The Scribe Digest Laurel Awards

Recognizing Literary Excellence

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The Scribe Digest Laurel Awards is a prestigious global competition open to both independently and traditionally published authors. As long as your book is written in English and available for purchase in the United States, it is eligible for consideration. We welcome submissions across a wide range of categories—from fiction and non-fiction to specialized genres like memoirs and cookbooks. Our judges evaluate every entry based on its literary quality, merit, and overall presentation.

Hosted by Scribe Digest, an organization dedicated to celebrating the work of both new and seasoned writers, our mission is to spotlight “worthwhile books.” We take pride in helping emerging and established authors gain vital exposure to publishers, literary agents, and readers alike.

What’s at Stake?

Winners and finalists receive a professional suite of marketing tools, including:

  • Digital Award Seals for your marketing materials
  • Official Certificates of achievement.
  • A Permanent Featured Listing on the Scribe Digest Book Review website.

See more at Exclusive Benefits for Awardees

Award Tiers & Timeline

The Laurel Awards are held annually. Any book that receives a 4 or 5-star rating from Scribe Digest between December of the previous year and November of the current year is automatically nominated.

  • Finalists Announced: The last two weeks of November.
  • Winners Announced: The second week of December.

Major Awards: There will be six finalists that will be announced per award.

  • The Scribe Digest Gold Laurel
  • The Scribe Digest Silver Laurel
  • The Scribe Digest Bronze Laurel

Genre-Specific Awards (The Scribe Digest Crimson Laurel): Six finalists are selected in each of the following categories:

  1. Fiction
  2. Non-Fiction
  3. Young Adult Literature (Finalists include two picture books, two middle-grade books, and two teen books).

Eligibility & The 4-5 Star Rating

You cannot “buy” your way into the Laurel Awards. Eligibility is strictly earned through our BooKaliber Book Review process.

Our editorial team and staff evaluate all nominated titles, which are then passed to a distinguished panel of jurors—including critics, booksellers, and librarians—who work in conjunction with our senior editors.

The “Star” Standard: On average, our editors award a 4 or 5-star rating to only 10% of the books we review. These ratings are based on deep industry knowledge, contemporary publishing trends, and a passion for exceptional writing and illustration. While reviewers provide input, the final decision to award a star belongs solely to our editors.

How to Apply: The Path to the Laurels

  1. The Caliber Test: Start by filling out our Caliber Order Form. This step is FREE, and no payment is required. You must attach your book as a PDF file (we do not accept unformatted manuscripts).
  2. Review Period: If you don’t hear back within two weeks, it means your book did not advance to the next tier.
  3. Confirmation: If your book advances, you will receive an email with your initial review and a unique Laureate Review Code (LR-XXXX).
  4. Choose Your Path: At this stage, you have three professional options:
    • The Laureate Review Tier: Our premier service. This includes a high-level editorial review and automatic shortlisting for the Laurel Awards with no extra entry fee.
    • The Critique Review Service: A high-impact, 350-word critical assessment and an official Star Rating to boost your credibility.
    • The Book Review Feature: A digital feature on ScribeDigest.com designed to introduce your message to the global literary community.
  5. Finalize: Once you choose an option, we will send a confirmation email followed by a PayPal invoice.
  6. Fulfillment: You will be notified via email as we complete the review process for your chosen tier (except for the Laurel Awards results and exclusive benefits).

The Judging Process

Our panel includes industry experts from the worlds of editing, publishing, and bookselling. Judging is based on originality, content, and readability, with a heavy emphasis on innovation and creativity. Every entry is read in its entirety, and all judges’ decisions are final.

Exclusive Benefits for Awardees

Winning a Scribe Digest Laurel Award provides a Seal of Excellence that carries unparalleled weight in the industry. Benefits include:

  • Global Media Exposure: Your results are sent to our database of authors, agents, and publishers.
  • Custom Seals: Use our Gold, Silver, or Bronze seals on your website, marketing materials, and book reprints.
  • Social Media Blitz: Winners are featured and promoted across all our social platforms.
  • High-Distribution Press Release: We announce winners through major industry channels to maximize sales potential.
  • Featured Placement: Your award logo will be added to your review page and our “In The Focus” author feature section.