A Woman's Write Novel Contest

• Org Sponsoring: A Woman's Write (AWW)

• Webpage: https://www.awomanswrite.com/

• Fee/Cost: $60

• Deadline: late May / sometimes extended

• Restrictions/Limitations: women; unpublished novel

Agatha Award

• Org Sponsoring: Malice Domestic Ltd.

• Webpage: https://www.malicedomestic.net/agatha-award-process

• Fee/Cost: Malice registration or Friend membership

• Deadline: January

• Restrictions/Limitations: traditional/cozy mystery

Anthony Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Bouchercon World Mystery Convention

• Webpage: https://www.bouchercon.com/bouchercon-standing-rules

• Fee/Cost: Bouchercon registration

• Deadline: late April

• Restrictions/Limitations: mystery/crime/thriller

Bath Novel Award

• Org Sponsoring: Bath Novel Award

• Webpage: https://bathnovelaward.co.uk/

• Fee/Cost: £33

• Deadline: end of May

• Restrictions/Limitations: unagented adult or YA novel

BCALA Self-Publishing Literary Awards (eBook)

• Org Sponsoring: Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA)

• Webpage: https://www.bcala.org/bcala-awards/literary-award-e-book

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: end of February

• Restrictions/Limitations: African American U.S. authors; self-pub ebook

Best Indie Book Award (BIBA)

• Org Sponsoring: Best Indie Book Award

• Webpage: https://bestindiebookaward.com/

• Fee/Cost: $65

• Deadline: August

• Restrictions/Limitations: indie/self-published books

Black Lawrence Press Big Moose Prize

• Org Sponsoring: Black Lawrence Press

• Webpage: https://blacklawrencepress.com/submissions-and-contests/the-big-moose-prize/

• Fee/Cost: $30

• Deadline: end of January

• Restrictions/Limitations: unpublished novel

Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest

• Org Sponsoring: Book Pipeline (Pipeline Media Group)

• Webpage: https://bookpipeline.com/contest/unpublished-contest

• Fee/Cost: $35-$70

• Deadline: various (Jan-Oct)

• Restrictions/Limitations: unpublished fiction/nonfiction; 18+

Bridport Prize Novel Award

• Org Sponsoring: The Bridport Prize

• Webpage: https://www.bridportprize.org.uk/

• Fee/Cost: £26

• Deadline: end of May

• Restrictions/Limitations: unpublished novel extract

California Book Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Commonwealth Club of California

• Webpage: https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/special-events/california-book-awards

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: fall / mid-November

• Restrictions/Limitations: California authors/books

Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs)

• Org Sponsoring: Chanticleer Book Reviews

• Webpage: https://chanticleerbookreviews.com/cibas/

• Fee/Cost: varies by division

• Deadline: various

• Restrictions/Limitations: indie books; many genres

Derringer Award

• Org Sponsoring: Short Mystery Fiction Society (SMFS)

• Webpage: https://shortmystery.blogspot.com/2025/07/derringer-awards-policy-2026.html

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: Nov-Jan

• Restrictions/Limitations: published mystery short stories

Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction

• Org Sponsoring: Dzanc Books

• Webpage: https://www.dzancbooks.org/contests

• Fee/Cost: $25

• Deadline: end of September

• Restrictions/Limitations: fiction manuscript

Edgar Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Mystery Writers of America (MWA)

• Webpage: https://edgarawards.com/

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: late fall / early December

• Restrictions/Limitations: mystery/crime books, stories, TV

Eric Hoffer Book Award

• Org Sponsoring: Eric Hoffer Award

• Webpage: https://www.hofferaward.com/

• Fee/Cost: $60+

• Deadline: January 21

• Restrictions/Limitations: indie/small press books

Feathered Quill Book Awards Program

• Org Sponsoring: Feathered Quill Book Reviews

• Webpage: https://featheredquill.com/book-awards-program/

• Fee/Cost: $85-$105

• Deadline: Aug-Nov

• Restrictions/Limitations: published books; many genres

Fish Flash Fiction Prize

• Org Sponsoring: Fish Publishing

• Webpage: https://fishpublishing.com/competitions/flash-fiction-prize/

• Fee/Cost: €16

• Deadline: end of February

• Restrictions/Limitations: flash fiction up to 300 words

Florida Book Awards (General Fiction)

