Posts tagged ‘contest’
Independent Publisher Book Awards
Attention all independent authors and publishers!! Submit your independently published titles.
The Independent Publisher Book Awards is now accepting titles for their 15th annual awards celebration, honoring the year’s best independently published titles. Entries are accepted until March 19, 2011 for books with a 2010 or 2011 copyright date.
“Launched in 1996, the Independent Publisher Book Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to the deserving but often unsung titles published by independent authors and publishers. Open exclusively to independents, the “IPPYs” recognize the year’s best books and bring them to the attention of booksellers, buyers, librarians, and book lovers. The IPPY contest is among the largest and most recognized book awards events in the world, and this year’s 15th annual contest will have very high visibility and get huge media attention.”
Here’s your chance! Gain a presence for your writing and exposure of your book. Extend your marketing campaign to include press materials on your award winning book.
The Details:
- The IPPY Awards are open to all independent, university, small press, and self-publishers who produce books written in English.
- Titles copyrighted 2010 or 2011, or that are released in 2010 or early 2011 may be entered in this year’s contest.
- 69 Categories, 21 Regions, plus the Outstanding Books of the Year
- Final entry deadline of Saturday, March 19, 2011
- National category entry fee is $95; Regional category can be added for $45; Outstanding Books of the Year consideration at no extra charge.
Enter now at: http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/IPAwards.php
The Independent Publisher Book Awards’ mission is, “Recognizing Excellence in Independent Publishing.” Include your book among the best indie-published books of the year and submit your story.
The IPPY Awards reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing. Enter your award-worthy books today, and gain the recognition and exposure they deserve. Receive your medal and add the award winning seal to your book cover.
Good luck to all participants! Remember, there is only room to gain. Get your book out there and good luck.
Submit to Poetry and Writing Contests: Margaret Reid Poetry Contest & The Writers of the Future Contest Now Open for Submission
One of the best drives and the most memorable payoffs in writing is entering (and sometimes winning) a literary contest. That’s why writers should always look for the writing contest that best suit their styles and formats, whether poetry (in the case of the Margaret Reid Poetry Contest for traditional verse form) or speculative fiction (in the case of The Writers of the Future Contest)
What is the Margaret Reid Poetry Contest?
The sixth annual writing contest sponsored by Tom Howard Books, the Margaret Reid Poetry Contest is now calling for submission of original, traditional verse forms. Simultaneous submissions are welcome, and you can also submit poems that have been published or won prizes elsewhere, as long as you own the online publication rights.
Prizes include: $2,000 (first prize), $1,000 (second prize), $500 (third prize), and $250 (fourth prize). There will also be five High Distinction Awards of $200 each and six Most Highly Commended Awards of $100 each. Fifteen top entries will be published on the Winning Writers Web site and announced in Tom Howard Contest News and the Winning Writers Newsletter, a combined audience of over 25,000 readers.
Though you have time – entries will be accepted as long as postmarked by June 30, 2009 – set aside the reading fee ($7.00 for every 25 lines submitted) and start revising your best poetry to win the biggest prize and publication.
The contest will be judged by John H. Reid, a former journalist and magazine editor who has judged literary contests for more than 15 years. He has published several novels, a collection of poetry, as well as many books on film criticism and movie history. The other judge of the Margaret Reid Contest is Dee C. Konrad, a leading educator and published author. Ms. Konrad was Associate Professor in the English faculty of Barat College of DePaul University, and served as Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the year 2000-2001.
Read the complete contest guidelines here>>
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What is The Writers of the Future Contest?
Established in 1983 and sponsored by L. Ron Hubbard, The Writers of the Future Contest is now calling for submissions from the best aspiring writers in the field of speculative fiction and fantasy. Luckily, no entry fee is required, and all rights in the story remain the property of the author. All types of science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy are welcome, just so long as the submission is original, written in English and under 17,000 words in length.
To cull only be best amateur writers, the contest is open only to those who have not published a novel or short novel (or more than one novelette or more than three short stories) in any medium or genre. For complete guidelines on format and submissions click here>>
Additionally, judges will award three cash prizes in each quarter: $1,000 (for first place), $750 (for second place), and $500 (for third place). Plus, the four first place winners of each year will have their entries re-judged, and a grand prize winner shall be determined then, receiving an additional $5,000.
