Does winning a contest or an award make a difference in a writer’s career?
My basic answer is: Yes, it does make a difference because being a finalist or winning any award sets your book one notch higher than those books that didn’t win. Certain awards hold more pull than others, but all awards can make a difference.
Winning the Genesis contest or First Impressions contest might help you to find an agent. Winning the Christy Award might help you to get another contract with your publisher. Winning a RITA might increase your book sales. Winning a writers’ conference contest might land you an agency contract or publishing contract if one of the judges (an agent or an editor) loves your submission. It’s hard to predict what could happen, but there’s definitely some advantage to winning.
How do publishing houses weigh the merit of an award?
Publishers know how to weigh the various awards and which carry the greatest weight. Winning certain awards gives an author credibility as a writer. The awards that hold the most value to publishers, retailers, and book buyers are often displayed on the copies of the book with a sticker or an award logo printed on the cover. I bet all of you have seen these before. Many times the books with award stickers are displayed face out at the bookstore, which increases the chances they will be purchased.
As a customer which awards do you value?
When you go to the store, are you more likely to purchase an award-winning book?
Has winning an award made a tangible difference in your publishing journey?
Congratulations to all Christy Award finalists whose names were announced recently! I am proud to have 3 clients as finalists this year: Sarah Sundin, Lindsay Franklin, and Amanda Barratt.
Hooks for Books
All earthly honours and awards
must fade, and pass away,
sundered by time’s grey-tone sword,
but enjoy them, now, today,
and dance ye in the limelight
while the limelight lasts,
for they are your well-earned right;
so dance, and hold them fast.
Though they are but a symbol,
they stand for something greater,
a crown forged by a holy tool
wielded by the Maker,
and in the Glory that will come
they sing His love for you: “Well done!”
I’ve gotten very leery of book award claims, frankly. At least when it comes to self-published authors and even some small press publishers. Their ads and blurbs and social media sites have “award-winning writer Joe Blow” – then you start digging deeper and find out the “award” was for some writer’s contest in Outer Boondocks, USA, where five people actually entered the thing…
Hmmm … as a customer, I definitely notice awards. I usually look through the Carol and Christy finalists each year and write down the titles that catch my eye. I haven’t always loved books that win or final, but my chances of reading a good book greatly increase when I’m choosing from books that several knowledgeable readers have deemed worthy of recognition. That sure saves me time as a reader and that is incredibly valuable. I discovered Becky Wade because she won book of the year once and that pushed me over the edge to try her books! I’m so glad that I did!
Something interesting, to purchase I still must love the concept. Notice that I don’t buy every Christy finalist … I scan them for books that sound interesting. Just the award is not enough to push me over the edge. Award plus amazing premise is though.
I am thankful for the awards my book for children, “Licky the Lizard” has won. Very exciting!
Congratulations, Melissa!
Congratulations, Rachel, on your clients’ success and yours too. I was especially grateful for being one of ten winners in the First Timer’s Contest in order to get to go to Mount Hermon, where I was so grateful for Wendy to take me on as a client. I’m not sure it’ll ever seem real to me. I was a semi-finalist once with the Genesis, and though I didn’t win, that phone call was that little light in a dark night that seemed to say, “Keep walking this way; keep trying; keep working hard. Don’t give up.”
I agree, Rachel.
Book awards matter. Readers feel confident in authors who have won awards.
There are several types of writing contests, as you said. I give more weight to those where the winner is chosen by their peers and those were the readers pick the winner.
Also, although they say there are no shortcuts to publication, winning a writing contest can put you on the fast lane.
I actually don’t pay much attention to awards that are listed on a book. I am more interested in who the publisher is and who has given words of praise or recommendation.