Here are some of the top book award competitions open to authors:
Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction – This award honors distinguished works of speculative fiction for children and young adults.
Arthur C. Clarke Award – This British award is given annually for the best science fiction novel published in the UK, honoring works that exemplify the innovative spirit of Arthur C. Clarke.
Booker Prize – One of the most prestigious literary awards globally, it honors the best original novel written in English and published in the UK or Ireland.
Bram Stoker Awards – Presented by the Horror Writers Association, these awards honor superior achievement in horror writing across various categories, including novels and short stories.
Chanticleer International Book Awards – Recognizing excellence in independent publishing across multiple genres, CIBAs celebrate both new talent and established authors in various categories.
Edgar Awards – Named after Edgar Allan Poe, the Edgars are presented by the Mystery Writers of America to honor the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction, television, film and theater. The annual showcase features prizes for Best Novel, Best First Novel, Best Short Story and other categories.
Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards – These awards honor independent publishers and self-published authors across various categories to promote high-quality indie books.
Goodreads Choice Awards – Based on votes from readers on Goodreads, this annual award recognizes popular books across multiple genres, including fantasy and science fiction.
Hugo Awards – Recognizing the best in science fiction and fantasy, the Hugo Awards are voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Society and have been awarded since 1953.
Locus Awards – Organized by Locus Magazine, these awards are determined by a public poll and recognize excellence across various genres, including science fiction, fantasy and horror.
National Book Award for Fiction – An annual award recognizing excellence in American literature across various categories, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people’s literature.
Nebula Awards – Presented by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, these awards honor the best works in science fiction and fantasy published in the previous year.
Nommo Awards – Celebrating African speculative fiction, these awards recognize outstanding works across various categories including novels and short stories.
PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction – This award recognizes outstanding works of fiction by American authors and is administered by the PEN/Faulkner Foundation.
Philip K. Dick Award – Named after the influential science fiction writer, this award recognizes distinguished science fiction published as a paperback original in the U.S.
Shirley Jackson Awards – Established to honor outstanding achievement in psychological suspense, horror and dark fantasy, the awards recognize both novels and short fiction. They’re presented annually at Readercon.
Women’s Prize for Fiction – Celebrating exceptional female authors, this prestigious award recognizes outstanding works of fiction written by women.
World Fantasy Awards – Established in 1975, these awards celebrate outstanding works of fantasy literature, including novels, short stories and lifetime achievements.