So if you have the next breakthrough best seller in science fiction or fantasy, definitely consider The Writers of the Future Contest. Who knows – you could get the exposure you deserve as well as a bucket full of cash to fund your next novel.
This is Justin, blogcasting from Wordclay, signing off.
Free Writing Contest at WritingRoom.com: Enter to Win Publication, Marketing and Cash Prizes
Remember WritingRoom.com’s 2009 Author’s Choice Contest is approaching its deadline, and all you need to enter is a manuscript. Register for free, upload your manuscript, shoot them an email with your entry, and mail three copies of your book to their screeners. Then you’re entered for a chance to win publication, marketing and some serious cash — it’s that simple!
The contest is designed especially to help aspiring novelists achieve their goals of success. The top 10 winners will receive help from acclaimed bestselling author Jon Land (The Seven Sins, one of the Library Journal’s Top Five Thrillers of 2008)to improve their manuscripts.
The top three winners will have their manuscripts published, marketed and promoted. In addition, one Grand-Prize winner will have their book read and considered by one of the top New York literary agents, Loretta Barrett and a traditional New York publisher.
It’s free to enter, and the only cost involved is that you have to foot the bill to order and ship three copies of your book for the judges’ review. Below are a few of the details concerning the contest, but you can read all the details about how to enter the writing contest on PublishingRoom.com.
2009 WritingRoom Author Choice Contest:
- Contest Start Date: Feb. 1, 2009
- Submission Deadline: May 18, 2009
Publishing, Marketing and Cash Prizes:
- Top 10 finalists will receive advice, help, and guidance from the judges to help improve quality and overall marketability of their books to a wide audience. The judges that will provide the advice know a thing or two about writing: 1) guest judge Jon Land, and 2) Lindsay Preston, CEO of WritingRoom.com.
- Third Place and Runner-Up Winners receive Publishing Packages valued at $600 (Third Place) and more than $1,000 (Runner-up), in addition to the book marketing campaign from WritingRoom.com, including a regionally-distributed press release and local media coverage. Let’s not forget the cash prizes either: $100 for Third Place and $250 for the Runner-up.
- Grand-Prize Winner receives: (1) Publishing Package with PublishingRoom.com valued at more than $1,000, (2) book marketing efforts by WritingRoom.com including a nationally-distributed press release, local media coverage and video interview with WritingRoom.com, (3) cash prize of $500, (4) read and considered by a top New York literary agent, Loretta Barrett, and last but not least (5) read by top editor Eric Rabb of Tor/Forge books.
Don’t let the WritingRoom.com contest pass you up without first submitting your book. Read the official contest rules and guidelines, and then enter for a chance to get read, get your book recognized by the press and win some extra money.
Reminder: Post Feedback on Wordclay Titles by April 30th for a Chance to Win Free Books
Really, the blog challenge is that simple. It’s free to submit your review, and you have the potential to win a printed copy of your favorite Wordclay self-published book. Simply post a comment to this blog that details the author and title of your favorite Wordclay publication, along with a brief (100 words) explanation of why you made your choice.
Spare five minutes to write your blurb about a Wordclay book, and next month you could have a copy of a great title for free (standard shipping and handling is included), so don’t be shy. Post your review or thoughts on one of our titles before April 30th (deadline has been extended) for a chance to win a printed book that you’ll be proud to feature on your coffee table or bookshelf.
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CONTEST DETAILS
Start: March 20, 2009, 12:01 a.m. EST
Deadline: April 30, 2009, 11:59 p.m. EST
Prize: Single printed book copy of your selection
Submission: Post the full title, author name and your personalized blurb of the book you’re nominating for serious consideration by the judges. Blurbs should not contain special formatting and can be no longer than 100 words.
Contact Info: After submitting, send a copy of your submission as well as your full name, e-mail address and mailing address (no PO Boxes) via e-mail to blog@wordclay.com.
Notification: The winner will be notified via e-mail the week after the contest ends, at which point the book selection will be printed and mailed to you with standard shipping immediately.
Shipping: Winning book will be send using standard shipping methods, whose cost will be covered by Wordclay for the purposes of this contest.
