For the Culture Book Awards | Meet the World Image Solutions | Black Fiction Awards

📖 LONG-FORM FICTION ONLY · Minimum 25,000 words · Picture books and poetry are not eligible

3rd

Annual Award

$1,000

First Prize Cash

$4,000+

First Prize Total Value

Fiction

Only — Long-Form

3rd Annual

For the Culture Book Awards

Meet the World Image Solutions is proud to present the 3rd Annual For the Culture Book Awards — an award program dedicated to recognizing and celebrating independent and traditionally published Black authors who uplift and enrich Black culture through long-form fiction.

The For the Culture Book Awards shines a light on authors whose stories celebrate the depth, complexity, and brilliance of the Black experience. This is a competitive program designed for serious fiction writers — novelists, novella authors, and storytellers crafting work that demands to be read, discussed, and remembered.

Winners are recognized at the Ivory & Cream Affair Literary Jazz Brunch — the signature event of the Black History Month Literary Weekend — held in the DMV area in February 2027.

Who Can Enter

Eligibility & Requirements

Important — Read Before Entering

This Award Is for Long-Form Fiction Only

The For the Culture Book Awards celebrates authors writing substantive, long-form fiction that uplifts Black culture. We are a competitive literary award — not a general publishing showcase. Please review the requirements carefully before submitting.

✅ Eligible

Novels Novellas (25,000+ words) Young Adult Fiction Short Story Collections Literary Fiction Genre Fiction

❌ Not Eligible

Picture Books Poetry Collections Chapter Books Non-Fiction Children's Books Under 25,000 Words

📚

Minimum Word Count

Your manuscript must be at least 25,000 words. This includes novellas, YA novels, and full-length novels. Works under this threshold will not be considered.

✊🏾

Uplifts Black Culture

Your story must celebrate, explore, or enrich the Black experience. This is core to the award's mission and weighted in the judging criteria.

📅

Publication Date

Books must have been published in 2024 or later. Both independently published and traditionally published titles are welcome.

🔖

ISBN Required

All digital submissions must be the final published version and must include an ISBN. Physical copies are also accepted.

🚫

Current MTW Clients

Current Meet the World Image Solutions clients are not eligible to enter this contest.

🚫

Non-Fiction & Poetry

Non-fiction, poetry collections, picture books, and children's books are not eligible regardless of subject matter or quality.

How to Submit

Entry & Fees

Complete the For the Culture Book Awards submission form and submit a copy of your book in either PDF or physical format. All entrants receive promotion across all Meet the World Image Solutions social media platforms.

Best Value

Early Entry

$45

Opens September 1, 2026
Closes September 14, 2026

Standard Entry

$65

September 15 – October 15, 2026

Late Entry

$85

October 16 – November 1, 2026

What to submit: Complete the submission form below and provide your book as a final published PDF (with ISBN) or mail a physical copy. Questions about the submission process? Email info@mtwimagesolutions.com.

Submit Your Entry →

How Winners Are Chosen

Voting & Judging Criteria

All entries are posted on our Instagram page @mtwliteraryhorizons. Each entrant receives a custom social media graphic to promote their entry and gather community votes. However, the entry with the most votes does not automatically win — judging is holistic.

The top five entries receive written feedback from the judges. Winners are notified by email and phone.

40%

Editing & Writing Quality

20%

Story Quality & Narrative

15%

Uplifting of Black Culture

15%

Instagram Community Votes

10%

Book Cover Design

What You Can Win

Prizes & Recognition

🥇 First Prize

$1,000

Total package valued at $4,000+

$1,000 cash prize
Framed certificate & website badge
Feature article on Medium.com
Featured interview on Horizons Author Lounge podcast
Extensive social media & website promotion
Amazon Livestream interview
Custom One-Sheet
5 custom social media graphics
SEO-optimized press release creation & distribution
Invitation to the Ivory & Cream Affair Jazz Brunch

🥈 Second Prize

$500

Total package valued at $2,500+

$500 cash prize
Framed certificate & website badge
Featured interview on Horizons Author Lounge podcast
Extensive social media & website promotion
Custom One-Sheet
Inclusion in SEO-optimized press release
Invitation to the Ivory & Cream Affair Jazz Brunch

🥉 Third Prize

$250

Total package valued at $1,500+

$250 cash prize
Framed certificate & website badge
Featured interview on Horizons Author Lounge podcast
Social media & website promotion
Inclusion in SEO-optimized press release
Invitation to the Ivory & Cream Affair Jazz Brunch

Ivory & Cream Affair Literary Jazz Brunch — February 2027 · DMV Area
Winners are invited to receive their prizes at the signature event of the Black History Month Literary Weekend. Winners are responsible for their own travel and lodging.

