Navigating Book Awards: What's Best For Your Genre?
Navigating Book Awards: What's Best For Your Genre?
Book awards can be confusing, and now's the time to submit. Let's discuss!
Writers ask me this all the time: which book awards are worth it? Will an award help me sell more books? When are they?
It’s confusing.
Let's first delve into the pros and cons of entering book award contests. These can be fantastic opportunities for writers, but they also come with their share of considerations.
Pros:
Recognition and Prestige: Winning or even being a finalist in a reputable book award contest can instantly boost your credibility as a writer. It's like receiving a stamp of approval that says, "Hey, this book is worth reading."
Exposure: Entering a contest can put your book in front of a wider audience. If you make it to the shortlist or win, you might catch the attention of literary agents, publishers, and readers who may not have discovered your work otherwise.
Validation: Writing can be a solitary pursuit, and recognition from a contest can validate your efforts and talent. It's a confidence booster to know that your work stands out.
Marketing Opportunities: Many awards offer marketing and promotional support to winners and finalists. This can include press releases, social media exposure, and even book tours, which can be invaluable for a writer. Learn more here ⬇️
Cons:
Entry Fees: Most contests require an entry fee, which can add up if you're submitting to multiple awards. It's an investment, and there's no guarantee of winning.
Competitive Nature: These contests can be highly competitive, with many talented authors vying for the same prizes. The disappointment of not winning can be disheartening.
Time and Energy: Preparing and submitting your work to contests takes time and effort that you could use to write your next masterpiece. It's a balance between promoting your current work and creating new content.
Subjectivity: Judging can be subjective, and what appeals to one panel of judges may not resonate with another. It's essential to remember that not winning doesn't diminish the quality of your work.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether to pursue awards.
Here are some of the best-vetted nonfiction, memoir, and poetry awards that small press and self-published authors could consider in 2024. This is in no way a testimonial for any specific award or site, as your mileage may vary.
1. The Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs)
These awards honor the year's best independently published titles from around the world. They have a range of categories including nonfiction and poetry, making them a great fit for self-published authors.
Celebrating over 25 years, the IPPYs honor the best independently published titles worldwide, and are open to authors and publishers globally who produce books written in English for the North American market. More information can be found on their site.
2. The Next Generation Indie Book Awards
This is the largest international awards program for indie authors and independent publishers. They offer a Non-Fiction and a Memoir category, which could be perfect for you, my lovely readers.
Known as the largest international awards program for indie authors and independent publishers, it offers 80+ categories open to authors and publishers worldwide, with cash prizes and industry recognition.
The entry deadline for the 2024 awards is February 14, 2024. Submission fee is $75. Detailed information is available on their site.
3. The National Indie Excellence Awards
These awards are specifically for independently published books, with a wide variety of categories, including nonfiction and poetry, open to all English language printed books, including self-published authors, NIEA celebrates excellence in independent and self-publishing.
The National Indie Excellence® Awards (NIEA) are open to all English language printed books available for sale, including small presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses, and self-published authors. NIEA is proud to be a champion of self-publishing and small independent presses going the extra mile to produce books of excellence in every aspect.
Winners and finalists gain enhanced credibility and marketing opportunities. Submissions for the 18th Annual Awards are currently open. Find more details here.
4. The Eric Hoffer Award
This award recognizes excellence in independently published books, with a category for memoirs. It’s a prestigious award that can significantly boost an author's profile.
The Eric Hoffer Award for independent books recognizes excellence in publishing with a variety of honors, including a $2,000 grand prize. The award is open to books from academic, independent, small-press, and self-published authors.
Both printed and e-books are accepted for submission. The cost to enter is $75, and the submission deadline for the 2024 award is January 21, 2024. After the contest, books are donated to libraries, schools, and hospitals where appropriate.
For more detailed information and submission instructions, you can visit the Eric Hoffer Award website.
5. Reader’s Favorite Awards
This is a popular award among self-published authors. I’ve won several for my books. They have a broad range of categories, including nonfiction and poetry. The Reader's Favorite Book Award Contest is an opportunity for authors to gain recognition and exposure for their work.
