Comments | cousinnat: Awards

cousinnat

Awards

Mar 05, 2004 14:39

I've been reading another LJ that discusses FanQ awards (I think that's what they're called), and wondering why these awards are solely for zine stories. In this day and age, why not include stories on LJs, on lists, on File Forty and other websites, as well as in zines? Why not throw it open to every format? I post this at the risk of causing ( Read more... )

Comments 12

vysila March 6 2004, 05:45:33 UTC

You make a very good point, Nat. Change to the Fan Q awards is very unlikely (for a variety of reasons), but many fandoms have begun their own awards systems for that fandom only, that include all published fic, not just in zines. MfU doesn't seem to have done so, probably because until very recently it has been so zine-centric.

Maybe it's time for some energetic soul to start up an MfU awards program?

MFU Awards st_crispins March 6 2004, 05:58:59 UTC

Actually, this has been proposed several times in the past. I think one idea a couple of years ago was for "The Waverlys." Running awards is complicated though and potentially fraught with politics so mostly we've just left it to the FanQs.

Re: MFU Awards vysila March 6 2004, 06:33:31 UTC

Running awards is complicated though and potentially fraught with politics

Very true words! It's very difficult to do an awards program and I can understand why earlier efforts were shelved. There's never an easy solution.

This panel you mention - is that one of the MWC panel suggestions?

Re: MW Panel st_crispins March 6 2004, 06:40:42 UTC

Yes. I forget what the title ultimately was, but here's the description:

These days, audiences are fragmenting, even for a relatively small, fairly organized fandom like MFU. You can publish a story a variety of ways: in various zines, on File 40 or other websites, on some of the lists, on a personal or community LJ. Questions for writers: Where is the best place for a story? Where are your readers most likely to be? How do you decide? Questions for readers: Who has the time to find it all? What does that mean to our fandom?

vysila March 6 2004, 05:48:16 UTC

BTW, I absolutely love your new icon! :)

cousinnat March 7 2004, 15:09:29 UTC

That makes four of us who are smiling. (heehee)

Awards st_crispins March 6 2004, 05:52:40 UTC

In this day and age, why not include stories on LJs, on lists, on File Forty and other websites, as well as in zines?

I absolutely agree and have brought this up in several discussions with folks lately. FanQs are run by the MediaWest folks and as Irene says, they probably won't change their policy. They are very hidebound. We can't even get them to list our MFU panels as both gen and slash together. They make us choose one or the other label for each panel even though we always share them.

But this may be a subject to bring up on the panel I've proposed about the different audiences in our fandom

janeterry March 6 2004, 10:31:16 UTC

Thank you for the compliment, Nat. I think you are a terrific writer too -- The Arrangement as you know, is one of my favorites ( ... )

lyrebird March 6 2004, 17:23:12 UTC

People in the past have complained that it is improper to talk about a story near the time when people are voting on an award for fear of unfair influence.

Jane is being way too genteel in her choice of words. Complaints? Think flames. Think destabilisation of a list. Think insults and onlist back-slapping at who said the snarkiest remark.

I'm well aware that you would rather not know about previous fannish brawls. But if you're going to bring up the topic of awards, you ought to be aware of the jealousy and bitchiness that accompanies them.

lyrebird March 6 2004, 16:05:39 UTC

I also have no illusions that there are far better writers in MFU slash fandom than me...

In LJ circles, you are the writer of the moment. You're probably the most recced MfU slash writer in the past year, so you should rest on your laurels, bask in the limelight...etc.

I've come to the conclusion that recs are now taking the place of fanfic awards. If you are recced enough then you've effectively won recognition, which is the aim of the awards in the first place. So in a sense, you've already won.

As for having awards for online fic, anyone can set up such a site...even in such an 'organized' fandom such as MfU.

But I'd rather stab my eyeballs with hot pokers.

dinahmt March 7 2004, 13:22:34 UTC

In LJ circles, you are the writer of the moment. You're probably the most recced MfU slash writer in the past year, so you should rest on your laurels, bask in the limelight...etc.

I agree with you, CC. Nat is one of our very best authors and awards are not neccessary to prove this.

-blush- cousinnat March 7 2004, 15:21:22 UTC

Okay, I don't really care about awards. I was just fishing for compliments.

Seriously (although thanks to everyone who stroked my ego), I didn't know that the FanQ awards and MediaWest went hand-in-hand. I can understand, when an award is announced at MW, that people would flock to buy the zines that contain the winning stories, or place an order for one if they've been sold out.

Yes, awards are extremely political and the process is difficult. I'm not surprised no one wants to stick her neck out.

I find that publishing online appeals to me because of the instant gratification. Impatience is my weakness -- well, one of the many.