The Chicago Writers Association is accepting submissions for the 15th Annual Book of the Year Awards, for books published between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
The contest is open to members & non-members. Winners will be honored at a ceremony in January 2026. Exact date and location to be determined.
Categories of entry
Traditional Fiction: Published by the Big Five, independent (other traditional) publishers or small presses that do not charge the author a publishing fee.)
Indie Fiction: Self-published, Social or Assisted or Hybrid (publisher charges the author publishing fees.)
Traditional Non-fiction: Published by the Big Five, independent (other traditional) publishers or small presses that do not charge the author a publishing fee.
Indie Non-fiction: Self-published, Social or Assisted or Hybrid (publisher charges the author publishing fees.)
New for this year's contest
Traditional Poetry: Full-length poetry collections published by the Big Five, independent publishers, or small presses that do not charge the author a publishing fee.
Indie Poetry: Full-length poetry collections that are self-published, Social or Assisted, or Hybrid (publisher charges the author publishing fees).
Poetry Collections Eligibility: Only original full-length collections (minimum of 40 pages) written primarily in English are eligible. Translations or collections primarily in another language will not be considered. Collections that contain occasional lines or phrases in a foreign language are acceptable.
Anthologies in any genre will not be considered for this contest.
Categories based on Jane Friedman’s Path to Publishing.
Rules
We will be unable to consider your submission without payment.
Checks will NOT be accepted.
Once you have registered, mail your entry (HARD COPIES ONLY) to: Jotham Austin c/o Chicago Writers Association, 9601 White Oak Ave, Munster, IN 46321.
Books submitted to the contest cannot be returned. We do not accept entries in any digital format.
ONE ENTRY PER AUTHOR (Publishers may submit an entry for one or more authors - each one must be submitted individually.)
Submissions must be received between June 1 through August 1. Entries postmarked after August 1 will be disqualified. Submitting your form alone does not complete your entry. You must also have your book postmarked and mailed too.
We look forward to reading your work!
For more details on Book of the Year Awards, visit our website.
Continue to Entry Form