• Org Sponsoring: Florida State University Libraries & Florida Humanities

• Webpage: https://www.floridabookawards.org/enter

• Fee/Cost: $70

• Deadline: early December

• Restrictions/Limitations: Florida authors/books

Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Foreword Reviews

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

• Fee/Cost: $99-$119

• Deadline: late September

• Restrictions/Limitations: independently published books

Freddie Award for Writing Excellence (FAWE)

• Org Sponsoring: Florida Chapter, Mystery Writers of America / SleuthFest

• Webpage: https://mwaflorida.org/

• Fee/Cost: $20-$30

• Deadline: mid-November

• Restrictions/Limitations: unpublished, unagented mystery

Goldie Awards (Golden Crown Literary Awards)

• Org Sponsoring: Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS)

• Webpage: https://www.goldencrownliterarysociety.org/awards

• Fee/Cost: $35 ebook / $50 print

• Deadline: various (fall-winter)

• Restrictions/Limitations: sapphic/LGBTQ+ books

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

• Webpage: https://www.ibpabookaward.org/

• Fee/Cost: $95 member / $229 nonmember

• Deadline: mid-December

• Restrictions/Limitations: independent publishers

Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards)

• Org Sponsoring: Independent Publisher Book Awards

• Webpage: https://ippyawards.com/

• Fee/Cost: $79-$99

• Deadline: late March

• Restrictions/Limitations: independent/self-published books

IndieReader Discovery Awards

• Org Sponsoring: IndieReader

• Webpage: https://indiereader.com/awards/

• Fee/Cost: $150

• Deadline: late February

• Restrictions/Limitations: self/hybrid/small press books

International Book Awards (American Book Fest)

• Org Sponsoring: American Book Fest

• Webpage: https://www.internationalbookawards.com/

• Fee/Cost: $99

• Deadline: end of March

• Restrictions/Limitations: published books with ISBN

International Impact Book Awards

• Org Sponsoring: International Impact Book Awards

• Webpage: https://internationalimpactbookawards.com/

• Fee/Cost: varies

• Deadline: ongoing/rolling

• Restrictions/Limitations: published books; fiction or nonfiction

James Jones First Novel Fellowship

• Org Sponsoring: James Jones Literary Society

• Webpage: https://jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/first-novel-fellowship/

• Fee/Cost: $33

• Deadline: mid-March

• Restrictions/Limitations: American writer; unpublished novel-in-progress

James River Writers Best Unpublished Novel Contest

• Org Sponsoring: James River Writers (VA)

• Webpage: https://jamesriverwriters.org/

• Fee/Cost: $25

• Deadline: end of February

• Restrictions/Limitations: unpublished novel

John Newbery Medal

• Org Sponsoring: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), American Library Association

• Webpage: https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newbery

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: December 31

• Restrictions/Limitations: U.S. children's literature

JRW Best Self-Published Novel Contest

• Org Sponsoring: James River Writers (VA)

• Webpage: https://jamesriverwriters.org/

• Fee/Cost: $25

• Deadline: end of February

• Restrictions/Limitations: self-published novel

Lambda Literary Awards (Lammy Awards)

• Org Sponsoring: Lambda Literary

• Webpage: https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/

• Fee/Cost: $65-$115

• Deadline: fall / early December

• Restrictions/Limitations: LGBTQ+ books

Lefty Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Left Coast Crime

• Webpage: https://leftcoastcrime.org/LeftyAwards.html

• Fee/Cost: convention registration

• Deadline: early January

• Restrictions/Limitations: mystery/crime/thriller

Literary Titan Book Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Literary Titan

• Webpage: https://literarytitan.com/book-award/

• Fee/Cost: varies

• Deadline: monthly

• Restrictions/Limitations: published books; any genre

Midland Authors Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Society of Midland Authors (SMA)

