INTERNATIONAL HORROR GUILD
AWARD RULES
(No longer applicable. Left online as reference.)
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1. Works must have intrinsic elements of horror or dark fantasy to be
considered.
2. The International Horror Guild Awards shall be presented annually for each
year beginning January 1 and ending on December 31. Unless otherwise specified,
awards are given for work appearing for the first time during that year.
3. Although works in languages other than English are eligible for the award, a
work originally appearing in a language other than English shall also be
eligible for the year in which it is first issued in English translation.
4. Individual works cannot appear on the final ballot more than once, but
substantial adaptations or expansions of previously existing works are eligible
in categories other than the category of the previous nomination.
5. Awards will be made in the following categories:
• a. Novel: A work of fiction at least 40,000 words in length.
• b. Long Fiction, Mid-Length Fiction, Short Fiction: Word count
in these three categories may vary from year to year. Final categories will be
determined each year by the Awards Administrator. In general, Short Fiction is
under 10,000 words, Mid-length Fiction is over 10,000 words but under 20,000
words, Long Fiction is over 20,000 words but under 40,000 words.
• c. Collection: At least 40,000 words consisting of at least
three (3) stories by a single author. Although a collection may contain
nonfiction, it must include at least three works of fiction and more than half
its contents must be fiction. If content is more than half nonfiction, it can be
considered in the Nonfiction category.
• d. Anthology: At least 60,000 words consisting of at least three
(3) stories by three (3) or more authors. Although an anthology may contain
nonfiction, it must include at least three (3) works of fiction and more than
half its content must be fiction. . If content is more than half nonfiction, it
can be considered in the Nonfiction category.
• e. Nonfiction: At least 40,000 words of criticism, biography,
autobiography, scholarly analysis, reference, commentary, opinion, or other
factual material in prose form published as a single entity.
• f. Graphic Story, Novel, or Other Illustrated Narrative:
Presented in a series of illustrations, with or without text. Award may be given
for a single story, collection of stories, or all volumes of a series within the
awards year.
• g. Periodical: At least two issues of a periodical must be
published and distributed to the general public within the awards year to
qualify.
• h. Art: Presented for a work or body of work distributed or
shown to the general public within the awards year. Nominations may be made for
groups and organizations as well as individuals.
6. Each category must have three (3) qualified nominees in order to be in
contention for an awards year. If three (3) nominations cannot be made for the
Awards year, the category will be dropped for that year.
7. Categories may have no more than five (5) nominees unless extraordinary
circumstances call for additional nomination. These circumstances are the sole
determination of the Awards Administrator on petition of the Jury.
8. Ties are not permitted in categories with only three nominees.
9. Determinations of nominations (the final ballot) and final recipients are
made by the Jury subject to review by the Awards Administrator in compliance
with these Rules.
11. Living Legend Award: Honorees are named by the Jury. To be considered for
the Living Legend Award, individuals must have made a meritorious and notable
contribution and/or has substantially influenced the field of horror/dark
fantasy. Honorees must be living when named.
12. Special Awards may be given at the discretion of the Jury for reasons they
cite.
13. Special Awards may be also given at the discretion of the Board of Directors
of the Mirabundus Project, Inc. for reasons they cite.
14. Living Legends and Special Awards shall be announced at the same time the
final ballot is made public.
15. In matters of qualification or rules interpretation, the decision of the
Awards Administrator shall be final.
16. Adjudication:
• a. The Jury shall consist of at least three (3) Jurors and no
more than seven (7) Jurors.
• b. The Board of Directors of the Mirabundus Project, Inc., in
consultation with the existing Jury, shall appoint the Jurors. No Juror deemed
unacceptable by a majority of seated Judges shall be appointed.
• c. Jurors must be individuals with a wide knowledge of the
field.
• d. Jurors may be dismissed at the sole discretion of the Board
of Directors of the Mirabundus Project, Inc.
17. The Award Rules may be amended by a majority decision of the Jury and the
agreement of the Awards Administrator and approval by a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Mirabundus Project, Inc..
[Contact the Judges]
For additional information on the International Horror Guild, please contact info@horroraward.org.
