On Being Listed: achievement, awards and literary accolades

In the wake of this year’s Man Booker prize, won by first-time novelist, Aravind Adiga, we investigate what it is to win a literray award.
[This is archived content and may not display in the originally intended format.]
Artshub Logo

You’ve written a book – perhaps it’s your first book, and to your surprise you’ve won an award. What does it feel like, what does it mean? In the wake of this year’s Man Booker prize, won by first-time novelist, Aravind Adiga, we investigate.

“It’s about profile and recognition,” explains literary agent, Lucy Luck. “It depends on the prize of course, but for a book to be awarded a prize means that a number of people have read it and have agreed that they think it’s the best in that field. This is a huge amount of recognition and brings confidence to a writer. A prize is one step further than a publisher or a bookseller responding to a book$$s$$ it means that the book is recognised in the public sphere.”

Unlock Padlock Icon

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more

Ellie Stevenson
About the Author
Ellie Stevenson is a freelance writer and former careers adviser and has lived in one of the largest and one of the smallest islands in the world. She has written for a number of magazines including The Lady, Local History Magazine and Worcestershire Now.