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Overview of Game Production and the Role of Writers
by Monica Valentinelli
When you produce a game, you’re creating the interactive means for players to share a common experience that is often shaped by a story or narrative. The point, or goal, of that interaction will vary by the type…
How to Land Pitch Meetings in Hollywood
by Joshua Sky
A big part of selling scripts and landing writing assignments is pitching material in Hollywood. These dealings are nurtured through a series of meetings that you can get in a variety of ways. Let’s explore how to land…
Robert J. Sawyer Wins 2017 Robert A. Heinlein Award
Robert J. Sawyer, science fiction author, is the 2017 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award. The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space.
SFWA Statements on Register of Copyright and Copyright Reform
In its submission to the Librarian of Congress, SFWA outlined three priorities for the new Register of copyrights…
SFWA Market Report for February
Welcome to the February “pro-rate” Market Report.
What REALLY Sold in 2016?
Maybe that stubborn determination to find an agent and get picked up by a NY publisher so that your book ends up in Barnes and Noble isn’t really worth the (huge) effort.
Minimal Finnish
by Gabrielle Harbowy
If you’re planning to attend Worldcon in Helsinki this year, you might be wondering how much Finnish you’ll need to learn in preparation for your trip.
SFWA Statement on Magazines and the Monetization of Writers
In the past year SFWA has seen several examples of magazines contemplating monetizing the writers submitting work to them for publication.
2017 Philip K. Dick Award Nominees Announced
The judges of the 2017 Philip K. Dick Award and the Philadelphia SF Society, along with the Philip K. Dick Trust, are pleased to announce the six nominated works that comprise the final ballot for the award.
Fond Memories of “Mr. Sci-Fi”
Brad Linaweaver, publisher of Mondo Cult magazine as well as a Nebula finalist and SFWA life member who frequently collaborated with (another lifetime member of SFWA) Forrest J Ackerman, presents a tribute to Forry at Mondo Cult Online.
2017 Prometheus Hall of Fame Finalists
The LFS has chosen six finalists for the 2017 Prometheus Hall of Fame Award, given in recognition of a classic work of science fiction or fantasy with libertarian themes.
Advice On Landing a Genre TV Lit Agent
For those interested in breaking into genre television writing, an agent is paramount. They are the gatekeepers into a very exclusive world with a limited number of buyers. Here are some useful tips to garner representation.
Librarian of Congress Seeks Input on Register of Copyrights
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden invites the public to provide input to the Library of Congress on expertise needed by the Register of Copyrights.
2017 World Fantasy Awards Call for Submissions
The judges for the 2017 World Fantasy Awards, for work published in 2016, have now been impaneled and are accepting submissions.
How to Know When You Are Done Revising
by Cat Rambo
One question comes up more than any other when I teach writing: how do I know when a piece is ready for submission?
SFWA Market Report for January
Welcome to 2017 and SFWA’s latest pro-rate Market Report. Please note: Inclusion of any market in the report below does not indicate an official endorsement by SFWA.
All Time Favorite
by Dennis Mathis
My favorite science fiction story of all time is…
And one of the Borgesian wonders of this mind-bending little short story is that I never remember what the title is or who wrote it, as if one possibility is…
Mike Mearls of Dungeons & Dragons: Documenting Imaginary Worlds
A designer must consider far more boring details than a writer. Game writing is all about the big ideas in a game and how they fit together. That requires detail to ensure everything meshes, but a world or character can…
Optimizing Income for Independent SF & F Authors
by J Lloren Quill
How much money does an author make selling a book?
It should be a simple question with a straightforward answer, but it’s not. With technology at our side, we now have the data to answer this simple question…
SFWA Market Report for December
Welcome to SFWA’s latest pro-rate Market Report. Please note: Inclusion of any market in the report below does not indicate an official endorsement by SFWA.
SFWA Apology to Tristina Wright
I have been in correspondence with Tristina Wright and I am deeply apologetic about what happened, as I have told Ms. Wright in e-mail. This should not have happened. I and the rest of the SFWA Board apologize again to…
Writing for Intellectual Properties
by Laura Kemmerer
Writing for the intellectual properties we’ve all come to know and love so much is both possible and can be a huge asset to your authorial career. But it’s best to cover the basics first.
SFWA Announces Newest Damon Knight Grand Master – Jane Yolen
Jane Yolen – Picture by Jason Stemple The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA, Inc.) is pleased to announce that Jane Yolen has been named the 33rd Damon Knight Grand Master for her contributions…
Writing for Games: Introduction and a Few Misconceptions
by Monica Valentinelli
Though there are commonalities that game writers share in their work, there are a lot of routes they can take in order to work in the industry. This column will shed a light on some of those aspects…