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Harry Potter Slash Awards
Well, the HPSA hasn't updated their nominees since June 1. They still haven't added those from as far back as mid-May (since they were not up to date at the beginning of June).
I think they're having to wade through a lot of forms with incomplete information. Part of the problem at HPSA is they created a rather vague form, with two fields to contain 5 bits of info. They needed to have had a separate field for:
Category 1 (oh, say angst)
Nominee A name
Category
Pairing
Rating
Link to story
Nominee B name
Category
Pairing
Rating
Link to story
Also, I think it would help if they had pulled together a list of the criteria that make a story a stand-out example of a particular category.
Here's how I'd describe each category:
Best general fic
A stand-out 'general' fic has as its centerpiece an interesting and unique plot. You could take the slash (but why would you want to?) and still have a satisfying read, ideally one that you think about later as engaging the mind is key in this genre.
Bonus points for interesting and original takes on magic.
Best horror/darkfic
A stand-out 'horror' or 'darkfic' has as its centerpiece a suspenseful, and/or frightening tale. It should send shivers down your spine and make you wonder whether one or more characters are really going to make it. It does not have to have a bad ending, nor does it have to be strange. But it doesn't have to have a happy ending either. Ideally it avoids cliches and has much that is unexpected or unusual, as suspense is key in this genre.
Many people have trouble telling the difference between darkfic, angst and drama. The difference between angst verses darkfic and drama, is that both darkfic and drama are plot-driven (something happens - this is what they do), while angst spends most of its time in the characters reactions (something happens - this is what they feel). The difference between darkfic/horror and drama is that the former relies on fear (sends shivers down your spine), while drama fascinates the mind (keeps you reading for the next interesting twist).
Bonus points for eerie use of magic, and chilling settings.
Best humour/parody
A stand-out humour or parody has as its centerpiece, well, a good laugh. There is however, a reason why this is the most difficult genre to pull off, as people do have different tastes. This category encompasses subtle ironic humour, snickers, to full-on broad slapstick. A stand-out humour fic made you laugh 80% of the way through it, rather than having just one funny line.
A stand-out parody will have at its core an intelligent and often unnoticed observation. Bonus points for successfully funny observations that you couldn't say directly without getting skewered. Example: "Save the whales? Why save the whales? How many whales do we really need? I say five: one for each ocean." That takes guts, and it is funny.
Bonus points for humour fics that are unique, as surprise is key to this genre.
Best poetry
All right, we may not have a lot of entries here. Poetry is judged based on it's creative use of imagery, meter that supports the subject matter, and overall originality.
Bonus points if it's actually a good poem, as that is the point, after all, of this category and I really don't want to suffer all that much.
Best romance fic
A stand-out romance story has as its centerpiece a powerful relationship. Regardless of the pairing, you should find yourself emotionally invested in the success or failure of the relationship. The characterisation is essential, the main characters should seem very real. Look for for believable portrayals of sex and interpersonal relationships, as over-romanticizing (re: bodice ripper) is the failing of this genre.
Bonus points for clear characterisations of characters outside the key relationship, and unique set-ups to bring the main pair together.
Best angst fic
A stand-out angst fic has as its centerpiece compelling emotional torment. Ideally you should be miserable reading this story, yet can't stop reading, and at the end experience a near cathartic release (either from a good or bad ending).
Many people have trouble telling the difference between darkfic, angst and drama. The difference between angst verses darkfic and drama, is that both darkfic and drama are plot-driven (something happens - this is what they do), while angst spends most of its time in the characters reactions (something happens - this is what they feel). The difference between darkfic/horror and drama is that the former relies on fear (sends shivers down your spine), while drama fascinates the mind (keeps you reading for the next interesting twist).
Bonus points for balance, where there is something good to keep the torment from overwhelming the reader.
Best drama fic
A stand-out drama fic has at its core an interesting, suspenseful plot. You should find yourself guessing what's going to happen next, and ideally wrong most of the time.
Many people have trouble telling the difference between darkfic, angst and drama. The difference between angst verses darkfic and drama, is that both darkfic and drama are plot-driven (something happens - this is what they do), while angst spends most of its time in the characters reactions (something happens - this is what they feel). The difference between darkfic/horror and drama is that the former relies on fear (sends shivers down your spine), while drama fascinates the mind (keeps you reading for the next interesting twist).
Bonus points for interesting, unique and surprising plot twists, as that is the point of this genre.
