Ron Hubbard Writing Tips: "Suspense" with Tim Powers
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Multiple World Fantasy Award-winner Tim Powers discusses suspense in storytelling. How do Ian Flemming, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly do it? They don...
78. Dustin Panzino discusses surviving as an artist with no conventions
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dustin Panzino won Illustrators of the Future in 2011 when he was 19. Two judges in particular, Cliff Nielsen and Steven Hickman, made an impression o...
77. Corry Lee: from a Harvard Physics PhD to a science fiction novelist
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Corry Lee graduated with a PhD in Physics from Harvard, but had wanted to be a writer since a young girl. She was published in Writers of the Future V...
76. Iranian winner Mason Matak and his challenges creating art in Iran
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our first-ever illustrator winner from Iran, Mason Matak, talks about the importance of art in Iran and the challenges he has in practicing art as a p...
75. How to write fantasy with World Fantasy Award winner Tim Powers
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Multiple World Fantasy Award-Winning Author ("Last Call" and "Declare") and author of "On Stranger Tides," Tim Powers has been a Writers of the Future...
74. L. Ron Hubbard Writing Tips: "Manuscript Factory" with David Farland
31 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
David Farland discusses L. Ron Hubbard's writing essay, "Manuscript Factory" and how it was an eye-opener for him. His instructors in college had been...
73. Kevin J. Anderson talks about publishing today and his Masters program
23 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Multiple NYT bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson has been a Writers of the Future Judge since 1996 and now teaches a Masters Program at Western Color...
72. UK winner Mike Wood has "retired" to his new career as an author
19 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Wood won Writers of the Future in 2009 and was published in volume 25 which provided him his first trip to the US. Now having completed a career ...
71. David D'Amico transitions to writing as a vocation from a hobby
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
David D'Amico was a Writers of the Future winner in volume 27. He has retired his job to embrace his lifelong dream of being a published author. This ...
70. Sean Williams on making story collaboration work for you
09 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sean Williams has been very successful with his story collaborations. He originally read an article on collaboration by Larry Niven who famously co-wr...
69. Diane Dillon, one of the most acclaimed illustrators of our time
02 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Diane Dillon has been an Illustrators of the Future Judge since 1998. She along with her husband Leo (now deceased) lived by this motto: “Dream the ...
68. L. Ron Hubbard Writing Tips: "Magic Out of a Hat" with Orson Scott Card
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Orson Scott Card discusses L. Ron Hubbard's writing essay "Magic Out of a Hat" and how it is as valid today as it was when he wrote it. He compares th...
67. Matthew Rotundo discusses how to start a story
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Rotundo (WOTF 25) wrote his first story when he was 8 years old and later in life remembered that story and became certain he wanted to be a w...
66. Ken Scholes from preacher to author to musician
16 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ken Scholes was rejected 75 times before his first story sale. After winning Writers of the Future in 2005, he sold his first novel within a year, got...
65. Illustrator Bea Jackson approaches digital art using traditional methods
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Illustrators of the Future Golden Brush Award winner Bea Jackson (vol 24) has been creating art all her life. She discusses the importance of communic...
64. Jason Fischer mentors creative people on the autism spectrum
02 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jason Fischer (WOTF 26 winner, 2010) is a speculative fiction writer from South Australia who himself is on the autism spectrum. He runs Spectrum Writ...
63. Laurie Tom details how she successfully outlines her short fiction
24 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Laurie Tom is a Chinese American living in Southern California. She won Writers of the Future in 2010 and was published in volume 26. She starting wri...
62. Kary English quit writing in her teens and is now Contest winner and 1st reader
19 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kary English originally entered Writers of the Future as a high school student, quit, resumed after a successful career and discovered that a favorite...
61. David Farland: How to Make More Money With Your Novel
12 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Writers of the Future Coordinating Judge David Farland discusses how your novel doesn't have to just be a novel and how you can take it to the next le...
60. Terry Madden provides tips on juggling a career while becoming a writer
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Terry Madden was published in WOTF 30. Trained in biology and chemistry combined with a background in screenwriting and historical fiction, she has sh...
