First of all, happy Canada Day to all the Canadians, happy almost Fourth of July to the Americans, and happy July to the rest of the world!
Lately, I’ve noticed more and more awards for indie authors cropping up here and there. Some are free to enter, while others have quite a hefty price-tag attached. Some seem well-established, while others… not so much.
The questions of awards and their corresponding benefit (should you be lucky enough to win) is one I grapple with. Does winning actually help sales? Is paying money to enter worth it? How can you tell a genuine, legitimate award process from one that’s not? And who actually judges these things? After all, I could create an award, charge money for entries, and pick winners at random.
As more people self-publish, I reckon more awards will start to appear addressing indie authors. Separating the wheat from the chaff when deciding what (and if) to enter will become critical.
I’d love to hear your experience when it comes to indie awards. Have you entered any? If so, how did you determine its legitimacy? And have you seen any benefits?
Talli – this is something that’s been occuring to me too, of late – and not just for e-books either. When we get to the stage when we are swimming in ‘awards’ then what will those accolades really mean, if anything at all? Like you say – who judges these things? I’ve noticed some ‘judges’ are published authors, but not always ones who have done spectacularly well themselves (but who maybe happen to know the organisers?). It’s worth flagging up and worth bearing in mind. As ever, thought-provoking and intelligent post from Talli!
Thanks, Giselle. You’re right in pointing out it’s not just happening for ebooks or indies, either.
Excellent post, Talli!
I’ve seen a ton of these too lately. But, yeah, I’m totally with you in that I’m not sure what’s worth entering and what’s not. Actually, I’m not much of a contest and awards type person. I’ve never seen the value in those as far as finding and connecting with readers. Not that it’s not terrific for your muses when you win one, I’m just not sure it connects with readers and impacts your sales.
I can remember in my RWA days I sooo wanted to win a Golden Heart or RITA, but very few readers know what that it is, and it does not impact their willingness to try your books at all.
What I do think is valuable is when you get the endorsement of huge Ereader-Centric Blogs like ENT (Ereader News Today). I saw a huge increase in sales once ENT posted that I was “…one of the top Romantic Comedy/Humorous Mystery writers out right now.” And, being able to say that you’re an Amazon and B&N Top 100 Bestselling Author seems to be having a wonderful impact too.
So, for me, I’m looking for reading community endorsements and sales level mile markers, not paid entry type awards.
Thanks, DD! Like you, I’ve never entered a lot of contests or awards. The one I did enter last year was well organised with low, reasonable fee that was well worth the investment. But I agree – reader endorsement and that which comes from reader-centric blogs seems more valuable.
Great points, Talli and D.D.! If I saw a free contest, I might enter. Lately I’ve seen some contests with sizable entry fees, though, and all I can think is that either they’re scams or that authors are paying to win the awards, and what merit is there in that? It’s also kind of like what you hear about paying an agent a reading fee so she’ll read your manuscript – ridiculous!
“It’s also kind of like what you hear about paying an agent a reading fee so she’ll read your manuscript – ridiculous!”
Yes, exactly. If the fees are exorbitant and don’t represent an accurate return of investment, it does seem like that!
I think awards from readers/genre groups are useful if they’re run as non-profits (i.e., any entry fee only covers the actual cost of running the contest). I’ve read several scholarly articles on whether or not it’s worth entering and the research indicates entering contests is NOT a viable way to boost sales unless the entry fee is very small. One very well researched study I read (and I’m sorry I can’t dig it up now as it cited cost-of-fees and return-on-investment data) called the bulk of the contests sponsored through several respected literary sites (including Readers Digest) as ‘predatory.’
However, being able to list an award (even an obscure one) on your book bio is useful. Even contests that have judges on the panels who are lay-readers or not best selling authors themselves. You have to remember that what readers want is direction that the book they’re about to buy isn’t garbage. Most readers are not ‘literary snobs.’ In fact, most readers distrust gatekeeper-sponsored literary snobs because the books they hype are unreadable to an average person. It’s why Goodreads and book clubs such as Oprah’s are so popular. Published authors read the Twilight series and cringe, but YA readers can’t devour those books fast enough. Those books met an emotional need the so-called ‘gatekeepers’ missed.
With so many independently published books now hitting the market, readers need a way to sort the wheat from the chaff. Even less-than-bestseller authors and bookworm-loving lay readers offer something to the general reading public … a love of the written word. Getting an endorsement from a genuinely judged contest, even a small informal one, so long as it’s judged fairly and not run as a predatory exercise to prey on authors desperate to be heard, must be viewed with respect.
