Awards are a fantastic way to get more eyes on your book and accrue influential and respected praise in the industry for your hard work! Winning awards can be a great asset throughout a book’s life, and of course, winning competitions offer a fantastic publicity boost!
With so many author awards out there it can be a bit daunting to sift through them and figure out which ones are legit. We’re here to help guide you through the process and help pick which awards are the best suited for you and your book.
How can I tell if an award is well-respected/well-known?
There are, of course, famous book awards that are household names like the National Book Award, Pulitzer Prize, and the Booker Prize. But there are many, many awards out there for authors and aspiring writers that are accessible, easy to enter, and can support the success of your book.
- Are you involved in a writing group, publisher Facebook group (shoutout to our She Writes Sisters), or author newsletter (shameless plug to subscribe to ours)? Chances are they’re celebrating those wins, so consider applying to awards your peers are submitting to or winning.
- Submitting your book for an industry review? They might have awards, too. Some of our favorite industry review sites like Foreword, IndieReader, and more also have awards!
- Who is talking about these awards? If you’re looking at reputable industry sites like The American Library Association, then there’s a good chance you’re in the right place.
- Check out your local indie bookstore to see which award-winning books they’re showcasing on their website.
- Do some additional research! By Googling “best book awards” or “best book awards for indie authors” you’re going to get a ton of results! Parse through those and keep a running list. Be sure to chat through your findings with your Books Forward publicist!
Which awards should I avoid?
Because there are so many book awards on the market, there are some awards to be wary of. Below are some red flags from book awards that indicate the award might not be the best bang for your buck:
- Selling you personalized products in addition to the award submission
- Pushing hard for you to attend their conferences in addition to submissions
- Claiming the right to publish your work whether or not you win a prize
- Selling additional services like editing, marketing, representation, etc.
- They reached out to you: It’s a great feeling when someone reaches out to you about your work, but if an award is emailing you to submit to their award, then it might be an indicator that they’re fishing for submissions and might not be a reputable contest
Winning Writers put together a comprehensive list of contests to be wary of.
How will winning or placing impact my book?
- Credibility and publicity: Winning or placing in an awards contest can support the credibility of your work! If you’re pitching make sure to add ‘award-winning’ when you reach out. Having this recognition could pique folks’ interest when considering your work.
- Networking: Some contests host awards ceremonies for authors who place and win their awards. If you’re able to attend such events, this would be an excellent place to network with other authors in and outside of your genre.
- Prizes: Sometimes, awards will offer something for folks who place in their contests. This can range from prize money, and advertising space, to other exclusive opportunities.
How do I leverage an award recognition?
After winning an award, make sure to add it to the appropriate channels so that you can celebrate your accomplishment!
- Post about your win on social media
- Update your author bios to include “award-winning”— yes, even your social media bio
- Add the recognition to your email signature
- Brag about it in your author newsletter
- Include it in your Amazon book listing
- Ask your publicist to add it to your book’s press release
A literary omnivore and influential Bookstagrammer, Layne applies her vivid creativity for every title we promote by deftly coordinating news coverage and events for authors, writing and editing diverse content for social media, and assisting with Books Forward’s social media engagement initiatives.
As a former special education teacher, Layne firmly believes in the importance of literature and accessibility. This unique point of view is an asset in her publicity efforts as she works to reach readers across various platforms and demographics.
Layne received her Bachelors of Arts in Creative Writing and Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and her Masters of Art in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. She lives in New Orleans with her loyal, but sadly illiterate cat, Macaroni.