59. Tom Doherty, Publisher of Tor, on the history of SF and value of Writers of the Future
20 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Doherty, Publisher of Tor, talks about the history of science fiction book publishing. He also publishes most of the Writers of the Future judges ...
58. Grand Master Robert Silverberg discusses SF, Asimov, Campbell, Heinlein, Hubbard
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Silverberg was first published in 1955 at the tail end of science fiction's golden age. He has always and only been a writer and so has lived h...
57. Scott T. Barnes editor of NewMyths mag on writing despite anything
07 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Scott T. Barnes, winner WOTF 28 in 2012, is Samurai swordsman, editor of NewMyths Magazine while maintaining his own writing career. He discusses how ...
56. Q&A with Orson Scott Card plus how "Ender's Game" was born
30 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Orson Scott Card describes how he went from screenwriting to writing books and how Ender's Game was conceived. He also answers questions posed by seve...
55. Dragon Award winner Brad Torgersen discusses his writing career and some helpful tips
23 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Brad Torgersen, who won the 2019 Dragon Award for Best SF Novel of the Year, talks about his win, gives writing tips, discusses how Writers of the Fut...
54. Jody Lynn Nye shares her considerable experience with social media
18 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jody Lynn Nye is a prolific short story and novel writer as well as being a Writers of the Future judge. We all have problems with confidence as a wri...
53. Brianna Winner, from bullied, dyslexic 12-year-old to award-winning author
12 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Brianna Winner at SLC FanX talking about her path to becoming a writer, from a bullied 12-year-old along with her sister Brittany, to an award-winning...
52. Elise Stephens as a new mom gives tips for a career as an author
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Elise talks about how to be a writer as a new mom, even though that was several years ago now. She discusses the incredible mood swings, sleep depriva...
51. Jennifer Ober is a SCAD graduate and a "con virgin" at DragonCon
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Savannah College of Art & Design in Atlanta, SCAD, graduate Jennifer Ober talks about what she learned from her week at the Illustrators of the Future...
50. Carrie Callahan: A rags to riches writer's dream come true
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Writers of the Future 35 writer winner, Carrie Callahan, has been writing since she was a child and talks about her journey to become a professional w...
49. Fantasy artist Ciruelo: Never lose the passion you started with
05 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ciruelo Cabral began creating his art in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to Barcelona, Spain where he became a world-famous fantasy artist, speciali...
48. Echo & Lazarus Chernik on the difference between illustration & fine art
26 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Echo Chernik is the Coordinating Judge for the Illustrators of the future Contest discusses what the Contest looks for in illustration submissions. I...
47. Illustrator Bruce Brenneise: How to handle art direction
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Science fiction fantasy landscape artist Bruce Brenneise (volume 34 winner)talks about art direction and the importance of setting your ego aside. You...
46. Robert J. Sawyer on Diversity in SF and Paying it Forward
30 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Robert J. Sawyer, Dean of Science Fiction in Canada, discusses the importance of diversity in science fiction and fantasy and the value of Writers of ...
45. Illustrator Brian C. Hailes Suggests Growing a Thick Skin as an Aspiring Artist
26 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Brian C. Hailes was an Illustrators of the Future winner in 2002. We met up at Salt Lake City FanX and had a chance to talk about his career and thoug...
44. Writing Short Stories that sell from Contest Judges
21 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to the panel recorded at Salt Lake City FanX 2019. How do you write short stories that sell? Writers of the Future judges, Kevin J. Anderson, J...
43. Larry Elmore, Dragonlance artist, provides 3 important tips
16 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Larry Elmore, while working for TSR Inc. help set the standards for gaming art by creating covers for Dungeons & Dragons, AD&D, Star Frontiers, and Dr...
42. Robert A. Heinlein and L. Ron Hubbard Help Save Lives at DragonCon Blood Drive
09 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Learn facts and figures of how blood donations save lives in this interview with Galen Unold, Director of the LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, in th...
