Okay, as some of you may remember, I am not a huge fan of contests–at least of the unpubbed variety. But now I find myself on the other side of the contest line, the published side. So, should I or shouldn’t I enter them? (published contests that is)
Some authors enter ALL of them. Some don’t enter any.
I just can’t decide if it is worth it. Here’s some pros and cons:
- Con: They cost money. We are talking from $15 to $50 per pop (per book).
- Pro: You get to put “Award Winning Author” on stuff. (Uh, if you win, of course)
- Con: You may not win–or even place. (Duh)
- Pro: Winning, even placing, would feel good. (Hey, I’m like every other neurotic writer, nothing beats a little affirmation)
- Con: You have to supply the books, package them all up, mail them, in other words–more money.
- Pro: Winning feels good. (worth mentioning again)
- Con: Losing feels bad. (you could probably have figured this one out yourself)
I think that gives you the basic idea, but what about the BIG issues? How about sales? Do contest wins equal sales–either of more books to editors or of this book to readers? I know I do at times search out contest winners especially of what I consider big contests like the Anthony, Edgar, or Nebula. Amazon even has a special page for Award Winners. Uh, but do you see any Romance contests listed there? No. So, do they carry any weight with anyone? I’ve heard conflicting things. One author said winning the Rita could add a zero to your next advance check. But I know another who tried to parlay contest wins/places into more $$ and was told “contest wins don’t equal sales/readership”.
So, what do you think? Will you buy a romance because it has won a contest? Does it at least make the author look like a better risk for you hard-earned book-buying dollars? How about for future sales? You think an editor gives a rip if an author has placed in contests? And finally, what contests, if I were going to enter any, do you think look the best to place in?
Thanks for all your help! Maybe you’ll see my book in a contest near you soon…
Lori
No related posts.
Great question, Lori. Last year, I entered All Keyed Up in several contests with often double the books needed because it qualified for “Best First Book” categories. I didn’t final or win a single contest that I entered. However, readers voted it to a tie for Best Contemporary Single Title (with Jennifer Crusie and Susan Elizabeth Phillips no less) in the RBL Romantica “Hughies”. I plan to enter Key of Sea in a few contests this year. It might be an exercise in frustration, but I’m proud of this book and I want it to have a chance to gain some contest accolades. There are some contests that have bigger fame and those are the ones I’ll target.
So, I asked a friend this–what makes those contests (except the Rita) worth more? What does “bigger fame” mean to you?
Lori
I guess it depends on what we perceive as important in the first place. I have no experience in the myriad contests for published books, except for the RITA, so that’s the only contest that means anything to me.
Speaking as a reader, when I see an “Award Winning Author” sticker on a book or on an author’s web site, it doesn’t really mean anything to me. What award? Given by whom? For which book? The information doesn’t add or subtract from my buying decision — it simply takes up space on the book cover.
Contests are kind of weird creatures anyway. (Sort of like reviews.) I mean, I might win a contest for my 2005 series book, but by the time the contest wins are announced, my book’s been off the shelves and in the Dumpster for over a year. Am I increasing sales? No. Increasing name recognition? Dunno.
So a contest, for me, has to be an ego-stroking thing more than a publicity tool or business step-up. If I keep that in mind, I’m less likely to put too much emotional energy into the contest, and the outcome is in a more accurate perspective.
As a reader contest wins don’t influence my buying decisions. As an author, I suppose it’s nice for the ego if you win a contest but it depends who’s judging. I’d rather top the bestsellers list – that’s the label I really want on my books.
I had a long hiatus between 1999 and 2002 with nothing on the shelves. (Well, one thing but who knew? *g*) So when I had four books out in 2002, I celebrated by entering every small contest out there. Then I sat back and asked myself why? If I, the author, had to dig and scramble to find these contests, readers aren’t going to know – or care – a thing about them. All I’m doing is giving myself a chance to put contest placements in a sig line and be noticed more than likely by other authors long before readers.
I haven’t entered anything but the RITA since. I have yet to find a compelling reason to do so. I don’t need a long sig line *g* and small chapter contests aren’t going to help readers find me in any sort of big way (enough to justify the expense of both fee and books) that I’ve experienced or heard others experience.
I’ve heard that some authors enter contests for the feedback from the judges. But are they people you know, that you trust? Do you care what they think?
As a reader, awards figure not one bit in my book buying habits. I’ve read “award winning books” that became wallbangers and books with no starred reviews or awards in the first few pages that I loved.
So, when it comes down to it, it is ego, isn’t it? That is a tough thing to admit for me, but I think I’m going to go with Alison and stick with the Rita–and my local chapter’s contest. (it’s free to members, my ego can afford that.)
Of course, tomorrow I may change my mind again…
Lori
Oh, and on feedback from judges, I didn’t think you got any from pubbed contests, and I have to say at this point I’ve had more than enough feedback.
Some of the contests that seem to have more of a ‘name’, after the RITAs, are the Golden Leaf, the Holt Medallion, the Maggies and National Readers Choice. Besides the honor of winning the RITA, I sure wouldn’t mind having my book receive the extra exposure that RWA gives to the winners with press releases and print ads. My books are single title, so they would still benefit even a year after release.
Actually, I don’t know of any published author contests that give feedback — and it would be useless if there were. After all, the book’s already published (and possibly out of circulation by the time the contest results are in
)so it’s not as if the author could (even if she would) change anything. 