Conditions: Nominations must have Wordclay as the publisher without exception. Authors cannot nominate their own books, and any individual suspected of favoritism beyond the content and quality of a book will be immediately disqualified. Only the first nomination per participant will be considered, and all other nominations will be dismissed. One person may nominate more than one book, but each nomination must be submitted as a separate blog comments and entry for consideration.
Contest Terms: Wordclay will judge the contest solely at our discretion, and we reserve the right to disqualify suspect entries at any time. Each entry will be judged fairly based on sound argumentation, testimonials, personal experience, truth of statement, writing quality and passion for the nomination in question.
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Seriously, there’s no risk, and five minutes of your time could win you a book to share with friends or read again and again over the years, so submit your nomination for a chance, let our authors know what you think and win a free book in the meantime.
Wordclay Blog Contest: Post Feedback for a Chance to Win a Free Book
This month’s blog challenge is simple, free and has the potential to win you a printed copy of your favorite Wordclay self-published book. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to post a comment to this blog that details the author and title of your favorite Wordclay publication, along with a brief (100 words) explanation of why you made your choice.
Entering is just that easy. Spare five minutes to write your blurb about a Wordclay book, and next month you could have a copy of a great title for free (standard shipping and handling is included), so don’t be shy. Post your review or thoughts on one of our titles before April 20th for a chance to win a printed book that you’ll be proud to feature on your coffee table or bookshelf.
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CONTEST DETAILS
Start: March 20, 2009, 12:01 a.m. EST
Deadline: April 20, 2009, 11:59 p.m. EST
Prize: Single printed book copy of your selection
Submission: Post the full title, author name and your personalized blurb of the book you’re nominating for serious consideration by the judges. Blurbs should not contain special formatting and can be no longer than 100 words.
Contact Info: After submitting, send a copy of your submission as well as your full name, e-mail address and mailing address (no PO Boxes) via email to blog@wordclay.com.
Notification: The winner will be notified via e-mail the week after the contest ends, at which point the book selection will be printed and mailed with standard shipping immediately.
Shipping: Winning book will be send using standard shipping methods, whose cost will be covered by Wordclay for the purposes of this contest.
Conditions: Nominations must have Wordclay as the publisher without exception. Authors cannot nominate their own books, and any individual suspected of favoritism beyond the content and quality of a book will be immediate disqualified. Only the first nomination per participant will be considered, and all other nominations will be dismissed.
Contest Terms: Wordclay will judge the contest solely at our discretion, and we reserve the right to disqualify suspect entries at any time. Each entry will be judged fairly based on sound argumentation, testimonials, personal experience, truth of statement, writing quality and passion for the nomination in question.
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Seriously, there’s no risk, and five minutes of your time could win you a book to share with friends or read again and again over the years, submit your nomination for a chance let our authors know what you think and win a free book in the meantime.
Top Five New Literary Magazines to Read: Discovering Fresh Voices & Writing Talent
Justin here, and after a heated brainstorming sessions here at Wordclay, our team has finally agree on the top five new literary journals to which all authors and writers should subscribe. Of course there are hundreds of great magazines that are publishing amazing poetry and prose – some up and coming as we speak – so we’re certain this list will be revised in the future.
The real question is: what makes a literary magazine worth reading? With so many new journals emerging online and in print, with so many varying tastes and aesthetics, how can anyone separate the good from the bad?
The short answer is: there just isn’t a definitive way of separating them. Some prefer curling up with The New Yorker or The Paris Review, while others adamantly subscribe to The Missouri Review or The Denver Quarterly. As the saying goes, there’s no accounting for taste, and our decisions this time around could only be based on our personal preferences, the only criteria being that the magazine started publishing in the last decade.
So without further ado, here’s the Wordclay bloggers’ list of lit journals to check out in 2009. And if you’re a writer, check out their submission guidelines and current contests. Remember, it can’t hurt to submit your work, but it can seriously hinder your writing career if you never send your prose or poetry out. Besides, you might even get a free subscription to a great new magazine from submitting.
Canteen MagazineAbout Canteen: Canteen redefines the literary magazine. Their staff asks accomplished writers to reveal their creative process, and then they pair that insight with the best new work in fiction, poetry, art and photography — all designed to look more like a fine art book than a dusty old journal.
