ANNOUNCING A VERY SPECIAL
FREE WORKSHOP
STARTING AUGUST 18th 2020
The Sci Fi Short Story Workshop with Steven L Sears
4 consecutive Tuesdays at 11am PDT
AUGUST 18th 2020
AUGUST 25th 2020
SEPTEMBER 1st 2020
SEPTEMBER 8th 2020
Class length- 45 to 60 mins.
This is a FREE series supporting
the Roswell Awards!
Join us for a series of workshops designed to help you get that awesome story out of your head and onto the page!
Our participants (that’s YOU) have the opportunity to submit their short story for consideration for The Roswell Awards by Sept 15th. Info below.
This workshop is for sci fi short stories, but is useful to anyone who has a story they want to write. We will be focused on 1500 word, short stories, in the Science Fiction ( and maybe a touch of horror or humor, or both!) genre.
Some of the things Steve will talk about;
Getting comfortable with your real talent; lying.
What makes a good sci-fi story?
Heck, what IS a sci-fi story?
The magic “What if?”
Crafting your story for best effect.
Getting into your reader’s mind.
The psychology of manipulation and why it’s not a bad thing.
What am I trying to say? Do I have to say anything?
1500 words? ARE YOU CRAZY? Learning to edit without losing.
I wonder what’s in the fridge and other distractions to creativity.
Own it. Own it. Proudly, own it.
Workshop Dates/Times
4 consecutive Tuesdays 8/18, 8/25, 9/1, 9/8 11AM PDT
The ZOOM workshop is recorded so you can listen at your convenience.
The workshop is FREE and submission for consideration for The Roswell Awards and Tomorrow Prize is free but we HIGHLY encourage a donation to the project to keep this wonderful project going.
STEVEN L. SEARS
Screenwriter/Producer/Author
What do THE A-TEAM and XENA-WARRIOR PRINCESS have in common? Writer/Producer/Author Steven L. Sears. Steven L. Sears has worked as a Writer, Story Editor, Producer and Creator in Television, Film, digital media and animation. His lengthy career has encompassed over fifteen separate Television series, and development deals with a number of the major studios in the industry, including Columbia Studios, Sony/Tristar Television, Rhysher Entertainment, Artists Inc., Cookie Jar Entertainment, Digital Pictures and many others.
Steven’s initial foray into professional Television writing came with his hiring as a staff writer on the Stephen J. Cannell Productions hit TV series RIPTIDE, for the NBC Television Network. He followed that up by adding his talents to the writing staff of one of the more popular genre series of its time, THE A-TEAM, also for NBC.
From there, he continued his career by writing and working on such popular series as HARDCASTLE & McCORMICK, JJ STARBUCK, STINGRAY, WALKER-TEXAS RANGER, HIGHWAYMAN, ROBIN’S HOODS, HOLLYWOOD DETECTIVE, FATHER DOWLING MYSTERIES, HARDBALL, GRAND SLAM, JESSE HAWKES, SUPERBOY, S.H.E. SPIES and many other Television favorites. His animation experience includes ITSY BITSY SPIDER, TRANSFORMERS: RESCUE BOTS and working with the legendary animation Director Don Bluth as writer on the short feature THE GIFT OF THE HOOPOE.
More than just a writer, Steven also moved up through production as a Story Editor and Producer to Creator of Television series. After Producing SWAMP THING for USA network and RAVEN for CBS, he soon moved to a series that has made its mark in Television and pop culture history, as Co-Executive Producer of the wildly popular series XENA – WARRIOR PRINCESS. He followed that up by co-creating the latest incarnation of the legendary comic book heroine SHEENA for Sony/TriStar Television, which ran for two seasons. Still involved in Television and Film development, he has recently branched out into the literary world. He is the author of THE NON-USER-FRIENDLY GUIDE FOR ASPIRING TV WRITERS. Based on over thirty years of experience, it’s a direct and honest look at working in Television for anyone choosing to make TV Writing a career. His partnership with popular sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson (DUNE: HOUSE ATREIDES; CLOCKWORK ANGELS; DAN SHAMBLE, ZOMBIE P.I.) has resulted in the gritty futuristic sci-fi graphic novel STALAG-X. A psychological drama set in a concentration camp of a futuristic interstellar war, STALAG-X is published by The Vault publishing and is being developed for film/TV. Partnering with Peter J. Wacks (SECOND PARADIGM; BLOODLETTING) he cocreated the upcoming epic book and graphic novel series VILL’ANNIE. A popular figure at genre sci-fi/pop culture conventions, Steven has an eclectic fan base as a result of his many series and accomplishments and is a frequent guest speaker at colleges and universities.
