The Reward in Awards

It’s a thrill to announce that my latest novel, Undeveloped Memories, was recently awarded second place in the women’s fiction category of the National Excellence in Storytelling (NEST) Contest from the Central Region Oklahoma Writers! Over the years, I’ve entered several of my past works in the competition but never placed, so receiving the news was a real surprise. This is the first award I’ve garnered for my writing, making it a special honor.

I’d be lying if I claimed not to fantasize about winning something, especially when my dream of writing began as a kid. Back then, I wanted to write children’s books—I was a child, after all—and the big award I was aware of for them was the Newbery Award™. My elementary school teachers had an array of stories that boasted the shiny seal on the covers, and they’d draw attention to the award and what it meant. As I sat on the reading rug and admired the badge of honor, I would imagine a cover with my name on it, bearing such a symbol.

Once my writing journey started to gain steam, awards took on a new meaning. The Frugal Book Promoter by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a guidebook for me in the months leading up to the release of my debut novel, made me realize that awards are more than a fun tickle to your self-confidence. Rather, they’re a part of marketing and opening new horizons to one’s writing journey.

“Awards set your book apart…a reader may have trouble telling which book is most likely to set her heart a’beating,” Howard-Johnson points out. She relates that books that win some sort of award, “will probably clench a sale faster than many other sales techniques.” (Chapter Seventeen, Second Edition)

Shouldn’t this be the most exciting part of marketing? After all, it plays into those fantasies of getting the glossy seal, certificate, trophy, or whatever sort of accolades that accompany it.

In my case, no, it wasn’t. According to Howard-Johnson, I’m not alone in my reluctance to enter contests. Like every other form of marketing, it takes work from the author, as awards don’t just miraculously land on your cover like I used to imagine as a kid. On the contrary, you have to submit your work into the competition and in most cases, pay a fee.

Fees can range from modest to moderately expensive, depending on what you can allot for marketing. Personally, I don’t have a big budget, so I’ve entered just a few over my decade in the business. Sometimes, your publisher may contribute to the payment, but that’s rare these days and will be addressed in your contract one way or the other. Some contests require the nomination to come from the publisher, so you may need to give the company a nudge to enter yours.

Through the years, I’ve followed Howard-Johnson’s advice to be selective about what contest I enter. Along with deciding on how much you can spend on a fee, it’s also appropriate to consider what type of stories they’re interested in. When you’re shopping a book for publication, you’re more efficient when you approach editors and agents who prefer stories in your genre. Picking contests requires the same discretion, and you’ll be spared money, effort, and disappointment by choosing well, perhaps even looking at past winners to decide if you have a shot.

Howard-Johnson also cites the fear of rejection as a deterrent for authors to enter competitions. This has been true for me, as well. It’s always intimidating to be judged and deflating when you don’t make the cut. A month or so before I received word about the honor for Undeveloped Memories, I lost a different contest the same group put on. I thought everything else was decided at the same time, so it was a true shock to place in this category.

Despite the disappointments over my career, I’ve endeavored to overcome my fear of rejection by keeping in mind the fact that nobody knows they’re going to win when they step onto a playing field. While losing is a possibility, players give their all to walk away victorious. If they didn’t even show up, their chances of success go from fifty percent to zero percent.

In past posts, I’ve made it clear that my writing gives me purpose beyond financial gain or prestige, and this acknowledgment doesn’t change that. A month ago, I was at peace with the notion of never winning anything. Though I once dreamed of netting a Newbery™, that wasn’t my reason for pursuing this path.

Just the same, this second-place finish for a book I put years of work, along with my heart and soul, into is something I’ll always cherish. The little girl who envisioned that seal on her cover is on Cloud Nine inside of me! I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Central Region Oklahoma Writers, The Wild Rose Press, my wonderful readers, and family! And special shout-out to my mom for losing that roll of film way back when, inspiring the concept for Undeveloped Memories!