Next Generation Short Story Awards

Enter your story in the Next Generation Short Story Awards.

More than 30 cash prizes and gold medals awarded to Winners of the various categories plus even more awards for Grand Prize Winners!

This not-for-profit short story awards program is brought to you by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the largest international book awards program in the world for indie authors and independent publishers, and the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group Inc.

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Grand Prize Winners

All Grand Prize Winners receive a gold medal + get their story published in our Anthology of Winners + receive a complimentary copy of the Anthology, as well as a cash prize:

1st Place

$500 Cash prize

2nd Place

$300 Cash prize

3rd Place

$200 Cash prize

The 1st place Grand Prize Winner will also receive a trophy with the author's name engraved on it.

Also, all Grand Prize Winners are invited to attend the 2027 gala awards reception for affiliated organization Next Generation Indie Book Awards. This awards gala will be held in June 2027 and all attending Grand Prize Winners will be honored on stage with a gold medal.

Category Winners

Winner of each of the
30+ categories

$75 cash prize
and gold medal + story published in Anthology of Winners + a complimentary copy of the anthology + a complimentary Winner sticker image

Category Finalists

Finalists (3 per category) in each of the
30+ categories

Author Name and Title of Story mentioned in Anthology of Winners + a complimentary Finalist sticker image

More amazing benefits for winners and finalists

Exposure for a full year as a Winner or Finalist at ShortStoryAwards.com.
Social Media coverage.
The opportunity to display Finalist or Winner gold award sticker image on your story, website or social media.
Other benefits of an award-winning story such as potential exposure and accolades.
Complimentary copy of Anthology of Winners provided to all Grand Prize Winners and Category Winners. Each Finalist can purchase their first copy of the Anthology at half price.
Winner and Finalist gold and silver medals offered for sale.

Questions about Medals, Anthology, and Digital Sticker Image

Who can order Winner Medals?

All Winners will automatically receive one complimentary medal for each category their story wins in. Winners of the Next Generation Short Story Awards can also order additional medals if they wish.

What do the Winner Medals look like?

A sample of the Winner Medal is shown below. The medal will come on a beautiful red, white and blue ribbon.

Sample Winner Medal

What is the cost of additional Winner Medals?

The cost per medal is $30 plus $8 shipping and handling for 1 medal, $15 for shipping and handling for 2 medals, $20 for shipping and handling for 3 medals, $25 for shipping and handling for 4 medals and $30 for shipping and handling for 5 or more medals. Please note that we do not accept returns or provide refunds on medal orders.

Who can order Finalist Medals?

All Finalists of the Next Generation Short Story Awards can order one or more Finalist medals.

What do the Finalist Medals look like?

A sample of the Finalist Medal is shown below. The medal will come on a beautiful red, white and blue ribbon.

Sample Finalist Medal

What is the cost of Finalist Medals?

How can I order additional medals?

Anytime after you have been notified that your story has been selected as a Winner or Finalist, you can log in to your Short Story Awards account and click the blue button with a trophy in the row with your winning story to order one or more Winner or Finalist medals. You will be required to pay by PayPal or by credit card via PayPal.

Your medals will be sent out shortly after we receive your order and payment.

What will be included in the Anthology of Winners?

The Anthology of Winners will be published by Headline Books (2024 Independent Publisher of the Year) and will include stories of all Winners from each category and all Grand Prize Winners from this awards year with the exception of any who have opted out of having their story published. The Anthology will also include the Author Name and Story Title of each Finalist.

Who can order a copy of the Anthology of Winners?

All Grand Prize Winners and Category Winners will receive a complimentary copy of the Anthology of Winners. All Winners and Finalists can purchase copies of the Anthology by logging into their ShortStoryAwards.com account. Category Finalists will be able to order their first copy at half price. Anyone not named a Winner or Finalist can purchase copies through Amazon.com or HeadlineBooks.com.

What is the cost of the Anthology of Winners?

All Grand Prize Winners and Category Winners receive a complimentary copy of the Anthology of Winners. Additional copies cost $20 per book, with Category Finalists eligible to purchase their first copy at half price ($10).

Shipping rates:

U.S.: $5 per order
Canada: $25 for the first book + $5 for each additional book
International (outside U.S. & Canada): $35 for the first book + $10 for each additional book. For large international orders (5+ books), shipping costs are calculated separately due to variable rates. Customers will be contacted with a custom shipping quote before the order is finalized.

Your Anthology will be sent out shortly after we receive your order and payment.

How can I order the Anthology of Winners?

We will notify you via email once the Anthology of Winners is ready to be purchased/ordered. Anytime after that, go to ShortStoryAwards.com and log in to your Short Story Awards account and under the Entries tab, select "Order Medals, Anthology" and order the Anthology. You will be required to pay by PayPal or by credit card via PayPal if needed.

Who can use a sticker image?

Every story that was named as a winner or finalist is eligible to display the appropriate digital sticker image on your story, website, social media or other materials.

What is the cost of the sticker images?

Sticker images are granted to Winners and Finalists for use on their story, website, social media or elsewhere for free.

What do the stickers look like?

Samples of the Finalist and Winner sticker images for the Next Generation Short Story Awards are shown below.

Sample Stickers

How can I download the sticker images?

Anytime after you have been notified that your story has been selected as a Finalist or Winner, go to ShortStoryAwards.com and log in to your Short Story Awards account. Each story that was named as a winner or finalist will have two light blue buttons to download the appropriate sticker image as a high resolution JPG or PNG file.

Cash prizes, awards &industry recognition