Forum: Author Hangout

It's pretty much a vanity award site. Send them money and they'll give you an award. Then you can promote that you received their award.

This is pretty much the same thing that J.D. Power and Consumer Digest (NOT to be confused with Consumers Report) do with cars and other products.

That's pretty much what I assumed, given the high fees and the assorted categories (meaning you can pick and choose whichever is least represented to guarantee success (and encourage you to send multiple checks for the same, exact book)).

I wasn't planning to act on it, but was curious about the process (i.e. are there any legitimate independent awards without substantial submission fees?).

as far as I know the Clitorides Awards are independent of any story site other than that it originates from ASSTR

I thought ASSTR abandoned the Clitorides and Lazeez took it over.

The Clitorides Awards? No fees, advertised on several story sites, and nomination by readers so not 'buying an award'. Unfortunately only for erotic stories which excludes some very good authors/stories on this site.

Sorry, I forgot (dropped) a word. I meant "are there any legitimate independent-publisher awards"? (i.e. something which reviews and promotes independent publishers/authors)

I'm not expecting any rewards, prizes or serious considerations, but I'm just curious that there aren't any legitimate awards to counter these bogus 'vanity' ones which seem to be proliferating.

I'm guessing that it will cost publishers too much to set up such an award against very little return AND the risk of having none of his own authors getting an award. Unless of course the award is limited to his own authors which would greatly diminish the value and prestige of such an award.

Publishers, no. But Smashwords, which still refers to themselves as the 'largest Independent Publisher's Outlet' could run it to further establish their claim, while thumbing their nose at Amazon, who's own Awards are limited to Amazon Publishers and are strictly for print contracts.

are there any legitimate independent-publisher awards"?

The Pulitzer for Literature. LOL

And the other end: The Bulwer Lytton award for the worst.

Of course the Best Seller lists are like an award and authors put it on their novels that it's a bestseller or the author is a bestseller

Of course the Best Seller lists are like an award and authors put it on their novels that it's a bestseller or the author is a bestseller

I've yet to see a national 'best seller' list that wasn't based on either a single traditional publisher, or a group of traditional publishers' reports.

Alas, aside from paying someone, there's really nowhere for independent authors to turn.

I've yet to see a national 'best seller' list that wasn't based on either a single traditional publisher, or a group of traditional publishers' reports.

Some self-published authors I know on wattpad made the Amazon best seller list:

Alec Hutson did on his debut novel "Crimson Queen." (don't know about his other novels)

Michael J Sullivan (he used to be traditionally published, but no longer since the Hatchett CEO demanded audio rights which Michael wasn't willing to give up). His self-pubbed books make the best seller list.

Of course Hugh Howey was a NY Times and USA Today best seller with his self-pubbed novel "Wool."

Did you notice on the wikipedia for the award they have a warning of conflict of interest because the information came from someone associated with the award?

Yes, and I also noted that the IPPY review rates it's own site, as well as those of anyone who pays them for the rating, with no regard for quality, reputation or merit.

There are Science Fiction awards, the Hugo named for Hugo Gernsback, for one. Also there are Nebula awards and Locus Magazine has some.

But, as far as I know, those are not open to 'Independent Publishers', only to books published by traditional booksellers (as the words are typically submitted by the publishing houses (though I may be mistaken about that). In either case, the books are typically championed by their publishers for each of those contests.