Literary Contests and Events
Writers need communities to belong to so that they feel less out-of-step with the rest of the world. It's nice to know there are conferences, workshops, and events that cater to your needs. Xlibris offers this listing as a courtesy to our authors; however, it is in no way affiliated with the events or organizations posted. Please contact event organizers directly with any questions.
Contests
Deadline of final entries: January 25, 2012
The 2011 Los Angeles Book Festival is now open for entries to its annual indie book awards. This annual book competition rewards books deserving of greater recognition from the global community.
The Los Angeles Book Festival will accept entries in various literary and nonfiction categories. All entries must have been published on or after January 1, 2008. Entries can be in English, French, Spanish, German, or Portuguese and can be from major publishers, self-published, or issued by an independent publishing house.
The winners will be announced at the gala ceremony held in Los Angeles in March 2012.
Complete details and entry forms are available at http://www.losangelesbookfestival.com/ or by e-mail at LosAngelesBookFest@sbcglobal.net.
Deadline of final entries: March 15, 2012
Calling all independent authors and publishers!
The 16th Independent Publisher Book Awards, the first unaffiliated awards program open exclusively to independent, university, and self-published titles, is now accepting entries for books released between November 1, 2010 and March 15, 2012.
Since its launch in 1996, the Independent Publisher Book Awards competition has worked to elect a reading list of independent books that challenge, entertain, and elevate readers. With the tagline, Recognizing Excellence in Independent Publishing, the IPPY Awards showcase the best books from throughout North America and the English-speaking world. The awards are presented each spring at a gala ceremony during the BookExpo America convention in New York. Winners receive gold, silver, and bronze medals and foil seals for their book covers.
Our Regional IPPY Awards identify the best books published in eight U.S. and two Canadian regions, plus Australia and New Zealand. All entrants are automatically considered for a short list of Outstanding Books of the Year, recognizing titles that break new ground in specialized categories such as Freedom Fighter of the Year, Most Likely to Save the Planet, and also new this year, Outstanding E-Book Achievement.
All independent, university, small press, and self-publishers who produce books intended for the North American market are eligible to enter. Complete details and entry forms, including exhibitor applications, can be obtained at http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/IPAwards.php or by e-mailing editor@independentpublisher.com.
Deadline of final entries: April 10, 2012
The 2012 National Indie Excellence Book Awards are now open for entries! The competition is judged by independent experts from all segments of the indie book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers, and professional copywriters. They select award winners and finalists based on overall excellence of presentation.
The Indie Excellence Book Awards is open to all self-published English language books in print* that are available for sale online and in physical bookstores. Authors may submit one book per category. The 2012 Winners and Finalists will be announced on May 15, 2012.
Complete details and entry forms are available at http://www.indieexcellence.com/award-rules.htm. Authors may also e-mail support@indieexcellence.com.
*Regretfully, e-books are not eligible for the 2012 awards.
Deadline of final entries: April 30, 2012
The JPX Media Group has announced the opening of its third annual International Book Awards for 2012. The 2012 International Book Awards is open to all English-language books published from 2009-2012, possessing an ISBN, and is currently available for sale online to global consumers.
The International Book Awards is specifically designed to be a promotional vehicle for authors and publishers to launch their careers, open global markets, and compete with talented authors and publishers throughout the world. The winners and finalists will be announced at Book Expo America in NYC on June 5-7, 2012.
Complete details and entry forms are available at http://www.internationalbookawards.com/2012callforentries.html or authors may e-mail iba2012@earthlink.net for further information.
Conferences and Workshops
Progoff Intensive Journal Program for Self-Development Year-round
The founder of Progoff Intensive Journal Program for Self-Development is a prominent psychologist who studied with Dr. Carl Jung. Dr. Progoff has devoted his life to exploring new ways to encourage creativity. The Progoff Intensive Journal Workshop exercises is designed to help the writer access and make tangible their feelings and experiences. It has an atmosphere of privacy for writers who do not want to share intimate details of their lives. Visit their website at http://intensivejournal.org/index.php for more information.
Olvar Wood is a writing retreat that offers workshops, master classes, retreats, mentorships, and online courses. Different retreat schedules for specific genre happens year-round in Palmwoods, Queensland, Australia. The workshops are supervised by authors Nike Bourke and Inga Simpson and by visiting professional authors, editors, and agents. For more information about Olvar Woods retreats and online writing workshops, visit their website at http://www.olvarwood.com.au/.
Write Here Write Now is a brainchild of playwright, screenwriter, and performer Jan Cornall. The program has weekend workshops and retreats in the locality and international locations. Every writing workshop has a specific genre including memoir, fiction, humour, religion, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, screenwriting, travel, and young adult. For more information about the array of workshop offerings, visit the website at http://www.writersjourney.com.au/.
Writing for Film & Television Intensive at Melbourne University has a top-notch roster of faculty that includes Michael Brindle, Jutta Goetze, Rob Caldwell, Mark O’Toole, and award-winning Robert Greenberg. Daily lectures and workshops cover movie and TV writing, comedy writing, and children’s writing. For more information about the writing courses, visit their website at http://www.summerfilmschool.com/.
