For indie and self-published authors, there’s a lot of talk about building your author platform and/or your marketing platform. Some people see these as two distinct entities while others may argue that they are the same thing. We won’t get into the semantics of that. The key is really just creating a platform, which means you have visibility, authority, proven reach, and a target audience in your topic area. It’s great to be able to start with your family and friends, but you really need to reach beyond them as you’re developing a platform. Social media and online marketing can play a role, but you need to be doing a lot more than this. There are four things to keep in mind as you start to think about building your author platform:
It’s about engaging your potential readership/audience.
It’s a process that takes time. It’s a good idea to start working on it before your book is published.
It takes persistence and consistency.
It’s an art, not a science, and it’s likely that there will be a lot of trial and error.
Jane Friedman says, “Platform building is an organic process and will be different for every single author.” It can be an arduous process and can be almost as much of creative endeavor as writing and publishing your book. However, if you commit to working on building your platform it can be extremely rewarding and pay off in the long run.
Determine what your goals are for your book marketing – Of course many people have the idea that they’d like to sell millions of copies and become famous. However, that might not be realistic. Take some time to figure out what your specific goals are for your book. Is your goal to increase your business, position yourself as an expert, educate, or entertain? Make sure you know, so you can tailor your efforts accordingly.
Learn about your specific audience – Once you know your goals for your book, start to drill down on who your audience is and what may drive them to buy your book. Hang out in online groups or forums where they hang out. Attend events, such as book clubs, book fairs, or events specific to your topic area. Once you gain a better understanding of who your audience is, you can tailor your content to increase engagement.
Create great content – Identify what makes your book unique and figure out ways that you can deliver meaningful content based off that. What is going to make you stand out? There are lots of great tools out there online that you can use to help spread your message, whether it’s images, video, blogging, or other social media. However, as we mentioned previously, social media is really only a tool. Once it’s set up, you need to make sure that you’re populating your social media profiles with good content that’s going to engage your readership and keep them coming back for more.
As always, if you have questions about the most effective ways to market your books, please contact us.
SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC (formerly Sweet Dreams Publishing of Massachusetts) is a leader of self publishing in Massachusetts. We offer optimal self-publishing solutions for authors worldwide. From literary agency representation to worldwide marketing – including international rights – and independent publishing, we provide the best solutions for authors. Our services include developmental editing and copy editing, custom cover design and layout, book marketing, query letter and book proposals, literary agency representation, print, and e-book development. We provide the best exposure for your book!
Writer’s Digest hosts the 23rd Annual Self-Published Book Awards. This self-published competition spotlights today’s self-published works and honors self-published authors. Whether you’re a professional writer, a part-time freelancer, or a self-starting student, here’s your chance to enter WD’s competition exclusively for self-published books. http://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/self-published-book-awards
The Healing Muse
Deadline: May 1, 2015
The Healing Muse, annual journal of literary and visual art published by SUNY Upstate Medical University’s Center for Bioethics and Humanities, is looking for artists and writers for our 2015 fall publication. We welcome fiction, poetry, narratives, essays, memoirs, drawings, photography, and graphic art, particularly but not exclusively focusing on themes of medicine and healing. Submission period: September 1, 2014 through May 1, 2015. Original and unpublished works only. Detailed guidelines can be found on our website: http://thehealingmuse.org.
Slipstream Seeks Poems Exploring the Theme of “Elements”
Deadline: May 1, 2015
Slipstream is currently reading for Issue #35, which will be published in 2015. We seek poetry that explores the theme “elements.” Creative interpretations are welcome. Submit up to five (5) poems in one document file only. We also are seeking artwork for the issue. Please do not submit again until you have received a response on the status of your current submission. We also accept mail submissions with a SASE: Slipstream, PO Box 2071, Niagara Falls NY 14301. Deadline for submissions for this issue is May 1, 2015. Submit only unpublished work. Please refer to our submission guidelines on our website www.slipstreampress.org.
Prairie Schooner General Submissions
Deadline: May 1, 2015
Prairie Schooner, aims to publish the best writing available, both from beginning and established writers. In print since 1926, our quarterly issues feature short stories, poems, imaginative essays of general interest, and reviews of current books of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Read the full guidelines on our website: http://prairieschooner.unl.edu/?q=submit. Then send us your best.
The Conium Review Innovative Short Fiction Contest
Deadline: May 1, 2015
The Conium Review Innovative Short Fiction Contest is open for submissions. Winner receives $500, publication in the next print edition, five copies of the issue, and a copy of the judge’s latest book. This year’s judge is Amelia Gray, author of Gutshot, Threats, Museum of the Weird, and AM/PM. May 1st deadline. $15 entry fee includes free digital download of the next issue. Guidelines available at http://coniumreview.com/contests/.
2015 David Nathan Meyerson Prize for Fiction
Deadline: May 1, 2015
The Meyerson contest searches for emerging writers who have not yet experienced publication of a book of fiction, either a novel or collection of stories. This annual prize consists of $1,000 and publication in the Southwest Review, which is celebrating 100 years (1915–2015) in print. Visit www.smu.edu/southwestreview for more information.