41. Story Prompts, Short Fiction & How to Win the Contest from 7 Contest Judges
03 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to the panel recorded at DragonCon2019. How do you become one of the 12 winners to be published in the annual anthology? Writers of the Future ...
40. Martin Shoemaker: How he gave up giving up
29 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Many aspiring writers give up before ever realizing their dream of being a published author. Martin Shoemaker did. Then he gave up on giving up and m...
39. Wulf Moon, award winning author talks about establishing your brand
22 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Wulf Moon talks about the importance of establishing your brand, including social media, selling your books at every opportunity, being positive and m...
38. Rob Prior talks about giving artists a chance
15 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Prior discusses his art, becoming an artist, how to make it, his studying under Frank Frazetta, why Illustrators of the Future is important. He gi...
37. Illustrator winner Daniel Reneau (vol 29) is a designer at KidRobot
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Illustrators of the Future winner Daniel Reneau (2013) is a pop-culture concept designer for KidRobot. He says that as a winner, the Illustrator Works...
36. DawnRay Ammon & Jenna Eatough and the start of Fyrecon
02 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
DawnRay Ammon and Jenna Eatough wanted a convention that provided the opportunity to take intensive classes and workshops in writing and art for specu...
35. Robert J. Defendi: "It takes 10 years to become an overnight success"
30 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Bob Defendi (Writers of the Future winner volume 19) talks about the adage that "it takes 10 years to become an overnight success" and the value of ha...
34. Brian Lee Durfee, from Illustration to Writing as a profession
27 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Initially an Illustrators of the Future winner in 1993, (Writers of the Future Volume 9), Brian Lee Durfee illustrated for Dungeons & Dragons and "Mag...
33. Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury talks about Orson Scott Card's 3 rules for storytelling
25 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury was a published finalist in Writers of the Future vol 9 back in 1993 who has since gone on to run Orson Scott Card's "Writer'...
32. Eric James Stone & Darci Stone at SLC FanX Convention talk about Writers of the Future
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Writers of the Future winners Eric James Stone and Darci Stone provide their advice to aspiring writers and how Writers of the Future brings fresh per...
31. Preston Dennett entered 47 times since 1986 before winning
11 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Preston Dennett tells his amazing story of entering Writers of the Future 47 times since 1986 before finally winning. His is a story of trying, givin...
30. Yingying Jiang is an award-winning artist with a traditional Chinese background
09 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Yingying comes from a traditional Chinese background where art isn't encouraged as a career. She discusses her journey in becoming an award winning ar...
29. UK artist Sam Kemp on the journey of learning art
06 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Kemp has always wanted to be an artist for as long as he can remember. He has persisted reaching for his dream despite his parents wanting him to ...
28. Meet Rustin Lovewell, from scientist to author, this is his story
04 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Rustin Lovewell is an immunologist and started writing as a means to decompress after a day in the lab. He is now an award winning author. He also has...
27. Meet Qianjiao Ma, award winning illustrator from China
27 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Qianjiao Ma, nicknamed "Q," came to America from China to study when she was 18. Hers is a very uplifting story of persistence, dedication and overcom...
26. Illustrator Alexander Gustafson at Book Expo America: Never Quit. Never give Up!
20 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Award winning illustrator Alexander Gustafson talks about how you can sometimes wallpaper your house with rejection slips. His motto: "Never quit. Nev...
25. Meet Mica Scotti Kole: a new writer voice you will want to know
17 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Mica Scotti Kole has been writing since a child. She is determined to make it as a professional writer. She is someone to watch for! She also runs th...
24. Writer winner Kyle Kirrin discusses how Brandon Sanderson inspired him
15 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Writers of the Future winner Kyle Kirrin discusses what he learned from Brandon Sanderson and the value of a quarterly contest.
23. Award winning artist Josh Pemberton and his path to illustration
13 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Pemberton was schooled in traditional art before discovering illustration, science fiction & fantasy. Discover the amazing art of Josh at www.jo...
22. An interview with award winning artist Emerson Rabbitt
11 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Emerson Rabbitt discusses his art and provides simple advice: If its something you want to do, keep at it. Discover the amazing art of Emerson at www....
