Earlier today I received an email telling me that my short story Human Network won an Honorable Mention in the L. Ron Hubbard Writer’s of the Future Contest.  From what I’ve been able to research, that means that my story was better than about 10% of thousands of entries.   I’m definitely going to enter again.

They hold 4 contests each year, 1 every quarter.  It’s open to stories up to 17,000 words in length.  They also have an illustrator contest.  Winners receive $1000, $750, or $500, and there’s an annual grand prize of an additional $5000.   Those winners are also invited to attend a workshop by Orson Scott Card (at least, he was part of it last year) and the other writers involved in the organization.

Additionally, they have an awards ceremony.  You might recall me posting about it before when I attended the last one.   It was swanky and fun.

This contest is free to enter.  One entry per quarter.  If you win (no HM, but win win), you can’t enter again.  But it seems like a great way to get started, get knowledge, and get connections.  So, if you’ve got a short story you’ve been sitting on, or are thinking about whipping one up, go for it.  This quarter ends Sept 30, and the new ‘year’ begins Oct 1st.

And now I’ve got an accomplishment.  🙂