Gold Man Review
Deadline: May 1, 2015
Gold Man Review, a West Coast journal, is currently seeking submissions from writers residing in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. We are looking for previously unpublished fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. We love work that pushes boundaries whether in form or content. Please visit our website, www.goldmanreview.org, for specific submission guidelines. We look forward to reading your work!
The Personal Aftermath of War
Deadline: May 1, 2015
The Call: Seeking stories for an important anthology that will help us comprehend the powerful, often invisible events that shape the hours, days, nights, weeks, months, and years after coming home. Open to all affected by the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts (veterans, families, children, friends). Editor: Dario DiBattista, Marine combat veteran of the Iraq War, Veterans Writing Project instructor. Award: $200 + publication. http://hudsonwhitman.com
Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition
Deadline: May 4, 2015
Writer’s Digest has been shining a spotlight on up and coming writers in all genres through its Annual Writing Competition for more than 80 years. Enter our 84th Annual Writing Competition for your chance to win and have your work be seen by editors and agents! The winning entries of this writing contest will also be on display in the 84th Annual Writer’s Digest Competition Collection.
2015 Raymond Carver Short Story Contest
Deadline: May 15, 2015
Carve Magazine’s 2015 Raymond Carver Short Story Contest is open April 1-May 15, featuring guest judge Andre Dubus III. Prizes: $1,000, $500, $250, and 2 Editor’s Choice $125 each. All 5 winners published in Fall 2015 issue and considered by three lit agencies. Entry fee $17 online/$15 mailed. No limit to number of entries. Max 6,000 words. www.carvezine.com/raymond-carver-contest/.
If and Only If
Deadline: May 15, 2015
If and Only If: A Journal of Body Image and Eating Disorders seeks submissions related to body image, the body and eating disorders for our Summer 2015 issue. We accept art, fiction, nonfiction and poetry for publication in our online journal. We’re also interested in interviews and audio/video submissions for publication on our website. Go to www.ifandonlyifjournal.com for guidelines and to submit your work.
Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry – $2000 plus publication
Deadline: May 15, 2015
The 19th Annual Blue Lynx Prize, $2000 plus publication, is awarded for an unpublished, full-length volume of poems by a U.S. resident or citizen. Send a manuscript of at least 48 pages, a $28 reading fee plus SASE (for notification) to Lynx House Press, P.O. Box 940, Spokane, WA 99210; or electronically to lynxhousepress.submittable.com. Postmark deadline: May 15, 2015. Make checks payable to Lynx House Press. The 2014 winner was Prartho Sereno for Elephant Raga. Judges have included Yusef Komunyakaa, Melissa Kwasny, Robert Wrigley, Dorianne Laux, Dara Wier, and David Wojahn. More details at www.lynxhousepress.org.
Buddhist Poetry Review Volume Two
Deadline: May 25, 2015
Buddhist Poetry Review is seeking submissions for Volume Two, Issue One. The reading period will begin on April 1st and continue through May 25th, 2015. There will not be a theme for this issue, but poems should, as always, be inspired/informed by Buddhism in some way. www.buddhistpoetryreview.com/home
Baltimore Review Summer Contest – Crime
Deadline: May 31, 2015
Baltimore Review Summer Issue Contest Theme: Crime. From infractions to felonies. Prizes are $500, $200, and $100. Entry fee is $10. All contest entries, regardless of genre, should be submitted through the Contest link in Submittable. Three winners will be selected from among all entries. 3,000-word limit for fiction and creative nonfiction (5,000-word limit for non-contest, non-theme submissions). One to three poems in an entry. All entries considered for publication. Final judge: Sujata Massey. See guidelines at http://baltimorereview.org.
BALLOONS Lit. Journal seeks submissions for the young
Deadline: May 31, 2015
BALLOONS Lit. Journal (BLJ), an independent biannual online journal for children and young adults readers, invites well-crafted and mind-blowing submissions for our audience (12+). We would love to have new poems, fictions, artworks, etc. for our Issue 2. Typical pieces for kids will be unlikely to get through. Visit us at www.balloons-lit-journal.com for the complete guidelines.
Glimmer Train’s May Short Story Award for New Writers
Deadline: May 31, 2015
Open to writers whose fiction has not appeared in a print publication with a circulation >5000. First places wins $1500 and publication in Glimmer Train Stories. Second/third win $500/$300 and consideration for publication. Results announced on August 1. Held quarterly. All four of last year’s winning pieces were their authors’ first fiction in print. www.glimmertrain.com
From the Depths 2015: Backroads & Porch Swings
Deadline: May 31, 2015
Haunted Waters Press is currently seeking works of fiction and poetry for the 2015 issue of our literary journal, From the Depths. Backroads and Porch Swings will feature works depicting a slice of life in rural America. Captivate us with the romance and simplicity of country living. Bring us subtle Midwestern tales of lives rooted in soil. Show us the other side of the tracks with darker fiction inspired by the great Southern Gothic and Country Noir storytellers. Most of all, take us back to the places that haunt our memories and call us home. http://hauntedwaterspress.submittable.com/submit
SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC (formerly Sweet Dreams Publishing of Massachusetts) is a leader of self publishing in Massachusetts. We offer optimal self-publishing solutions for authors worldwide. From literary agency representation to worldwide marketing – including international rights – and independent publishing, we provide the best solutions for authors. Our services include developmental editing and copy editing, custom cover design and layout, book marketing, query letter and book proposals, literary agency representation, print, and e-book development. We provide the best exposure for your book!
