Writers of the Future Podcast

Our first-ever illustrator winner from Iran, Mason Matak, talks about the importance of art in Iran and the challenges he has in practicing art as a profession. He has a message for his fellow countrymen who pursue art. But his message is actually for anyone who loves creating art. You can find Mason at: Facebook: mohamadhossein.matak Instagram: @mason_matak

Multiple World Fantasy Award-Winning Author ("Last Call" and "Declare") and author of "On Stranger Tides," Tim Powers has been a Writers of the Future judge for over 30 years. In this interview, he discusses the craft of writing fantasy, both World Fantasy, and Urban Fantasy. www.TheWorksofTimPowers.com

David Farland discusses L. Ron Hubbard's writing essay, "Manuscript Factory" and how it was an eye-opener for him. His instructors in college had been hobby-writers and didn't write to make a living. He used this advice to help build his very successful career as a writer with his own manuscript factory. You can read this and several other essays, along with 13 videos featuring David Farland, Orson Scott Card, and Tim Powers in "L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Online Workshop" available for free here: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writing-workshop/

Multiple NYT bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson has been a Writers of the Future Judge since 1996 and now teaches a Masters Program at Western Colorado University. In this interview, we talk about publishing in today's world from writing, to the need for agents, to self-promotion, and what the future holds. Oh yeah, we also talk about Writers of the Future and its impact on science fiction & fantasy.

Mike Wood won Writers of the Future in 2009 and was published in volume 25 which provided him his first trip to the US. Now having completed a career he has set a new direction, that of an author.

David D'Amico was a Writers of the Future winner in volume 27. He has retired his job to embrace his lifelong dream of being a published author. This is his journey. Learn more about David at dadamico.com

Sean Williams has been very successful with his story collaborations. He originally read an article on collaboration by Larry Niven who famously co-wrote with Jerry Pournelle. This interview takes what he learned from that essay and expands on that theme with his own experience. Sean also covers this subject in more detail in his article entitled "Making Collaboration Work for You or Co-Writing with Larry and Sean" published in Writers of the Future Volume 36. International bestselling author Sean Williams was a Writers of the Future winner in volume 23 and became a Contest judge in 2003. Aurealis has called him "the premier Australian speculative fiction writer of the age."

Diane Dillon has been an Illustrators of the Future Judge since 1998. She along with her husband Leo (now deceased) lived by this motto: “Dream the dream, aim for the best you can do, and make the next job better than your last.” In this interview, we discuss how she and Leo began their career in art and design, as students at Parsons and the amazing obstacles they had to overcome to survive as artists. She provides personal stories that can help other aspiring artists. When we recorded this interview, she had only just found out that she had won the well-deserved Chesley Lifetime Achievement Award.

Orson Scott Card discusses L. Ron Hubbard's writing essay "Magic Out of a Hat" and how it is as valid today as it was when he wrote it. He compares the styles and techniques of several early masters and why Hubbard's work remains memorable. You can read this and several other essays, along with 13 videos featuring David Farland, Orson Scott Card, and Tim Powers in "L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Online Workshop" available for free here: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/writing-workshop/

Matthew Rotundo (WOTF 25) wrote his first story when he was 8 years old and later in life remembered that story and became certain he wanted to be a writer. In this interview, he explains how to start a story and then watch it totally change direction as he proceeded with his trilogy, "Petra: The Prison World Revolt." You can reach Matthew at matthewsrotundo.com