The SFWA Help Desk aims to answer questions about the craft and business of writing, and about Novels, YA Novels, Short Fiction, Poetry, Self-publishing, Graphic Novels and Comics, Game Writing, Screenplays, History of SF, History of SFWA, Agents, Promotion/Marketing.

Knowing how to do research is a crucial skill for success as a writer. The best way to get help is to demonstrate that you’ve done basic research by asking specific questions.

If you have general questions about how to get started writing, check out SFWA’s Advice Center for New Writers. New material gets added periodically at the Information Center.

If you have a general question about how to get published, Help Desk recommends you first search among the many detailed sources for publishing already available. You can find books about publishing at the library. Writers like Jane Friedman make a living writing about basic publishing knowledge for the aspiring and early stage writer. You can check out her extensive essays on how to get started with traditional publishing and how to get started with self publishing. Search engines can lead you to other sources about how to get started in publishing. Just make sure you keep your scam radar on and check out Writer Beware if anything seems off to you. WB is an excellent resource that SFWA has made available for years to help writers learn about and avoid scammers willing to take money from hopeful dreamers.

What if you can’t find an answer after you’ve researched? Perhaps you’re not quite sure what the right question or sources are for the information you’re seeking?

The Help Desk resource is for questions you don’t know how to find the answers to. 

Fill in the form below. Your email will be sent to the coordinator, who will answer it themselves if they can or will forward it to someone in the Help Desk Group who has expertise in the matter it relates to.

Good luck and happy writing!