Yahoo Forum Archive

* falls across the Grand Meridian, review in hand *

Well, I thoroughly bombed when it came to pacing myself as a reviewer this year, but at least I got a few last reviews crammed in there in the final minute.

Three cheers for the MEFA volunteers - you ladies and gentlemen make fandom fun!

Dwim

Hoorah to all!
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large

"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." LOTR

"Don't go where I can't follow."

I got two last ones in this morning and then was gone until after the
deadline!! I certainly didn't review nearly everything I wanted to,
but I did manage a good dint in my wish list.


Sue L
~ A Hard Hero is Good to Find ~

Horses for your Heroes
www.FantasyHorseStable.com
www.WritingHorses.com

On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 6:35 PM, dwimmer_laik <dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com> wrote:
> * falls across the Grand Meridian, review in hand *
>
> Well, I thoroughly bombed when it came to pacing myself as a reviewer this year, but at least I got a few last reviews crammed in there in the final minute.
>
> Three cheers for the MEFA volunteers - you ladies and gentlemen make fandom fun!
>
> Dwim
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Same here... I didn't get through my whole Wish List, much less find more
stories to review.....

And my reviews went from thoughtful ten-pointers to rushed, last-minute ten
character ones! Hope the authors understand it's the thought, not the
loquacity, that counts in the last hour before voting closes....

Thank you to all the great people who made the MEFAs possible!

- Barbara

On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 6:19 PM, Sýlriel of Menegroth <sulriel@gmail.com>wrote:

>
>
> I got two last ones in this morning and then was gone until after the
> deadline!! I certainly didn't review nearly everything I wanted to,
> but I did manage a good dint in my wish list.
>
> Sue L
> ~ A Hard Hero is Good to Find ~
>
> Horses for your Heroes
> www.FantasyHorseStable.com
> www.WritingHorses.com
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 6:35 PM, dwimmer_laik <dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com<dwimmer_laik%40yahoo.com>>
> wrote:
> > * falls across the Grand Meridian, review in hand *
> >
> > Well, I thoroughly bombed when it came to pacing myself as a reviewer
> this year, but at least I got a few last reviews crammed in there in the
> final minute.
> >
> > Three cheers for the MEFA volunteers - you ladies and gentlemen make
> fandom fun!
> >
> > Dwim
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
>
> >
> > Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I wanted to sneak in some last minute reviews myself, but alas, did not get
home in time.

We came close to SIX THOUSAND reviews this year! Wow!

Dreamflower

On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 6:35 PM, dwimmer_laik <dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com>wrote:

>
>
> * falls across the Grand Meridian, review in hand *
>
> Well, I thoroughly bombed when it came to pacing myself as a reviewer this
> year, but at least I got a few last reviews crammed in there in the final
> minute.
>
> Three cheers for the MEFA volunteers - you ladies and gentlemen make fandom
> fun!
>
> Dwim
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello!

> Same here... I didn't get through my whole Wish List, much less find more

stories to review.....
 
Uhm, here you have a less experienced MEFA member, so I have to ask: what is a wish list and what is this wish option that is now visible in column next to the stories? *blush*
 
Bye,
 
Ellynn
 
 
P.S. Happy New year everyone!




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ellyn,
the wish function should have been there all the time, unless there was a technical problem. It's a function that allows you to compile a reading list, if you see a story that you think you'd like to read/review but haven't got time at the moment. You can then, when you browse stories, use the filter and bring up your wish list.

It's been an impressive event indeed, and kudos to all who dealt with the admin side of it!

I'd wanted to read almost all of the short stories--I'm sorry, but there are a
couple genres I just don't feel comfortable reading and reviewing, and a lot
that fell in those genres I did skip. There were a couple I didn't get to that
I'd wanted to read, and I apologize.

I simply couldn't read all the longer tales--didn't have time! I tried to read
a good representative sampling of most writers' works, though.

I'm just glad I was spacing things out throughout the season--otherwise I doubt
I would have read a good deal I did read. And I love the MEFAs for introducing
me to the works of those who don't frequent the archives where I post. I found
some amazing authors whose works I'd not read before.

Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large

"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." LOTR

"Don't go where I can't follow."

Then something might be wrong with my browser and the way it displays things, for I really don't remember seeing it. *confused*
But it made no difference, after all. :) I made my list "manually", that is, I made notes with stories and page numbers where they were. ;)

 

From: annettekupke <annette@saltzenmund.co.uk>
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Three cheers
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, January 1, 2010, 3:01 AM


 



Ellyn,
the wish function should have been there all the time, unless there was a technical problem. It's a function that allows you to compile a reading list, if you see a story that you think you'd like to read/review but haven't got time at the moment. You can then, when you browse stories, use the filter and bring up your wish list.











[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bonnie, your review record is amazing. It leaves me speechless.

//I made my list "manually", that is, I
made notes with stories and page numbers where they were.//


Good for you! I bet many people would be too lazy... :D

I set myself a Junkie goal and didn't make it this year, but I did at least review a few of the longer stories. Got out of the gate fast, but faded in the backstretch (what can I say, I'm from Kentucky, horse-racing metaphors come naturally!).

