The Sarton Awards and the Gilda Prize
Women Writing About Women
See last year's and previous winners here.
The Sarton Women’s Book Awards are named in honor of May Sarton, who is remembered for her outstanding contributions to women’s literature as a memoirist, novelist, and poet and for her encouragement of young women writers. Sarton Award winners are distinguished by their strong female protagonists and the compelling ways they honor the lives of women and girls. They are currently granted in five categories:
- Memoir;
- Contemporary Fiction (novels set entirely or primarily in the 21st century);
- Historical Fiction (includes novels set in the 20th century—#9 below);
- Nonfiction: Biography, edited diaries, studies of women’s literature.
The Young Adult category is on pause for 2025.
The Gilda Prize: “It’s Always Something” is named for Gilda Radner, whose comedic performances made her an entertainment legend and whose courage won our hearts. It is awarded for memoirs and collections of personal essays that show us something important about the human spirit and make us laugh (even if we want to cry).
Anyone, including the author, may nominate a book. The awards are limited to submissions originally written in English by women authors and published by author-publishers (self-publishing or authors subsidizing publication) and independent publishers (that is, not an imprint of a larger press) and university presses with editorial offices headquartered in North America. Entries from/about women and girls of color and LBT+ women and girls are welcome in all categories. Debut authors are especially encouraged. Professional librarians not affiliated with SCN select the winners from finalists chosen by first round jurors. Winners and finalists will be announced in April of the following year via social media, on the Story Circle Network website, and to SCN’s extensive email list.
- Winners of the Sarton & Gilda Awards receive a $100 cash prize, a commemorative award plaque, gold award seal stickers and a digital seal, promotion via SCN’s eletters, Journal, and website, a one-year SCN membership, a one-year listing in the SCN Members’ Library, free admission to SCN’s national conference (virtual or onsite), and an invitation to speak on our Virtual Award Winners Panel.
- Finalists receive silver award seal stickers and a digital seal, a one-year extension of their SCN membership, a one-year listing in the SCN Members’ Library, and an invitation to submit a proposal for SCN’s virtual conference.
Guidelines
The Sarton Women’s Book Awards and the Gilda Prize
Women Writing About Women
Applicants are responsible for reading and observing these requirements. Query us if you have questions.
Early Bird Entry (through August 1, 2025): $90. Regular Entry (August 2–October 31, 2025): $110. All entries include a one-year membership in Story Circle Network.
The entry submission package consists of the application form, the entry fee ($90 Early Bird; $110 thereafter), and either 1) an electronic copy (.epub or .pdf file format, reader-ready) or 2) three bound, reader-ready copies of the work.
Most of our jurors and judges prefer to read ebooks—they’re also easier for our coordinators to work with (and less costly for you). But print is certainly acceptable.
The application must be completed, payment received, and books postmarked no later than October 31, 2025. If any part of the package is missing by this date, the submission is incomplete and ineligible for the current year’s contest.
Nominations must observe these guidelines:
- Works in English by women authors, and featuring a female protagonist or subject, originally published during January 1, 2022–December 31, 2025 in the United States and Canada are eligible for nomination.
- An eligible book is published:
a. by the author or authors;
b. by a single-author press;
c. by a university press; or
d. by an independent press. - Ineligible for nomination: books published by large publishers such as (among others) Amazon Publishing (as distinct from Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing), Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House (including Sourcebooks), Simon & Schuster, Cengage, and their imprints, as well as publishers headquartered outside the U.S. and Canada. The publisher’s eligibility is determined at the time the book is entered into the competition. Some publishers are imprints of the larger houses and are not "independent." If you need a ruling on the eligibility of your publisher, please contact us before you enter. Query us if you're in doubt; we will rule promptly. (An independent publisher using Simon & Schuster for distribution does NOT make a book ineligible.)
- Not eligible for nomination at this time: Collections of fictional works by single authors and fictional works or collections of fictional works by multiple authors; collections of memoir essays by multiple authors; graphic entries in any category. Eligible: Collections of nonfiction essays by single and multiple authors.
- Formats. Entries must be submitted in a format in which they are available for purchase. That is, you may not submit an electronic file if your book is not available as an ebook.
- Works published as e-books only are not eligible for nomination. The book must be currently available in a print format: hardcover, paperback, print-on-demand (POD).
- Books created in part or in whole with the use of artificial intelligence are not eligible.
