DOWNLOAD PAGE AS A PDF DOCUMENT TWA_Categories- Definitons 2022
CATEGORIES (scroll down to get Definitions)
The Word Awards are comprised of the following Divisions, Market, Classes and Categories:
DIVISIONS
Market
Classes
Categories
SPECIALTY DIVISIONS
See Specialty Page and links to individual Classes/Categories for details.
https://thewordguild.com/specialty-awards/
UNPUBLISHED WORK
See the pages for Fresh Ink (Students); In the Beginning (unpublished short pieces); and Castle Quay Best Manuscript (unpublished complete works) for details.
PUBLISHED WORK
Christian Market
Articles/Short Pieces
Blogs – Personal
Blogs – Topical
Column-Series
Column-Single
Inspirational/Devotional
Long Feature
News
Personal Experience
Personal Opinion Piece
Poetry
Profile/Human Interest
Short Feature
Short Story
Scripts
Short
Full-Length Stage or Screen Play
Song Lyrics
(Songwriting Award)
Books Fiction
Children
Young Adult
Contemporary
Historical
Novella
Romance
Speculative
Mystery
Suspense
Ready to Submit? Click Here >
Books Non-Fiction
Academic
Instructional
Biblical Studies
Apologetics/Evangelism
Culture
Children
Christian Living – Personal Growth
Christian Living – Spiritual Formation
Devotional
Inspirational
Life Stories – Memoir
Life Stories – Biographical
Ready to Submit? Click Here >
General Market
Articles/Short Pieces
Blogs
Column-Series
Column-Single / Standalone Article
Long Feature
News
Personal Experience
Short Story
Scripts
Short
Full-Length Stage or Screen Play
Books Fiction
Children
Young Adult
Romance
Mystery/Suspense
Books Non-Fiction
Children
Young Adult
Culture
Life Stories
Specialty Book
Best Blog of The Year
French -Le Prix Des Mots
UNPUBLISHED WORK
Classes
Categories
Fresh Ink–Student Writing Awards
Short Story
Non-Fiction Piece
Poetry
Manuscript 1st Three Chapters
Script
In The Beginning—Unpublished Writers
Short Story
Non-Fiction Piece
Poetry
Manuscript 1st Three Chapters
Script
Castle Quay Best New Canadian Manuscript–Unpublished Manuscript
Fiction & Non-Fiction
Ready to Submit? Click Here >
DEFINITIONS
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.
Articles/Short Pieces
Blog – Personal
- An online article published by the author and judged on originality, readability and interest. It is similar to a column in that it may comment on a range of issues, including current events, faith and personal / spiritual growth, however the authorial voice may be stronger, more casual or intimate. The focus of a Personal Blog is on the individual writer’s experiences.
Blog – Topical
- An online article published by the author and judged on originality, readability and interest of topic. It is similar to a column in that it may comment on a range of issues, including current events, faith and personal / spiritual growth, however the authorial voice may be stronger, more casual or intimate. The focus of a Topical Blog is on the topic and is less personal.
Column – series
- Two consecutive columns from a minimum of five pieces that appeared on a regular schedule in a publication
Column – single
- One column from a series that appeared in a publication or a one-time “guest” column. Pieces are editorial, first person essay, opinion or persuasive writing; commentary on a timely subject
Inspirational/Devotional
- Content that encourages, strengthens, moves, uplifts readers or
- Content motivates readers to put their faith in God, or to deepen their trust in God
- Daily or weekly devotionals are part of this category
Long Feature (1,000 words or more)
- In-depth treatment of a trend, situation
- Explicitly aims to do more than inform (e.g. analyze, contextualize, equip, etc.)
- Research provides a variety of sources, quotations and references
- Writer does not include his/her own thoughts or opinion on issue
- Writer evidences neutrality, balance, evenness of tone and usually writes in third-person
News
- This may be coverage of a spot news event, such as an accident, or a more general event. It covers the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of the issue. The writer shows neutrality, balance and evenness of tone. It is written in 3rd Person voice and is a sharing of facts. Weight is given for the accuracy of information found from reputable and multiple sources.
