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The Voodoo of Research
by Tim Susman
Since it’s fall and ghosts are in the air, I thought it might be a good time to talk about my research into vodou/voodoo, the religion and spiritual practices that coalesced on Haiti among the African slaves there…
On Writing of a Different Culture
by Douglas Smith
Eventually, I came to understand these stories were transcribed from versions people remembered being told when they were young or used to tell their children. Story telling was an oral tradition.
In Memoriam: Julian May
Author Julian May (b.1931) died on October 17. May entered fandom in her late teens and published the fanzine Interim Newsletter. Her first professional sale, “Dune Roller,” appeared in Astounding in 1951, including original illustrations by May. In 1952, she chaired the TASFIC in Chicago,…
SFWA and Independent Writers, Part One: History of the Organization
As part of a Twitter conversation, one of my favorite gamewriters, Ken St. Andre, suggested I write up something about SFWA and independent writers that goes into enough detail that people can understand why — or why not — they…
Great Fantasy Comes in Bundles
Cat Rambo, President of SFWA, curates the “SFWA Fantasy Story Bundle,” featuring works from SFWA fantasy authors. As always, readers choose what percentage goes to the writers, to StoryBundle, and to SFWA–the featured charity.
SFWA Market Report for October
Welcome to the October edition of the SFWA Pro-rate Market Report.
Don’t miss out! Adventures Await.
SFWA is delighted to feature another Humble Book Bundle. This time it’s Adventures in Science Fiction presented by Open Road Media.
Dear Editor
By Anatoly Belilovsky
Dear Editor,
Submitted herewith for your kind consideration is “My Little Tale,” a flash piece of 750 words. The author, a SFWA member, hopes you find it suitable for publication in “Awesome Stories.”
Difference of Mind
by Erica Satifka
According to the World Health Organization, one out of every four people will be affected by mental illness at some point in their lives. Considering this, it’s important to not only feature characters with mental illness prominently in…
Agreement Reached with Galaktika on Past Infringements
The Authors Guild and Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) previously announced that they collaboratively reached an agreement with a Hungarian science fiction magazine, Galaktika, which for years had been reprinting stories of American and British science fiction…
SFWA Market Report for September
Welcome to the September edition of the SFWA Pro-rate Market Report. Please note: Inclusion of any market in the report below does not indicate an official endorsement by SFWA.
Call For Grants 2024
Last year the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association provided over $24,000 in grants to deserving genre-related programs as part of our ongoing benevolent program. Recipients have included: the LaunchPad Astronomy program; Alpha, the science fiction, fantasy, and horror workshop…
So You’re Thinking about a Low-Residency MFA
by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam
Low Residency MFA’s in Creative Writing offer students a chance to study and practice writing without having to move or quit their jobs. There are more than sixty such distance-based programs in the U.S. and Canada.
SFWA Market Report For August
Welcome to the August edition of the SFWA Pro-rate Market Report. Please note: Inclusion of any market in the report below does not indicate an official endorsement by SFWA. NEW MARKETS Mother of Invention OPENING MARKETS Arsenika Cosmic Roots and Eldritch…
Vote for the Second Annual Dragon Awards
Fans can register to vote for the second annual Dragon Awards until Sunday, August 28th at 11:59PM (EDT).
The awards are “by the fans, for the fans, and are your chance to reward those who have made real contributions to SF, books, games, comics,…
Tools for Online Collaboration
by Stewart C Baker
In the past decade, web-based applications have really come into their own. This is great for authors, because it makes collaborating much easier, especially when your co-author doesn’t live nearby. The tools in this list run the…
10 Things I Learned While I Was A Director-At-Large for SFWA
by Jennifer Brozek
As of 1 July 2017, I stepped down from a two year stint as a Director-At-Large for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). My term was up and I chose not to run again (this time)…
How to Write with a Co-author
by Stewart C Baker
Fiction writing is often presented as an intensely solitary pursuit, but look at the end of a published novel some time and you’ll see the author thank at least a dozen people for their help. And then…
SFWA Market Report For July
Welcome to July edition of the SFWA Pro-rate Market Report. Please note: Inclusion of any market in the report below does not indicate an official endorsement by SFWA.
Teaching Stuff: It’s About the Mystery …
by Richard J. Chwedyk
I have my students do some exercises where they utilize stories about recent scientific/technological developments as a basis for fiction. We call it “NOT a Science Project.” I’m always amazed at how well some of them do…
Finding That Elusive Writing Time
by Anthony Izzo
Next to people wondering where a writer’s ideas come from, the question I hear most is “How do you find the time to write?” Currently, I’m working on my 18th novel. Like many other writers, I hold a…
Ten Tips For First-Time Travelers to Helsinki
by Sylvia Spruck Wrigley
WorldCon in Helsinki is THE social event of the year, and we’re all really looking forward to it. However, for many folks, it might be the first time traveling to a country where English is not the native…
Creating a Reading Series For Your Town
by Mark Niemann-Ross
At the 2017 Nebulas, I presented what we’ve learned about running a reader series in Seattle and Portland with hopes of assisting anyone interested in running a series in their home town. I’m following up that presentation with…
The Art of Story Mechanics
by Kate Heartfield
That moment of freeing myself from rigid concepts of right and wrong was also a useful reminder about storytelling.