North Street Book Prize
5th year. Your self-published book can win up to $3,000 plus expert marketing services.
It looks like you're viewing this page with a mobile device. If you need help entering our contest, please email adam@winningwriters.com.
Please submit during February 15-June 30, 2019. Submit one or more self-published books in these categories:
- Mainstream/Literary Fiction
- Genre Fiction
- Creative Nonfiction & Memoir (definition)
- Poetry
- Children's Picture Book
- Graphic Narrative (novels, memoirs, story collections, etc.)
PRIZES
- One grand prize winner will receive $3,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $450 value)
- The top winner in each category will receive $1,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, and one free ad in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $150 value)
- One honorable mention in each category will receive $250
- We will publish online excerpts (1,000-6,000 words) from all entries that win a prize, along with critiques from the judges
Length limit: 200,000 words maximum. You may submit a collection of short stories or essays as a single entry. No restrictions on age or country. No restriction on year of publication. All contestants receive a free PDF download of The Great First Impression Book Proposal by Carolyn Howard-Johnson and free guides from BookBaby. Read about the winners of our third contest. The results of our fourth contest will be announced on February 15, 2019. The results of our fifth contest will be announced on February 15, 2020. Entry fee: $60 per book. When the contest is open, please click the Submittable button below for full details.
Supplemental contest information (copyright, privacy, special assistance, etc.)
Media
This contest accepts both print books and ebooks. If you submit an ebook, you will not be required to send a print book later.
Categories
Select one category only for your book. The judges reserve the right to reassign an entry from one category to another as they deem appropriate.
Hybrid Publishers
If you published your book with a hybrid publisher, it may still qualify for the North Street Book Prize. The key criteria are that the author controls the decision whether to publish and also shoulders most of the costs of publication. Please email adam@winningwriters.com to confirm eligibility.
No Scholarly Works
This contest is not appropriate for scholarly works (i.e. academic, peer-reviewed, or refereed work). These would impose a substantial fact-checking burden on our staff. We rely on authors to affirm the accuracy of their works.
No Country Restriction; English Language
Writers of all nations may enter. However, the works you submit should be in English.
Not Anonymous
This contest is not judged anonymously. Friends, relatives, and close students of the judges and Winning Writers staff should not enter.
No Age Restriction
Writers of all ages may enter.
Privacy
We may share your contact information with the contest co-sponsors. We will not rent your information to third parties.
Copyright
If your entry wins any cash prize, you agree to give Winning Writers a nonexclusive license to publish an excerpt from your work online (1,000-6,000 words). We will work with you to select an appropriate excerpt. You retain all other rights. You are free, for example, to publish your work in print or online elsewhere, and to enter it into other contests, whether or not you win a prize in this contest.
Refunds
Generally entry fees are not refundable. However, if you believe you have an exceptional circumstance, please contact us within one year of your entry.
Assistance
If you have questions, please email the contest administrator at adam@winningwriters.com.
Submitting to the North Street Book Prize by mail
Please make your US$60 entry fee payable to Winning Writers and mail with your entry to:
Winning Writers
Attn: North Street Book Prize
351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222
Northampton, MA 01060-3961
USA
Include your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email address with your entry. Please also indicate the category for your entry. We accept checks drawn on US banks. US currency and US dollar money orders are acceptable. You may also send your fee via PayPal to adam@winningwriters.com.
Paying via PayPal
Please go to PayPal and send your US dollar payment to adam@winningwriters.com. In the comments box, note which contest you are paying for.
After completing your transaction, please email your contest entry to adam@winningwriters.com. Include your postal mailing address and phone number in the body of your email message.
Need help? Please contact us for advice.
Thanks!
What is a self-published book?
We follow a definition provided by Chuck Sambuchino, Writer's Digest author and host of the Guide to Literary Agents Blog:
A self-published book is one where the decision to publish the book was the author's alone, the transaction involved the author paying any upfront costs for services, and the book is currently available for viewing and/or purchase. This includes books created through e-publishers (e.g. BookBaby, Smashwords, CreateSpace), book printers, and vanity presses.
Still not sure how this applies to you? Contact us.
Entering by mail
To submit to the North Street Book Prize by mail, please make your check or money order payable to Winning Writers and mail with your entry to:
Winning Writers
Attn: North Street Book Prize
351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222
Northampton, MA 01060-3961
USA
Please include your address, phone number, and email address with your entry. Note that entries will not be returned.
