THE Group for Authors! discussion
Publishing and Promoting
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Book Awards and contests -- which are legit and worth while?
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There are a few sites that warn authors of the "pay to play" awards game. Some very legit awards do charge an entry fee, but it's a matter of degree. SFWA (the professional organization of Sci-Fi and Fantasy authors (and awards the annual Nebula Awards) publishes its very helpful Writer Beware http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/f...I don't think you need to be a member to read it
Barbara wrote: "There are a few sites that warn authors of the "pay to play" awards game. Some very legit awards do charge an entry fee, but it's a matter of degree. SFWA (the professional organization of Sci-Fi a..."Wow -- thanks Barbara! This link is exceptionally helpful.
Barbara wrote: "There are a few sites that warn authors of the "pay to play" awards game. Some very legit awards do charge an entry fee, but it's a matter of degree. SFWA (the professional organization of Sci-Fi a..."Great article! Thanks for sharing it. And yes, it does provide a cautionary tale for those of us who are seduced by the possibility of our work winning a coveted prize, a formal validation from what we assume is a knowledgeable literary community. There are a few contests from reliable sources in the industry that have piqued my interest, but I have been hesitant to participate because of the hefty fees associated with entering. A hundred bucks seems pricey to me, and although I am no mathematical genius, quick calculations tell me that if several thousand people pay up due to the name recognition of the sponsor, they have tapped into a very lucrative source of income.
Indeed! It's always buyer beware. And sometimes a sticker is just a sticker. Now...I'm looking forward to that Nebula or Hugo coming next year should I be so fortunate :)
For what it's worth, no matter how reputable the awarding organization is...I think SFWA was mentioned, and it's certainly highly reputable...if I have to pay anything to be considered, I won't do it.Paula mentioned one with a $100 "filing fee." You get a thousand people around the world to cough that up, you've brought in $100,000...and you certainly aren't going to spend that much having a panel of judges make the decision on the award.
To me, the fees mean you're looking to make a profit off of presenting an award, and that fee...again no matter how prestigious the "awarder" is...in turn means I've paid for the award if I win.
I think if a group doesn't have the resources to consider all the entries and make a decision without fees, it shouldn't be making awards.
Just my USD .02.
Eric-the-penny-distributor
Publishers Weekly and Writers Digest come to mind. Both are considered to be prestigious and recognized in the industry and both charge that $100 fee (ok.. $99) for submission. It feels more like a way to make quick cash than a legitimate way to recognize talent, often preying upon the naïve and hopeful in the process.
Thanks for the info, Barbara. It seems that scams are everywhere. If the people who think them up put that creative energy to use for something worthwhile, it would be a splendid world (Keep dreaming, Jan!)
I self-published my first novel Joheved by starting my own small press back in 2005. My book shepherd encouraged me to join IBPA, to which I still belong and recommend highly. After my book came, out I applied for Ben Franklin, IPPY, and Forward awards, all of which cost to enter but are considered prestigious in the indie press world. I won the Ben Franklin for "Best New Voice Fiction" and either won or was finalist for historical fiction for the other two. I have no idea whether winning these awards did anything for my sales or led to Penguin offering me a contract, but I'm not complaining. If nothing else, the award parties were awesome.
Bottom line - if the award isn't presented at some sort of celebration [think Academy Awards or Golden Globes], then it's probably not worth entering.
Thanks, Maggie. good advice (and congratulations!)
Yes, congratulations from me, too. Quite an accomplishment and it sure couldn't have hurt sales!
Thanks for the insight. Entering contests requires an author to be a skeptical and shrewd researcher!
Kevin,There are books and periodicals available commercially and through most public libraries that contain information regarding literary awards and their sponsors. Many include lists of those that are legitimate and those that are not. All of them caution that no truly legitimate literary award sponsor will charge a fee. The most prestigious sponsors choose books that are available commercially and have garnered impressive sales and reviews. They neither seek nor request submissions from the author or publisher.
I wish you success with your second novel.
I rather like the metallic stickers I can put on my book covers to catch the attention of people who are attracted to glittering shiny things!
S.L. wrote: "I disagree that no truly legitimate literary award sponsor will charge a fee..."The National Jewish Books Awards also charges a fee per entry, and I expect that most authors of books with Jewish content would be thrilled to even be selected as a finalist.
I still go with my criteria that legitimate literary award sponsors will host some sort of ceremony to present their awards.
As for me, I don't write literary works. I'm a storyteller and my works are chiefly for entertainment. Marketing research persuaded me that contests were a good investment. They offer cred to an unknown author when reviews are hard to get. I entered 5 contests and won 2 awards: The Beverly Hills Book Award (winner) and the UK Wishing Shelf Book Award (finalist). A) I'm thrilled! B) I stayed within budget, C) I achieved my goal and D) awards do open doors. More book clubs are choosing my novel than before the awards. Also, reviews increased.
I agree with several previous comments that entering your book for an award is often a good idea, even if you have to pay a submission fee. Yes, do your homework, and do enter awards that connect with your genre or subject matter. I've been very pleased to win a Ben Franklin and been a finalist twice for the ForeWord Book of the Year (now called Indie Fab). Both offer awards ceremonies -- one at BEA, one at ALA. These are presitigious because the competition is stiff and the judges well qualified. And there are some smaller awards that are still worth entering. If you're all about creating excellence with your writing, the encouragement and recognition are a help to you, and perhaps also to readers trying to find a great read. Contrats to all the winners!
Good points, Mara, especially your takes on the value of entering competitions and due diligence. Times change!
I entered my first book in the Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards for 2013, mostly because I liked the idea of it being read by a group of judges in London and another in Stockholm, and that it would be given a review on Goodreads and Amazon. I was surprised and pleased when it judged as a Finalist, complete with a certificate. That my book was a Finalist made me think it had passed the test. My second book was a Finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards for 2015, I am pleased to say. I just like the idea of people reading my books. Entering your book for an award is one way of doing that.
Philip wrote: "I entered my first book in the Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards for 2013, mostly because I liked the idea of it being read by a group of judges in London and another in Stockholm, and that it ..."The promise of a reputable review would be worth a reading fee.
Maggie wrote: "I still go with my criteria that legitimate literary award sponsors will host some sort of ceremony to present their awards. "Why waste money on a ceremony for a prize that wouldn't even cover travel expenses for the winner(s)? I, for one, would be less likely to enter a contest with live presentation.
Does anyone have advice about which Book Award groups are really legit and worth the price of submitting something? It would be nice to get seom legitimate recognition, but listing some phony "award" in my marketing material just seems wrong.