Best PWP fic
Stands for Plot - what plot?
Great porn has at its core terrific sex. It may have an actual plot, it may not, but everything in the story serves to heighten the sexual tension. A stand-out PWP has lion's share of the story engaged in actual sex (or in the case of USTs Unresolved Sexual Tension - yes, they fit here - fantasizing about sex), has vivid sexual description, and a fine awareness of the participants' emotional/mental state as well.
Bonus points for successful visual imagery of the surroundings, often neglected in PWPs.
Best AU fic
Stands for Alternate Universe.
Here the writer engages in 'world-building' and instead of being judged according to canon, they are judged based on consistency and believability. Does the hypothesis make sense? Is the writer consistent? Is there a point to the change, does it make any critical difference between their world and JKR's? (i.e., Harry being sorted into Slytherin would make a vast change from canon, but Harry's scar being diamond-shaped instead of a lightning bolt would not.) Pre-OotP fics that have turned out to be AU are best put in other categories, it would be unfair to the deliberate AU writers to put them here. A stand-out AU story makes you forget the original canon and absorbs you into this new realm.
Bonus points for originality, which is the point of AU after all.
Other fics?
This category is for fics that either don't fit into any of the categories listed above, or can simply be used to nominate another deserving fic.
Best slash author
A category to list your favourite slash author. They have to have written at least three slash fics, though it does not have to be their main genre.
Candidates for best slasher should have consistenty shown skill in five areas:
1 - Professionalism in their writing, i.e., you don't start Beta-reading half-way through, and their word choices, phrasing etc., does not interfere with or confuse the story. Some mistakes are acceptable, but they have to have shown a high standard.
2 - Well-described settings. Do they write scenes that visually seem real?
3 - Character development. Do their characters seem consistently believable, and do they grow? Are their personalities revealed through their actions and words rather than info-dumping (show, don't tell)?
4 - Plot development. Do their plots hold together and ring true, without loose ends or confusing/unbelievable/cliche twists?
5 - Dialogue. Do they use dialogue skillfully, do the characters sound realistic, does each character have their own voice?
In addition, they have to have consistently shown good canon-sensibility or successful AU world-building.
Ideally the candidate for best slash writer has written a broad variety of stories, successfully pulling off very different types of stories - say.. humour, darkfic, angst, PWPs - and a range of characters (even if they've only written one main pairing, they still have believable supporting characters), thus they've proven they are not 'one-trick ponies.'
You know, if I ever have a real website (not the freebie space provided with my email account) I think I'd run a slash awards, just to see. I wonder if I should send my ideas to HPSA, or if they'd strangle me at this point.
I think they're having to wade through a lot of forms with incomplete information. Part of the problem at HPSA is they created a rather vague form, with two fields to contain 5 bits of info. They needed to have had a separate field for:
Category 1 (oh, say angst)
Nominee A name
Category
Pairing
Rating
Link to story
Nominee B name
Category
Pairing
Rating
Link to story
Also, I think it would help if they had pulled together a list of the criteria that make a story a stand-out example of a particular category.
Here's how I'd describe each category:
Best general fic
A stand-out 'general' fic has as its centerpiece an interesting and unique plot. You could take the slash (but why would you want to?) and still have a satisfying read, ideally one that you think about later as engaging the mind is key in this genre.
Bonus points for interesting and original takes on magic.
Best horror/darkfic
A stand-out 'horror' or 'darkfic' has as its centerpiece a suspenseful, and/or frightening tale. It should send shivers down your spine and make you wonder whether one or more characters are really going to make it. It does not have to have a bad ending, nor does it have to be strange. But it doesn't have to have a happy ending either. Ideally it avoids cliches and has much that is unexpected or unusual, as suspense is key in this genre.
Many people have trouble telling the difference between darkfic, angst and drama. The difference between angst verses darkfic and drama, is that both darkfic and drama are plot-driven (something happens - this is what they do), while angst spends most of its time in the characters reactions (something happens - this is what they feel). The difference between darkfic/horror and drama is that the former relies on fear (sends shivers down your spine), while drama fascinates the mind (keeps you reading for the next interesting twist).
Bonus points for eerie use of magic, and chilling settings.
Best humour/parody
A stand-out humour or parody has as its centerpiece, well, a good laugh. There is however, a reason why this is the most difficult genre to pull off, as people do have different tastes. This category encompasses subtle ironic humour, snickers, to full-on broad slapstick. A stand-out humour fic made you laugh 80% of the way through it, rather than having just one funny line.