• Webpage: https://midlandauthors.org/how-to-submit/

• Fee/Cost: $30 member / $35 nonmember

• Deadline: end of January

• Restrictions/Limitations: Midwestern authors/books

Midwest Book Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MiPA)

• Webpage: https://www.mipa.org/

• Fee/Cost: $149

• Deadline: March 15

• Restrictions/Limitations: Midwest publishers; print books

Minnesota Author Project

• Org Sponsoring: Indie Author Project / Minnesota libraries (with Minnesota Library Foundation and Lyrasis)

• Webpage: https://indieauthorproject.librariesshare.com/minnesota/

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: end of May

• Restrictions/Limitations: Minnesota indie authors; ebook

Minnesota Book Awards

• Org Sponsoring: The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library

• Webpage: https://thefriends.org/minnesota-book-awards/

• Fee/Cost: $45

• Deadline: fall / early December

• Restrictions/Limitations: Minnesota authors/books

Moriarty Prize

• Org Sponsoring: Bell Cow Productions

• Webpage: https://www.bellcowproductions.com/award

• Fee/Cost: $50

• Deadline: end of April

• Restrictions/Limitations: fiction with standout villain

National Indie Excellence Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Indie Excellence

• Webpage: https://www.indieexcellence.com/

• Fee/Cost: $75

• Deadline: March 31

• Restrictions/Limitations: self/small/university press

Next Generation Indie Book Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Next Generation Indie Book Awards

• Webpage: https://indiebookawards.com/

• Fee/Cost: $80 first / $65 addl

• Deadline: mid-February

• Restrictions/Limitations: indie authors/publishers; English

North Street Book Prize

• Org Sponsoring: Winning Writers

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

• Fee/Cost: $95 per book

• Deadline: July 1

• Restrictions/Limitations: self-published or hybrid-published up to 200k words

Ohioana Book Awards (Fiction Category)

• Org Sponsoring: Ohioana Library Association

• Webpage: https://www.ohioana.org/programs/ohioana-book-awards/

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: December 31

• Restrictions/Limitations: Ohio authors/books

Pacific Northwest Book Awards (PNBA)

• Org Sponsoring: Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association

• Webpage: https://www.pnba.org/book-awards.html

• Fee/Cost: $50-$75

• Deadline: early September

• Restrictions/Limitations: Pacific Northwest books/authors

PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction

• Org Sponsoring: PEN/Faulkner Foundation

• Webpage: https://www.penfaulkner.org/our-awards/pen-faulkner-award/

• Fee/Cost: $95

• Deadline: end of September

• Restrictions/Limitations: U.S. published fiction; no self-pub

PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel

• Org Sponsoring: PEN America / Hemingway Foundation

• Webpage: https://www.penfaulkner.org/our-awards/the-pen-hemingway-award/

• Fee/Cost: $85

• Deadline: end of September

• Restrictions/Limitations: debut novel; publisher/agent submits

Randolph Caldecott Medal

• Org Sponsoring: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), American Library Association

• Webpage: https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecott

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: December 31

• Restrictions/Limitations: American picture book for children

Reader Views Literary Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Reader Views

• Webpage: https://www.readerviews.com/literaryawards/

• Fee/Cost: varies

• Deadline: various (Sept-Mar)

• Restrictions/Limitations: English-language indie books

Readers' Favorite Book Award Contest

• Org Sponsoring: Readers' Favorite

• Webpage: https://readersfavorite.com/book-award-contest

• Fee/Cost: $99-$119

• Deadline: June 1

• Restrictions/Limitations: published or unpublished books

Rubery Book Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Rubery Book Awards

• Webpage: https://ruberybookaward.co.uk/

• Fee/Cost: varies

• Deadline: March 31

• Restrictions/Limitations: indie/self-published books

RWA Golden Heart Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Romance Writers of America (RWA)

