Archive for the ‘The SFWA Blog’ Category

SFWA Market Report For May/June

Welcome to the May/June edition of the SFWA Market Report. Please note: Inclusion of any venue in this report does not indicate an official endorsement by SFWA. Those markets included on this list pay at least $0.08/word USD in at least one category of fiction. This compilation is not exhaustive of all publication opportunities that pay […]

In Memoriam: Caitlin Thomas

Caitlin Rosemarie Thomas, 28 October 2002 – 17 April 2024, was a presence of joy in the genre community. The daughter of Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas, Caitlin often traveled to science fiction and fantasy conventions and ceremonies and was known for her excitement in interacting with other creative people. Caitlin loved stories, […]

Character Development Lessons From Video Games

By Samantha Garner When you think of video games, do you think of rich character development? Unfortunately, many people believe video game characters are either implausibly indestructible, or worse: boring. As a fan of fantasy and action role-playing video games, I’ve seen that belief transcended many times. As an SFF writer, I often find inspiration […]

Yes, We Need Diverse Books, But We Also Need Diverse Reviewers–Still*

by Erika Hardison Ever since Black YA Fantasy author L.L. McKinney set Twitter (now known as X) ablaze with her hashtag #PublishingPaidMe in 2021, the traditional publishing industry has been scrambling to give the appearance that they are truly committed to being more inclusive. While the public was becoming aware of how nonwhite authors were […]

Tie Up the Loose Ends: A Writer’s Guide to Sailor’s Knots

by May Haddad Knot tying (“nodology” in Latin, “kompology” in Greek) is a time-honored skill honed in seafaring for millennia. Its history intertwines with maritime exploration, naval warfare, and the development of trade routes all over the world. Even as synthetic ropes replaced natural fibers, knots used by sailors centuries ago remain in wide use […]

In Memoriam: Jubilee Cho

Jubilee Cho (13 April 1998 – 06 March 2024) was a writer and dreamer, and the author of the upcoming middle grade fantasy novel Wishing Well, Wishing Well. Cho grew up near Disneyland, enamored with stories of fantastical princesses. Yearning to see herself included in such tales, she wrote her own to help give new […]