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BEWARE OF SCAMMERS IN THIS SEASON · DA CREW Podcast

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  Speaker 1: Beware navigating book award season. What every author needs to
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  Speaker 1: know as award season approaches, excitement buzzes in the air.
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  Speaker 1: We all want the recognition that comes with a shiny
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  Speaker 1: seal on our covers and our names on winner lists.
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  Speaker 1: After all, in the world of books, an award is
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  Speaker 1: more than a trophy. It's a formal recognition of excellence,
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  Speaker 1: an accolade that can elevate your career, open doors, and
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  Speaker 1: grow your audience. In short, an award is an honor
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  Speaker 1: bestowed upon an author or their book as a mark
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  Speaker 1: of distinction in literature, from game changing titles like the
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  Speaker 1: Pulitzer Prize and the Booker Prize to local or genre
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  Speaker 1: specific honors. Earning recognition can feel like a dream come true.
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  Speaker 1: But before you reach for your credit card, it's wise
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  Speaker 1: to ask how much is too much to pay for
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  Speaker 1: a book award? And is it really an award? If
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  Speaker 1: you have to pay for it, don't let award fever
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  Speaker 1: cloud your judgment. Most prestigious literary awards, such as the
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  Speaker 1: Pulletzer National Book Award or the Booker do not charge
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  Speaker 1: high submission fees. If they do, fees are purely to
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  Speaker 1: cover it. Administrative costs and are never tied to your
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  Speaker 1: chances of winning. Instead, the focus is on literary merit
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  Speaker 1: and peer recognition. But as any author will tell you,
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  Speaker 1: inboxes and Facebook feeds flood this time of year with
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  Speaker 1: offers for less known contests and so called awards charging
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  Speaker 1: hefty sums. These are often dubbed pay to play or
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  Speaker 1: vanity awards, and while some are above board, many exist
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  Speaker 1: more to make money from hopeful authors than to genuinely
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  Speaker 1: recognize literary excellence. What's a normal fee? What should raise
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  Speaker 1: red flags? Legitimate awards might charge a reasonable submission fee,
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  Speaker 1: typically twenty five to one hundred dollars to cover judges, stipends,
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  Speaker 1: and promotion. Red flags fees over one hundred and fifty
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  Speaker 1: to two hundred dollars with little transparency on judges or
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  Speaker 1: past winners. Be wary if you must shell out additionally
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  Speaker 1: for stickers, plaques, or event attendants to claim your prize