N.V. Haskell began writing when she was about 8 years old. She wrote stories throughout high school, but in college she put away her metaphorical pen and paper to focus more on the sciences.
As she took up a career in healthcare, her pen and paper collected dust for almost 30 years. In 2019, “during some forced recuperative time off,” she pulled out those trusty writing tools and began her escape.
“Writing is cathartic,” Haskell, of Florence, said. “It can be an immersive experience that I have to work hard to put into the right words. And when others love it, it feels good to know that my words connected with someone.”
Her words certainly made a connection to the judges of the Writers of the Future Contest. The contest, one of the most prestigious writing and illustrating competitions in the world, is currently in its 34th year and is judged by some of the premier names in speculative fiction.
Her story earned her a cash prize and will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 38. She’ll also take a trip to Hollywood to be honored at The Taglyan Complex in April. Prior to the black-tie awards gala, Haskell will attend a week-long workshop with some of the judges.
The Writers of the Future Contest judges include: Tim Powers (author of On Stranger Tides), Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert (Dune prequel series), Robert J. Sawyer (Quantum Night), Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn series, The Stormlight Archive), Larry Niven (Ringworld), Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game), Nnedi Okorafor (Who Fears Death), David Farland (Runelords), and Katherine Kurtz (Deryni series) to name a few.
For Haskell, being named a winner is “exciting and a bit overwhelming.”
“It is a huge contest that thousands of talented writers from around the world enter every quarter and, if I am being honest, I never thought that I would win,” she said. “I am still a little in shock.”
Haskell first heard about the contest near the end of 2019, only a couple of months after she had returned to writing.
“I figured I had nothing to lose by entering,” she said. “Writers of the Future is the first place I ever submitted anything, and I entered every quarter after that. I won on my seventh submission.”
Haskell’s story, The Mystical Farrago is, ultimately, about self-acceptance and finding a home, she said.
“My main character is non-traditional and straddles two very different worlds that are frequently at odds,” she said. “It was inspired by a story from Greek mythology about the sirens, not the infamous sea-variety, but the other ones that were depicted as bird/women hybrids. And I drew from one of my friend’s life experiences for character development.”
Haskell’s story was picked for its originality and quality of writing, said James Goodwin, president of Galaxy Press.
Goodwin said the Writers of the Future competition “levels the playing field.”
“Judges only see the work and have no idea about who the author is,” he said. “So, wins are based on merit alone.”
The contest is free to enter, and the author maintains rights to their work.
“Being an honorable mention in the contest places you in the top 10 percent of aspiring writers and find their submissions are taken out of the slush pile by editors,” he said. “Being a finalist and winner definitely results in editors reviewing your submissions.”
For Goodwin, who has been involved with the contest for nearly four decades, his favorite thing is seeing writers and artists get their start in publishing.
“When L. Ron Hubbard [author of Battlefield Earth] created the contest in 1983, he established the mission statement to provide a means for an aspiring writer or artist to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged,” he said. “The contest is all about encouraging aspiring writers.”
The 452 past winners of the writing contest have published 1,150 novels and nearly 4,500 short stories. They have produced 32 New York Times bestsellers and their works have sold more than 60 million copies.
Haskell said she appreciates the experience of writing for the contest. It’s encouraged her to work on other pieces, as well.
“I have written two novels that are in the final stages of editing,” she said. “One is an adult high fantasy; the other is a young adult historical fantasy based in ancient China. I have outlined a third novel that I will begin working on in the next month or so.”
When Haskell is not staring into her computer screen, you might find her at comic cons or renaissance fairs donned in costume, reading multiple books at a time, running badly, traveling, or teaching yoga. She lives with “a great family, a rescue dog with a large personality, and an indignant cat.”
She’s also really into Chinese history.
“I enjoy learning about things that were glossed over in my traditional education,” she said. “Most of the history, even world history, in high school and college focused on European history. There are so many rich cultures and great stories that I wasn’t exposed to, and I am fascinated by the intricate politics and dynasties that rose and fell.”
The mythological beasts, she said, are like nothing she’s ever read about in other cultures.
“There were a lot of female generals and warriors in ancient China, other than Mulan, that haven’t been spoken about enough,” Haskell said.