A stand-out parody will have at its core an intelligent and often unnoticed observation. Bonus points for successfully funny observations that you couldn't say directly without getting skewered. Example: "Save the whales? Why save the whales? How many whales do we really need? I say five: one for each ocean." That takes guts, and it is funny.
Bonus points for humour fics that are unique, as surprise is key to this genre.
Best poetry
All right, we may not have a lot of entries here. Poetry is judged based on it's creative use of imagery, meter that supports the subject matter, and overall originality.
Bonus points if it's actually a good poem, as that is the point, after all, of this category and I really don't want to suffer all that much.
Best romance fic
A stand-out romance story has as its centerpiece a powerful relationship. Regardless of the pairing, you should find yourself emotionally invested in the success or failure of the relationship. The characterisation is essential, the main characters should seem very real. Look for for believable portrayals of sex and interpersonal relationships, as over-romanticizing (re: bodice ripper) is the failing of this genre.
Bonus points for clear characterisations of characters outside the key relationship, and unique set-ups to bring the main pair together.
Best angst fic
A stand-out angst fic has as its centerpiece compelling emotional torment. Ideally you should be miserable reading this story, yet can't stop reading, and at the end experience a near cathartic release (either from a good or bad ending).
Many people have trouble telling the difference between darkfic, angst and drama. The difference between angst verses darkfic and drama, is that both darkfic and drama are plot-driven (something happens - this is what they do), while angst spends most of its time in the characters reactions (something happens - this is what they feel). The difference between darkfic/horror and drama is that the former relies on fear (sends shivers down your spine), while drama fascinates the mind (keeps you reading for the next interesting twist).
Bonus points for balance, where there is something good to keep the torment from overwhelming the reader.
Best drama fic
A stand-out drama fic has at its core an interesting, suspenseful plot. You should find yourself guessing what's going to happen next, and ideally wrong most of the time.
Many people have trouble telling the difference between darkfic, angst and drama. The difference between angst verses darkfic and drama, is that both darkfic and drama are plot-driven (something happens - this is what they do), while angst spends most of its time in the characters reactions (something happens - this is what they feel). The difference between darkfic/horror and drama is that the former relies on fear (sends shivers down your spine), while drama fascinates the mind (keeps you reading for the next interesting twist).
Bonus points for interesting, unique and surprising plot twists, as that is the point of this genre.
Best PWP fic
Stands for Plot - what plot?
Great porn has at its core terrific sex. It may have an actual plot, it may not, but everything in the story serves to heighten the sexual tension. A stand-out PWP has lion's share of the story engaged in actual sex (or in the case of USTs Unresolved Sexual Tension - yes, they fit here - fantasizing about sex), has vivid sexual description, and a fine awareness of the participants' emotional/mental state as well.
Bonus points for successful visual imagery of the surroundings, often neglected in PWPs.
Best AU fic
Stands for Alternate Universe.
Here the writer engages in 'world-building' and instead of being judged according to canon, they are judged based on consistency and believability. Does the hypothesis make sense? Is the writer consistent? Is there a point to the change, does it make any critical difference between their world and JKR's? (i.e., Harry being sorted into Slytherin would make a vast change from canon, but Harry's scar being diamond-shaped instead of a lightning bolt would not.) Pre-OotP fics that have turned out to be AU are best put in other categories, it would be unfair to the deliberate AU writers to put them here. A stand-out AU story makes you forget the original canon and absorbs you into this new realm.
Bonus points for originality, which is the point of AU after all.
Other fics?
This category is for fics that either don't fit into any of the categories listed above, or can simply be used to nominate another deserving fic.
Best slash author
A category to list your favourite slash author. They have to have written at least three slash fics, though it does not have to be their main genre.
Candidates for best slasher should have consistenty shown skill in five areas:
1 - Professionalism in their writing, i.e., you don't start Beta-reading half-way through, and their word choices, phrasing etc., does not interfere with or confuse the story. Some mistakes are acceptable, but they have to have shown a high standard.
2 - Well-described settings. Do they write scenes that visually seem real?
3 - Character development. Do their characters seem consistently believable, and do they grow? Are their personalities revealed through their actions and words rather than info-dumping (show, don't tell)?
4 - Plot development. Do their plots hold together and ring true, without loose ends or confusing/unbelievable/cliche twists?
