Whenever I see a promising new contest, I like to share information about it. For any of us who might have work that we want to step out, submitting to a contest by the deadline can be a great way to goose ourselves into finishing and polishing a piece. Here’s one worth looking into: Winning Writers’ fourth North Street Self-Publishing Prize competition, co-sponsored by BookBaby and Carolyn Howard-Johnson (author of The Frugal Book Promoter). The deadline: June 30. Here are the details:

This year, the contest is expanded to five categories :

Mainstream/Literary Fiction,

Genre Fiction,

Creative Nonfiction & Memoir,

Poetry (new), and

Children’s Picture Book (new).

One grand prize winner will receive $3,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $450 value)

The top winner in each category will receive $1,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, and one free ad in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $150 value)

One honorable mention in each category will receive $250

We will publish online excerpts (1,000-6,000 words) from all entries that win a prize, along with critiques from the judges

Length limit: 150,000 words. You may submit a collection of short stories or essays as a single entry. No restrictions on age or country. No restriction on year of publication. All contestants receive a free PDF download of The Frugal Book Promoter by Carolyn Howard-Johnson and free guides from BookBaby. results of our fourth contest will be announced on February 15, 2019. Entry fee: $60 per book. For more information, visit: winningwriters.com/north. Write on!