Personal Experience
- First-person or as-told-to narrative in which the author writes about an incident or experience that provided significant personal meaning or a lesson learned
Personal Opinion
- A personal opinion piece about some topic or issue that is important to the writer
Poetry
- Rhymed or free verse; maximum of 40 lines
Profile/Human Interest
- Stories about people; aims to inform and usually also to inspire
Short Feature (under 1,000 words)
- Informs reader about a trend, situation or group of ideas
- Writer should provide some variety of sources and references
- Entry usually written in third-person
Short Story
- A fictional story with a fully developed theme but significantly shorter and less elaborate than a novel
Song Lyrics– Best Song Lyrics
An original song released to the public in year related to awards via either
- CD recording available for sale to the public
- Public performance, including broadcast, concert, online concert, church or worship settings.
- Proof of performance is required for this choice
- List venue, date, approximate number in audience, name and phone number of contact person. Include a scanned copy of printed program/church bulletin if available, highlighting your performance.
- Proof of performance is required for this choice
In the online form each entrant must upload: a digital copy of typed lyrics with complete credits for lyrics and music and a digital copy of their song being performed. Ensure that the lyrics are clearly audible for judging. You may enter more than one song, but each song must be submitted separately.
Scripts
Short Scripts
- SHORT scripts for stage, film, TV or webisodes up to 45 pages in total (collected sketches allowed in aggregate up to the max. ) **Published for scripts means available in paper manuscript form with the intention of distribution to a larger audience it is NOT a requirement that it be performed.**
Full-length stage OR screen play
- A Script of 100 pages or less in standard format. The author has had a script professionally produced. **Published for scripts means available in paper manuscript form with the intention of distribution to a larger audience it is NOT a requirement that it be performed.**
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)
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
Life Stories – Memoir
- Memoir
Ready to Submit? Click Here >
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.
Articles/Short Pieces
Blog
- An online article published by the author and judged on originality, readability and interest. It is similar to a column in that it may comment on a range of issues, including current events, faith and personal / spiritual growth, however the authorial voice may be stronger, more casual or intimate.
- The focus of a Personal Blog is on the individual writer’s experiences.
- The focus of a Topical Blog is on the topic and is less personal.
Column – series
- Two consecutive columns from a minimum of five pieces that appeared on a regular schedule in a publication
Column – single / Standalone Article
- One column from a series that appeared in a publication or a one-time “guest” column. Pieces are editorial, first person essay, opinion or persuasive writing; commentary on a timely subject…. or
- An article that appeared in a publication targeted to the general public.
Long Feature (1,000 words or more)
- In-depth treatment of a trend, situation
- Explicitly aims to do more than inform (e.g. analyze, contextualize, equip, etc.)
- Research provides a variety of sources, quotations and references
- Writer does not include his/her own thoughts or opinion on issue
- Writer evidences neutrality, balance, evenness of tone and usually writes in third-person
News
- This may be coverage of a spot news event, such as an accident, or a more general event. It covers the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of the issue. The writer shows neutrality, balance and evenness of tone. It is written in 3rd Person voice and is a sharing of facts. Weight is given for the accuracy of information found from reputable and multiple sources.
Personal Experience
- First-person or as-told-to narrative in which the author writes about an incident or experience that provided significant personal meaning or a lesson learned, or it is a personal opinion about some topic or issue that is important to the writer
Short Story
- A fictional story with a fully developed theme but significantly shorter and less elaborate than a novel
Scripts
Short Script
- SHORT scripts for stage, film, TV or webisodes up to 45 pages in total (collected sketches allowed in aggregate up to the max. ) **Published for scripts means available in paper manuscript form with the intention of distribution to a larger audience it is NOT a requirement that it be performed.**
Full-length Stage or Screen Play
- A Script of 100 pages or less in standard format. The author has had a script professionally produced. **Published for scripts means available in paper manuscript form with the intention of distribution to a larger audience it is NOT a requirement that it be performed.**
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
Ready to Submit? Click Here >
SPECIALTY BOOK
*Not Categorized. These are just the types of books accepted.
- Gift books
- Poetry books
- Books that include both fiction and non-fiction
- For either the Christian or General Market
- Singularly or Co-authored
Best Blog of The Year
See Details on the Best Blog of The Year page