A work of fiction is considered a novel by the organization if it is 40,000 words or longer; awards are also given out for pieces of shorter lengths, in the categories of short story, novelette, and novella.
Works published in English elsewhere in the world are also eligible, provided they are released on either a website or in an electronic edition.
Soon after, members are given a month to vote on the ballot, and the final results are presented at the Nebula Awards ceremony in May.
[1] Beginning with the 2009 awards, the rules were changed to the current format, and nominated works must have been published during that calendar year.
Ursula K. Le Guin has received the most Nebula Awards for Best Novel, with four wins out of six nominations.