As a self-published author, it’s important to help your book stand out from the competition. One effective way to boost your book sales is to win an award. Winning a prestigious award can convince undecided readers to buy your self-published book instead of someone else’s—and you’ll reach even more potential readers when the contest announces you as the winner! But how do you know which book awards are worthwhile? The research experts at Self-Publishing Relief have created a list of the top 5 reputable self-published book awards worth winning.
5 Worthwhile Self-Published Book Awards
The Eric Hoffer Award. Since its inception, the Hoffer has become one of the largest international book awards for small, academic, and independent presses. Offering a $2,500 grand prize, this award was created to honor the memory of American philosopher Eric Hoffer. The books are judged by independent panels within eighteen all-inclusive categories.
The National Indie Excellence Book Awards. The NIEA is proud to be a champion of self-publishing and small independent presses. This competition was created to help self-published and independent authors gain more attention and credibility. Award winners and finalists are selected based on the overall excellence of presentation in various categories.
The Nautilus Book Award. This contest has thirty-five general categories including Children, Mid-Grade Teens, and Young Adults. The focus is on “better books for a better world”—books that make a difference and inspire. If you enter, make sure that your work is in line with at least one of the four Nautilus values: conscious living and sustainability; high-level health and wellness; spiritual growth; and positive social change and social justice.
USA Best Book Awards. This contest has been honoring mainstream, independent, and self-published books annually since 2003. Winners and finalists receive social media promotion, a ten-month book listing with a link to the Amazon sales page, marketing tips to promote the award, and an award emblem for the book cover to increase recognition and credibility. Some of the biggest names in the industry have won Best Book Awards, including Amy Tan, Anne Lamott, Clive Barker, Anne Geddes, and even Julie Andrews!
IndieFab Awards. This awards contest showcases the authors of university and independent press titles and self-published authors. The INDIES are judged by professional editors, booksellers, and librarians using the following criteria: editorial excellence, professional production, originality of the narrative, and the value the book adds to its genre. There are two $1,500 cash prizes (for fiction and nonfiction). Finalists and winners receive a marketing toolkit and gain exposure through print, weekly emails, social media, and a presence at international trade shows.
If your book wins an award, the recognition can boost your sales, credibility, and fan base. You can also check out additional self-published book competitions here: 10 Best Awards Given To Self-Published Books.
Question: Which self-published book award would you hope to win?
I wish the article had given some information on the costs and other factors such as when they accept submissions. e.g., The NIEA is presently closed, but INDIES is open and costs $79 to submit. It would also be nice to include something about the relative size of the field. An award that receives thousands of submissions might be a poor choice for a beginning author, for example. Such information would help struggling authors on tight budgets to prioritize which awards to try for.