SFWA’s In Memoriams are meant to memorialize writers through celebrating their literary legacies. Sometimes, as in this case, we do not hear about a writer’s passing at the time it happens, but we still wish to take a moment and remember them as a member of the science fiction and fantasy publishing community. H. Paul […]

Moving Physical Books is part of the Indie Pub 101 resource. This section shares tips for placing physical copies of your books in libraries and bookstores. Visit the Indie Pub 101 main page here. Moving Physical Books Libraries and bookstores are cornerstones of our literary lives, so it’s no wonder that many authors strive to see […]

By Gareth L. Powell In 2020, I had the privilege of cowriting a science fiction novella called Light Chaser with Peter F. Hamilton, author of more than twenty novels, including The Reality Dysfunction, Pandora’s Star, and Salvation.  If I had to break down the lessons I learned during this process into five key points, they […]

By Jeremy Zentner Space operas often incorporate creative monarchy systems as part of their planet-spanning worldbuilding. And why not? Readers love a good monarchy! But there’s no reason not to be as creative with your royalty structure as you are with the rest of your story. Read on for some worldbuilding tips reflecting the ways […]

Nick Wood (1961–June 2023) was an author dedicated to writing science fiction for social change and promoting the visibility of science fiction written by Africans. Born in what is now Zambia, he also lived in the United States and Aotearoa New Zealand before taking residence in England. Wood was raised in and considered South Africa […]

by Jelena Dunato When my publisher prepared the marketing strategy for my upcoming novel Dark Woods, Deep Water, one of the obvious labels proposed besides “fantasy” and “dark” was “Slavic.” It’s clear why—I’m Croatian; I’ve written a book featuring Morana, the Slavic Goddess of Death. And yet, this label caused me intense discomfort. It took […]

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) is proud to announce the creation of the Infinity Award, with its inaugural presentation honoring the works and career of Octavia E. Butler (1947–2006) at the 58th Annual Nebula Awards® Ceremony on May 14. The SFWA Board voted to create the Infinity Award to posthumously honor acclaimed […]

By J.D. Harlock Introduction The “belly dancer” is one of the most prevalent tropes western media has of Middle Easterners, and it’s often used as a cheap source of fan service in Middle Eastern and Arabesque settings. However, not only is this an insensitive portrayal of a revered traditional dance, but the inaccurate dress has […]

A.J. Cunder As an editor, I’m tempted to say there’s a certain magic when it comes to submissions that catch my eye in the slush pile: an ethereal feeling when the story just clicks, an almost intangible quality to the author’s wordsmithing. But of course, to reduce an editor’s decision to magic (even in the […]

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.  […]