In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson explains how memoirs can qualify for a range of book awards, what judges look for in personal narratives, and how authors can choose the right competitions.
Hannah Jacobson
Writing a memoir means sharing something personal, so it’s natural to wonder how your book will be judged and which awards will welcome it.
Memoir has a place in many award programs, ranging from contests devoted to personal narrative, to broader competitions with categories for true stories.
Where memoir fits in book awards
Some award programs focus only on memoir and personal narrative. Larger competitions often list memoir, autobiography, or creative nonfiction as categories within their nonfiction division, so your book would be judged alongside other true stories.
Specific subject-based awards can be a good fit, too. A memoir about caring for a parent, for example, might be eligible for a category on family or health, depending on how the program structures its categories.
If your story is rooted in a particular place, regional awards are another option to explore.
There is a wide range of nonfiction opportunities, and your specific memoir genre may find a special place in several different kinds of categories.
How judges read a true story
A memoir doesn’t need a dramatic plot to win an award.
Many award-winning memoirs center on everyday experiences like raising a family, changing careers, or caring for a loved one, and judges respond to how thoughtfully those experiences are written.
Story structure is a good place to start. Your memoir can move through events in whatever order serves the story, and decisions about where to begin and what to leave out affect how the whole book reads. Judges also pay attention to voice, since you’re both the narrator and a character in the story.
Reflection is another quality panels tend to notice. When you show what an experience meant to you, or how you see it differently now, readers have something to hold onto beyond the events themselves.
It also helps to treat the other people in your story fairly, and to make sure the book is professionally edited and presented. Remember that first impressions can make a difference to award judges who are assessing your book.
Choosing the right categories
Category names alone can be misleading, so be sure to read each program’s definitions before you enter.
For example, one award may group memoir with biography, while another treats it as part of creative nonfiction. Your book’s central subject is worth considering alongside its form, since it may lead you to an interesting topic category you hadn’t thought of before.
Every memoir has award opportunities that fit, and the right ones always depend on your book’s unique subject, audience, and eligibility. Take the time to match your memoir with programs that value what it does well, and you’ll give your self-published story the best chance at recognition.
About Hannah Jacobson, ALLi Awards & Story Marketing Adviser
Hannah Jacobson is the founder of Book Award Pro: the company that leads the industry in helping authors find the perfect reviews and awards for their books.
Book Award Pro is the industry expert on accolades, operating the world’s largest database of legitimate reviews and awards. Every year, authors spanning 6 continents win thousands of new awards, receive valuable reviews, and market their books in one easy-to-use platform.
Book Award Pro has been a trusted ALLi Partner Member since 2020. Hannah is the ALLi advisor for awards and story marketing, and contributes to ALLi resources including the Book Award & Contest Ratings page, Book Prizes & Awards for Indie Authors guidebook, and the Ultimate Guide to Winning Book Awards.
Begin your award-winning journey for free or connect with Hannah and Book Award Pro on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
Find out more
For more information on applying for book awards that are open to indie authors, you can purchase our short guide, available in multiple formats on our bookstore: Book Prizes & Awards for Indie Authors.
Members enjoy free access to the ebook.
Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue?
If you’re an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from our experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and our own ALLi team. Simply create an account (if you haven’t already) to request to join the forum and get going.
Non-members looking for more information can search our extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi’s Self-Publishing Advice Center.
