Angela BensonWriters have different feelings about contests. Some see them as invoking a competitive side of writers, themselves included, that they don’t like to see. Some see contests as a promotional opportunity that gets their books in the hands of new readers. I’m sure there are some who enter because of the thrill of winning. I fall into the second category. While I am always happy to win or final in a contest, I really do see them as a promotional vehicle that gets my books in hands of new readers.
Many contests require an entry fee and the submission of books. I’ve entered two of those this year: RWA’s RITA Award and FHL’s Inpirational Readers Choice Contest (IRCC) . The RITAs are judged by members of RWA while the IRCC Award is judged by readers. If you’re interested, you can nominate yourself to judge for in the IRCC. As a thanks for judging, you get to keep the books that you judge. Not bad, huh? The details can be found on FHL’s Inpirational Readers Choice Contest (IRCC) page. The RITA finalists will be announced on March 24 (my birthday); I’m not sure when the IRCC finalists will be announced.
Other contests require nomination by readers. RSJ’s Emma Award is such an award. The Amen Sisters was a finalist this year and I learned today that it won the Emma Award for Inspirational Romance. Thanks to all the readers who voted for the book. I appreciate your support.
Since I couldn’t attend RSJ this year and had to cancel at the last minute, I donated a book basket for a prize drawing. Yvonne from Springfield Gardens, NY was the lucky winner. She’ll receive hard cover versions of all three of my Christian fiction titles.
Some contests require your publisher to enter your book. The Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction is one such contest. Publishers nominate books and pay a $1000 fee that goes toward the promotion of the contest and the contest winners in addition to a standard entry fee per book entered. Those prices are a bit steep for the individual author so its up to the publisher to enter books. As I understand from Denise Stinson, Publisher at Walk Worthy Press (WWP), all WWP books are entered automatically each year. That means The Amen Sisters is entered. The finalists won’t be announced until May.
Contests aren’t only for published authors. Many unpublished authors enter contests to get feedback from the judges who are typically published authors or editors. I entered a few contests before I was published and the feedback that I received was well-worth the entry fee.
Bottom line: I don’t recommend entering contests if your sole purpose is to win OR if entering contests brings out an ugly side to your personality. If you value reaching new readers or if you want feedback on your work, contests can be one way of accomplishing those goals.
What do you think?
As with anything people can use it for good; people can use it b/c of their own issues of overcompetitiveness. I think writing contests are GREAT!! I think it stretches the writer to do his or her best because they know they are competing against other writers.
It can also challege the virgin writer to finally finish that FIRST book b/c now they have a deadline to meet for the contest, so it can be a discipline tool as well.
And what if you win? That’s got to be one of the greatest feelings in the world!! Angela, how did you feel when you won your first award?
You know, I can’t remember the first award I won, Geigh. I think that’s sad. But I know I was happy. I do remember how happy I was when The Amen Sisters was a finalist for both the RITA Award from RWA and the Christy Award. The feeling that year was awesome!
I was pretty pleased this year when The Amen Sisters won the Emma Award. It’s always nice to know that people enjoy and appreciate your work.
It’s wonderful that “The Amen Sisters” won. I think that if your own creation, especially with God’s help and approval, wins an award, it must be the greatest feeling in the world.
I really must get more into voting for books I like. I guess the biggest problem is that I’m usually a year, if not more, behind in the reading of published books. If I get them from the library as they come out in hardcover, it’s a little bit easier, i.e., if I even know the book has been published.
I’ve been posting a few more reviews of books that I find I really like or are otherwise “read-worthy”. There can sometimes be a difference. I may not like all aspects of a book but may find it interesting in the historical aspects, for example.
How would you judge a competition that’s voted on by the readers? Do the readers send in suggestions which are narrowed down to the books that are nominated the most? Do the judges then read these books and decide, again by vote, which are the best?
I’d certainly love to get some free books. Buying any right now is pretty well out of the question.
Again, Congratulations for winning the Emma Award. (aside) Hey, Emma Hope Stewart, did you know that they’ve already named an award after you. And you’re not even even quite 7 months old. Lucky girl.
For the uninitiated, Emma Hope S. is my sister’s first grand-daughter. Her grand-son will be 4 on March 29. He was born on Good Friday. A day later, Emma will be 7 months old, born Aug. 30, 2005.
Sigrun, thanks for the congratulations. Reader contests work different ways. Sometimes readers nominate books and the books with the most nominations are finalists. Then a final ballot is sent to readers to pick the winner. Some contests, like the IRCC, have authors submit the books. Then the books are parsed out to readers who serve as judges. Again, the top books make the finals and then a separate round of judging occurs for the selection of the winners.
Little Emma sounds like a doll! Happy Birthday to her brother!