CHRISTIAN MARKET
Faith elements will be woven in and grow out of the piece organically. The entry should not contain undue profanity, graphic sex, or other objectionable material, and must otherwise conform to generally accepted standards as determined by The Word Guild. Judges may request submissions not meeting this requirement be disqualified.
Books Fiction
Children
- Fiction, including children’s picture books whose primary audience is children
Young Adult
- Fiction and non-fiction written for young adults. These may be stand-alone novels or novels written as part of a series and may encompass a range of sub-genres including but not limited to contemporary, historical, biographical, and suspense.
Contemporary
- Full-length novels whose characters, setting, and issues are within the context of the present time period (1960 – present)
Historical
- Fiction that weaves stories about characters in historical epochs or settings (up to 1960)
NEW! Novella
- a work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel. Typically between 10,000 and 40,000 words.
Romance
- Fiction whose characters and controlling theme focus on a romantic drama in a contemporary time period (1960 – present)
Speculative
- Imaginative fiction including allegory (fiction in the form of extended metaphor in which objects, person and actions are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative itself), fantasy (fiction that deliberately breaks free from reality, setting the story in a nonexistent and unreal world or concerning incredible or unreal characters), futuristic (fiction whose action, plot, and characters occur in a future period of time), and science fiction (fiction, in which scientific facts or hypotheses form the basis of adventures, often in the future, on other planets, or in other dimensions of time)
Mystery
- Fiction where the element of mystery plays a controlling part. Often a story of solving a murder.
Suspense
- Fiction that often focuses on a strange, frightening, or thrilling set of events
- Fiction where the element of terror plays a controlling part; often a tale of crime
- Includes adventure, and thrillers
Books Non-Fiction
Academic
- Includes topics such as theology, ethics, philosophy, history, doctrine, academic or theoretical content and entries have more complex content, references and terminology than contained in books aimed at lay readers.
- Entries have a target market of, professors, scholars, church leaders, clergy, or seminary/post-secondary students
Apologetics/Evangelism
- Entries aim to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defending the faith against objections or relay information about the Christian faith to others with the object of conversion
Biblical Studies
- Entries promote a deeper understanding of biblical topics
Children
- Nonfiction, including children’s picture books whose primary audience are children
Christian Living – Personal Growth
- Primary focus is reader’s personal growth; developing a relationship with God; helps readers to deepen their faith, become more mature as Christians, live a life that is pleasing to God
- May include accounts of overcoming adversity; reaching new levels of understanding; inspiring readers that similar changes are possible in their own lives
Christian Living – Spiritual Formation
- Content about spiritual formation; spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, study of Scripture, worship, and more
Culture
- Focus on contemporary social issues, global affairs; writing about social issues including justice, poverty, the environment, human rights, or Christianity’s role in contemporary culture
Devotional
- Daily or weekly devotionals
Inspirational
- Content that encourages, strengthens, moves, uplifts readers
- Content motivates readers to put their faith in God, or to deepen their trust in God
Instructional
- Primary focus on how-to, training, or reference material
Life Stories – Biography
- Biography, autobiography, or family history (not memoir)
Life Stories – Memoir
- Memoir
GENERAL MARKET
General Market pieces have been published for mainstream audiences, in mainstream publications, while still having an underlying expression of the writer’s Christian worldview. These pieces may deal with more difficult topics involving human nature or the brokenness of the world and its people. They may be written in a grittier way and expressions of faith may be subtler. However, the writer’s faith still influences the work and the work may also still offer encouragement or a greater understanding of Christ and the Christian faith.
Faith elements will be woven in and grow out of the piece organically. The entry should not contain undue profanity, graphic sex, or other objectionable material, and must otherwise conform to generally accepted standards as determined by The Word Guild. Judges may request submissions not meeting this requirement be disqualified.
Books Fiction
Children
- Fiction, including children’s picture books whose primary audience are children
Young Adult
- Fiction and non-fiction written for young adults. These may be stand-alone novels or novels written as part of a series and may encompass a range of sub-genres including but not limited to contemporary, historical, biographical, and suspense.
Romance
- Fiction whose characters and controlling theme focus on a romantic drama in a contemporary time period (1960 – present )
Suspense
- Fiction that often focuses on a strange, frightening, or thrilling set of events
- Fiction where the element of mystery or terror plays a controlling part often a tale of crime
- Includes mystery, adventure, and thrillers
Books Non-Fiction
Children
- Non-Fiction, including children’s picture books whose primary audience are children
Young Adult
- Non-fiction written for young adults. These may be stand-alone works written as part of a series and may encompass a range of sub-genres including but not limited to contemporary, historical and biographical.
Culture
- Focus on contemporary social issues, global affairs; writing about social issues including justice, poverty, the environment, human rights, or Christianity’s role in contemporary culture
Life Stories
- Biography, autobiography, memoir, or family history
SPECIALTY BOOKS
*Not Categorized. These are just the types of books accepted. If enough books of one type (e.g. Poetry) are entered, we may split the category.
- Gift books
- Poetry books
Books that include both fiction and non-fiction
- For either the Christian or General Market
- Singularly or Co-authored