- Memoirs written in collaboration are eligible for nomination if both authors experienced the events described in the narrative (for example, a mother/daughter collaboration about their lives together). As-told-to memoirs (memoirs written by or with anyone other than the person or persons who experienced the events therein) are generally not eligible, although exceptions may be considered; please query before submitting.
- Novels set before 1980 are classified as historical fiction. Those primarily set in the 1980s or later are generally considered contemporary fiction. However, works set between 1980 and 2000 may be considered historical fiction if they engage meaningfully with historical context or themes. For novels that span multiple time periods, authors should enter the book in the category that reflects where the majority of the action occurs. Sarton coordinators reserve the right to reassign the category without consulting the applicant.
- A nomination asserts that the work is eligible. Ineligible books will be disqualified and entry fees will not be refunded.
- A book may be nominated in more than one category. A book may be entered in more than one year, as long as it was published within the current eligibility period.
- Anyone (author, publisher, publicist, SCN member, non-SCN member, other) may nominate one or more eligible works.
- A complete entry nomination package consists of an electronic file of the published book, either .epub or .pdf format or THREE print copies, plus payment. For .epub or .pdf entries, the cover and text must be in one file; ensure that the cover is the cover of the edition currently being distributed. (Ebook submissions without current, full-color covers are incomplete and will be disqualified without notice to the applicant.) Advance Reading Copies (ARCs) or galleys with complete covers are acceptable, but the book must be scheduled for release by the closing date of this year’s competition. (See #1 above.)
Do not include separate promotional materials with your submission. However, advance praise or endorsement quotes that are printed within the book itself are acceptable.. - Mailing and entry confirmation. Package books to withstand rough, cross-country postal handling. Bubble-lined poly mailer or box is preferred. Do NOT send signature-required. We do not notify applicants that their books have been received. If you wish to confirm receipt of your entry, enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard. To be fair to all applicants, inquiries concerning receipt will not be answered.
- The entry fee for an incomplete submission will not be returned. Incomplete submission packages will not be returned.
- An award will not be made if the judges deem that no entry merits it.
IMPORTANT: If you are in doubt about whether your nomination is appropriate to this competition, you should review our rubrics (the scoring guides our jurors and judges use to help determine winners). Our list of previous winners may also be helpful.
We subscribe to the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) Contest Code of Ethics:
“CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.”
Questions? Contact us via email: storycircle@storycircle.org or mail: Story Circle Network, 723 W University Ave #234, Georgetown TX 78626.
Please read the full guidelines above before entering. (Application links below FAQs)
FAQs
Why Might My Book Be Disqualified?
- Your eBook file is missing a cover. The cover must be embedded in the same .epub or .pdf file as the book content. Submissions without a full-color cover will be disqualified without notice.
- Your application is incomplete. Incomplete submissions will be disqualified.
- You submit a short story collection. We do not accept collections of unrelated stories. However, linked stories with recurring characters and a cohesive narrative arc may be considered.
- Your book falls into an ineligible category or format, including:
- Books from large publishers or their imprints (e.g., Amazon Publishing, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, etc.);
- Ebook-only publications;
- Books created in whole or in part using artificial intelligence;
- Fiction collections by multiple authors;
- Graphic or illustrated books;
- Collections of short fiction (unless linked by narrative).
Not sure if your book or publisher is eligible?
Ask us! Email storycircle@storycircle.org.
Do I need to mail a print book if I submitted an eBook?
No. If you submit a properly formatted .epub or .pdf file (with cover and text in the same file), print copies are not required.
My book features a male protagonist. Is it still eligible?
Yes, but our scoring rubrics are designed for woman-centered narratives. Books without a strong female perspective may not score as highly.
Is your judging process transparent?
Yes. We use detailed scoring rubrics to guide our evaluations, and these rubrics are available for public review.
Can I help as a juror or judge?
Yes! We welcome volunteers. Please email storycircle@storycircle.org to express your interest.
Are you accepting entries in other categories this year (e.g., poetry, YA, middle grade, or audiobooks)?
No, the competitions are only open for submission in 5 categories this year: Memoir, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Nonfiction, and The Gilda Prize.
Can I enter both the Gilda Prize and the Sarton Award competitions?
Yes. As long as your book meets the eligibility requirements for both, you may enter both competitions. A separate entry package and fee is required for each.
How do I submit my book (eBook or print)?
Each competition’s application page includes clear instructions for submitting your book. For eBooks, you’ll upload your file directly within the online form. For print books, mailing details are listed on the form. Please refer to the appropriate application for full submission guidelines.
Enter the Sarton Award contest Enter the Gilda Prize contest
