September 30, 2026
L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest
Direct application
$1,000
13 winners
Eligibility
Major
English Literature
About this scholarship
New and amateur science fiction and fantasy writers who have not exceeded the contest's professional publication limits may submit one original prose short story or novelette per quarter.
Quarterly first-, second-, and third-place prizes are $1,000, $750, and $500. One annual grand-prize winner selected from quarterly first-place winners receives the Golden Pen Award and an additional $5,000. There is no entry fee, and entrants retain publication rights.
Entries must be original works in English up to 17,000 words. Quarterly submission deadlines are December 31, March 31, June 30, and September 30.
Essay question
What else to submit
- One original English prose short story or novelette, up to 17,000 words
- Genre must be science fiction, fantasy, or dark/light horror (a speculative element is required)
- Entry must be original prose fiction in English; no plagiarism
- Work cannot be generated in whole or in part by AI
- Open only to non-professionals: those who have not professionally published a novel/short novel, more than one novelette, or more than three short stories in any medium
- Not accepted: poetry, children's works, plays, screenplays, treatments, outlines, partial manuscripts, memoirs, non-speculative mystery/horror, fan-fiction, scholarship essays, or already-published wo
- Free to enter; entrants retain all publication rights
- May enter 1 story per quarter, up to 4 per year
- Prizes of $1,000, $750, and $500 awarded each quarter
- No entry fee.
- Entrants may submit one story per quarter, up to four per year.
- Poetry, plays, screenplays, partial manuscripts, memoirs, fan fiction, already published works, and other listed ineligible formats are not accepted.