There seem to be so many writing contests for the upcoming year! So, we’ve decided to break them up by month to make it easier for people to digest and submit. On the fence about submitting your writing to contests or journals? Take a look at our post Why You Should Submit to Writing Contests and Literary Journals, and good luck!
“‘Dear You’: The Third Annual Common Good Books Poetry Contest” by Garrison Keillor
Deadline: April 4, 2015
We love poetry at Common Good Books, and to prove it our proprietor is putting his money where his mouth is. Garrison Keillor is offering five thousand dollars in prize money to the seven winners of “‘Dear You’: The Third Annual Common Good Books Poetry Contest.” Three poets will receive grand prizes of $1000 each, and four poets will receive $500 for poems of particular merit. http://commongoodbooks.com/%E2%80%9C%E2%80%98dear-you%E2%80%99-third-annual-common-good-books-poetry-contest%E2%80%9D
Album Review Writing Contest
Deadline: April 14, 2015
What’s in your music library? A few crowd pleasers, that album that was better than you first thought… and too many embarrassing guilty pleasures to mention? If you love listening to music, you just might like to write about it too… If so, check out Write the World’s newest competition for young writers, ages 13-18. The Album Review Competition opens Monday, March 30, 2015. Cash Prizes and Public Praise! http://writetheworld.com
SRPR Editors’ Prize $1000
Deadline: April 15, 2015
SRPR (Spoon River Poetry Review) 2015 Editors’ Prize. Winner awarded $1000, an honorarium to read at our annual gala reading event, and a published introduction to the winning poem written by this year’s judge. Two runners up awarded $100 each. Three-five honorable mentions. All winning poems & several finalists are published. 2014 judge: Joshua Corey. 2015 judge announced after winners are selected. Submit up to three poems by 4/15/2015. Entry fee of $20 includes subscription (two issues). See website for guidelines www.srpr.org.
Beecher’s 2015 Contest Has Begun!
Deadline: April 15, 2015
Beecher’s Magazine, an annual print journal produced by graduate students at the University of Kansas, is open to contest submissions from February 15-April 15, 2015. Judges are LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs (Poetry), Matt Bell (Fiction), and Alissa Nutting (Nonfiction). Winners receive $200 and publication in Beecher’s 5. Runners-up may also be considered for publication. The entry fee is $12 per submission. All entrants will receive a copy of Beecher’s 5. To submit, visit http://beechersmag.submittable.com/submit.
Sycamore Review Wabash Prize in Fiction
Deadline: April 17, 2015
Sycamore Review’s Wabash Prize in Fiction is open to submissions March 1 through April 17. This year, Kelly Link will judge. Winner receives $1,000 dollars and publication in Sycamore Review. All entries considered for publication. Reading fee of $20 includes copy of the prize issue. For more details, see www.sycamorereview.com.
Passages North Nonfiction and Poetry Prizes Open
Deadline: April 20, 2015
Passages North will accept submissions for the Thomas J. Hrushka Memorial Nonfiction Prize and Elinor Benedict Poetry Prize through April 20, 2015. Contest judges will be Steven Church and Lynn Emanuel, respectively. One winner in each contest will receive $1000 and publication in Passages North Issue 37. Entry Fee is $15 and all entrants will receive a copy of Issue 37. See full contest details at http://passagesnorth.com/contests/. Issue 37 will also feature the winner of Little Presque Books’ 2015 Novella Contest. Entry fee is $20 and submissions close April 24. Novella contest details at http://littlepresquebooks.com.
Epiphany Magazine’s Chapbook Competition
Deadline: April 20, 2015
Reading Fee: $6 per submission. Fiction (judged by Luis Jaramillo), poetry (judged by Katie Peterson), literary nonfiction (judged by Kristin Dombek), and graphic literature (judged by Lydia Conklin) accepted. For fiction, nonfiction, and graphic lit: total of 5k-10k words, double-spaced, 12pt font. You can submit a single story or several stories within that limit to be published as a whole. Graphic lit entries must be black and white illustrations only. For poetry: one poem per page, total page count should not exceed 20 pages. All poems should be unpublished. All poetry forms are acceptable and welcome. Award: Publication, cash prize in each genre, and 5 contributor copies. http://epiphanyzine.com/submit.html
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Deadline: April 30, 2015
23rd year. $4,000 in cash prizes, including two top awards of $1,500 each. Seeks short stories and essays up to 6,000 words each. All entries that win cash prizes will be published on WinningWriters.com (nearly one million page views per year) and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter. Both published and unpublished work accepted. Fee per entry is $16. Final judge: Arthur Powers. See guidelines, past winners, and enter at www.winningwriters.com/tomstory
Inlandia Institute announces The Hillary Gravendyk Prize poetry book competition
Deadline: April 30, 2015
The Inlandia Institute is proud to announce The Hillary Gravendyk Prize, an open poetry book competition for all writers regardless of the number of previously published poetry collections. Two winners, one entry fee: National and Regional, $1000 each. Submit a poetry manuscript between 48 – 100 pages. Submissions accepted via Inlandia’s Submittable portal: http://inlandiaaliteraryjourney.submittable.com/submit/37899. Submissions must be received by April 30, 2015 at midnight Pacific Standard Time. Reading fee is $20. The winners will be announced in September 2015, and we expect to publish the winning books in December of 2015.
