AWARDS FOR WRITING MYSTERY SHORT STORIES

Significant achievement in the field of short mystery fiction is recognized by a number of organizations. This list concentrates on awards presented by organizations in the United States.

For a comprehensive list of crime fiction awards given internationally, please see:
http://awards.omnimystery.com/mystery-awards.html

Marcia Talley with Anthony and Agatha Short Story Awards

Agatha

The Agatha Awards have been presented since 1988 by Malice Domestic at its annual conference. The awards recognize the traditional mystery written in the style of Agatha Christie, having no explicit sex, excessive gore, or gratuitous violence.

Nominees are selected by ballot from persons registered for the conference by December 31.

Nomination forms are tallied by the Agatha Committee. The top five choices in each category are placed on the ballot. Attendees vote by secret ballot at the conference and the awards are presented at the banquet. The awards are porcelain tea pots.

For more information, see: http://www.malicedomestic.org/agathaawards.html

Anthony

The Anthony awards, named for Anthony Boucher (writer, critic, and a founder of the Mystery Writers of America) have been presented since 1986 at the annual Bouchercon World Mystery Convention.

Nominating ballots are emailed to the registered attendees. Awards are determined by the persons attending Bouchercon.

For more information, see: http://bcon2013.com/anthony-awards/  

Peter James with his Barry for Best Novel

Barry

The Barry Awards have been presented annually since 1997 by the editorial staff of Deadly Pleasures. The staff requests that an author submit a copy of his work for review.

This year does not feature a short story category.

Contact for submitting work: George Easter, Editor and Publisher  george@deadlypleasures.com

For more information, see: http://www.deadlypleasures.com/barry.html

Derringer

The Derringer Awards, named after the palm-sized handgun, have been presented since 1997 by the Short Mystery Fiction Society (SMFS). Presentations are made in March. Members and editors may submit stories for an initial blind consideration by volunteer judges who select five nominees in each category. To be eligible to vote for the awards, a person must join the SMFS by December 31.

The awards are presented by category: (1) best story of 1000 words or less; (2) best story of 1001 to 4000 words; (3) best story of 4001 to 8000 words; and (4) best story of 8001 to 17,500 words. 

See the following web page for the complete selection procedure: http://shortmystery.blogspot.com/2008/08/smfs-derringer-awards-procedure.html

In addition, an annual Lifetime Achievement award, called the Edward D. Hoch Golden Derringer, is given in recognition of a significant career. The following web page provides the selection procedure for the Edward D. Hoch Golden Derringer:

http://shortmystery.blogspot.com/2008/10/smfs-golden-derringer-procedure.html

Edgar

The Edgar Allan Poe Awards have been presented annually since 1946 by the Mystery Writers of America. Authors who submit their stories for consideration must meet the requirements for active status in the MWA whether or not they are members of MWA.

For more information, see: http://www.theedgars.com/

Short stories are considered works up to 22,000 words from approved magazines, periodicals, anthologies, and websites. Submissions meeting the requirements may be made online at:

http://mysterywriters.org/edgars/entry-form-for-short-story/

Eddie Newton with the Fish Award

The Robert L. Fish Memorial Award is presented for the best first published mystery short story by a previously unpublished author.   

Following are the approved periodical/webzine publishing companies at the time of this post:

1. American Way Magazine
2. Antioch Review
3. Back Alley Webzine (Out of Business)
4. Big Pulp Magazine
5. Cemetery Dance Publications
6. City Journal
7. Dell Magazines, including Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Magazine
8. First Line Magazine
9. Forensic Examiner
10. Missouri Review
11. Mystery Scene Magazine
12. Necrotic Tissue (Out of Business)
13. Paradox Magazine (Out of Business)
14. Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine
15. Sniplits
16. Spinetingler Magazine
17. Strand Magazine
18. Virginia Quarterly Review
19. Woman’s World Magazine
    

Lovey

The Lovey Awards, presented since 1998 at the annual Love is Murder conference, recognize excellence in ten categories for books or stories published during the previous calendar year. Persons attending the conference may submit no more than one work in each category. The awards are selected by the registered attendees.

For more information, see:

http://www.loveismurder.net/AbouttheConference/Awards/LOVEYAwards/tabid/97/Default.aspx

Dana Cameron's Macavity for "Disarming"

Macavity 

Each year since 1987, members of the Mystery Readers International organization vote and present the Macavity awards in four categories. The Macavity award is named for T.S. Eliot’s  "mystery cat" in the Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.

For more information, see:

http://www.mysteryreaders.org/macavity.html

Shamus

Honoring publications since 1981, the Shamus awards, created by Robert J. Randisi, have been presented by the Private Eye Writers of America. PWA committee members select the nominees and winners in a manner similar to the Edgar selections. A “private eye” is considered the protagonist of a mystery who is a professional investigator, but not a police officer or government agent.

For more information, see: http://www.privateeyewriters.com/the_shamus_awards.html

Thriller

Presented since 2006 by the International Thriller Writers, the Thrillers are announced at the annual Thrillerfest conference. Short stories of up to 35,000 words are considered so that novellas qualify for submission. An entry must be published in print or e-zine format during the previous year.

For more information, see: http://thrillerwriters.org/join-itw/thriller-awards/