Let’s give our readers some credit! They’re smart enough to know the difference between a Pulitizer prize and the ‘X-village prize for local authors.’
I agree with you Anna about readers needing something to help them sort the wheat from the chaff … and anyone who had a broad-based love of books (best-selling author or not) would be a good candidate to judge a contest – or a book – from that point of view. I wasn’t suggesting that only best-selling authors make good judges. My point about the judges in some of the smaller/newer contests that I’ve seen follows on from Talli’s point that basically anyone could set themselves up to do this. Hence, the ‘predatory’ label from the RD.
Writers need to be wary of the value or the credence to be attached to some awards. Especially if they’re paying good money to enter. The big names, I think, will continue to attract attention, so will retain their kudos.
I’ve seen some great awards that have reading panels chosen from readers/ reviewers who know the genre inside out. Those seem to be the best ones, in my opinion. Sometimes fellow writers make very hard judges!
Anna and Giselle, your points are so well made! Yes, of course, legitimate awards enhance your bio. But I don’t believe in paying entrance fees/reading fees /etc. It rather defeats the purpose of the awards. In the end, I think the recognition with the most impact come from reader-reviews…strangers as well as our fellow writers/readers.
For those of you interested in how today’s online reader-reviews are usurping the old-line print book reviewers of yesteryear, and thus changing the world of book-marketing please see my latest blog, ‘CALL ME HUN.’
kianadavenportdialogues.blogspot.com Thanx!
Kiana Davenport, THE SPY LOVER, August
I agree that awards can be useful, but perhaps only if they’re recognisable ones? Or if they’re from review sites recognised within the genre, or reader-centric ones. I think more and more readers are becoming aware of authors bandying about awards… after all, authors could just make up some obscure award and attach it to their book.
Hmm…
When I finished my first novel, Fourteen Days Later, I entered it into a couple of writing competitions, really for the feedback and the opportunity. I didn’t actually think I’d get anywhere. But it was shortlisted for The Harry Bowling Prize 2008, which was sponsored by Headline publishers, MBA literary agents, and the Romantic Novelists’ Assoc. Obviously, I was amazed, and when I attended the winning award ceremony, it was an amazing opportunity for me to meet so many different and influential people in the industry. All for the cost of £10! Yes, it was definitely worth it for me. I also went on to be Highly Commended by the Yeovil Literary Prize 2009 for the same book. When I released my second novel, The Fashion Police, I entered it into the Chapter One Promotions Novel Competition 2009 and was a runner up, and it was also nominated Best Novel with Romantic Elements 2010 by The Romance Reviews. Would I enter a comp now? Probably not, but I think it helped me gain recognition for my work, and get positive feedback that is sometimes lacking when you’re working in a solitary environment. But, at the end of the day, the only validation that means something is readers who enjoy your books.
Hi Sibel! Congratulations! Those awards sound very reputable and well established, sponsored by well known organisations with a lot of clout. I can see how they’d be extremely helpful to a writing starting out. I guess my worry springs more from the plethora of internet-type awards I’m seeing lately from websites or organisations that are new and/or lack the backing and endorsement of the industry.
As a reader, awards I’ve never heard of come across a little like bragging to me, ESPECIALLY when an author fills up the entire product description with BOLD awards so I have to scroll to even read what the book is about. That’s aggravating.
And I don’t really like the covers that use a reader community award, something that would only mean anything to that community, as a silver or gold seal type graphic on their cover because it really scream mimicking more established literary awards.
I think sharing the awards you won on your author website or social media etc is fine. But making it harder for a reader to read your “back cover copy” or even remotely trying to appear like you’ve won something you haven’t (because in thumbnail, no one can READ the silver or gold sticker) is tacky and poor publishing.
Just my two cents.
Elizabeth, I think if it’s a big award readers generally would have heard of – or if it’d mean something to the community of readers you’re targeting – it’s okay. But listing all and sundry probably does detract the reader, and make it look like the author is trying a little hard!
Interesting blog, Talli (as always). I’ve been nominated for several awards, and had a book longlisted for the Carnegie. My view is that it’s really, really good for the authorial ego – because it’s a recognition that your work is worth it, and someone somewhere wants to shout about it.
