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. Continue reading “Five Novel Writing Contests to Enter This Year”