Reader Views Literary Awards (for fiction) – Sept. 30 #ReaderViews The Reader Views Awards honor excellence in independent publishing. The program recognizes authors who self-publish or publish through small presses, hybrids, or university presses. Today, the awards operate in two seasonal tracks for Fiction and Nonfiction, spotlighting impactful indie books across all genres and topics,…
North American Book Awards – Oct. 1 The North American Book Awards gives indie authors a strong opportunity to increase their book’s discoverability and earn meaningful recognition. This annual contest highlights high-quality titles and helps authors share their work with a wider book community. Entries and nominations are open for books with a copyright or…
Deadline extended to Sept. 30 Pencraft Book Award for Literary Excellence #PencraftBookAward This award honors outstanding works across a variety of genres, recognizing authors who demonstrate exceptional talent and creativity. Winners will gain valuable exposure, credibility, and accolades within the literary community. Submissions are open to both self-published and traditionally published authors, ensuring that all…
Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are a premier celebration of exceptional children’s literature, recognizing the creative talents of authors, illustrators, and publishers. Each year, they honor outstanding books across various categories, including Picture Books, Early Readers, and Young Adult Fiction. These awards spotlight works that inspire imagination, promote diversity, and encourage…
SFWP Literary Awards The SFWP Literary Awards recognize outstanding poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction by unpublished and published writers. The contest is judged by prominent authors. Unpublished work, self-published work, and work from small or micro-presses that has not received marketing support will be eligible. Deadline: September 15 Categories: See website for more details Prizes: Grand Prize is…
$15,000 Rattle Poetry Prize Deadline on Wed, Jul 15, 2026 11:00 PM One $15,000 Winner and ten $500 Finalists will be selected in an anonymized review by the editors of Rattle and printed in the Winter 2026 issue; one $5,000 Readers’ Choice Award will then be chosen from among the finalists by subscriber and entrant vote.…
The Black Orchid Novella Contest Celebrating the novella format, this contest encourages original, unpublished works that conform to the mystery genre’s traditional forms, specifically inspired by the Nero Wolfe series. The contest is designed to highlight the novella, requiring submissions that are tight and engaging, devoid of explicit content. Deadline: May 31 Categories: The mystery should be…
#bathnovelaward The Bath Novel Award 2026 DEADLINE: May 31 A prestigious competition for unpublished manuscripts. Entrants are typically asked to submit the first 5,000 words plus a synopsis by the deadline. Deadline: May 31 Categories: Any genre is accepted for adult and YA manuscripts Prizes: Winner is awarded £5,000 along with a Minerva trophy. One longlistee…
Maya International Poetry Book Awards Deadline: May 31 #mayapoetryaward This contest celebrates independent and self-published poets, allowing them to showcase their poetry books and pamphlets. Open to self-publishers and indie authors worldwide who have a book written in English, still in print, from any date. Deadline: May 31 Categories: Open to all Prizes: First Prize is £800; Second…
Changing Light Prize for a Novel-in-Verse: A contest from Livingston Press, at the University of West Alabama, the Changing Light prize is awarded to one novel-in-verse per year. No entry fee. Recommended length: 90-10 pages. Deadline: May 25 Categories: Novels Prizes: $500 dollar prize, 20 copies, and a standard royalty contract For More Info: Changing Light Prize for…