However, unless it’s one of the ‘biggies’ – Orange, Blue Peter (does this still exist?) etc. it does not affect sales much because very few people know about the ‘smaller’ awards. I agree, though, it’s useful on your bio, or author page, as part of your CV, and, as a fellow poster said, it can lead to being picked up by a publisher.
I’m also very sceptical of all the fellow-author ‘puffs’ that appear on reverse or inside pages of a book, especially as I know all too well that many of these are written by same agent/same publishing house writers. In the end, as somebody rightly commented,we stand or fall by the attraction of our characters and the appeal of the story we tell. ‘Twas ever thus and ’twill ever be so!
” In the end, as somebody rightly commented,we stand or fall by the attraction of our characters and the appeal of the story we tell. ‘Twas ever thus and ’twill ever be so!”
Very well said, Carol. I hope that’s true! Big awards likely do help sales somewhat, but smaller ones… not so much, as you say. Great for the ego, though, you’re right!
I think of these “awards” as ads – you’re paying to get your book some visibility. Generally speaking, especially the awards that cost a substantial amount of money to enter, aren’t worth the money – just like any other ad site that can charge money, but not necessarily deliver exposure to readers. I did recently enter the Kindle Book Review award contest – the entry fee was low ($15) and the website had good traffic (a low Alexa rating). I figured it was comparable in cost and possible exposure to doing a giveaway on Goodreads.
But I don’t think of these awards as having much value beyond that. And I’ve never been much of an “awards” or “credentials” type of person anyway. I have a Ph.D. in engineering, but I mostly think that means I spent way too much time in school.
The only award/reward I truly seek is the kind that comes from a reader who enjoys my work.
Agreed…. the more I think about it… I’ve never read a book because it had an award. Now a well written 3 or 4 star review has always tipped the balance for me from browsing to buying. I don’t generally consider the 1-5 stars, really stars are moot, I read the substance of the review.
That’s a great way to look at those kinds of awards, Susan. I never thought of it that way! I think as long as you’re aware what your return on investment will be and you do your research as clearly you’ve done, it’s a good move. But I fear for those authors who don’t understand that not all awards are created equally.
It seems to me there are better places for me to spend my time and money than chasing awards that probably don’t impact my success. I love the track I’m on and entering contests is not part of that. I think some readers might be attracted to the “Award-winning Author” tag, but I like “Bestselling Author” better. Just my 2 cents.
I entered several contests (those I knew were reputable like from RWA chapters, etc.). I placed in one. I won another. I also placed in a local contest. But I think the most important thing I got out of it was the feedback when I was just starting out. I only entered those that offered feedback and I never paid more than $25 for an entry. Some were free.
I also judged several contests over the years. I did judge training through one of the RWA chapters. I learned even more while judging the works of others. Knowing what didn’t work, helped me improve my own.
I don’t know if it will help sales or not, but it surely can’t hurt to be able to put “award winning author” next to my name.
Interesting discussion and lots of good points made about reader perceptions of awards.
What is the impact on sales of winning an award? Obviously it depends on how high profile the award is (a Booker winner would have through-the-roof sales), but also the kind of book–genre, format, audience, etc.
I recently won a top award for my Latina-themed YA novel When I Am Singing to You at the 14th Annual International Latino Book Awards (1st Place for YA fiction ebook -Spanish/English.) The contest organizers call it the largest and most important Latino book awards in the USA. I have never entered any writing contests before, though I have judged them. Simply put, I believed in this novel and thought it had a slim chance. Unbelievably, it won. Whoo hoo!
But it looks like it hasn’t made one iota of difference to my sales. They’re still as flat as ever, whether because it’s non-genre YA or awards don’t make a difference or it’s too early to tell right now.
However, as a “Low-selling Author,” I’d have to say I was chuffed to get any kind of recognition at all, so there really is no downside. Like someone said, it’s one more signal to a potential reader that my book is worth the risk of buying.
Cheers!
As an indie writer who is just starting out I often wonder what is what as far as legitimacy goes. I dont have the knowledge to know what is real and what is fake and end up relying on the experiences of others but I totally appreciate the advice from blogs such as this
It is just frustrating to know that there are people out there that have no qualms about taking advantage of other writers for profit.
Konrath has some choice words to say about writing “contests” and “awards.” Not sorry to say I’ve never had the slightest interest in entering any writing contest, legit or not.
IMNSHO, the best award — indeed the only worthwhile award — for any writer who wants to make a living at it is green and slips into a wallet.
Now that’s interesting, I hadn’t noticed these before. I wonder if they’ll ever have the clout of, say, the Newbery…