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Publisher Alert: Iconic Publishing / Jonquil Press / Red Lizard Press
Starting last February, I began hearing from Iconic authors reporting a variety of similar problems, including production delays, poor copy editing (books were printed full of errors), poor communication, and broken marketing promises. I’ve also seen several Iconic contracts, and…
Brutarian Magazine Update
After reviewing the performance of Brutarian Magazine and corresponding with its publisher, SFWA’s board has voted to delist Brutarian as a qualifying market as of August 30, 2013, due to the magazine’s inconsistent publishing schedule over the past three years…
FOGcon Rolls Into the Bay Area
FOGcon has issued the following news: Walnut Creek will once again get a little more fantastic as it welcomes back FOGcon on March 7-9, 2014. Celebrating its fourth year in the Bay Area and its third year in Walnut Creek,…
LFS Announces 2013 Prometheus Award Winners
The Libertarian Futurist Society has announced the Prometheus Awards winners for Best Novel and Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame), to be presented Friday Aug. 30, 2013 at LoneStarCon3, the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
Writing With Stolen Time
There’s a difference between being a writer and wanting to be a writer. There are plenty of conversations about it, about whether payment, time spent, or day jobs land you on either one side or the other. But the…
Board Communication on Member Expulsion
The Board, after careful consideration of the existing Massachusetts By-Laws, our approved operations and procedures, and with the advice of our legal counsel and past presidents, has decided to expel a member of SFWA from the organization. This has not…
Expanded Alert at Writer Beware: American Book Publishing / Alexis Press / All Classic Books / Atlantic National Books
Last October, I started getting inquiries about a publisher called “All Classic Books.” I hadn’t heard anything about it, though its rather odd website (a sort of online journal format, with content mill-style essays) along with the lack of…
How to Be a Happy Writer
Research by psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky and others suggests that when you are in a positive state your brain performs significantly better than when you’re in a negative or neutral state. Your intelligence, creativity and energy levels all rise when you’re…
An Interview with Julia Sidorova, Author of Age of Ice
This opening line to Julia Sidorova’s debut novel pulls the reader into an immersive and intensive read and compels us to follow the life of Prince Alexander Velitzyn in his quest to find the answer to his immunity to ice….
The Joy Of Failure: Improv And Writing
How can taking an improv acting/comedy lesson improve your writing? Well, for one thing, it forces you to think differently about story.
An Interview with Don Sakers
The other aspect of Heinlein’s work that I’ve tried to emulate is his ability to choose and present just a few precise details to convey a different world, be it the future or another planet. The classic example from his…
Jealousing Is the New Writing Exercise
When I get professionally jealous it’s often an exciting thing. “Wow! I never thought of doing that. That’s amazing!” But excitement can turn into sad feelings…
Anti-Harassment Resources For SFWA Writers
On July 2 John Scalzi, immediate past president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, announced his new Convention Harassment Policy. When my friends and fans go to conventions, I would like them not to have to worry, if…
Commemorative Stamps Petition
A letter from Chris M. Barkley to the science fiction and fantasy community:
Over a week ago, I started two online petition drives at Change.org and We the People, to gather support to establish a series of commemorative stamps honoring America’s…
An Exit Interview with John Scalzi
This June, John Scalzi stepped down as SFWA President. He took office in 2010—twelve years after beginning his wildly successful blog, Whatever, and five years after he published his first novel.
SFWA member Carrie Cuinn ventured into Scalzi’s lair (aka,…
On Confidentiality and Board Deliberations
The SFWA Board would like to thank members for their strong support and patience as we continue the investigation of recent complaints against one of our members.
Guest Post: Elusive Genius
Too often the burden of “genius” is placed on the fragile shoulders of individuals trying desperately to create, to live up to expectations, to outdo their own previous creations, and to essentially justify daring to call themselves artists (or writers,…
Change of Eastern Regional Director of SFWA
Catherynne M. Valente has announced her resignation as the Eastern Regional Director for SFWA. She said, “It was a rewarding and challenging experience to work with a group of dedicated, tireless advocates, but personal circumstances have brought me to the…
Bulletin Task Force Takes Next Steps
SFWA President Steven Gould announces that the organization has paid all contributors for material previously contracted for the Bulletin, which is currently on publication hiatus.
Writer Beware Blog on (Brief) Temporary Hiatus
I’ve got a book deadline coming up: July 31. This is a happy thing, in that my book has a home and my editor is waiting for it and in a month I’ll be done!
Bulletin Task Force–Survey Forthcoming
The Bulletin survey will be sent out to members soon, after extensive internal and task-force analysis. This will be an opportunity for members to express what they want out of the Bulletin.
Guest Post: There is no That
It’s 2130 on a Saturday night, and I’m alone in my apartment, in front of my laptop.
I can’t shake the feeling that there’s some amazing party, filled with fascinating people, somewhere nearby. Artists and intellectuals and adventurers, all mixing and…
Penguin and Author Solutions File for Dismissal of Class Action Lawsuit
In April, the law firm of Giskan Solotaroff Anderson & Stewart filed a class action lawsuit against Author Solutions Inc. and its parent, Penguin Group, on behalf of three plaintiffs, alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment, various violations of the…
Andre Norton Award Committee Announced
The 2013 Andre Norton Award committee has been chosen, and will begin accepting books for consideration.