The contest is open to a wide range of genres and provides authors with the chance to receive a free book review, along with the potential to win awards. More detailed information about the contest, including submission guidelines and deadlines, can be found on the Reader's Favorite website: Reader's Favorite.
6. The Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards
These awards are open to self-published authors and they have specific categories for nonfiction, including autobiographies and memoirs. The Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards celebrate the best of independent publishing each year.
Thousands of authors enter, and the judging is conducted by over 100 librarians and booksellers. They award Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners in 55 categories, representing the best in independent publishing.
If you have a book that was or will be independently published in 2023, it is eligible for entry. More information and the option to enter your book can be found on the Foreword INDIES website: Foreword INDIES.
7. The International Book Awards
They accept entries from independent authors and publishers worldwide and feature multiple non-fiction categories. The International Book Awards are known for honoring excellence in independent and mainstream publishing.
These awards typically feature a wide range of categories covering various genres, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, poetry, and more. They are open to all authors who have published books, including independent and self-published authors.
The entry process usually involves an entry fee per book, per category, and authors can submit their works through online forms or email submissions. The awards aim to recognize and honor outstanding books and offer authors the opportunity to gain increased recognition and exposure.
To get the most current information about the 2024 International Book Awards, including submission guidelines, entry fees, deadlines, and categories, I recommend visiting the official website: International Book Awards for the latest details and instructions on how to participate in the awards.
8. The Best Indie Book Award
An international literary award contest recognizing self-published authors; entries are limited to independently published books, including those from small presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors.
The Best Indie Book Award (BIBA) is an international literary contest recognizing achievements by indie authors. The 2024 Early Entry is open, with a discounted fee of $60 per category.
Entries are limited to independently published books, including those from small presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors. The awards cover a wide range of genres.
Winners receive various promotional benefits, including a trophy, featured book placement, and ongoing promotion. The entry process requires specific information about the book and the author. For more details and to submit your book, visit the Best Indie Book Award website.
9. Chanticleer Book Awards
The Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) for 2024 and 2025 offer a significant opportunity for authors to gain recognition and potentially win prizes.
An editor friend recommended this award and I’ve won several. They also have a wonderful awards ceremony each year (I’ve not made it but I hear it’s fantastic).
The awards are divided into 16 fiction genres and multiple non-fiction divisions. More here. Submissions are $199.
Winners can receive approximately $30,000 in cash, prizes, and promotions, including digital badges and ribbons for book promotion, as well as significant exposure through Chanticleer Reviews' platforms.
For more information and to enter the contest, you can visit their website.
10. Book Award Pro
Full disclosure: I have not used this service, however, it’s approved by WriterBeware, a watchdog site just for writers, who has mentioned them as the real deal.
They have several price points. Take a look at their site for how it works.
IndieReader Discovery Awards
The IndieReader Discovery Awards (IRDA) for 2024 is an excellent opportunity for independent authors and publishers to gain recognition and exposure. Every author who enters a title will receive a verdict blurb from an IndieReader reviewer, which can be a valuable promotional tool if positive.
The entry fee for the first category is $150, and each additional category costs $50. Entries are judged by industry professionals (including yours truly!), and the top prizes include services like a free author website for 12 months, a book review by a top New York literary agent, consultation with a book PR and marketing firm, an IndieReader Pro Review, and more.
The deadline for the 2024 awards is February 15, 2024. More here.
Keep In Mind…
Remember, each of these awards has its own set of rules and entry fees.
These may be a good fit for you and they may not. It's crucial to make sure your books meet the specific criteria for each award. Showcasing any nominations or wins in these awards can be a fantastic way to boost your online presence and credibility.
Also, winning or being shortlisted can provide excellent content for social media promotion. It's not just about the accolade; it's a story about your writing journey, struggles, and achievements. This personal angle resonates well with audiences, especially when considering the mental health aspects of writing and publishing.
Look at these awards as opportunities for growth and recognition. Even if you don't win, participating can offer valuable exposure and experience in the literary community. And if you’re not ready now, you have some info to add to your book marketing plan.
Each of these awards has specific entry requirements and deadlines, so it's important to check their respective websites for the most current information.
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This is such a helpful post, thank you! I am saving it for when I need it later, she said, optimistically.
Thank you this is so helpful with so many contests popping up all the time. I love Reader's Favorite!