Proceeds benefit the Black History Month Literary Weekend and the Meet the World Image Solutions Scholarship Fund.

Key Dates

2026 Timeline

August 1, 2026

Contest Announced

The 3rd Annual For the Culture Book Awards officially opens for awareness. Share the news!

September 1, 2026
Early Entry Opens — $45
Submit your long-form fiction at the lowest entry rate. Early entry closes September 14.

September 15, 2026

Standard Entry — $65

Standard entry period runs through October 15, 2026.

October 16, 2026

Late Entry — $85

Final entry window. All submissions must be received by November 1, 2026.

November 1, 2026

Submission Period Closes

No entries accepted after this date.

November 15, 2026

Instagram Voting Begins

All entries posted to @mtwliteraryhorizons. Custom graphics sent to all entrants. Community voting opens.

January 1, 2027

Top 5 Finalists Announced

Finalists notified by email and phone. Written feedback provided to all top 5 entries.

February 1, 2027

Winners Announced

First, second, and third place winners announced publicly.

February 2027
🎷 Prizes Awarded at the Ivory & Cream Affair
Winners receive their prizes on stage at the Black History Month Literary Weekend's signature Literary Jazz Brunch in the DMV area.

Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — as long as your book is long-form fiction (minimum 25,000 words) that uplifts Black culture, it qualifies regardless of genre. We welcome literary fiction, romance, thriller, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, historical fiction, YA, and more. The key requirements are: fiction, minimum word count, and celebration of the Black experience.

The For the Culture Book Awards is specifically designed to be a competitive long-form fiction award. The judging criteria — story quality, narrative arc, editing — are built for prose fiction of substance. Picture books and poetry are beautiful art forms, but they require an entirely different evaluation framework. We want this award to be meaningful and competitive for novelists and serious fiction writers.

Yes. All submissions must have been published in 2024 or later. The intent is to spotlight current, active voices in Black fiction — not backlist titles.

Absolutely. The For the Culture Book Awards welcomes both independently published and traditionally published authors equally. Your path to publication does not affect your eligibility or how your work is judged.

Your story should in some meaningful way celebrate, explore, center, or enrich the Black experience — whether through characters, setting, history, community, identity, or cultural themes. This doesn't mean every book must be about race; it means that Black life and culture should be authentically and meaningfully represented in the work.

All entries are featured on our Instagram page @mtwliteraryhorizons beginning November 15, 2026. Each entrant receives a custom social media graphic to share with their audience and gather community votes. Instagram votes count for 15% of the final score — so promoting your entry matters, but writing quality determines the winner.

Attendance is not required to receive your prize — winners will be notified by email and phone. However, all winners are warmly invited and encouraged to attend the Ivory & Cream Affair Literary Jazz Brunch in the DMV area in February 2027. Winners are responsible for their own travel and lodging costs.

You may submit a final published PDF (must include an ISBN) or a physical copy of your book. If submitting a PDF, it must be the final published version — no manuscripts or advance copies. Contact info@mtwimagesolutions.com for physical copy mailing instructions.

Yes — each book requires a separate entry form and submission fee. If you have multiple eligible titles, you may submit each one independently.

Current Meet the World Image Solutions clients are not eligible to enter the For the Culture Book Awards. This policy exists to maintain the integrity and impartiality of the judging process.

We welcome volunteer judges from all walks of life — the only requirement is that you love to read! Judges receive a scoring rubric and evaluate entries based on our published judging criteria. It's a wonderful way to support Black authors and give back to the literary community.

To volunteer as a judge, simply reach out to us at info@mtwimagesolutions.com with the subject line "FTC Judge Volunteer" or call us at (504) 505-5894. You can also schedule a call to learn more about what's involved before committing.

Standing on the Shoulders of Champions

2nd Annual FTC Winner

Congratulations to the 1st Place winner of the 2nd Annual For the Culture Book Awards, recognized at the Ivory & Cream Affair Literary Jazz Brunch.

Shymara Medina

Zeke's Quest for Courage

🥇 First Place

Will your name be here next year? Enter the 3rd Annual FTC Book Awards →

Ready to Compete?

Enter the For the Culture Book Awards

Long-form Black fiction. Competitive judging. Real prizes. This is your platform.

Submit Your Entry BHMLW 2027 Contact Us

Legal

Meet the World Image Solutions has the final say on all prize details, including the actual value of the prize. Winners are responsible for all expenses related to the prize, including travel, taxes, upgrades, and shipping and handling. Winners may not transfer the prize to another person or request a cash equivalent. Meet the World Image Solutions reserves the right to reschedule, modify, or cancel the contest, entry, or award dates. Failure to comply with the terms of the contest rules may result in forfeiture of the prize. Submission of an entry constitutes acceptance of all contest rules and terms.