Cloudbank Magazine Poetry/Flash Fiction Prize Call for Submissions
Deadline: April 30, 2015
Cloudbank magazine is offering a $200 prize for one poem or flash fiction published in the upcoming issue, Cloudbank 9. The winning poem or flash fiction is chosen by editors Michael Malan and Peter Sears, Oregon’s poet laureate. Revive us with your fire! Send up to 5 poems or short prose pieces with the $15 fee by April 30. Fee includes a two-issue subscription, starting with the current issue. Send to: Cloudbank, P.O. Box 610, Corvallis, OR 97339. Full guidelines and more at www.cloudbankbooks.com.
Competition for Imagine This! An Artprize Anthology
Deadline: April 30, 2015
For writers of poetry, short stories (1500 words) and personal essays (1500 words). Submissions through April 30, 2015. First Prize: $1,000. Second Prize: $500. Third Prize: $250. Top 25 entries will be published in anthology. Submission fee: $20. Managed by the Cascade Writers’ Group and Great Lakes Commonwealth of Letters, Imagine This! An ArtPrize Anthology will be sold through the ArtPrize hub and other venues. ArtPrize is an international art competition held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 1,000,000 visitors and 25,900,000 page views each year. Named by Time as one of the top five festivals of the year. http://readwritelive.org/anthology-competition-2015
$6,000 in Prizes with the Nimrod Literary Awards
Deadline: April 30, 2015
The 37th Annual Nimrod Literary Awards are now open! Submit to The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry and The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction, with first prizes of $2,000 and publication, and second prizes of $1,000 and publication. All finalists will be considered for publication. For poetry, submit 3-10 pages (one long poem or several short poems); for fiction, one short story, 7,500 words maximum. Each entry must be accompanied by a $20 entry fee, which includes a one-year subscription to Nimrod. For more information and complete submission guidelines, visit www.utulsa.edu/nimrod.
SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC (formerly Sweet Dreams Publishing of Massachusetts) is a leader of self publishing in Massachusetts. We offer optimal self-publishing solutions for authors worldwide. From literary agency representation to worldwide marketing – including international rights – and independent publishing, we provide the best solutions for authors. Our services include developmental editing and copy editing, custom cover design and layout, book marketing, query letter and book proposals, literary agency representation, print, and e-book development. We provide the best exposure for your book!
There are lots of great contests and journals that are almost always accepting submissions for many different types of work, including fiction, non-fiction, fan and flash fiction, essays, short stories, poetry, novels, ebooks, chapbooks — you name it! Why enter writing contests, you ask?
Entering these types of contests can help you keep your writing and publishing momentum going.
Submitting to writing contests is a great way to gain credibility as a writer/author.
They can help create interest in your work, leading to other opportunities and potentially, to sales.
An award will give you an edge, which may be all the difference needed to propel your work into bestseller territory.
When you win or get placed, you can say you are an “award-winning author,” giving your writing a boost that comes from a third-party endorsement.
Awards can help you gain credibility with readers, reviewers, reporters, agents, and publishers.
If you want advice on other ways that you can help increase your status as a writing or published author, please contact SDP Publishing.
SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC (formerly Sweet Dreams Publishing of Massachusetts) is a leader of self publishing in Massachusetts. We offer optimal self-publishing solutions for authors worldwide. From literary agency representation to worldwide marketing – including international rights – and independent publishing, we provide the best solutions for authors. Our services include developmental editing and copy editing, custom cover design and layout, book marketing, query letter and book proposals, literary agency representation, print, and e-book development. We provide the best exposure for your book!
“Most authors obsess over one statistic: the number of books sold,” Joan Stewart starts her recent article in The Future of Ink: “33 Revenue Streams For Authors – Even If You Write Non-Fiction.” You might be saying to yourself: “Well … duh, of course. That’s what authors should be obsessing about!” Certainly, that’s an important part of being an author. As writers, we want people to be reading our books. We want to sell books. However, in her article, Stewart points out that you should see your books as potential starting points for other opportunities: “For the really smart, savvy authors, only one number really counts: how many revenue streams they can create from a book.”
There seems to be something for every kind of author in her piece. She breaks her 33 ideas for thinking about multiple revenue streams into a number of categories that speak to different genres, including:
For Beginning Authors
Teaching & Training
For Author Experts Only
Branded Retail Products
Consulting
Publishing Services
Some of our favorite suggestions include:
7) Pocket Guidebooks.
A Foodie’s Guide to New Orleans would be aperfect spinoff product for an author who writes a murder mystery about New Orleans.
24) Board Games
The Settlers of Catan board games, which have sold more than 18 million copies worldwide, are being turned into a book, proof that the book doesn’t always come first.
28) “Rent My Brain”
People who don’t need long-term access to you can rent your brain for an hour. At the end of their session, try to upsell them to a longer-term coaching or membership program.
