Indie Author Contests

This list is for your information. Written Words Publishing LLC is not affiliated with, nor do we endorse or sponsor these contests. Most of them are recommended by the Alliance of Independent Authors. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/author-awards-contests-rated-reviewed/

We suggest you research the validity and worth of contest entries. Read “Writer Beware: Contests and Awards” at https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/contests/ for tips on avoiding fake contests and spams.

Good luck!

Adventure Writers Competition

Genre: Adventure Writing

https://adventurewriterscompetition.com/

BCALA Self-Publishing Literary Awards

Genre: Fiction, Poetry (eBooks; African American Authors Only)

https://bcala.librariesshare.com/bcala-ebook-contest/

Best Indie Book Award

Genre: Various

https://bestindiebookaward.com/submit/product/best-indie-book-award-entry/

B.R.A.G. Medallion

Genre: Various (eBooks Only)

https://www.bragmedallion.com/about/

Bram Stoker Awards

Genre: Horror

https://www.thebramstokerawards.com/the-bram-stoker-awards/

Eric Hoffer Award

Genre: Various

http://www.hofferaward.com/Eric-Hoffer-Award-registration.html

Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards

Genre: Various

https://www.forewordreviews.com/awards/

Golden Crown Literary Awards

Genre: LGBTQ

https://www.goldencrownliterarysociety.org/awards

Human Relations Indie Book Awards

Genre: Human relations focus related to various interactions among people in different settings, Fiction and Non-Fiction

http://humanrelationsindiebookawards.com/

IAN Book of the Year Awards

Genre: Various

https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/book-of-the-year.html

Indie Author Project Annual Contest

Genre: Various

https://indieauthorproject.librariesshare.com/iap/

Indie Reader Discovery Awards

Genre: Various

https://indiereader.com/the-discovery-awards/

International Rubery Book Award

Genre: Various

https://www.ruberybookaward.com/

James River Writers, Best Self-Published Novel Contest

Genre: Various, Fiction (Author must be a Virginia resident)

https://jamesriverwriters.org/writing-contests-awards/best-self-published-novel-contest/

Lamba Literary Awards (The Lammys)

Genre: LGBTQ, Fiction and Non-Fiction

https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/lammys-submissions/

National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA)

Genre: Various

https://www.indieexcellence.com/

New Voices Award

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

https://www.leeandlow.com/writers-illustrators/new-voices-award

Next Generation Indie Book Awards

Genre: Various

https://www.indiebookawards.com/

North Street Book Prize

Genre: Various

https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/north-street-book-prize

Purple Dragonfly Book Awards

Genre: Children’s Books

https://www.dragonflybookawards.com/purple-dragonfly/

Royal Dragonfly Book Awards

Genre: Various, Fiction and Non-Fiction

https://www.dragonflybookawards.com/royal-dragonfly/

Sarton Women's Book Awards

Genre: Various, Fiction and Non-Fiction (Female Authors Only)

http://storycircle.org/SartonLiteraryAward/guidelines.php

The Audie Awards

Genre: Various (Audiobooks Only)

https://www.audiopub.org/audie-awards

The BookLife Prize

Genre: Various

https://booklife.com/about-us/the-booklife-prize.html

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest

Genre: Short work, Fiction and Non-Fiction

https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/tom-howard-john-h-reid-fiction-essay-contest

Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest

Genre: Poetry

https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/tom-howard-margaret-reid-poetry-contest

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

Genre: Humor Poetry

https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/wergle-flomp-humor-poetry-contest-free

Writer Advice’s Flash Memoir Contest

Genre: Flash Memoir (750-words or less)

https://writeradvice.com/latest-contest-information/

Writer's Digest Self-Published e-Book Awards

Genre: Various, Fiction and Non-Fiction (eBooks only)

https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/self-published-ebook-awards