By J. D. Harlock For a world to feel lived in, characters should receive the same attention as the lore, with characterization and worldbuilding intertwining, each influencing the other. This is as true for main characters as it is for supporting casts. When we think of classics like Discworld or One Piece, often our memories of the supporting characters are as strong as that of the protagonists. If a writer understands how to create interesting supporting characters, they can achieve a similar effect in their own work.  Tip #1 – Supporting Characters Should Feel Like They Have a Life Out ..read more

By Colin Alexander Almost by definition, writers love to write. We also tend to fall in love with our words. What we put on the page paints the exact picture of the idea we have in our minds, and all of our readers will see the same.  It could not be done any better. This makes the whole concept of editing fraught with tension. As Shirley Jackson once wrote in a letter to her editor accompanying a submission, “Leave out one line and you die.”(1) The truth is, virtually all writers need editors. We think of characters and plots. We do not all obsess over serial commas. However, If the stor ..read more

We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2023 Nebula Conference, which will be taking place both online and in-person at the Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort, in Anaheim, CA, the weekend of May 12–14, 2023. Registrations may be purchased at this link. Registration for the online portion of the conference is $150.00 and includes access to broadcasts of the weekend’s panels and the subsequent archive, the Nebula Awards ceremony, a conference Discord, and entry to our ongoing Nebula conference events beginning May 1, 2023. In-person conference registration begins ..read more

David Sherman Photo supplied by Danielle Ackley-McPhail David Sherman (27 February 1944 – 16 November 2022) was a prolific and beloved writer of science fiction and military fiction. Born in Niles, Ohio, Sherman joined the Marine Corps out of high school and served in Vietnam, receiving numerous medals and citations. Sherman then moved to Philadelphia, where he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, becoming, for a brief time, an award-winning sculptor. He then turned to a career of writing in 1983, with his novel Knives in the Night. He would go on to write over thirty novels, i ..read more

Suzy McKee Charnas (22 October 1939–02 January 2023) was a groundbreaking feminist science-fiction and horror writer and beloved Clarion West teacher. Originally from New York City, where she also studied, she lived and wrote from New Mexico for over 60 years. Her work was also influenced by her time in Nigeria. Charnas won the 1980 Nebula Award for her psychological vampire novella, Unicorn Tapestry, and the 1990 Hugo Award for her feminist werewolf short story, “Boobs.” She received three Otherwise Awards, two retroactively, for novels in The Holdfast Chronicles series, beginning with 1974’s ..read more

Welcome to the January edition of the SFWA Market Report. Please note: Inclusion of any market in the report below does not indicate an official endorsement by SFWA. The markets included on this list all pay at least $0.08/word in at least one length-category of fiction. New Markets Kangas Kahn Halloween Anthology Currently Open for Submissions Analog Science Fiction & Fact Asimov’s Science Fiction Assemble Artifacts Magazine Augur (Recently Opened) Beneath Ceaseless Skies Clarkesworld Magazine Escape Pod Factor Four Magazine Flame Tree Fiction Newsletter Flash Fiction Online (FFO)&nb ..read more

By Jason P. Burnham Climate change is the top public health emergency of the twenty-first century. Naturally, you may be inclined to write a story somewhere on the dystopia-to-solarpunk spectrum that mitigates your burgeoning existential climate dread. Perhaps one of your characters works in healthcare and is struggling with an ever-increasing burden of antibiotic-resistant infections related to climate change. What might that look like? Among other things, climate change represents an increase in global temperature, which is where Dr. Protagonist will start—heat and antibiotic resistance. As ..read more

Our membership numbers have steadily grown over the past decade, and we’re excited to announce that this year, SFWA has reached over 2,500 members! We hope you’ll celebrate this exciting milestone with us, as it demonstrates not only growth in our organization, but also touches upon what it truly means to be a SFWA member.  Joining SFWA is a benchmark achievement—a demonstration of a writer’s successful pursuit of publication in the speculative fiction mediums. Members of our community also support a deeply rooted practice, one that has followed the organization as it has evolved througho ..read more

By Cat Rambo You have been told, like so many writers before you, that you must have a social media presence. That nowadays, agents and publishing houses look to see how many Twitter followers you have before opening your manuscript. That it’s all about connection with readers, and the only way to manage that is a fashion show of your protagonist’s ball gown on BookTok with little animated birds helping you put on your stockings. This is, in fact, not true. A social media presence can be helpful for book promotion, certainly. But a forced, unhappy one, a presence that is mandated and labored o ..read more

By Kelly McClymer Do you dream of seeing your indie book in your local library catalog? You are not alone. Many a traditionally published author shares your dream. Here are a few hard facts: Libraries generally purchase hardback library editions (volumes that have had the spines reinforced to hold up for multiple reads). Shelf space is limited, and the competition is stiffer than ever. E-books and audiobooks offer some opportunities for indie authors, but that requires finding ways to let the librarians know how (and why) to buy your book for their electronic catalog. Librarians notice books ..read more