Writers of the Future Attends Writers Digest Conference

The annual Writers Digest Conference taking place August 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Beverly Hills has as one of its contributing sponsors the Writers of the Future. Joni Labaqui, the Contest director, was on hand both as a guest speaker and to answer questions regarding the Contest.

"L. Ron Hubbard had initially contributed to articles to writing magazines as one of America's most successful writers in the 1930s and 40s, and one of these was Writers Digest, in the January 1936 issue with an article entitled, 'Magic Out of a Hat'," stated Labaqui. "So we are very excited to participate in this conference and continue that legacy of helping the aspiring writer started by Mr. Hubbard so many years ago."

Earlier this year, Writers Digest, in recognition of the value of the [Writers of the Future Contest, presented an award to L. Ron Hubbard and the Contest at the Hubbard Achievement Awards event in April which read, "In recognition of three decades of giving aspiring writers a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged while further providing them hope, inspiration, vision and success, we salute L. Ron Hubbard and the enduring Writers of the Future Contest.

The Writers of the Future writing contest (http://www.writersofthefuture.com) was initiated by L. Ron Hubbard in 1983 to provide a means for aspiring writers to get that much-needed break. Due to the success of the Writing Contest, the companion Illustrators of the Future Contest was created in 1988 (http://www.illustratorsofthefuture.com).

The intensive mentoring process has proven very successful. The 348 past winners of the Writing Contest have published 838 novels and nearly 4,000 short stories. They have produced 27 New York Times bestsellers and their works have sold over 50 million copies.