Writer's Digest

One Grand Prize winner will receive: $10,000, an interview, publication of an excerpt, and a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Conference. One First Prize winner in each category will receive: $1,000. Categories: Mainstream, Genre, Nonfiction, Inspirational, Memoirs, Early Readers, Middle-Grade.

The competition is open to all English-language self-published books for which the authors have paid the full cost of publication, or the cost of printing has been paid for by a grant or as part of a prize.

All books published or revised and reprinted in the last 5 years are eligible. (Writer’s Digest may demand proof of eligibility of semifinalists.) If a book has been revised and republished, the copyright page MUST indicate that the revision occurred and the year it was republished. Any AI-generated or AI-assisted work will NOT be considered.

Due to U.S. Government restrictions, we are unable to accept entries from Syria, Iran, North Korea, or Crimea.

Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards

Please read contest details carefully before submitting.

For the sake of separating them entirely from genre fiction, are combined into their own category. Literary fiction is generally more concerned with style and characterization, and may be paced more slowly than commercial fiction. It usually centers on a timeless, complex theme. Mainstream fiction is usually faster paced, with a stronger plot line (and more events and/or higher stakes). Characterization may not be as central to the story and the theme may be more obvious than literary fiction. The category of both of these two indicates that the book would generally appeal to a larger audience and isn't confined by the rules and structure you might see in a typical genre.

Mainstream/Literary Fiction

Includes all sub-genres such as Romance, Horror, Science Fiction, Humor, etc.

Genre Fiction

Stories told through a combination of text and pictures, generally written for children.

Early Readers/Children’s Picture Books

Stories written for a young audience but not told through a combination of text and pictures.

Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards

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