The great thing about many of her suggestions is that they can help you create buzz for your book even before it’s completed. And, it’s likely that these types of spin-off products or booklets will help you sell more books in the long run. If you think about it, the sky is the limit. For example:
If you’re a children’s book author, you can create greeting cards or postcards that feature your characters and include important phrases from your book.
If you’ve authored a book of recipes, you can produce some short online video programs that feature your recipes.
If you’ve written a mystery novel, you could partner with a local establishment to host mystery dinners or tours.
We’d love to hear other ideas for creative ways that authors can promote their books. Drop us a line on Facebook or via our website.
SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC (formerly Sweet Dreams Publishing of Massachusetts) is a leader of self publishing in Massachusetts. We offer optimal self-publishing solutions for authors worldwide. From literary agency representation to worldwide marketing – including international rights – and independent publishing, we provide the best solutions for authors. Our services include developmental editing and copy editing, custom cover design and layout, book marketing, query letter and book proposals, literary agency representation, print, and e-book development. We provide the best exposure for your book!
Do you have a book in you? If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a published author, this event is for you! Join Lisa Akoury-Ross of SDP Publishing and Savvy Workshop to learn about how to successfully publish your own book!
When: Thursday, March 19, 2015 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)
Where: Savvy Workshop
55 South Commercial Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Indie publishing is a growing phenomenon. Books of all genres are being published every day – as e-books, print, or both – by people just like you, often with minimal resources.
Join Savvy Workshop and self-published author and publishing expert Lisa Akoury-Ross to get started the top questions about indie publishing, including:
What does “Indie Publishing” mean?
Why is indie publishing a viable option for authors today?
Top indie authors and how did they do it?
Choosing a publishing channel – e-book, print, or both?
Top ten questions authors should ask an indie publisher before committing to one (including online, hybrid and vanity presses).
Meet Our Speaker:
Lisa Akoury-Ross began her career in the book production business over 25 years ago, serving the largest publishers in the world in the medical, education, and trade industries. Her family business provided full production services for publishers such as Pearson Education, Houghton Mifflin, Aspen Law & Business, and others.
Lisa launched SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC to help the individual author independently publish their work professionally and cost-effectively. SDP provides publishing services for authors based on their needs and budget, including developmental editing and copy editing, custom cover design and layout, book marketing, query letter and book proposals, literary agency representation, and publishing for print and e-book formats.
Savvy Workshop is a multi-channel, business-to-business branding agency, specializing in the production of education-based marketing events, developing customized brand standard guidelines and providing practical B2B marketing strategy for business-Savvy clients.
SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC (formerly Sweet Dreams Publishing of Massachusetts) is a leader of self publishing in Massachusetts. We offer optimal self-publishing solutions for authors worldwide. From literary agency representation to worldwide marketing – including international rights – and independent publishing, we provide the best solutions for authors. Our services include developmental editing and copy editing, custom cover design and layout, book marketing, query letter and book proposals, literary agency representation, print, and e-book development. We provide the best exposure for your book!
One of the biggest questions authors ask me is: “My book has been published for over a year, now what do I do to help keep it going?” Our advice is similar to what it would be for a newly published author, some of which includes:
Work on getting professional reviews and blog write ups
Blog content directly from your book on your blog or website
Build up your social media presence
Build up your contact list
Another effective strategy is to try to get your book into as many catalogs as possible. The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), in which SDP is a member, offers several channels to promote your book to libraries, booksellers, reviewers, and the media. The IBPA’s cooperative book catalogs come in both print and digital.
Catalog Options:
Library Market E-Blast – Members present their titles alongside only 14 others in a special e-blast sent to 5,000 qualified collection development librarians. Three options: Public Library, K-12 Library, or College Library.
Books for Review E-Blast (new) – Members present their titles alongside 11 others in an email blast sent to approximately 3,000 reviewers, journalists, and bloggers across the U.S. Each title featured includes multiple links that allow reviewers to reach out to members via email and request books for review.
Books for Review Catalog – Members add information about their title (cover image, short description, contact, and ordering information) to a four-color catalog. The catalog is mailed to newspaper, magazine, and media book reviewers throughout the U.S. Cost is $210 per title.
Bookstore Catalog (new) – Members add information about their title (cover image, short description, contact and ordering information) to a four-color catalog. The catalog is mailed to approximately 3,500 booksellers throughout the U.S.
Books for Review/Bookstore Catalog Bundle – Members add information about their title (cover image, short description, contact, and ordering information) to both the Books for Review AND Bookstore Catalogs. The four-color catalogs are mailed to newspaper, magazine, and media book reviewers as well as approximately 3,500 booksellers throughout the U.S.
Not yet a member of IBPA? Click here to join: http://www.ibpa-online.org/join/. We highly recommend the “Books for Review/Bookstore Catalog Bundle.” Please contact us for more information about these programs so that we can help get you on your way for maximum exposure in 2015!
SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC (formerly Sweet Dreams Publishing of Massachusetts) is a leader of self publishing in Massachusetts. We offer optimal self-publishing solutions for authors worldwide. From literary agency representation to worldwide marketing – including international rights – and independent publishing, we provide the best solutions for authors. Our services include developmental editing and copy editing, custom cover design and layout, book marketing, query letter and book proposals, literary agency representation, print, and e-book development. We provide the best exposure for your book!