Mission Statement: “Canteen is the literary magazine that comes with instructions. We admire what writers and artists do, and we want insight into how and why it’s done. To get that, we ask contributors to move beyond the boundaries of genre and final draft to delve into reputation, ferocious drive, unmarketable dreams, the danger of reader takeovers, and just what makes a work important.”
Submission Guidelines: Canteen accepts original fiction, nonfiction, and poetry of up to 4,000 words. They are also interested in essays and commentary that relate to the creative process. Canteen accepts original individual images or portfolios of up to 10 images by a single artist, in a variety of media, including photographs, drawings, paintings, sculpture, video stills and digital art. Please submit all work to Canteen at: submissions@canteenmag.com.
Announcing Contest for Authors & Readers Hosted by BookRix.com
Win as an author…
…and as a reader!
“Web Your Book” Award
BookRix.com is proud to present readers and writers with their first official writing competition, called “Web Your Book.” Authors as well as readers can enter the competition and win attractive prices.
Visit BookRix.com for Complete Guidelines>>
Timelines and Deadlines
The submission period of the competition runs for eight weeks starting December 9, 2008, which means that authors still have enough time to register one of their BookRix books for the competition. The deadline for entry is February 1st 2009, 6 p.m. (EST). Authors are completely free in the genre: short stories, poems and everything else is welcome. The only requirement is that the book be longer than 20 BookRix pages.
Readers are able to vote for their favorite books on December 9, 2008 and February 15, 2009 the. This vote will ascertain the winners of the competition. The authors who are ranked number one to five the competition charts on February 15, 2009 at 6 p.m. (EST) will win the listed prizes.
Prices for Authors:
First Prize: $2000.00
Second Prize: $1000.00
3rd – 5th Prize: Amazon Kindle E-Book-Reader
Prizes for Readers:
$100.00 each will be given to three readers following a raffle.
BookRix.com provides users with a platform to:
- find other readers and authors
- share thoughts about interests in groups
- discuss books and projects
join author fan clubs
- participate in writing competitions
- Connect within a literary network
- write book reviews
- send your books to friends and family
- find top-rated and new books
Meet Words of Belief Holiday Writing Contest Winners: Interviews with Grand Prize Winner and Editor’s Selection
Now, you can meet the winners of the Words of Belief Holiday Story Writing Contest. Attracting such a diversity of voices and range of topics submitted to their first annual writing contest, their publishing team wanted to share the thoughts and emotions of the writers behind the two selected winners. Read about their experience submitting, their unbiased opinions of Words of Belief, their different writing methods and even their jumps for joy at discovering their selection by the judges.
Grand Prize Winner: Tyler Powell for “Churchmas Eve”
WOB Question: How did you feel entering the contest?
Powell’s Answer: I felt great entering the contest, not out of any thought of winning, but because it was a step for me in pursuing what I’d like to do as a career. The experience of having a prompt, developing a story, executing it and then submitting it for review was the first (and truest) reward. If I hadn’t won or been a finalist, I would still have spent time working on my craft, and I would still be a story richer for it.
Q: How did you react when you found out that you won?
A: When I learned that I had won the contest, my first reaction was pure disbelief. I had no expectation that I was going to win, though I did hold some hope that I would be selected as a finalist. I read the congratulatory e-mail two or 18 times and then double-checked what it said against the website. Then, I danced a little dance.
Q: What did you know about Words of Belief before you entered the contest?
A: I wasn’t familiar with Words of Belief prior to hearing about the contest. So far, I’m impressed with what it has to offer. I am a big fan of the possibilities of new media — as a writer, it’s wonderful to be able to have such convenient access to potential readers.
Q: How did you learn about the contest?
A: I learned about the Words of Belief contest by spending a night doing endless searches for any information regarding writing contests, or short story markets, and following link to link, looking for more. Whenever I found something that looked promising or interesting, I would keep that window open. The idea of writing a holiday-themed story really appealed to me, and the simple entry process for the Words of Belief contest kept that window open, and ultimately led to my writing my submission.
Q: Is this your first time entering a writing contest? What can you tell us about your experience?
