Manuscripts are judged with the authors' names deleted and are separated out in quarterfinal and semifinal award rounds by the Coordinating Judge (previously K. D. Wentworth, Dave Wolverton in 2015, and originally Algis Budrys). Eight finalists are sent to a panel of professional science fiction writers, who determine the top three awards. Prizes are $1000 (first place), $750 (second) and $500 (third). The process is repeated quarterly. At the end of the contest year, the four quarterly first place stories compete for a separate annual grand prize, the "Gold Award," which includes an additional $5000. The first, second and third-place winners and often a selection of the other finalist stories are published annually, for which the writers receive additional compensation for publication rights. Thus, a grand prize-winning author can make over $6000 for a single story.
manuscripts are judged with the authors' names deleted and are separated out in quarterfinal and semifinal award rounds by the coordinating judge (previously k d wentworth dave wolverton in 2015 and originally algis budrys) eight finalists are sent to a panel of professional science fiction writers who determine the top three awards prizes are $1000 (first place) $750 (second) and $500 (third) the process is repeated quarterly at the end of the contest year the four quarterly first place stories compete for a separate annual grand prize the "gold award" which includes an additional $5000 the first second and third-place winners and often a selection of the other finalist stories are published annually for which the writers receive additional compensation for publication rights thus a grand prize-winning author can make over $6000 for a single story