We’re always so pleased when our authors receive great reviews. Our most recent congratulations go to Donna LeBlanc and the first book in her series: Explorations of Commander Josh: “In Space.”Below you can read some of what the reviewers wrote:
“… Author Donna LeBlanc crafts a unique world in which readers can play and explore, with the promise of many more adventures to come! Solidly entertaining from beginning to end, Explorations of Commander Josh: “In Space” is especially recommended for family, school, and community library collections….” ~Midwest Book Review
“This first installment of the Commander Josh series, ‘In Space,’ takes readers on a high-flying adventure into the great unknown! Join the lovable Josh, who-with ideas from his favorite travel shows and his mother’s laundry basket-uses his brilliant imagination to take off for the stars. With Explorations of Commander Josh, Donna LeBlanc crafts a unique world in which readers can play and explore, with the promise of many more adventures to come!”
SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC (formerly Sweet Dreams Publishing of Massachusetts) is a leader of self publishing in Massachusetts. We offer optimal self-publishing solutions for authors worldwide. From literary agency representation to worldwide marketing – including international rights – and independent publishing, we provide the best solutions for authors. Our services include developmental editing and copy editing, custom cover design and layout, book marketing, query letter and book proposals, literary agency representation, print, and e-book development. We provide the best exposure for your book!
There are lots of great contests and journals that are accepting submissions right now for many different types of work, including fiction, non-fiction, fan and flash fiction, essays, short stories, and poetry. Why enter writing contests, you ask?
Entering these types of contests can help you keep your writing and publishing momentum going.
Submitting to writing contests is a great way to gain credibility as a writer/author.
They can help create interest in your work, leading to other opportunities and potentially, to sales.
An award will give you an edge, which may be all the difference needed to propel your work into bestseller territory.
When you win or get placed, you can say you are an “award-winning author,” giving your writing a boost that comes from a third-party endorsement.
Awards can help you gain credibility with readers, reviewers, reporters, agents, and publishers.
Below is a list of writing contests for the winter that we put together to help you submit your work. Now get submitting!
The Orison Poetry Prize
Deadline: February 15, 2015
Orison Books offers $1,500 and publication in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 60-100 pages by February 15, 2015. Entry fee: $25. Judge: C. Dale Young. Anyone with a close personal relationship with or who has ever been a student of the judge is ineligible. All finalists considered for publication. Electronic submissions preferred; hard copy submissions may be sent to the following address with a check for the entry fee made out to Orison Books: The Orison Poetry Prize, PO Box 8385, Asheville, NC 28814. For complete guidelines, go to www.orisonbooks.com/submission-guidelines.
Able Muse Contests for 2015
Deadline: February 15, 2015; March 31, 2015
Write Prize (poetry & fiction): $500 each plus publication. Final judges are H.L. Hix (poetry) and Eugenia Kim (fiction). $15 entry fee. Deadline February 15, 2015.
Book Award (poetry): $1000 plus book publication. The final judge is Peter Campion. $25 entry fee. Deadline: March 31, 2015. Enter now—go to www.ablemusepress.com for details.
Ruminate Magazine Nonfiction Prize
Deadline: February 20, 2015 Ruminate Magazine is currently accepting submissions for our 2015 VanderMey Creative Nonfiction Prize. Along with publication in our Summer 2015 issue, the winner will be awarded $1500 and the runner-up will be awarded publication and $200. There is a $20 entry fee, which includes a copy of the magazine. The deadline for submissions is February 20th, 2015. To read the complete contest guidelines and to submit, please visit our website: www.ruminatemagazine.com/submit/contests/nonfiction/.
The Vine Leaves Vignette Collection Award
Deadline: February 28, 2015
The Annual Vine Leaves Vignette Collection Award is now open. The award includes a cash prize of $500, publication by Vine Leaves Press (paperback and eBook), 20 copies of the paperback, worldwide distribution, and promotion through Vine Leaves Literary Journal and staff websites. Guest judge is Sara Sargent, an editor at Simon Pulse (imprint of Simon & Schuster). Author will receive a 70% net royalty on all eBook and print sales. Submit a 50 to 60 page manuscript, plus $25 fee via Submittable. For more information and submission guidelines, please visit: www.vineleavesliteraryjournal.com/contests.
Lunch Ticket’s Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation/Multi-Lingual Texts
Deadline: February 28, 2015 Lunch Ticket is accepting submissions for our Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation/Multi-Lingual Texts. Include original work with your translation, and a document showing that you have permission to publish the original work. Original, bilingual work may be submitted under the translation category; please indicate in your cover letter. The responsibility for clearing rights and permissions for translated works, and the payment of any related fees, lies with the translator. The winner receives $200 and will be featured in the next issue of Lunch Ticket alongside two semi-finalists. For submission guidelines (follow guidelines CAREFULLY) visit our website: lunchticket.org.
Lunch Ticket’s Diana Wood Memorial Award is now accepting submissions!