A: Yes — this was my first time entering a writing contest. It was wonderful. I’ve held several jobs over the course of my youngish life, but so far none have engaged me so much as writing. And really, the contest for me was not much more than a good excuse to write something specific. I wanted an idea, or a theme, or a prompt to write against — I find it difficult to start with a completely blank page. (more…)
Words of Belief Announces Winners of Holiday Story Writing Contest
Back from the holiday week with a bang, Words of Belief has selected its winners and finalists for the Holiday Story Writing Contest they hosted in the previous months. Out of hundreds of submissions their judges received, only 15 were pulled for publication in their coming anthology, Tis the Season: Selected Stories of Contemporary Fiction and Nonfiction.
So please join us in congratulating the grand prize winner, the editor’s selection, as well as the 13 other finalists who will appear in Tis the Season:
Grand Prize Winner: Tyler Powell, for his story “Churchmas Eve”
Judges comment on Powell’s “Churchmas Eve”:
When reading the stories submitted to the Wordclay holiday short story contest, a theme among the submissions surfaced. What do the holidays mean? This question was a common theme that the stories explored and even attempted to explain. There was one story that embodies the search to find meaning in the holidays versus the shallow commercialization of the season.
Tyler Powell’s short story, “Churchmas Eve,” successfully distills the struggle of keeping spirituality in Christmas. However, Powell’s story is a complex menagerie of characters, all of who are at odds on how the holiday should be celebrated.
Jeanette, the overbearing mother, wants to observe the strictest definition of Christmas. She wants no gifts, Christmas lights, or carols. Her son, Bobby, like any kid, wants a version of the holiday that is more festive and embraces contemporary traditions. And Larry, Jeantte’s husband and Bobby’s father, is stuck in the middle. Larry concedes to his wife’s demands for a stern interpretation but he longs for Bobby to enjoy Christmas as well.
Regardless of the internal struggle between the main characters, Bobby finds his own meaning for Christmas. Bobby’s interaction with a homeless man helps him realize what the holiday means to him, personally.
In the end, Powell has a created a classic story that explores the internal and external conflicts surrounding the holidays. This is why “Churchmas Eve,” is a successful, endearing story.
Click here to preview Powell’s story>>
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Editor’s Selection: Judy Nickles, for her story “I Was Hungry”
Judges comment on Nickles’ “I Was Hungry”:
Judy Nickles’ “I Was Hungry: A Very Kate Christmas” was a very pleasant surprise. I’m a big fan of historical fiction, and when it’s done well, it transports you, body and soul, to the author’s chosen place and time. Such was the case with this story. (more…)
Free Book Promotions: Generate Book Buzz with Giveaways & Incentive Offers
Free stuff, sign me up. Truth is, everyone loves a chance to get a book for free, especially if the book in question might be one these folks actually like or use. The more honest and accessible your content, the more tempted Internet surfers will become by your book. And it don’t get much better than free!
For that matter, asking for an e-mail address to send them information or even suggesting they subscribe to your blog is usually safe. What’s the worst that could happen? They simply unsubscribe? But that won’t happen if you keep them interested with new content and previews of your book that actually keep their attention. Running promotions and distributing free copies of your book are both great strategies for luring new readers to your site and ensuring they stick around to see what you’re all about.
You can run an annual giveaway for your book, or you might want to invest time and money into a monthly contest, to cull even more readers within your target audience. The choice is yours. One things for certain, limiting the risk and investment to readers will not only keep them interested in your book, but increase the likelihood they’ll discuss the book online within forums or offline with friends.
Plus, free book giveaways are quite simple to implement. Say you maintain an author Web site, you can easily promise a free ebook or perhaps a PDF of chapter 1 to all those who subscribe to your newsletter or mailing list. Then, hold a monthly drawing, and send a free copy of your book to whomever you select from the pool of e-mails.
Even if a subscriber only gets your first chapter of your book, that may be enough to pique their interest and buy your book, or talk about the content with friend, which can only help your promotion. Once people get talking, it’s only a matter of time before your subscription base grows, and you can start sending info about discounts you’re offering on books. The possibilities are endless.
The Point: Remember, people love free stuff, and subscribers are less hesitant to invest an e-mail address for a chance to get some free, quality information. Giveaways not only keep you in touch with your target audience, but provide an opportunity to intrigue new readers and generate book buzz both online and beyond.
