Writers of the Future Podcast

Jennifer has been an artist since she was 6, but had to register as a business when she turned 16 due to her success as an illustrator. She has a simple message for anyone wanting a career as an artist: Practice, practice, practice and follow your passion. Discover Jennifer's amazing art at www.oberillustrations.com.

Carrie has been a writer since she could first write and talks about the importance of not self-rejecting with her own examples as well as Stephen King and his novel "Carrie" (who she was named after.)

Alice Wang is in 10th grade and is the youngest illustrator winner in the Contests history. She has a special message to young artists.

Allan has only been serious about art since 2011 and will provide inspiration to anyone looking at transitioning from doodling to art as a career. He now works as assistant to American science fiction & fantasy artist Todd Lockwood.

Award winning artist Vytautas Vasiliauskas talks about his journey from university in Lithuania to university in the United Kingdom and then to France and finally deciding he wanted to be an artist as a career. He is now back home in Lithuania, pursuing his career as an artist and has a special message in his native tongue.

Christine talks about how she is able to pursue her career as an Illustrators of the Future winning artist, while raising a baby with the help of her very supportive husband. She transitioned from molecular cell biology to art, having realized she could still help people—through her art. Discover the fantastical art of Christine at www.christinerhee.com.

David has only seriously pursued a writing career the past 5 years, following a mathematics career and raising a family. He is a Writers of the Future winner after 19 entries. He is living proof that it is never too late to pursue one's dream as a writer and how to overcome self-doubt and rejection.

Christopher talks about writing fantasy and having so little confidence in himself as a writer that it took 4 years to find that he had been an honorable mention in Writers of the Future (he had stopped reading his emails!) at which point he became excited to be a writer again, submitted and won the contest.

Alex talks about how the art industry is hard to survive in, that most graduates of art school don't become artists, and how winning Illustrators of the Future came at a time when he was ready to quit his dream of being an artist. Learn more about the art of Alex at www.illustratedpixels.com.

Elise talks about her story "Untrained Luck," how she is able to balance being a young mom and a writing career, and the middle-eastern conflict backstory to her award winning story.