I got an interesting lesson on the power of the simple press release this last week. Not sure if you have heard or not but Kris (Kristine Kathryn Rusch) and I have been asked to be judges in the Writers of the Future contest along with Kevin J. Anderson and Fred Pohl and Anne McCafferty and Dave Wolverton and K.D. Wentworth and Mike Resnick and others. Great honor.
We had both been asked once before, but at the time I was still editing Strange New Worlds for Pocket Books and didn’t feel it was right to be involved with two new writer contests, and Kris was just finishing up her stint as editor of F&SF Magazine and didn’t feel up for it. But now, as only freelance writers, we are honored to be asked again and said yes quickly.
What I found startling is that Writers of the Future did a press release about us being asked and it got picked up across the country by television and radio stations, by newspapers, by blogs, you name it.
As any writer does, I have Google Alerts set up to let me know when my name or names come up somewhere on the web or in the media. Since that press release, my Google Alert has exploded with one day alone over 50 news outlets. And for a week now it hasn’t let up much. Now normally I only get an alert when someone reposts my blog or mentions my name or gets angry at me in some blog somewhere. Or when someone is selling one of my books somewhere. I usually go look but never say anything. That happens about four to ten times a day normally, a few more when I post a new Sacred Cows blog.
But wow, the simple power of that press release from the Writer’s of the Future shocked me. Shows how really important that contest has become in 26 or 27 years of existence.
It was honor to be in the very first book all those years ago, and be the first one across the stage at the very first ceremony, and it’s an honor now to go back and be a judge and help the new writers today. Kris and I also hope to help out for a few hours at the workshop if they need us while we are down for the ceremony every year. Only time will tell on that.
Kris and I met at the very first Writers of the Future workshop. Amazing how the contest is really been a part of our lives from the start. Glad it’s back in our lives again.
Apparently second quarter this year is so far a record one for number of submissions, according to Joni. It’s crazy
Sweet that you and Kris are joining the judges!
Indeed that is Niiice. But I have thought about asking if you are involved in anyway with the 25th anniversary book they are coming out with. Seems like you should be since you were in the first contest.
And if they have a record number of submissions now I wonder if it will break this record when you two are judges. Seems like they announce the judges ahead of time each quarter. That could be just a list of who have been judges.
And it would be sweet to have you there during the awards dinner when one of us gets to go across the stage. If you would go after your stint as judge. Yes, I know you won’t know who is who but it seems like there’s enough people, who respond here, who are still eligible and are trying so it could happen.
Or we could go and just be in the audience.
Louis
I’m thrilled you and Kris are joining the illustrious panel of judges, congrats.
I hope to meet you at the awards ceremony one of these days.
Congrats, Dean! I look forward to reading the annual anthology every year, even though I’m not eligible for the contest.
Thanks, Moses. Fixed.
Laura, again I agree. Louis’s questions were hard and complicated. First time I was ever made aware of this in any real way was when sitting on a panel with the then editor at Walker Books Michael Seidman. He answered a question from the audience, then went on to clearly explain how writers trade up for a new set of problems all the time. Sure, I want Nora Roberts or Stephen Kings’ problems, but to be completely honest, I don’t know what they are completely when it comes to dealing with writing at that level.
When we all start out, me included, the goal of selling and getting a first novel in print was a belief system that contained the idea that the clouds would magically part and writing and business would be easy. Well, there is a grain of truth in that, but only a grain. When you do sell that first novel, doors do open. But through those doors are a vast array of new problems. That’s why there are so many one novel writers over the decades. They look through the open door and say, “Nope, not for me.” Then turn around and walk away. Valid choice. I’ve done that with a number of careers, actually, such as law and architecture and skiing and golf and owning a bookstore.
And, as Laura pointed out, the problems you face as one thing clears is something you just won’t know until you face it. This career is never boring, that’s for sure.
My issue at the moment is also speed, but not like Laura is dealing with. My issue is motivation to create speed. (Yeah, rough life I know, but think it through.) Imagine yourself with over a hundred novels under your belt. I have written and sold novels in every major genre (yes, even westerns). I am the kind of person who lives on doing something “new and different” and yet this is my living. So how do I motivate myself to sit down every day. The love of just creating stories does it most of the time, the need for money does it part of the time, but I need to find a general fix that will get this problem behind me. I will. Almost there.
As Harlan said, “The problems in your writing are always the problems in your real life.” That’s why all of our problems are different. And they always keep shifting as the years and success go on.
I know all but a few are looking at that, or at Laura’s problem she mentioned she is working on and wishing you could trade up for that problem. I would have also in my early years. But trust me, these problems are just as real as the struggle to sell that first novel. And just as scary.
Hey Dean, I found a copy of that first WotF anthology with your “One Last Dance” a couple of weeks ago. I plan on bringing it out in June to get you to autograph it.
Congrats to you and Kris on the judgeship.
Alastair, I’ll be honored. I think that story still holds up great! And it’s been in constant print for 27 years or so. Wow.
Brad, looking forward to August as well. Kris and I will be hanging around with the other judges and instructors for most of the week as well as maybe talking with you all at some point. They are working that out now. Great fun. (Except now I have to go find a Tux. (grin))
Dean, the invitation of yourself and Kris to be part of the WotF judging pool is a tremendous compliment, but not surprising given how much effort you already invest in fostering new writers. I believe it’s extraordinarily appropriate that both of you will be helping future quarters march forth — a sign that the Contest intends to remain a competetive and worthwhile enterprise for all aspirants.
August’s week-long event is certainly shaping up to be one whopper of a good time. Now that I’ve cleared my Army obligations for the year, I am greatly looking forward to it.