Deadline: February 28, 2015
The Diana Woods Memorial Award in creative nonfiction was established in Diana’s memory by family, friends, and the Antioch University L.A.’s MFA community. DWMA serves as an opportunity for authors worldwide to be published in Lunch Ticket. Creative nonfiction authors should submit an essay of 5,000 words maximum on the subject of their choice to be considered for the award. Submissions from February 1, 2015 to February 28, 2015. The winner receives $250 and will be featured in the next issue of Lunch Ticket with two semi-finalists. For further details/submission manager (please read the guidelines CAREFULLY before submitting), visit: lunchticket.org.
Wag’s Revue 2015 Winter Contest in Fiction, Poetry, Essays
Deadline: February 28, 2015
The online-only literary quarterly Wag’s Revue is now accepting submissions for its 2015 Winter Contest. Entries in fiction, poetry, and essays are considered. First prize will be $1000 and publication in the magazine. Second will be $500 and third $100. All entires are considered for publication. To familiarize yourself with Wag’s Revue (and read past contest winners), visit the archive (www.wagsrevue.com/archive) where all 19 issues can be read for free.
Bethlehem Writers Roundtable Short Story Award
Deadline: February 28, 2015
Accepting stories (fiction or memoir) of 2000 words or fewer on the theme “Food Stories.” Winners received cash and publication, with the first place story eligible for publication in the anthology, A READABLE FEAST: SWEET, FUNNY, AND STRANGE TALES FOR EVERY TASTE, to be published in the Fall of 2015. (And they’ll receive a free copy of the paperback, too!) Entry Fee: $10
“Nivalis”, the theme of the contest, represents the winter season. Interpretation of the theme is left to the writer’s fancy – the story may have winter as the backdrop, or may convey a sense of chill. It may be a gloomy tale up in the north, or a pleasant story away from the tropical heat. We are not too choosy about the genre either – we love what is known as literary fiction, but your story could as easily belong to the crime / mystery genre, or it may be a tale of horror if you have Edgar Poe in you. In other words, so long as there is a commonly accepted or acceptable interpretation of the theme embedded in the plot, it works for us. However, this contest is not for children’s stories, science fiction, fantasy, young adult, chick lit or similar such. Entry Fee: $10. More info: www.fabulapress.com.
The contest will be judged by four independent judges, including Clare Wallace, Literary Agent for Darley Anderson.
St. Petersburg Review Poetry Contest
Deadline: March 1, 2015 St. Petersburg Review is an independent, international, nonprofit, annual review of contemporary literature that seeks to foster and promote global connections and affinities through the annual publication of quality fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama from all countries. Our poetry contest, which has a 5% or better publication rate, will be accepting submissions September 1, 2014 – March 1, 2015. Visit www.stpetersburgreview.com for complete information on the contest and other SPRactivities.
Calling for 2015 Molly Prize Submissions
Deadline: March 9, 2015
From January 1 through March 9, 2015, The Texas Observer and the Texas Democracy Foundation will be accepting entries for The MOLLY National Journalism Prize. The MOLLY is an annual national print or online journalism award in honor of Molly Ivins with a $5,000 prize and two honorable mentions of $1,000. The prize will be awarded for an article or series of up to four short, related articles or columns telling the stories that need telling, challenge conventional wisdom, focus on civil liberties and/or social justice, and embody the intelligence, deep thinking and/or passionate wit that marked Molly’s work. www.texasobserver.org/mollyawardsubmissions/
Annual BrainStorm Contest Seeks Poetry from Survivors of Mental Illness
Deadline: March 13, 2015
The 13th Annual BrainStorm Poetry Contest is open to poets worldwide who have personally experienced mental illness. The entry fee is $15 for up to three poems, and only $12 if you submit online. This contest, which is blind-judged, is intended as a fundraiser for Open Minds Quarterly as well as a way to support excellence in our peer community. We celebrate the winners and honourable mentions with publication in Open Minds Quarterly and award monetary prizes to the top three winners: $250 First Prize; $150 Second Prize; $75 Third Prize. More details here:www.openmindsquarterly.com/portfolio/2015-brainstorm-poetry/.
Willow Springs Fiction Prize 2015
Deadline: March 15, 2015
Willow Springs Fiction Prize—$2,000 plus publication. Submission deadline: March 15, 2015. Original, unpublished work only; no word limit for submissions. $15 entry fee. All entrants receive a one-year subscription to Willow Springs. Submit a story online at willowsprings.submittable.com/submit. More details here: willowsprings.ewu.edu/contests.php.
Jabberwock Review Prizes in Fiction and Poetry
Deadline: March 15, 2015
Jabberwock Review invites submissions to the Nancy D. Hargrove Editors’ Prizes in Fiction and Poetry. Each winner (one for fiction and one for poetry) receives $500 and publication in Jabberwock Review. All finalists are considered for publication. The entry fee of $15 includes a one-year subscription, beginning with the prize issue. Simultaneous submissions welcome. Please go to www.jabberwock.org.msstate.edu for more information and to submit your work online.
