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Writers Of The FutureWriters of the Future (WOTF) is a science fiction story contest that was originated by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s. Hubbard characterized the contest as a way of "giving back" to the field that had defined his professional writing life. It also has served as a promotional vehicle for Hubbard himself, who returned to science fiction publishing with Battlefield Earth at about the same time as he began the contest. Hubbard's name appears "above the title", and in at least as prominent fonts, in the contest publicity and anthologies, and the contest's biography of Hubbard repeats some of Scientology's claims about his life that are disputed by non-Scientology researchers. The contest may be entered quarterly, and is open to writers who have no, or few, professional publications (the definition of professional publication being one paying more than a certain amount per word). Manuscripts are blind-judged, and are separated out in quarterfinal and semifinal award rounds by the Contest Judge (originally and currently Algis Budrys, although Dave Wolverton was the judge during much of the 1990s). Finalists are sent to a panel of professional sf writers, who determine the quarterly awards. The four quarterly first place winners compete for a separate annual award. The first place winners and a selection of the other finalist stories are published annually. An illustrator's contest was added in 1988. The original sponsors of the contest were Bridge Publications, Inc., the official publishers of the Church of Scientology. Recently, the sponsorship moved to Galaxy Press, a new company whose sole products appear to be Hubbard's fiction and the contest anthologies. Entering or winning the contest does not require endorsement or membership in the Church of Scientology, and the contest itself has been endorsed by well-known writers who have no other relationship to Scientology. External links
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