Finding awards is fun (the Great), but you do not want your dollars to become wasted (the Negative) or even be scammed (the Ugly.)
Listed below are some things to look at when deciding irrespective of whether to enter an award contest.
1. What's the cost?
Some think that any cost is too significantly and won't enter an awards contest that charges anything. My view is the fact that $50 is a good price tag point. Should you do win, exactly where can you get that type of publicity for $50? Furthermore, there are some administrative charges to operating an awards event and that appears affordable to me. I won't apply for a contest that costs $150 or more. You've to wonder exactly where that money is going.
2. How generally is the book award contest performed?
If extra than once a year, I'm slightly suspicious. Also if I never win 1 year, I am not going to try again. I already have an idea what they think of my book and I do not need to spend a lot more revenue to find out for sure. If something, there is far more competitors the next year.
3. If an award asks for personal data like passport quantity or drivers license number, run for the hills!
In the event you read the instructions and see that you simply have to give personal details, you might be setting your self up for a scam. Normally you have got a decision on tips on how to pay. I prefer to create a verify despite the fact that it requires longer to have there. I also prefer to spend with PayPal. In case you are requested to spend prior to you get directions, then you know you will be being scammed.
four. What's the prize? Never give away your rights.
In the event the prize is often a publishing contract, be sure to study the rules extremely cautiously. You don't choose to give away the rights for your book. Is this truly a contest or even a way for publisher to acquire you to pay a charge a book contract or even a method to get you to spend a huge charge for editing.
five. What's the prize? Be wary of winning an entry in an anthology
There could be legitimate anthologies for poetry or even a distinct subject, not surprisingly. Having said that, in case your prize is the opportunity to become in an anthology and you get the right to sell copies of that anthology, you may wish to rethink that. Who is going to study this anthology except for the authors?
6. What is the prize? A trophy but you should spend for it.
Now should you are charged $5 or $10 to obtain a medal, that is reasonable, but if you need to spend $100 or far more to get a trophy, that seems excessive. You have to ask yourself, who is creating the cash?
7. What is the prize? Funds, judges' comments, internet site listings, stickers, trip to award ceremonies, book festivals and press releases.
I like book awards due to the Public Relations for my books. The book awards might send an email or press release that will be shared for your mates and contacts. Funds is nice, but normally which is only for the grand prize winner. Judges' comments may be useful, but in some cases they are able to also be annoying. Lately a judge criticized my book on interviewing simply because it did not have anything on resumes. Properly you can find a good amount of books on resumes, but mine is about interviewing! It truly is generally too late to make any modifications anyway so I don't ask for judges' comments any longer.
Often the book award will list your book on its web-site. For those who get that chance, be sure you do that. Usually there are going to be a hyperlink to Amazon or Barnes and Noble to buy your book in order that is usually yet another revenue stream. Other individuals will provide you with stickers or charge a compact fee for them. My encounter with stickers is the fact that they fall off and can appear unseemly. I never put them on my books anymore, nevertheless it is good to take a photo with the sticker for your site or blog. Normally the grand prize winner will get a trip to the awards or maybe a weekend at a writers retreat. This really is nice but bear in mind only one particular particular person gets this. You will have a superior chance receiving a prize within your category.
8. Who are the judges?
Study the fine print and see who the judges are. When the books are element of a reviewers' book awards, which include Readers Views and Readers Favorites, the books might be reviewed as well as judged. Be cautious in the event the guidelines say the judges will study only a specific percentage in the book. All of us know it might not take extended to inform no matter whether a book is award material, but you wish your book to be read.
9. That are the sponsors and how extended has the award existed?
The book awards are usually sponsored by publishers, publisher organizations, reviewers, and book festivals. The Eric Hoffer Book Awards had been previously known as Writers Notes as well as a few years ago got permission in the Eric Hoffer Estate to work with his name. The Writers Digest has been about for 20 years. Just because an award is new does not imply I won't enter it since it is also a method to get around the ground floor for one thing new. If I like the idea, I will go ahead and enter.
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