Scientology front: L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest

 
7051 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, California 90028
323-466-3310

Founded: 1983

Scientology PR: “The most enduring and influential contest in the history of SF and Fantasy. L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new writers of science fiction and fantasy to have their work judged by some of the masters in the field and discovered by a wide audience.”

 
We’ve written extensively about the contest over the years. In 2012, we dug deep to show how the writers and artists who take part in it as contestants or judges for the most part hold their noses and try to ignore that the lavish week of celebrations can only take place because of Scientology’s wealth, with only a few daring to voice their concerns.

That year, we showed definitively the direct link between the contest and Scientology’s abuses — Barbara Ruiz, one of the women who ran the contest for Author Services Inc. (Hubbard’s literary agency, wholly owned by the church), had also helped to run the infamous prison for church executives known as “the Hole” at Scientology’s secretive “Int Base” near Hemet, California in 2004 before she vanished entirely.

Although at least one judge decided no longer to participate based on our reporting, the contest has continued on, with most participants either oblivious or willfully blinding themselves to the Scientology connection.

 

 
LINKS:

March 12, 2012: Scientology’s Writers of the Future Contest: Troubling Ties to Abuse in the Church

April 7, 2018: On Day One, 2018’s Writers of the Future party betrays its connection to Scientology’s abuses

 
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. Our collaboration with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’, is also available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

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