Drink beer. Win acclaim!

Beer ye, beer ye! Do you write, blog, or podcast about beer?

If yes, you have until this Friday, 25 August, to enter the 2017 North American Guild of Beer Writers competition. The NAGBW has announced its 5th annual Beer Writer Awards. Or more accurately, its 5th annual awards for beer writers and bloggers and broadcasters, and, yes, authors.

Through this annual writing competition, the Guild aims to broaden the conversation about beer and brewing, raise the standards of writing, and provide leadership and continuing education for practitioners of our profession, while also encouraging and supporting more participation throughout all media channels.

To be eligible for consideration, entries must have been published between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017. But to be judged, entries must be submitted by this Friday, 25 August 2017. There are eleven categories in which to enter:

• Best Beer Book
• Best Beer Podcast
• Best Beer Blog
• Best Beer and Food Writing
• Best Beer and Travel Writing
• Best Local Reporting
• Best National/ International Reporting
• Best Short Form Writing (fewer than 600 words)
• Best History Writing
• Best Technical Writing
• Best Beer Criticism or Commentary

It'll cost you $30 per entry. If you're a member of the NAGBW, however, that's only $15. Furthermore, there's only one article or item allowed per entry per category and only two entries are permitted per person.

Submissions will be judged by these criteria and to these weights:

• Readability: 25%
• Voice and style: 25%
• Knowledge of subject/accuracy/factual content: 20%
• Creativity/originality: 15%
• Interest/newsworthiness: 15%

Finally, whether or not you submit, why not join the Guild? Membership is open to all writers and content producers who cover beer and brewing.

We are professional beer writers.

We make our living, or at least a substantial portion of it, writing about beer and brewing. We are authors, writers, publicists, bloggers, columnists, critics, cheerleaders and more. We tirelessly cover the brewing industry undefined and those who appreciate beer undefined across North America.

Many of us are self-employed or do this as a side "gig" in addition to our "real jobs." Some of us are employed by breweries, beer distributors, beer bars, stores and restaurants. Still others are publishers and event organizers, while some work for newspapers, websites, magazines and other media outlets.

We are an all-volunteer group dedicated to elevating the level of our craft as we cover the art of brewing. We are serious in our purpose, but strive to enjoy ourselves in doing our jobs.

Please consider joining with us to help shape our efforts to support and nurture better beer writing in North America.

Indeed and good luck.

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• All details and submission forms are online at the NAGBW: here.
• Follow on Twitter: @nagbw. Like on Facebook: nagbw.


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