21. Dean Wesley Smith, international bestselling author on clean first drafts and danger of rewrites
08 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dean was the first writer to ever be awarded by Writers of the Future 35 years ago. He is now an international bestselling author in multiple genres a...
20. Canadian writer winner John Haas discusses his journey to being a full time writer
06 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
John is from Ontario, Canada and has entered the Writers of the Future Contest 10 times for the past 10 years. He won with his Lovecraft influenced ho...
19. Interview with Illustrator Jennifer Ober and a simple message: practice!
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer has been an artist since she was 6, but had to register as a business when she turned 16 due to her success as an illustrator. She has a simp...
18. Award winning writer Carrie Callahan tells writers: "don't self reject"
31 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Carrie has been a writer since she could first write and talks about the importance of not self-rejecting with her own examples as well as Stephen Kin...
16. Interview with Alice Wang, the youngest winner in Contest history
28 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alice Wang is in 10th grade and is the youngest illustrator winner in the Contests history. She has a special message to young artists.
17. Let award winning artist Allen Morris inspire anyone looking to become an artist
27 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Allan has only been serious about art since 2011 and will provide inspiration to anyone looking at transitioning from doodling to art as a career. He ...
15. Interview with Lithuanian illustrator Vytautas Vasiliauskas with a message in his native tongue
24 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Award winning artist Vytautas Vasiliauskas talks about his journey from university in Lithuania to university in the United Kingdom and then to France...
14. Interview with Korean illustrator winner Christine Rhee, new mother and aspiring artist
22 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Christine talks about how she is able to pursue her career as an Illustrators of the Future winning artist, while raising a baby with the help of her ...
13. Interview with writer David Cleden on writing as a career after a successful career
20 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
David has only seriously pursued a writing career the past 5 years, following a mathematics career and raising a family. He is a Writers of the Future...
12. Interview with writer Christopher Baker on the downside of giving up
17 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Christopher talks about writing fantasy and having so little confidence in himself as a writer that it took 4 years to find that he had been an honora...
11. Interview with illustrator Alexander Gustafson on surviving as an artist
14 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alex talks about how the art industry is hard to survive in, that most graduates of art school don't become artists, and how winning Illustrators of t...
10. Interview with Elise Stephens on being a mom and an author
10 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Elise talks about her story "Untrained Luck," how she is able to balance being a young mom and a writing career, and the middle-eastern conflict backs...
9. Interview with Andrew Dykstal, Writers of the Future Golden Pen Award winner
08 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew talks about his story "Thanatos Drive," how he discovered this writing contest, and how he came to be a science fiction writer.
8. Interview with Aliya Chen, Illustrators of the Future Gold Brush Award winner
04 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Aliya talks about the art that she submitted and won with and then how she painted the art that won the grand prize illustrator award. Discover the aw...
7. Interview with Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta on the business of writing
30 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin and Rebecca began their careers by entering the Contest and "pro'ing" out (selling a novel disqualifying them from entering again). With over 50...
6. Interview with Wulf Moon on the importance of always getting back up
26 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I know a truth: The difference between success and failure is getting up one more time than you have fallen. Read more about Wulf Moon at: https://www...
5. Preston Dennett and Dean Wesley Smith, The Topanga Canyon Never Give Up Story
23 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dean is an international bestselling author, an editor, and teaches creative writing. He uses the "Topanga Canyon" story about never giving up while r...
4. Interview With Bob Eggleton, Illustrators of the Future Judge
22 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Bob Eggleton talks about the importance of art and its role in society. Learn more about Bob at www.bobeggleton.com.
3. After the Workshop: Interview with Orson Scott Card, Tim Powers, David Farland
15 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Orson Scott Card, Tim Powers, David Farland review the just completed Writers of the Future workshop.
2. Interview with David Farland, Coordinating Judge
12 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
David Farland talks about the Writers of the Future Contest and what he looks for in story submissions.
1. Interview with Contest Director, Joni Labaqui
30 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
An interview on Writers and Illustrators of the Future with the Contest Director, Joni Labaqui