Self-Published E-book Awards
CLOSED
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.
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