THE ROSWELL AWARD
Heading into its 6th year, the competition offers cash prizes for science fiction writing on any theme. In addition, special prizes will be awarded for feminist themed sci-fi. The competition winners and honorable mentions will be announced and a culminating event held at LitFest Pasadena in May 2021. Stories must be original, 1,500 words or less, not published or posted, and not fan fiction.
THE TOMORROW PRIZE
for Los Angeles County high school students will be open for submissions on SEPTEMBER 15, 2020. Heading into its 6th year, the competition offers cash prizes for science fiction writing on any theme. In addition, special prizes will be awarded in environmental conservation. Deadline for the competition submissions: * FEBRUARY 1, 2021 The competition winners and honorable mentions will be announced and a culminating event held at LitFest Pasadena in May 2021. Stories must be original, 1,500 words or less, not published or posted, and not fan fiction.
Submission information:
Sci-Fest LA’s “The Roswell Award” Short Story Competition
Presented in conjunction with Light Bringer Project
Submissions open September 15, 2020!
Writers from around the world are invited to submit their original short science fiction story of 1,500 words or less!
Now in its 6th year, The Roswell Award has long inspired emerging sci-fi writers everywhere. The top five stories will be read dramatically by celebrity guests in a live event in spring 2021. The first, second, and third place winners will receive cash prizes. In addition, a special prize will be awarded to one feminist themed sci-fi story, the Women Hold Up Half the Sky Award. Honorable Mentions also receive formal recognition.
This is a nonprofit competition supported by donations, and it is free to submit.
Submission guidelines:
⚛ Submissions are open Sept.15, 2020 to Dec. 15, 2020 at 11:59pm.
⚛ There is no entry fee.
⚛ Contestants must be at least 16 years of age.
⚛ Only one (1) submission is accepted per author.
⚛ 1,500 word limit (and no less than 500 words).
⚛ Stories must be original and unpublished in any previous format. Fan fiction and stories that have appeared online, even on an author’s personal page or social media, will not be considered.
⚛ Submit stories in a Microsoft Word document with a cover page that includes the following information: Name, address, email, phone, word count, and whether you wish your story to be considered for the feminist writing prize — Women Hold Up Half the Sky Award.
⚛ Ask questions and Submit Stories to TheRoswellAward@gmail.com.
Prizes:
Five finalists for The Roswell Award and the winner of the Women Hold Up Half the Sky Award will be announced and have their stories read by celebrity guests in a live spring 2021 event. Honorable Mentions will also be recognized.
The winners of The Roswell Award for Short Science Fiction will be announced at the above referenced readings and awards event and receive donated cash prizes of First Place: $500.00, Second Place: $250; Third Place: $100.
Additionally, the Women Hold Up Half the Sky Award presented by Artemis Journal and Hollywood NOW, includes publication in Artemis Journal and on the Hollywood NOW site and a $100 cash prize.
Additional details:
* Stories that feature characters, settings, or other defining features of any existing media properties (books, film, TV, etc.) will not be considered.
* Stories that clearly fall into the genre of fantasy will not be considered. We do accept a broad range of sci-fi genres, though, including sci-fi with fantastical elements.
* Only one prize is given for the Women Hold Up Half the Sky Award. All stories submitted for this award but not receiving it will also be considered for The Roswell Award.
* The Women Hold Up Half the Sky Award will go to a story that embraces feminist themes and has a female protagonist. Top entries will exemplify excellence in feminist storytelling, while capturing the complexities of their characters.
* Sci-Fest L.A. and Light Bringer Project have the non-exclusive right to publish the Finalists’ and Honorable Mentions’ stories up to one year after the spring reading and awards event. into its 6th year, the competition offers cash prizes for science fiction writing on any theme. In addition, special prizes will be awarded for feminist themed sci-fi. The competition winners and honorable mentions will be announced and a culminating event held at LitFest Pasadena in May 2021. Stories must be original, 1,500 words or less, not published or posted, and not fan fiction.
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“I wanted to extend my genuine appreciation for the creation of this event. I like the personal touch. It’s heartwarming that in this time of crisis, we are still able to connect more deeply than ever before. On a personal note, I am super excited because it will give me an opportunity to take a break from my personal anxieties. There is a lot of loss in my life. Anyways, I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
-C
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