Site Errors and Slowdown
As you may have noticed, the site is intermittently slow or returning server errors such as 500 server errors, configuration […]
News, The SFWA Blog
In Memoriam, The SFWA Blog
RIP: Gene Van Troyer 1950-2009
Gene Van Troyer
(1950-2009)
Gene Van Troyer, a science fiction writer and poet who worked as an English teacher in Japan, died July 17, 2009 of cancer. He was 58.
Information Center, The SFWA Blog
Reading Aloud
There are few things that can destroy a good story faster than a bad reading. At the same time, a really good reading can make an audience excited and drive sales. Short of a background in theater, how can authors improve their reading skills?
News, The SFWA Blog
Philip Pullman speaks against UK’s vetting laws
A measure in the UK that would require anyone working at a school, even if for only a day, to be vetted by the government has caused some outcry, particularly among children’s authors. Philip Pullman has gone on record as saying that he would rather not go to schools than buy into the “surveillance culture.”
Information Center, The SFWA Blog
Resource: Historical Food Timeline
When writing historical fiction or fantasy, the question of food either seems daunting or is completely overlooked. With the Historical Food Timeline, you can get an approximate idea of when a given food was introduced.
News, The SFWA Blog
National Writers Union Opposes Google Settlement
The National Writers Union today announced its opposition to the proposed $125 million settlement of a class-action copyright infringement lawsuit brought by writers and publishers against Google because its massive book-scanning project violated their copyrights.
Nebula Awards, News, The SFWA Blog
Is Africa Ready for Science Fiction?
At our sister site, NebulaAwards.com, Nnedi Okorafor, talks about science-fiction in Africa. It’s an interesting and thought-provoking read.
News, The SFWA Blog, Writer Beware
Writer Beware wins big as frivolous lawsuit rejected by court
A Massachusetts Superior Court judge has awarded costs and attorneys’ fees to Ann Crispin and Victoria Strauss, the principal operators of the Writer Beware website, soundly rejecting a frivolous lawsuit filed by a purported literary agent.
News, The SFWA Blog
SFWA statement on proposed Google book settlement
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (SFWA), in conjunction with outside counsel, has reviewed the terms of the proposed settlement between Google, Inc. and the Authors Guild, Inc., and other class action plaintiffs.
News, The SFWA Blog
Mystery Writers of America will co-sponsor SFWA’s Writer Beware
Mystery Writers of America (MWA) will co-sponsor the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) Writer Beware program, which exposes publishing scams, educates writers on how to protect themselves from fraud, and maintains a massive database on their website of questionable literary agents, publishers, editorial services, and literary contests.
Information Center
Aphorisms for Writing Science Fiction
This article by David Alexander Smith covers some of useful rules of thumb for story structure and world-building.
Nebula Awards, News, The SFWA Blog
Andre Norton Award jury seeking candidate submissions
The jury for the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy is actively reading works published in 2009.