Book Contests




Good morning and welcome to wwwblogs. Today, we’re going to be talking about contests.
That’s right. It’s contest season. Authors all over the world are looking over contests that litter the internet, in the hopes they find something worth their time, energy, and wallet draining fees.
How does the new author go about finding the right contest?
The answer to that is both simple and difficult. First, you should be getting to know more experienced authors. They know the contests that are worth paying money to enter. They can tell the new author what contests to avoid, as they’re nothing more than a popularity contest where you have to get people to click a link to vote for you. And they will be more than happy to help you figure out where to find the best contests, the ones that will get you the most exposure.
You can also do an internet search for book contests. Be sure to be genre specific or you’ll have a massive amount of information to wade through. Another thing to look for is if this is a juried competition. Are there judges who will go through your book before it’s moved on to the next round?
Finally, you need to weigh the cost. Some of these contests can be as little as twenty to thirty dollars. Others can run as much as a hundred dollars or more to enter. This is where you need to read all of the guidelines, to see if those in charge have listed information about past contests. Are their expected expenses in line with what they’re charging for the contest? Or do you feel they’re charging far too much, especially if there are a large number of submissions expected?
Next, read the guidelines thoroughly. Ensure there are location limitations, such only people from a certain area can enter or your book must be a certain length. Is this contest limited only to those who are part of the hosting organization?
It seems like this is an awful lot of work to do to enter a contest. But if you want a chance to have your book received well, you need to ensure you are entering the right contest. Once you’ve done this, go through the entry form carefully. Ensure you can do an electronic version of your book if you’re sending in the form through email. Or does this contest require that you send a certain number of print books for evaluation?
Once you feel  comfortable with the contest’s host, go ahead and enter. Remember one thing, though. Many other authors are also entering. Don’t think of the entry fee as money lost if you don’t get through the first round, or even don’t place in the final round. You entered your book into a contest. So did thousands of other authors. To have it read by the first round judges, even if they didn’t select it to move on, is great!


About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
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Published on February 07, 2018 00:00
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