The greatest ideas are conceived through serendipity and born of hard work. The Lunar Awards, an unplanned but now very intentional endeavor, is no exception. The idea came to fruition as a happy result of the many connections I made writing my speculative fiction newsletter called Future Thief. Interactions with other fantasy and science fiction writers surfaced a growing desire to showcase and award short stories and serials that would otherwise not find an audience with traditional outlets. These talented authors took control of their destinies and began acting as both the creative producer and the publisher. Why couldnāt they still be rewarded within this new self-publishing model?
It took me a month to finalize the rules, create a brand, register the domain and publish the initial post, a manifesto of sorts that outlined my intentions. Thatās the hard work part, and itās definitely work, which has resulted in a welcoming group congregating around speculative fiction. As the community has grown, the rules have changed slightly to accommodate a first chapter category, Iāve posted more interviews, several essays and a review of Frank Herbertās classic Dune. Iāve considered modifying the rules several times, but weighing the options leads back to the same conclusions; spontaneity keeps the awards exciting, and boundaries provide a safe haven for everyone.
Rules can significantly influence the participation rate in any contest, and Iāve tried to be as flexible as possible. One rule thatās likely never to change is writers must publish their fiction on Substack to be considered. If youāre unfamiliar with Substack, itās the platform through which you receive the Lunar Awards newsletter. This provides a mechanism for limiting entries to a tight-knit pool of (under a thousand) indie authors. The limitation is similar to the Reedsy weekly writing prompts, which requires your entries live on their platform. Even so, they still charge a $5 entry fee to be considered for the cash prize. Iāve been successful at avoiding āreading feesā and that trend will continue.
The Pitch
Another brainchild in 2023 that occurs monthly is The Pitch. It arose from the necessity to showcase hidden gems that were archived on Substack, or from authors who werenāt interested in competing via the award seasons. I also wanted a central location for readers outside this newsletter, either on social media or in forums, as a landing page for discovering new authors and the Lunar Awards. The Pitch is my favorite section and every month Iām excited to read the pitches and witness firsthand new connections being made, and new readers being found. For every unique voice linking to a story, I aim to find at least one matching fan.
The Pitch: The Pitch is a monthly discussion thread of the best science fiction and fantasy on Substack, as recommended by the authors themselves.
https://www.lunarawards.com/s/the-pitch
Iām looking for more ideas like The Pitch, which showcase the broad variety of science fiction and fantasy available to read. But I also want to make sure the frequency of content does not overwhelm our audience and benefits the growth and sustainability of the Lunar Awards. This balance was just right in 2023 and Iām always going to be respectful of your inbox. While I prepare for 2024, there are a few options Iām considering, and Iāll be asking our paid members for their feedback as I flush out the details.
Our Value
Paid subscribers added another dimension in 2023, which allowed me to monetarily reward a few authors, something I didnāt think would be possible for quite some time. The first award season of next year will continue the trend in both the short story and first chapter categories. I canāt promise this will always be the case. Thereās the careful balance of monitoring renewals, paying taxes on the income and calculating the costs involved versus the amount paid. Iām doing my best to provide as much value as possible for the dollars spent and hope to grow this base so everyone can benefit. While giving monetary rewards connected with each award season is a nice perk, it appears to me writers simply want a welcoming place to showcase their talents.
One of the greatest values the Lunar Awards offers is a sense of community. Itās a place to gather around speculative fiction, discuss our experiences as readers and writers and enjoy the exposure a congregation of like-minded people offers. While writing meaningful essays or interviewing industry experts provides beneficial insights, the real strength of the awards depends on our ability to connect with one another. This past year I met with people from all walks of life, different countries, religions, age groups and economic statuses. It was our love of the genre and that sense of belonging that formed our comradery and friendship.
Stats
Of course, no year in review would be complete without some attention to stats. I mean, come on, who doesnāt love a few good numbers?!? At the time of publication, weāre hovering around 820 total subscribers. The Pitch discussion threads have linked out to 300+ unique short stories and serials, and the number of submissions for all of the award seasons is 143! What countries top the list among our subscribers?
United States (67%)
United Kingdom (11%)
Canada (5%)
Australia (3%)
Morocco (2%)
To all of the Moroccans visiting today, I say to you āAhlan wa sahlanā! If a few more of your friends and family subscribe, you can surpass the Australians. But regardless of where you call home, Iām glad youāre here, and hope youāll enjoy the Lunar Awards this next year and in the years ahead.
Thank You
Thanks again to each of you, for all of your support, and for making our newsletter a welcoming place for fellow fans of science fiction and fantasy. This is our last free post of 2023, but itās definitely not goodbye. Next year is full of surprises. Happy New Year and all the best from the Lunar Awards!
What a great year! Can't wait to see what happens for the Lunar Awards in 2024!
Here's to another year of the Lunar Awards.