Serving as a Finalist Judge means joining a select panel of literary professionals and experienced readers trusted with making the final award selections.
We are currently accepting applications for Finalist Judges for our upcoming awards cycle.
What Does a Finalist Judge Do?
Finalist Judges review the top-scoring entries selected in the preliminary round and determine the winners in each category.
Judges are assigned a specific category and receive a shortlist of finalist works. You will read each entry, score them according to provided criteria, and submit your evaluations by the final deadline. Your scores directly determine the award recipients.
Typical workload:
6–10 finalist entries
Three-week reading period
Final scoring submission
Who Should Apply?
We welcome applications from individuals with experience in:
Writing or publishing
Editing or proofreading
Book reviewing or literary blogging
Poetry or short fiction editing
Cover or graphic design
Literary education or mentorship
Finalist Judges should have strong familiarity with evaluating writing quality, storytelling, originality, or book presentation depending on category.
Applicants must not have submissions in the categories they wish to judge.
Judging Timeline
Finalist assignment: December 14, 2026
Reading and scoring period: December 14, 2026 – January 16, 2027
Scores due: January 17, 2027
Winners announced: TBD
Judging Standards and Integrity
All Finalist Judges agree to:
Read all assigned entries fully
Score entries honestly and independently
Keep all digital copies provided strictly for judging use only
Maintain confidentiality of submissions and scores
Declare any conflicts of interest
Submit scores by the stated deadline
The Meridian Awards celebrate original human creativity and maintain a strict no-tolerance policy on AI-generated creative content. All submitted works must be created by a human author. Any entry found to be substantially generated by artificial intelligence in narrative, prose, poetry, or creative concept is not eligible for judging and will be disqualified. Judges are asked to evaluate originality and human authorship as core criteria in all scoring.
By participating as a Finalist Judge, you agree to uphold these standards and support the integrity and credibility of the Meridian Awards.
Why Join as a Finalist Judge?
Support independent authors at the highest level
Help select award-winning literature
Build professional visibility in the publishing community
Be recognized as a Meridian Awards Finalist Judge
Take part in the founding years of a new literary tradition
How to Apply
To apply, request a Finalist Judge Application Form at:
themeridianawards@gmail.com