2013 National Book Awards Entry Rules & Guidelines
The National Book Foundation’s Board of Directors has announced two important changes to the National Book Awards process, to be instituted in 2013. Click here to read the press release. >
The following are the official guidelines for the 2013 National Book Awards. The online entry form is now open and will close on June 3, 2013. To enter books for the National Book Awards, click on the blue image in the left-hand margin of this page.
PRIZES
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There are four panels of five Judges each in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature, each including a Chairperson, chosen by the National Book Foundation.
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The Foundation will announce a longlist of forty Semifinalist books, ten in each category, on September 12, 2013.
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The Foundation will announce a shortlist of twenty Finalist books, five in each category, on October 16, 2013.
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One Winner in each category will be announced at the National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner on November 20, 2013.
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Winners will each receive a prize of $10,000. Finalists will each receive a prize of $1,000.
ELIGIBILITY
All books must be published by U.S. publishers located in the United States between December 1, 2012 and November 30, 2013. All authors must be U.S. citizens.
The following are eligible:
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Full-length books of fiction and nonfiction
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Collections of short stories and collections of essays by one author
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Collected and selected poems by one author
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Books by authors who are living at the commencement of the eligibility year (December 1, 2012)
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Self-published books, provided that the author/publisher also publishes titles by other authors (Note: The Foundation may request the publisher's catalog to verify this.)
The following are NOT eligible:
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English translations of books originally written in other languages
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Anthologies containing work written by multiple authors
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Reprints of books published in previous Award years
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Books published through self-publishing services
In the event of a dispute as to eligibility, the Foundation will decide whether a book is eligible, and its decision will be binding.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
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Publishers must complete the online entry form and submit payment by June 3, 2013.
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Publishers must mail one copy of each submitted book to each of the five Judges in the appropriate category, as well as one copy to the Foundation’s office, to be received by July 15, 2013. All books must be sent via U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail or Media Mail. Please send books as early as possible. Judges are not obligated to consider books that arrive after July 15.
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Bound galleys and bound manuscripts are acceptable if a book has not yet been published. Finished books may be sent to replace galleys and manuscripts when available.
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For ebooks, please provide a printed and bound, 8 ½ x 11-inch copy of the book, including publication date information.
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There is a $125 entry fee for each title submitted. Accepted forms of payment include PayPal and credit card. Please be prepared with payment information before you begin the online submission process.
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Publishers whose submitted books are deemed ineligible by the Foundation will still be subject to the stated entry fee of $125 per title.
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The Chairpersons of each judging panel may "call in" titles, through the Foundation office, that have not been submitted by publishers. The Foundation then asks publishers to submit these titles for consideration, assuming they meet eligibility requirements. Publishers may submit at their own discretion. The $125 fee applies to all call-in titles.
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Each publisher must designate one person to coordinate all National Book Award-related matters with the Foundation throughout the Awards process.
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Each author must be made aware of and consent to the entry of his/her book for the National Book Awards.
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
All publishers submitting books for the National Book Award must agree to:
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Contribute $1,000 toward a promotional campaign if a submitted book becomes a Finalist.
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Inform authors of submitted books that, if selected as Finalists, they must be present at the National Book Awards Ceremony and at related events in New York City.
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Inform authors that the Finalists Reading will be held at The New School on Tuesday, November 19, 2013.
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Inform authors that the National Book Awards Ceremony will be held at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday, November 20, 2013.
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Cover all travel and accommodation costs for Finalists and provide them with seats at the Awards Ceremony.
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Purchase from the National Book Foundation, when appropriate, medallions to be affixed to the covers of Finalist and Winning books. The Foundation will also license the medallion image artwork for reproduction on the covers of Finalist and Winning books.
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Inform authors that, if selected as Finalists, they must agree to participate in the Foundation's website-related publicity.
Still have questions? Email Amy Gall at agall@nationalbook.org or call the
Foundation office at 212-685-0261 (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern).