Post-SNW, any opportunities for new aspiring Trek writers?

[jezor]

I apologize if this has been answered elsewhere, but I was wondering: following the demise of the Strange New Worlds competition and the lack of any Trek TV series which might accept unsolicited telescripts as in the past (I submitted one for DS9 and another for VOY, which I'd be happy to send to anyone who wants to read and critique them), are there any opportunities for aspiring Trek writers? Are the e-books a possible entry? Thanks. {ProfJonathan}

 

[Dayton Ward]

There's the traditional route as put forth in the Star Trek Novel Submission Guidelines[/i]. Granted, that's a tough road to navigate, but it's not an impossible one.

 

[Christopher]

Another option is to establish yourself as a writer of original fiction and then get in touch with the Trek editors. There are plenty of magazines and book publishers out there that do original SF.

 

[jezor]

Re: Post-SNW, any opportunities for new aspiring Trek writer

Thanks to both of you. Can I help it if I want a shortcut? {ProfJonathan}

 

[Christopher]

Re: Post-SNW, any opportunities for new aspiring Trek writer

I wouldn't say SNW was a shortcut, since you still needed to work hard enough and do well enough to get in, and it generally took more than one sale to SNW before anyone moved on from there to other Trek fiction (were there any one-time winners who did that?). It was just an additional avenue.

 

[Geoff Thorne]

Re: Post-SNW, any opportunities for new aspiring Trek writer

Considering the high quality of the writing in the SNW anthos, I wouldn't describe it as a shortcut either. I failed to get in more often than I scored. I'm sorry it's gone, though.

But there are stacks of other venues out there. I'd say it's actually harder to score on Star Trek than it is to do so in an "original" fiction venue as the target is much much smaller with Star Trek.

 

[Christopher]

Re: Post-SNW, any opportunities for new aspiring Trek writer

^^Yep. Also, I'd say the broader your interests and experience in writing in general, the greater the chance that you'll be able to bring something fresh and distinctive to the table and catch an editor's eye. For instance, the way I try to bring ideas from hard science fiction and my historical studies into my Trek fiction, or the way Diane Duane's Trek fiction reflects ideas from her fantasy universes. Pursuing Star Trek alone is not necessarily the best way to become a Star Trek author.

 

[jezor]

Re: Post-SNW, any opportunities for new aspiring Trek writer

All good advice. Again, thanks. {ProfJonathan}