I go through spurts of entering the smaller contests (I enter the RITA every year, just because). If my author copies have piled up and I suddenly find myself with a little extra cash, I’ll enter a couple. If not, I don’t sweat it. They do not influence sales AT ALL, but if I final it looks purdy on the ol’ website. And it’s a nice ego stroke.
Of course, if it doesn’t final — or, in the case of one of my last finals, comes in dead last
— then I have to deal with the bruise for a minute or two. But contests — ALL contests — are a total crapshoot. The odds of finding three or five random people who happen to really like the same book at the same time are actually rather small. As someone else said, I’d rather have the good numbers than the contest wins, because in the end that’s what gets you your next contract, not the contests.
This is funny, because just a couple of hours ago I was looking at the National Readers Choice Awards entry info and debating whether or not to enter.
I’m very proud of my 2005 release, and I think it has a good chance. The judges are readers, and if they like the book (that they get for free), they might go look for my other work. ALL of which remains available continuously. It may mean five additional people who now have seen my name, and maybe even a little word of mouth.
I don’t expect much from a contest. But then, I don’t expect much from anything. I have spent hundreds of dollars on ads in RT that netted me an opportunity at a 4-star review and half a dozen sales. I’ve invested hundreds of hours in online promotion with no noticable results.
And believe me, being out $80 (cost of books, shipping, and entry fee) is MUCH less painful than standing in front of a bookstore in the mall, begging (however you do it, it’s still begging) people to look at your book. The end results might be exactly the same professionally, but the personal toll is much less with the contest.
Most of my published friends say the only worthwhile contests are the ones judged by readers and the RITA.
I also heard an agent say at Reno that there are plenty of RITA winners who are still making a pittance, so I don’t know about that “adding a zero” thing. I guess it depends on where you’re starting from?
I don’t think the RITA has the same recognition outside the romance publishing industry as the Hugo or the Nebula do (but don’t ask me why!) I think SF and fantasy readers pay attention to that, but romance readers pay more attention to word of mouth, sub genre, and previous experience with that author, sub genre, and publisher. I hear a lot more about “I like Avon novels” and “I don’t read vampire stories” than anything about whether or not the author has won an award.
Maybe the difference between the Rita and the other contests (hugo, nebula, anthony, edgar) is how they are set up. I don’t really know but I think at least some of these are non-paying so any book in the genre is eligible to win. At least some of those are tied to conferences too–so people attending the conference vote for the winners. I know when I went to Bouchercon (huge mystery fan conference) I voted.
I think it would be great if romance had something similar.
The whole have-to-pay thing to me lowers the value of the award.
Lori
Speaking as a reader, I am never influenced to buy based upon a contest win or even reviews. My taste and preference material may be very different from those who judge and those who review. So receiving the 4 1/2 star review or the Award Winner sig don’t factor into whether or not I buy a book. Other readers’ mileage may vary.
As a reader, I don’t pay attention to award winning or even endorsements on the covers of books. It’s all about the blurb and word of mouth for me.
As a writer and wannabe contest slut, I think as long as you don’t take the contests seriously, you’ll have a good time. There are several prestigious contests out there. The Orange Rose comes to mind, along with the Molly, Maggie, and the Daphne du Maurier. Good luck!!!
As a reader, except for the big contests (Rita, Hugo, Nebula, Edgar, etc), I don’t pay attention to contest wins. After all, nothing but the biggies are mentioned on the covers of the books. Before I joined RWA, I never knew there were other contests out there for books to be judged by.
That said, I have to add that I have coordinated and judged contests (both pub’d & unpub’d) and because of that experience, I have started reading new authors I wouldn’t've been aware of before. Several of those authors, I’ve hand-sold to friends. If they hadn’t entered those contests, they wouldn’t've gotten at least those readers.
It might not equal much, but judges of those contests are readers too.
But to enter a contest you have to pay plus give away your books. More and more I think we would be better off just giving away some books–you get new readers, and you can target them more or use it for promotion if you choose.
Lori
Two thoughts:
1) I don’t think most of us can be considered “valid” in our opinions unless we as authors are only interested in selling to readers who are also authors. Various surveys and such have shown me that I do not think AT ALL like a typical reader who is not a writer. We’d need to ask the question in a different venue to see if there’s any impact of contest wins on the average reader.
2) What the heck is wrong with accolades for accolades’ sake? My mother was a copywriter for Smith and Wesson and was nominated for the Western Massachusetts Copywriter of the Year. That award would have made her feel good, had she gotten it. It would have netted her NOTHING at her job (i.e. bonus or pay increase) and had little impact on her career when she went elsewhere. Just about every industry has some kind of peer award, and no one disses the value of the award because they don’t make more money after they get it. Even the Oscars are highly regarded, even if people like Cuba Gooding Jr. can’t get a decent role afterward.
I don’t think having to pay to enter means anything. Readers don’t know that we have to pay to enter, and that payment doesn’t impact the judging process. If we didn’t pay, there would be no way to fund the award without taking away money from other programs.
As a reader, I don’t pay attention to award-winning, but I do look at the finalists and will occassionally pick up a book in the store because I recognized the name. But I’m unusual — I see these lists on loops and stuff. Where do “regular” readers (non-writers) see them?
For me, I agree with Natalie. Sometimes you just need affirmation that your writing is good enough.
There are some contests that generate more publicity to the finalists/winners. The Readers Choice Awards and the Bookseller’s Best are two. To have your cover advertised in bookstores as a winner is a fabulous award and totally worth the entry fee, IMO.
But, ultimately, the best award is seeing your sales increase to the point that you can put “NY Times Bestseller” on your next novel.