• Webpage: https://www.rwa.org/golden-heart-award

• Fee/Cost: $55

• Deadline: mid-November

• Restrictions/Limitations: unpublished romance; RWA members

Silver Falchion Award

• Org Sponsoring: Killer Nashville

• Webpage: https://www.killernashville.com/silver-falchion-award

• Fee/Cost: $96

• Deadline: April 1

• Restrictions/Limitations: mystery/thriller/suspense

Simon & Schuster Books Like Us First Novel Contest

• Org Sponsoring: Avid Reader Press (Simon & Schuster)

• Webpage: https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/avid-first-novel

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: July

• Restrictions/Limitations: U.S./D.C. adults; first novel

St. Martin's Minotaur/MWA First Crime Novel Competition

• Org Sponsoring: Minotaur Books & Mystery Writers of America (MWA)

• Webpage: https://mysterywriters.org/about-mwa/st-martins/

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: mid-December

• Restrictions/Limitations: first crime novel; 18+

Texas Institute of Letters (Jesse H. Jones Award for Fiction)

• Org Sponsoring: Texas Institute of Letters (TIL)

• Webpage: https://texasinstituteofletters.org/

• Fee/Cost: entry form required

• Deadline: fall

• Restrictions/Limitations: Texas authors/books or Texas subject

The Black List Unpublished Novel Award

• Org Sponsoring: The Black List

• Webpage: https://blcklst.com/fiction

• Fee/Cost: Black List hosting + eval

• Deadline: late June / July

• Restrictions/Limitations: unpublished novel; not under contract

The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize

• Org Sponsoring: The Center for Fiction

• Webpage: https://centerforfiction.org/grants-awards/the-first-novel-prize/

• Fee/Cost: $100

• Deadline: mid-March

• Restrictions/Limitations: U.S. first novel; no self-pub

The First Chapter Contest Novel and Memoir

• Org Sponsoring: Off Topic Publishing

• Webpage: https://offtopicpublishing.com/first-chapter-contest/

• Fee/Cost: $25 CAD

• Deadline: early February

• Restrictions/Limitations: novel or memoir; unpublished/self-pub

The Selfies Book Awards (Adult Fiction)

• Org Sponsoring: BookBrunch / The Selfies

• Webpage: https://theselfies.co.uk/submissions/

• Fee/Cost: £35 + BookBrunch sub

• Deadline: March 31

• Restrictions/Limitations: self-published adult fiction

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest

• Org Sponsoring: Winning Writers

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

• Fee/Cost: $25

• Deadline: May 1

• Restrictions/Limitations: short fiction or essay

UNO Press Lab Fiction Prize

• Org Sponsoring: University of New Orleans Press

• Webpage: https://www.uno.edu/unopress/lab

• Fee/Cost: $28

• Deadline: end of August

• Restrictions/Limitations: novel or story collection

Willie Morris Awards for Southern Writing

• Org Sponsoring: University of Mississippi (Co-sponsored)

• Webpage: https://www.williemorrisawards.org/submissions

• Fee/Cost: free

• Deadline: end of September

• Restrictions/Limitations: Southern writing

Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Writer's Digest

• Webpage: https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/self-published-book-awards

• Fee/Cost: $100

• Deadline: early April

• Restrictions/Limitations: self-published print books

Writer's Digest Self-Published E-book Awards

• Org Sponsoring: Writer's Digest

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

• Fee/Cost: $100-$125

• Deadline: mid-September / early October

• Restrictions/Limitations: self-published e-books

• Authors Publish--https://authorspublish.com/category/contest/

• Chill Subs--https://www.chillsubs.com/browse/contests

• Duotrope--https://duotrope.com/search/list/

• Funds for Writers--https://fundsforwriters.com/contests/

• NewPages--https://www.newpages.com/guide-submission-opportunities/big-list-of-writing-contests/

• Poets & Writers--https://www.pw.org/grants

• Reedsy--https://reedsy.com/resources/writing-contests/

• Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)--https://www.scbwi.org/awards-and-grants

• Submittable Discover--https://discover.submittable.com/

• The Submission Grinder--https://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/

• Winning Writers--https://winningwriters.com/the-best-free-literary-contests

• Writers Digest--https://www.writersdigest.com/wd-competitions