Epiphany Magazine Chapbook Contest Call for Submissions
Deadline: March 15, 2015
Fiction, judged by Luis Jaramillo; poetry, judged by Katie Peterson; literary nonfiction, judged by Kristin Dombek; Graphic literature, judged by Lydia Conklin. Please submit work for the following genres with a cover sheet, title, name & contact info. Work must be previously unpublished—online or in print: Fiction, Nonfiction, & Graphic Lit: submit 10- 20 pages double-spaced, 12pt font. You can submit a single story or several stories within that page/word count to be published as a whole. For Graphic Lit entries: black and white illustrations only. Poetry: One poem per page. Total page count should not exceed 20 pages; all poetry forms welcome. $6 submission fee. Submit: www.epiphanyzine.com/submissions/.
Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction
Deadline: March 14, 2015
Now accepting short story submissions to the 2015 Nelligan Prize. Author of the winning story receives $2,000 and the story is published in the fall issue of Colorado Review. The final judge is Lauren Groff. All stories will be considered for publication. $15 entry fee (add $2 for online submissions). Stories must be under 50 pages and unpublished.coloradoreview.colostate.edu
Prairie Schooner Book Prize Contest in Fiction and Poetry
Deadline: March 15, 2015
PRIZES: $3,000 and publication through the University of Nebraska Press. ELIGIBILITY: The Prairie Schooner Book Prize Series welcomes manuscripts from all writers writing in English. JUDGING: Semi-finalists will be chosen by members of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize Series National Advisory Board. HOW TO SEND: We accept electronic submissions and hard copy submissions, with an entry fee of $25. WHEN TO SEND: Submissions will be accepted between January 15 and March 15, 2015. For submission guidelines or to submit online, visit prairieschooner.unl.edu. General submissions are always free and accepted through May 1.
Prospero Prizes for Poetry and Flash Fiction
Deadline: March 15, 2015
Attend, Leviathan. SHARKPACK Poetry Review Annual seeks poetry and very short fiction of unusual philosophical and/or imaginative power for our second issue, themed ‘Cities, Sites.’ The Prospero Prizes include a cash award of $150 and feature publication; winners will be chosen from general (free!) submissions. 1-3 prizes will be awarded. Please visitspr.submittable.com for guidelines and further details. We’re very grateful for your interest.
2015 Gulf Coast Prizes in Poetry and Prose
Deadline: March 22, 2015
Awarding $6,000 in prizes to poets, essayists, and fiction writers, the 2015 judges for the Gulf Coast Prizes are Sarah Shun-lien Bynum (Fiction), Maggie Nelson (Nonfiction), and Carl Phillips (Poetry)! The contest awards publication and $1,500 each to the best poem, essay, and short story, as well as $250 to two honorable mentions in each genre. The winners will appear in Gulf Coast 28.1 in Fall 2015, and all entries are considered for paid publication on our website as Online Exclusives. Deadline: March 22, 2015. Visitgulfcoastmag.org for details.
The Prime Number Magazine Awards
Deadline: March 31, 2015
Three categories: Poetry, Short Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction. First prize in each category wins $1,000; Second Prize wins $250. First, Second, and Third Prizes published in Prime Number Magazine. Guidelines at www.PrimeNumberMagazine.com.
Agha Shahid Ali Poetry Prize
Deadline: March 31, 2015
Honoring the memory of a celebrated poet and a beloved teacher, the Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry is awarded annually and is sponsored by The University of Utah Press and The University of Utah Department of English. $1,500 Cash Prize and Publication from the Press; $500 and reading in The University of Utah’s Guest Writers Series from The University of Utah Department of English. We are now on Submittable. Manuscripts must be in English and should be between 48 and 100 pages. Manuscripts are due March 31st with a fee of $25. Check our website for more information: upress.lib.utah.edu/ali-poetry-prize.php.
Masters Review Emerging Writers Contest
Deadline: March 31, 2015
$5,000 awarded. The Masters Review anthology is open to submissions from any writer who has not published a novel-length work. $500 and publication, which includes an exclusive mailing to agents, editors, and publishers is awarded to ten writers. Entries judged by Kevin Brockmeier. Send up to 7,000 words. All entries considered for publication. $20 (nonrefundable) reading fee required. Visitwww.mastersreview.com/submissions for complete guidelines. “If these are the voices we’ll be hearing from, American literature has an awful lot to look forward to.” –Ramona Ausubel, author of No One is Here Except All of Us and A Guide to Being Born
$1000 Free Entry Film Poetry Prize & Call for Submissions
Deadline: Year-round
Carbon Culture Review is at the intersection of technology + literature + art. Available in bookstores in the United States, we feature monthly creative work, literature and art, as well as articles and reviews on exciting new tech online alongside our annual print edition. We are now offering an annual $1000 film poetry prize—with free entry! Also seeking submissions in all genres. Hack us at carbonculturereview.com.
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For indie and self-published authors, there’s a lot of talk about building your author platform and/or your marketing platform. Some people see these as two distinct entities while others may argue that they are the same thing. We won’t get into the semantics of that. The key is really just creating a platform, which means you have visibility, authority, proven reach, and a target audience in your topic area. It’s great to be able to start with your family and friends, but you really need to reach beyond them as you’re developing a platform. Social media and online marketing can play a role, but you need to be doing a lot more than this. There are four things to keep in mind as you start to think about building your author platform:
