Writers Of The Future

Here is an excellent essay about writing, SF, and the Writers of the Future Contest.
I was a finalist in that contest some years ago, went to the workshop and event, and my story is in volume V of the accompanying SF anthology. I warmly recommend everything about it. It is the biggest and most prestigious contest for beginning writers, and very inspiring indeed.
The contest is judged by some of the biggest names in science fiction, and the anthologies have great stories and essays about writing.