Writers of the Future Contest A project of L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future (see other related projects). About The L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest is an ongoing competition designed to discover new and amateur writers of science fiction and fantasy, present certificates of merit when earned and award monetary prizes to the winners. All types of science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy are welcome. No Fees! This contest does not charge mandatory fees. Important: Submit only once per quarter. Limited Demographic: Submissions are restricted to people who have not yet had 3 short stories or a novel professionally published. Want more insight into the editors' preferences? Read our interview with the editor(s). Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 1984 Publication Medium & Contest Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Statistics Synopsis Regular Speed Writers of the Future Contest's overall average response time is within a normal range for contests. Normal AcceptanceWriters of the Future Contest's overall acceptance rate is within a normal range for contests. More ResponsiveWriters of the Future Contest's overall rate of non-response is lower than most contests. Fiction Open Rolling Submissions:Next cutoff date is 30 September 2026 11:59 PM PDT (in 21 days).2Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Dark Fantasy Science Fiction Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: Short Story: 1,000 - 7,500 words. Novelette: 7,500 - 15,000 words. Novella: 15,000 - 17,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Winner's Prize:Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $1,000.Submissions:Methods: Online form. Postal. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.Multiple entries: Multiple entries are NOT allowed.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to contest webpage Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Facebook FacebookInstagram @wotfcontestX (Twitter) @WotFContest Support this Publisher: Buy Book(s) For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Writers of the Future Contest Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: Group by submission Include outliers Include related projects Accuracy We have received 85 reports from 49 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 15 min | 100.8 mean avg | 89.0 median | 349 max days (897.4 std dev) Responses 92.94 % Acceptances: 3.53 % of submissions accepted (79.0 avg. days per acceptance) | 6.12 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here. Rejections: 89.41 % (106.0 avg. days per rejection) | 19.7 % personal, 55.3 % form, 25.0 % unspecified | 1.2 % rewrite requests | 21.2 % shortlisted Non-Responses 0.00 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: - Withdrawals 7.06 % (78.5 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 27 responses are pending (2 min | 76.0 mean avg | 72.0 median | 135 max days waiting | 389.5 std dev) from 26 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information Most submissions are acknowledged within one day. Most recent response reported was received on 19 Jul 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 29 Jun 2026. Date compiled: 09 Sep 2026 09:06 UTC (3 hours ago). Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Related ProjectsIllustrators of the Future Contest Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 05 Aug 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only