The Pros and Cons of Literary Awards

Are you more likely to buy an award-winning book?

Recently I won a Carol Award. Yeah, I know. What the heck is that? Actually, it’s a well-known mark of honor in the Christian publishing arena, one that I never expected to win. Needless to say, I was not only a deer-in-the-headlights but lock-jawed as well.

But beyond my own boosted ego, is there really any value in winning a literary award? Or is boosted ego really a detriment? Today we’ll explore the pros and cons of literary awards.

Pros

Awards are great because they shine the spotlight on good books.

An awards list makes for a great reading list.

Adds creditability to a writer in the publisher’s eyes.

Awards lists give readers something to talk about, so it creates a buzz amongst readers.

A book that wins an award is a notch above other books that didn’t win an award.

Cons

Just because you win an award doesn’t make you a rockstar. It simply means that particular set of judges liked your style.

Awards don’t necessarily make sales numbers skyrocket.

Readers don’t usually pay attention to awards. They’re looking for a good story. Period.

Awards are just popularity contests.

There are too many great books out there that should receive an award. Awards are a discouragement to authors who didn’t win.

There you have it. For better or worse, award contests are here to stay. I don’t usually base my purchase of a book on an award, but I have used an award’s list to see what’s popular with other readers.

Oh, and just in case you're interested in which one of my stories won an award, it was The Doctor's Woman in The Courageous Brides Collection. Here's a blurb:

Emmaline Larson is no stranger to loss. Living in a land as wild as the natives who roam it, she's lost her father, her betrothed, and when Dr. James Clark crashes into her world, she loses the last thing left to her—her heart.