Movies have the Oscars; music has the Grammys; we have the Bram Stoker Awards®! Since 1988, the Horror Writers Association has bestowed these works annually, covering distinguished work in thirteen categories.
What is the Horror Writers Association?
The Horror Writers Association (HWA) is a worldwide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting horror and those who write it. With over 2,000 members and two-dozen chapters, HWA is a truly international group that celebrates all forms of diversity. It is open to membership for writers at all stages of their careers. That also includes membership categories for academics, associated professionals (e.g. editors, publishers, teachers, librarians, etc.), corporations, and readers/fans.
Membership with the HWA includes a multitude of benefits, like:
A monthly newsletter jam-packed with horror news, submission calls, recommended reading, interviews, and much more!
Internet Mailers about the latest HWA news.
The Mentor Program, which pairs newer writers with established pros
Access to the HWA’s problem-solving Grievance Committee and Hardship Loans
Opportunities to participate in conventions, book fairs, and trade shows nationwide, throughout the year!
Please visit HWA’s website horror.org for more information.
What is StokerCon™?
StokerCon™ is our annual conference, convening top-name Guests of Honor, panels and readings, a dealers room, the education-themed Horror University, the Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference, Librarians’ Day, the Final Frame Film competition, and the gala presentation of the Bram Stoker Awards! Click here to learn more about StokerCon™!
Do I have to be a member of HWA to have my work considered for the Bram Stoker Award?
Nope! The awards are intended to recognize the best work every year across the horror genre, regardless of whether the author is a member of the organization or not. However, only HWA members can recommend works to be nominated for the award, and only Active/Pro members may vote on the awards (more on that later).
Members can also serve on the Bram Stoker Award juries, depending on their membership level, qualifications, and how many open slots there are on a given jury.
Does showing up on the Recommendations list for an award mean I’m a nominee?
Not quite. A recommendation means that someone has enjoyed your work enough to put it in contention for nomination. However, if your work receives enough recommendations, it can become a Bram Stoker Award nominee!
My work doesn’t fit in any of the categories. Can it still be eligible for a Bram Stoker Award?
Unfortunately, no. We wish we could include the entire gamut of the horror genre, as it truly is one of the most wide-ranging genres out there, with no shortage of brilliant works, but there is no way for us to cover everything within an award category.
Do I get into StokerCon™ for free if I’m nominated?
No, unfortunately not. However, all nominees will receive a nomination certification, which is hand-signed by the organization’s President and can be framed. Additionally, you will get your own listing on the Bram Stoker Awards website, and you may place one of our official nomination seals (see below) on your work. You will also be eligible to purchase discounted tickets to the gala awards banquet.
I submitted my work to a jury and I uploaded it in Submittable, but I notice it’s not showing up on the Recommended Reading List. Why is that?
Works that appear on the Recommended List are solely works that have been “recommended” by HWA members in a given year. You can learn more about how to promote your work for awards consideration here.
Once your work is submitted to the Jury, you will receive an auto-generated letter informing you that said Jury has received you work. We ask that you please do not reach out to them afterward, even just to check whether your work has been received.
If you notice that you did not receive the auto-generated letter, and it’s not in your Spam folder, you can reach out to stokerchair@horror.org for further assistance.
If your work is chosen by the Jury, you will also receive a special iMailer to promote your work before voting begins for the Final Ballot, if you would like.
What value do these awards provide the writers who win them?
“…what you get out of a Stoker foremost is a kind of confidence that shapes your sense of self as an author. You worry less about whether you’ve really got what it takes. You’ve been told you have artistic, literary value that transcends the merely monetary “award” you get for your creative talents and dark vision. You know that others believe in you, and that’s a priceless thing. You can look at that creepy statue on your shelf when you’re feeling glum and realize that while you’re not the next Stephen King, the man does have the same exact trophy on his shelf, too. He’s in one of the rooms, as is Robert Bloch, Clive Barker, Joyce Carol Oates, Peter Straub, JK Rowling, Ray Bradbury, Ramsey Campbell, Thomas Ligotti… and dozens upon dozens of great authors you recognize, living and dead, right alongside old Bram and Edgar.”
I’m a member, and I want to make a recommendation. How do I do that?
That’s awesome! Simply hop over to the “Members Only” area of horror.org. Once you are logged in, you’ll see a large red button at the upper right of the sidebar that says “RECOMMEND A WORK.” Click that and drop your recommendation into the form!
What does the little “R” in the circle mean next to the Bram Stoker Awards®?
It means HWA has done the hard legal work of reserving trademark on the name of our awards, and our attorneys will descend upon anyone who tries to use the name for their awards.
Where can I read the complete Bram Stoker Awards rules?
Great question. Click here and you can access a PDF document with the complete rules.
I’ve read the rules and I’m still confused. Can you give me any other pointers?
We’ve got you covered. Check out this interview over on LitReactor!
Hurrah – I’m a nominee/winner! Where can I get the official seals to put on my nominated/winning work?
Right here (see below)! Or click here to obtain a zipped file of the medallions.
Q: I did not receive a ballot. What happened?
There are a few different answers to this question, depending on the situation.
Only Active/Pro and Lifetime members receive the preliminary and final ballot for voting. If you are Affiliate level or below, then you are not eligible to vote in the Bram Stoker Awards.
Additionally, only Active/Pro and Lifetime members who are in good standing (i.e. have renewed their membership by January 31st) are eligible to vote. If you renew your dues after that date, you are not eligible to vote and will not receive a ballot.
If you are eligible to vote, but did not receive your ballot, please check your Spam folder. You can also whitelist the sender email – noreply@limesurvey.org – which may help ensure you get the email directly in your inbox. Below is a screenshot of what you can expect your email to look like.
If you are eligible and have checked your Spam folder and still don’t see your ballot, please reach out to opscomm@horror.org. Keith will take a look and identify if there was an issue with the ballot and/or send you the information you need to access the ballot.
If you have a Microsoft domain (Outlook, Hotmail, or MSN) then your email domain may have rejected the LimeSurvey email outright. Reach out to Keith at opscomm@horror.org for more information.
Q: I receive all other emails from HWA, including the preliminary ballot announcement, but I did not receive a ballot to vote? Why?
The majority of our emails go out to all members. That includes our newsletter and the preliminary and final ballot announcements. However, the voting ballots only get sent to Active/Pro members and Lifetime members.
Q: How can I become an Active/Pro member?
Information about the different membership levels and their requirements can be found here.
Q: When I’m filling out the ballot, do I need to click “No” on the abstain question?
No, you do not. The survey is coded so that no response to the abstain question is treated as a “no” automatically.
The only time you need to click the abstain question is if you plan to abstain from the category.
Q:I made a mistake when submitting my ballot. Is there any way to confirm my ballot went through and/or to fix an error?
When you submit your ballot, it is considered final. However, if there is an error in your ballot that needs to be rectified, reach out to opscomm@horror.org for assistance with screenshots as needed.
Q: What is the difference between WildApricot’s billing status and my membership status? And how do I check it in WildApricot?
A: To check your membership status and type, log into WildApricot and click “View profile.” The first section shows membership level (Individual, Corporate, or Family) and membership status (Active or TK). A member whose status is Active is current on dues (this is the WildApricot billing status).
The second section, marked PRIVATE INFORMATION, begins with your User ID and the membership Type (Ally, Affiliate, Active Pro, or Lifetime). Only members who are in good standing (current on dues) and of Active Pro or Lifetime membership type as of January 31 are eligible to vote in the Bram Stoker Awards that calendar year.