5 - Dialogue. Do they use dialogue skillfully, do the characters sound realistic, does each character have their own voice?
In addition, they have to have consistently shown good canon-sensibility or successful AU world-building.
Ideally the candidate for best slash writer has written a broad variety of stories, successfully pulling off very different types of stories - say.. humour, darkfic, angst, PWPs - and a range of characters (even if they've only written one main pairing, they still have believable supporting characters), thus they've proven they are not 'one-trick ponies.'
You know, if I ever have a real website (not the freebie space provided with my email account) I think I'd run a slash awards, just to see. I wonder if I should send my ideas to HPSA, or if they'd strangle me at this point.
no subject
no subject
Hmm. I sent a whine-note (heh, from a different email address than the one I used to send the form) and never heard back.
I must admit, I'm glad to hear other people have experienced the same thing.
~Icarus
Re:
no subject
Damn. I hate stuff like that.
~Icarus
no subject
no subject
My message just got eaten ...
But the main point was: yes, I'm very curious about what's happening with that competition, and I wonder why the people running it don't tell mention what's causing the delays in updating, or whether they need help, etc.
I'd love to see a proper, four star, panel-checked competition. Would it be that difficult to set one up?
brodie
Contest Battle Plan
Let's think this through carefully, and build the idea slowly.
What attracted me to the HPSA is that it seemed to be set up to let the readers decide, without the interference of the personal opinions of the owner of the site (which could hardly be unbiased).
As you can see from the comments here, that's not happening. Someone is interfering and not putting up the stories that have been nominated. It's too bad, because part of what a contest can do is dig up new talent, and I liked how everyone who was nominated would go into the resulting archive. I feel... duped. And I'm angry that the resulting list will be passed off as the peoples' choice, yet in reality, is the site's choice. That's so dishonest.
Let's see.
Battle Plan:
1 - Mission, statement of direction for the contest to set the tone and attitude (that will also determine the site design).
2 - Decide where, and who will set up (and pay for) the site. I think I've volunteered to pay for it.
3 - Determine design, and who will design the layout. (Ask Dien's help? She tends to be graphic-heavy, but she's a fine artist.)
4 - Contest planning, contest rules, schedule. Grand prize in each category, with 9 runner-ups (in no particular order, because ranking one story above another is the hardest part).
5 - Contest judging procedure. Balance between people's choice (which is out of control and ripe for abuse) and a panel of judges (which can be too biased). I think the nomination process should be wide open (and all nom's, even if they're shit, go in the archive). The judging should be by a panel.
6 - Determine who will judge. Maybe four judges, ideally with various tastes. Judges' stories are not eligible to win, but are automatically in and have their own (prominent) 'Judges' page in the archive. Bonus of a link to their websites. We need a different bribe for non-writer judges. You are a good choice for a judge, you showed a lot of fairness and restraint in nominating only one author for each category. I've been a judge before, and I'm good at it - tough and fair.
7 - Market the contest, ask for the nod of support of the 'Fleet', suck up to BNFs ;), post regular contest updates on Yahoo groups, posts in Fiction Alley, Diagon Alley.
8 - Voting process. Figure out how we'll divvy up the work of reading all those stories, agree on the process. Or each judge 'owns' a particular category - to minimize duplication of the work - (it's not announced which judge owns which) and their final ten selections are voted on by the group? Ooo. With seven categories that's still 70 stories for all the judges to read. Make that top five selections (so we have to read 35 outstanding stories in the end - a lot, but not impossible), with the remainder of the ten determined by that judge. Grand prizes perhaps by a unanimous vote? Or majority vote? Or by a scoring system?
Example of scoring system from Neil Gaiman's Online writing group (http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/cgi-bin/ww/framer.cgi?code=c&path=:members:0:30:name:Kathryn%20Allen). Perhaps judges agree on the standard and process, so we have a uniform approach and don't end up squabbling.
Of course, there's always a chance that there won't be many nominations, but well, due to the open nature of the nominations, judges can nominate (at least in the categories they don't own, perhaps?)
Let's continue this in email.
Hey, if I were a judge, I'd want to do the PWP, Romance and Humour. I'm not big on Darkfic, Angst, though I'm fine with Drama and I like Gen.
Whadya think?
~Icarus
Re: Contest Battle Plan
I don't know what kind of help I'd be able to offer, but if you need something, let me know. Of course I'd love to judge (who wouldn't?) but I'd be happy to help with organization, too. My technical skills are pathetic, though.