Saboteur Awards 2017 – Nominations are open

The Saboteur Awards are back for a 7th year running and nominations are now open.

The Saboteur Awards celebrate indie literature in all its forms, from spoken word shows to novellas, via collaborative work. Nominations are open until 31st March, after which a shortlist of 5 in each category will be announced. The winners will be announced at a special ceremony on 13th May at Vout-O-Reenees (buy tickets here).

Nominate here

What’s new this year?

We have kept the same twelve categories as in previous years, for which you can find full eligibility details here.

There are two main changes:

  • As with previous years, a shortlist in each category will be drawn up from the works with the most nominations. This year we are also introducing an Editor’s Choice. So in effect the shortlist will be made up of 4 works that received the most nomination, and a fifth work which an editor at Sabotage Reviews deems deserves some special attention. We all know how hard it is to remember brilliant works that were published or performed back in the Spring of 2016, so we are hoping this addition will redress that balance and give a chance to lesser-known works too.
  • The Best Wildcard Award is supported by Literature Wales, as part of International Dylan Thomas Day – the winner will receive a selection of goodies from them!
  • As with last year, we are supported in-kind by Sacred Gin, with each winner receiving a bottle of their delicious gin!

‘In poetry, if the stale old hierarchies – page v stage, artist v critic, establishment v avant-garde – are crumbling, it’s because of the work encouraged by Sabotage.’
— Susannah Herbert, director of the Forward Prizes and National Poetry Day.

The Categories

Best Short Story Collection
A single-author collection of short fiction. One author: multiple stories. Must have been published after 30th April 2016.

Best Magazine
A regular publication which can feature a range of content, including literature reviews, but mainly aimed at fiction or poetry. Must have had at least one issue published after 30th April 2016. It can exist offline or online or a mixture of the two.

Best Wildcard
Supported by Literature Wales, as part of International Dylan Thomas Day
As the title implies, this is a free for all as long as it’s something or someone that has been active after 30th April 2016. Ideas for nominations include: literary festivals, people or projects you think deserve more recognition, or anything else that doesn’t fit neatly into the other categories.

Best Poetry Pamphlet
A single-poet collection of poems, which can be a variety of formats (‘pamphlet’ being a bit of a catch-all term). No more than 40 pages long. Must have been published after 30th April 2016.

Best Spoken Word Performer
A performer who has either appeared at open mic nights, slots in spoken words events, or who has their own spoken word show (or a combination of the above, of course). We might even consider double acts. Must have performed at least once since 30th April 2016.

Best Spoken Word Regular Night
An event celebrating and promoting spoken word, organised on a regular – if not frequent – basis, open mic or programmed or a mixture. Must have held at least three events since 30th April 2016.

Best Spoken Word Show
A performance of a set work which has multiple performance dates, probably in multiple locations and over a period of time. Not limited to solo shows. Shows first performed before 30th April 2016 are permitted, but there must have been a significant outing since that date (eg. a short run somewhere or a tour).

Best Novella
A short form piece of extended fiction – too broad or complete for a short story but too short or limited in scope for a novel. There’s no set word/page range and we may use some discretion – our rule of thumb is that if the author/publisher considers the work to be a novella, so do we, but we do also take other factors into account. Must have been published after 30th April 2016.

Most Innovative Publisher
A publisher who has, well, innovated, which is a pretty broad term. Someone who has impressed you probably publishing something interesting in an unusual way. Surprise us. Must have published at least two titles since 30th April 2016.

Best Reviewer Of Literature
Someone who has made significant contribution to the review of literature since 30th April 2016, in reviews of poetry, fiction or spoken word.

Best Anthology
A collection of works by more than one author, not restricted by genre, theme or form. This could be a combination of fiction and poetry, or even a combination with another art form, like visual art. Note: ‘Best of’ type anthologies are not eligible. Multiple authors: multiple texts. Must have been published after 30th April 2016.

Best Collaborative Work
A literary work or project that has been created as a collaboration between two or more people, perhaps in multiple forms or genres. Must have been created after or substantially changed since 30th April 2016.

FAQs

Does work need to have been reviewed in Sabotage Reviews to be eligible?

Nope! All work, whether reviewed or not is eligible. We try, as much as possible, to review all the works that do become shortlisted (or come to our attention through nominations).

How do I submit my book/author?

Nominate them! Encourage your friends to nominate them too!

Why do I have to nominate in three categories for my vote to count?

This is to discourage people from just voting for their friend. If you are at all into literature, it shouldn’t be too hard to think of other things you like too… i.e if you like spoken word, then you can nominate in the Best Regular Spoken Word Night, Best Spoken Word Show, and Best Spoken Word Performer quite easily.

Do we all get free gin?

Just the winners, sorry. Ask them nicely though, they might share!

Can I help out?

Yes please! Drop Claire a line at [email protected]

Is the Best Magazine category open to online magazines?

Yes! It welcomes magazines in any format.

5 thoughts on “Saboteur Awards 2017 – Nominations are open

  • March 1, 2017 at 12:34 pm
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    How do you nominate, please? Is there an email address to send to? :-) Or a form? :-) Thank you.

    • March 1, 2017 at 12:36 pm
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      Hi! Just press the hyperlinked and bolded ‘Nominate’ word at the top of the page! It’ll take you to the form.

      • March 1, 2017 at 8:47 pm
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        Hello there. Thank you very much. Most kind. Have now chosen three sections to nominate. All best wishes, Mark :-)

  • March 2, 2017 at 10:01 am
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    How do you nominate please, where’s the BIG clear link, VOTE HERE?

    • March 2, 2017 at 10:12 am
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      Hi Neville, see the comment above, it’s the bolded hyperlinked ‘Nominate’

Comments are closed.