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Post by Bird on Jul 31, 2013 4:17:19 GMT -5
While creeping around the NaNo forums, I ran across a thread about a contest I hadn't seen before. The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest runs every year, apparently, and the top two prizes are full publishing contracts for the winning novels submitted. One first place winner gets a $50,000 advance/contract; four second place winners each get a $15,000 advance/contract (U.S. dollars). There are also various smaller prizes. There are details and specifics here (closed for 2013; 2014 hasn't been posted yet). Has anyone else heard of this or considered entering? |
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Post by mllersil on Jul 31, 2013 12:22:08 GMT -5
Bird, are you planning to compete next year?  Awesome! |
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Post by Bird on Aug 1, 2013 3:47:29 GMT -5
I haven't decided, Sil. On one hand, I don't know if I would even have something ready to submit. The current project still needs a lot of work. On the other, I don't know if Amazon is even a publisher to shoot for. They do a ton of business, but I know nothing about their publishing. Will they put real effort into producing and marketing it? Will it be considered second-class pulp? Will other publishers turn up their noses at it on a "writing resume?" I have no idea. I'm so unprepared for the world of publishing I don't even know how much I don't know.  |
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Post by boomboom on Aug 1, 2013 19:31:50 GMT -5
Amazon has just started their publishing arm, so I would imagine they would put some effort in to it. But that's logic and logic and business management don't always go together. How traditional publishers would view it as a credit is difficult to say. The traditional companies are very upset with Amazon coming in to the publishing field and, of course, are not happy with the strong self-publishing branch. However, what the traditional publishing companies would probably look at more is your sales. If your numbers are good, I imagine they wouldn't care if you published on bus stop seats. They are in trouble and they know it - or they should.
Amazon sells books - more than anyone sells books. They are currently the 10,000 lbs. gorilla in the room. Having your book or stories or whatever published by them is not going to be a bad thing. This contest is probably a way to look for writers and get attention for their publishing arm.
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Post by Bird on Aug 3, 2013 4:00:20 GMT -5
Hmmm, good points, Boomboom. Really, I think I would probably fall down and kiss the feet of any publisher that would have me.  |
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Awesome!
Now, where did I leave off at?
My latest edition of Straight From Thecliff Chamber