Ah, the first of the year holds such promise! After you completed the manuscript you began during NaNoWriMo, you’ve probably been wondering where to go from there. You’ve been through the editing process–several times–or had it reviewed by your beta readers, editors, and anyone who would be willing to read an ARC. Next step? Whether or not you’ve proceeded with publishing, have you considered one of the many contests out there?
Winning a book award or badge is an effective method to help thrust your work in front of readers–or beyond that–to agents and publishers! I’ve previously written regarding the ATAI 2017 Book Award Contest. The winners were to be awarded prizes which included:
- Promotion across social media
- Featured on homepage
- Featured on sidebar
That seems to be pretty standard stuff, and the badge for a winning entry may be very useful, either for your website or tacked on your front cover. It is something to help your book pop when readers are sweeping book covers. Also, a winning entry subtly passes a quality and readability test–further conveying saleable credibility. Most contests judge on several levels such as first in category, genre prize, and grand prize.
These contests are open to most genre’s:
- Chanticleer Writing Contest-This website lists all the genre’s open to contest and their submission deadlines in an easy to see “at a glance” format. Entry fee is $55 per submission per category.
- The Writer’s Digest will host their 86th Annual Writing Competition. They will accept all genre’s and short fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and script writing. Their self-published book award deadline occurs in April. Entry fee for self-published manuscript on early bird form is $99, but their entry fees vary. Read their website for details.
- The 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards (2017 IPPY Awards) entry deadline is February 25, 2017. This contest is open for books published between 2015 through 2017. Entry fee is $95.00.
- The Readers’ Favorite 2017 International Book Award Contest deadline is counting down as I write this. Early Bird deadline April 1 is $89.00. Lots of hype on this website and you’ll need to scroll WAY down to find the entry form and read details.
- The Independent Author Network 2017 Book of the Year Awards Contest early bird submission deadline is June 1, 2017. There are more than 34 fiction and non-fiction categories with a share of cash prizes exceeding $6,000. Fee is $49 with early bird entry.
There are many writers and book contests of a general nature geared to newbies as well as established authors, some specifically children’s book or romance novel contests. While some contests don’t allow ebooks and/or PODs, others don’t let authors or publishers submit (the book has to be nominated–think Kirkus). Some let you enter a book published more than a year ago, while others require getting reviewed in their trade magazine first. Some are just plain flaky or out for the money. Therefore, check out contest rules, the organization, and their contest history before you submit your money.
I’d love to hear stories of a successful submission–have you won a contest? Which one and how was your experience? ©2017 Virginia Williams 
Rosepoint Publishing 