Self-Published E-book Awards

CLOSED. Winners will be selected by December 31, 2024.

Writer’s Digest’s 12th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards honors the best self-published e-book(s) in eight of the most popular categories with $5,000 in cash, a featured interview in Writer’s Digest magazine, and a paid trip to the ever-popular Writer’s Digest Annual Conference.

In addition to $13,000 in total cash prizes, all entrants will receive a brief commentary of their book from one of Writer’s Digest’s competition readers.

Prizes
Categories
How to enter
Preparing Your Entry
FAQ
Pricing and Deadlines
Printable PDF of the Prospectus

PRIZES

One Grand Prize winner will receive:

$5,000 in cash
Featured interview in the May/June 2025 issue of Writer’s Digest and on WritersDigest.com
A paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a special trophy presentation at the keynote
A coveted pitch opportunity where the winner will receive one-on-one attention from editors or agents
One year Subscription (new or renewal) to Writer’s Digest magazine
20% discount off of purchases made at Writer’s Digest University
A special graphic recognizing their winning status

One First Prize winner in each category will receive:

$1,000 in cash
Winner's name and the book's title published in the May/June 2025 issue of Writer’s Digest and on WritersDigest.com
One year Subscription (new or renewal) to Writer’s Digest magazine
20% discount off of purchases made at Writer’s Digest University
A special graphic recognizing their winning status

Honorable Mention Winners will receive:

$50 off a purchase from the Writer’s Digest Shop
Winner's name and the book's title listed on WritersDigest.com
A special graphic recognizing their winning status

All Entrants will receive a brief commentary from one of the judges.

CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

Contemporary Fiction: A work of fiction set in modern times with themes and/or subject matter that reflects this specific moment. Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; novellas to epics are all welcomed.
Romance: Historical or contemporary, paranormal or suspenseful, chaste or sexy, LGBTQ+, no matter the path you take, don’t forget to deliver a satisfying happy ending. Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; novellas to epics are all welcomed.
Fantasy: High or urban, historical or alternate histories, introduce us to new worlds and fantastic ideas that exceed the boundaries of our own reality. Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; novellas to epics are all welcomed.
Science Fiction: Space opera or hard science, cyberpunk or steampunk, introduce us to new worlds, alternate histories, or fantastic ideas that push the boundaries of our own reality. Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; novellas to epics are all welcomed.
Mystery/Thriller: From the classic whodunits and police procedurals to high stakes conflicts with ever-increasing tension, hook us from the start and keep us guessing until the end. Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; novellas to epics are all welcomed.
Young Adult: Your preferred genre(s) but written specifically for readers age 12-18.Typical length: 30,000 to 100,000 words. There are no limits for submissions; novellas to epics are all welcomed.
Narrative Nonfiction: Journalists and storytellers whose nonfiction work reads like it could be fiction (but isn’t!) should apply to this category which includes memoirs, biographies, historical narratives, popular science, travel writing, essay collections, etc. Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words.
Prescriptive/Informative Nonfiction: Subject-matter experts who aim to instruct or inform readers will find a home for their work in this category, which consists primarily of research-based works such as travel guides, cookbooks, how-to guides/reference, self-help, business, etc. Typical length: 40,000 to 100,000 words.

The typical length is a reference point only. There are no word requirements for submissions.

ELIGIBILITY

The competition is open to self-published authors of English-language e-books which were published (or revised and republished) electronically between 2019 and 2024. (Writer’s Digest may demand proof of eligibility of semifinalists.) Authors who subvent publication of their e-books via independent publishers who publish fewer than 12 e-books/year are also eligible.
Authors who have published in print via a traditional publisher but retained their e-book rights and self-published or subvented publication via independent publishers who publish fewer than 12 e-books/year are also eligible. Entries will be evaluated on craft, category relevance, formatting and overall quality of production, including cover image.

HOW TO ENTER

You must register and submit your e-book online.
You may enter more than one e-book and/or more than one category/e-book, however, you must submit each book separately and pay the additional fee for each entry.
We accept PayPal or credit card payment for the required judging fee. Entry fees are non-refundable. Due to U.S. Government restrictions we are unable to accept entries from Syria, Iran, North Korea, or Crimea..
For more information visit our Preparing Your Entry Page or our FAQ page.

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Tara JohnsonAuthor