William E. Colby Military Writers' Award
ウィリアム・E・コルビーぐんじさっかしょう
Award recognizing the first work (fiction or nonfiction) on military affairs, intelligence operations, and international issues that significantly contributes to understanding.
Military literatureHistoryInternational relationsFirst book (debut work)
- Established
- 1999
- Organizer
- William E. Colby Military Writers' Symposium (Norwich University)
- Category
- Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
- Selection Method
- Recommendation
- Target
- Newcomer
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Application Deadline
- around December
- Announcement Period
- around May
- Status
- Active
Description
Established in 1999 by Norwich University's William E. Colby Military Writers' Symposium. Targets first fiction or nonfiction works that significantly contribute to understanding intelligence activities, military history, and international relations. Named after William Egan Colby; prize money managed by Tawani Foundation (Chicago). Winners announced at the annual Colby Symposium. As of 2021, selection committee chair is Alex Kershaw.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Winners receive cash prize and recognition (cash managed by Tawani Foundation).
- Cash Prize
- 5,000 USD
- Recognition and speaking opportunity at the symposium
- Publicity and honor from winning
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomination/Candidate selection | Selection committee (Chair: Alex Kershaw as of 2021) | — | Candidate list creation (internal selection) |
| Final selection/deliberation | Deliberation and voting by selection committee | — | Winner determined by committee |
| Winner announcement | Organizer/selection committee | — | Announced at William E. Colby Military Writers' Symposium and notified on official site |
Nomination/Candidate selection
Judges
Selection committee (Chair: Alex Kershaw as of 2021)
Announcement
Candidate list creation (internal selection)
Final selection/deliberation
Judges
Deliberation and voting by selection committee
Announcement
Winner determined by committee
Winner announcement
Judges
Organizer/selection committee
Announcement
Announced at William E. Colby Military Writers' Symposium and notified on official site
Criteria
- Author's first fiction or nonfiction work (first book)
- Significantly contributes to understanding intelligence activities, military history, international relations
- Quality of research and source citations, clarity of writing style
Application Tips
Dos
- 対象が著者の初の著作（ファーストブック）であることを明確に示す
- 作品が情報活動、軍事史、国際関係にどのように貢献するかを明示する
- 出典や一次資料を明確に示し、リサーチの厳密さを示す
- 出版社情報・出版日などのメタデータを正確に添付する
Don''ts
- 応募要件（デビュー作など）を満たさない作品を送らない
- 重要な出典や事実を省略したり誇張して報告したりしない
- 主題が賞の対象外（軍事・国際関係から著しく外れている）である場合は応募しない
From Judges
- 新規性と作品が学術的・叙述的に果たす貢献を重視する
- 一次資料に基づいた堅実なリサーチと、明瞭で説得力のある文章が評価される
- 応募資料は整った状態で提出し、編集・校正を徹底すること
Related Awards
- Literary awards for first books (debut works)
- Military literature awards (other military/war history awards)
- Participation in Norwich University-hosted William E. Colby Military Writers' Symposium
- Other awards or grants involving Tawani Foundation