Self-Published E-book Awards

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Writer’s Digest’s 8th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards honors the best self-published e-book(s) in eight of the most popular categories with $5,000 in cash, a featured interview in Writer’s Digest magazine, and a paid trip to the ever-popular Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in New York City.

In addition to $13,000 in total cash prizes, all entrants will receive a brief commentary on their work from one of Writer’s Digest’s readers.

ENTER THIS COMPETITION

• Prizes
• Categories
• How to enter
• Preparing Your Entry
• FAQ
• Pricing and Deadlines
• Easy to follow PDF

Categories

• Contemporary Fiction
• Romance
• Fantasy
• Science Fiction
• Mystery/Thriller
• Memoir
• Young Adult
• Nonfiction (General, Cookbooks, Reference, Guidebooks, Textbooks)

If you’re ready to take the next step in your self-publishing journey, submit your self-published e-book(s) today.

Prizes
One Grand Prize winner will receive:

• $5,000 in cash
• Featured interview in the May/June 2020 issue of Writer’s Digest
• Winning book excerpted on writersdigest.com
• A paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a coveted Pitch Slam slot
• One year Subscription (new or renewal) to Writer’s Digest magazine

One First Prize winner in each category will receive:

• $1,000 in cash
• Announcement in Writer’s Digest’s May/June 2020 issue
• One year Subscription (new or renewal) to Writer’s Digest magazine

Honorable Mention Winners will receive $50 gift certificate to Writer’s Digest Shop and an announcement on writersdigest.com.

CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

• Contemporary Fiction: A work of fiction set in modern times with themes and/or subject matter that reflects this specific moment.
  Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; Novellas and Epics are all welcomed.
• Romance: Historical or contemporary, paranormal or suspenseful, chaste or sexy, no matter the path you take, don’t forget to deliver a satisfying happy ending.
  Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; Novellas and Epics are all welcomed.
• Fantasy: High or urban, historical or alternate histories, introduce us to new worlds and fantastic ideas that exceed the boundaries of our own reality.
  Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; Novellas and Epics are all welcomed.
• Science Fiction: Space opera or hard science, cyberpunk or steampunk, introduce us to new worlds, alternate histories, or fantastic ideas that push the boundaries of our own reality.
  Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; Novellas and Epics are all welcomed.
• Mystery/Thriller: From the classic whodunits and police procedurals to high stakes conflicts with ever-increasing tension, hook us from the start and keep us guessing until the end.
  Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; Novellas and Epics are all welcomed.
• Young Adult: Your preferred genre(s), but written specifically for readers age 12-18.
  Typical length: 30,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; Novellas and Epics are all welcomed.
• Memoir: A work of autobiographical nonfiction focused on a specific snapshot of the writer’s experiences, tied together by an overarching theme.
  Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions.
• Nonfiction: Journalists and subject-matter experts will find a home for their work in this category, which consists primarily of research-based works, as well as cookbooks, how-to/reference, self-help, business, etc.
  Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions.

ELIGIBILITY

• The competition is open to self-published authors of English-language e-books which were published (or revised and republished) electronically between 2015 and 2020. (Writer’s Digest may demand proof of eligibility of semifinalists.) Authors who subvent publication of their e-books via independent publishers who publish fewer than 12 e-books/year are also eligible. Authors who have published in print via a traditional publisher but retained their e-book rights and self-published or subvented publication via independent publishers who publish fewer than 12 e-books/year are also eligible.
• Entries will be evaluated on craft, category relevance, and overall quality of production, including cover image.

How to Enter

• You must register and submit your e-book online.
• You may enter more than one e-book and/or more than one category/e-book, however, you must submit each book separately and pay the additional fee for each entry.
• We accept PayPal or credit card payment for the required judging fee. Entry fees are non-refundable. Due to U.S. Government restrictions we are unable to accept entries from Syria, Iran, North Korea, or Crimea..
• For more information visit our Preparing Your Entry Page or our FAQ page.

• Preparing Your Entry
• Pricing and Deadlines
• Judging and Notification
• FAQ
• Writer’s Digest Competitions

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