And you thought you were done with deadlines for the year. But this is one deadline worth meeting.
Submitting your current book for contests and critiques has a number of benefits. Even if you're not interested in awards, critiques can offer critical feedback.
State journalism organizations and national ones like the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association offer critiques with their memberships dues. The judges follow a specific criteria and scoring system for evaluating books, providing feedback in each section. Sending your book in now will ensure you'll receive results in a timely manner to affect next year's decisions.
In addition to critique services, state and national journalism groups offer individual award competitions. Submitting staffers' photos, stories and pages are a great opportunity for individual kudos as well as recognition of the program as a whole. It also is a nice self-esteem boost and college resume builder for burgeoning writers, designers and photographers.
Bonus tip: NSPA provides an extensive list of state journalism organizations.