Kudos to the admins and volunteers! The event and the site run like a well-oiled machine.

Isabeau





-----Original Message-----
From: dwimmer_laik <dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com>
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, Dec 31, 2009 7:35 pm
Subject: [MEFAwards] Three cheers





* falls across the Grand Meridian, review in hand *

Well, I thoroughly bombed when it came to pacing myself as a reviewer this year, but at least I got a few last reviews crammed in there in the final minute.

Three cheers for the MEFA volunteers - you ladies and gentlemen make fandom fun!

Dwim









[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I was amazed first at the number of reviews I managed to get done (20% of
all stories, 132 pieces) and the number of reviews I received! Whether I win
anything or not, the sheer amount of feedback I've gotten has been such a
boost I've been dancing in my chair since I opened my email this morning.
Big public thanks to everyone that took the time to review this year; that's
what makes the awards so rewarding for those of us who toss prosaic hats in
the ring every year.

On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 11:32 AM, <ejackamack@aol.com> wrote:

>
>
>
> I set myself a Junkie goal and didn't make it this year, but I did at least
> review a few of the longer stories. Got out of the gate fast, but faded in
> the backstretch (what can I say, I'm from Kentucky, horse-racing metaphors
> come naturally!).
>
> Kudos to the admins and volunteers! The event and the site run like a
> well-oiled machine.
>
> Isabeau
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dwimmer_laik <dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com <dwimmer_laik%40yahoo.com>>
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thu, Dec 31, 2009 7:35 pm
> Subject: [MEFAwards] Three cheers
>
> * falls across the Grand Meridian, review in hand *
>
> Well, I thoroughly bombed when it came to pacing myself as a reviewer this
> year, but at least I got a few last reviews crammed in there in the final
> minute.
>
> Three cheers for the MEFA volunteers - you ladies and gentlemen make fandom
> fun!
>
> Dwim
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks to all who put the hard work into the awards. I made my official
reviewing goal, but I was not able by far to review everything on my
wishlist.

The random story selector was my life saver this year. When I was too tired
to make a decision what to read, someone made the decision for me, and I
could just start. Long story or short did not make much difference for me as
I rarely had a longer chunk of time to read. I just started on whatever
story was suggested, and it took as long to read as it took.

Chris

::popping in to add her own thanks::

I absolutely love these awards! I love meeting new people, finding new stories, discovering new and brilliant authors, etc. My summer was a bit of a catastrophe, and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to participate in reviewing this year. I didn't even get around to setting a review goal before it was too late. But life resolved itself toward the end of September and I was able to jump in for the last three months. And I am SO glad I did. Thank you one and all for your writing and thank you volunteers for making this one of the most efficient awards I've ever seen!

Thundera

---------------------------------------------
"No one can get the truth out of me because even I don't know what it is. I keep myself in a constant state of utter confusion."
Colonel Flagg - M*A*S*H
---------------------------------------------

Thanks. I've not done as Dreamflower did one year and read and reviewed every
single story, but I hope that I managed to read and review at least one story by
every single author represented. Thanks to all of you for providing such
delightful reading!
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large

"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." LOTR

"Don't go where I can't follow."

I continue to be amazed at the smoothness and efficiency of the MEFA operation; and it certainly wouldn't be possible without the hardworking administrators, liaisons, banner-makers, etc.

I think my Review Junkie goal was 250. My personal goal was 300 reviews; I ended up writing 364; which is a personal best for me.

There are at least two other MEFAns who reviewed a lot more than that (I don't know how!).

I'm very pleased to observe that MEFA participation is up from last year - the 2008 Awards netted 5397 reviews; this year we had 5824; which reassures me that Tolkien fanfiction, at least this corner of it, is thriving. The number of stories in the competition was up this year from last as well.


Raksha The Demon

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "dwimmer_laik" <dwimmer_laik@...> wrote:
>
> * falls across the Grand Meridian, review in hand *
>
> Well, I thoroughly bombed when it came to pacing myself as a reviewer this year, but at least I got a few last reviews crammed in there in the final minute.
>
> Three cheers for the MEFA volunteers - you ladies and gentlemen make fandom fun!
>
> Dwim
>

I don't know how you manage it, Bonnie - 625 reviews this year! I started to run out of steam at 350, but managed another fourteen.


Raksha



<<<<--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Bonnie L. Sherrell" <blslarner@...> wrote:

>
> Thanks. I've not done as Dreamflower did one year and read and reviewed every
> single story, but I hope that I managed to read and review at least one story by
> every single author represented. Thanks to all of you for providing such
> delightful reading!
> Bonnie L. Sherrell
> Teacher at Large
>
> "Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." LOTR
>
> "Don't go where I can't follow.">>>>
>

Hello Everyone,

please let me add my thanks for the creators and volunteers, as well as the authors and reviewers of the MEFAs, as well. I think it is an incredibly well-organized, positive event and you should be proud of yourselves!

I feel bad that I haven't been able to participate much (I barely found the time or inspiration to write or read anything fan-fiction related this past year), but I hope this will change again in the future.

For now I wish everyone a wonderful and creatively fulfilling happy New Year!

Katzilla

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Sie sind Spam leid? Yahoo! Mail verfügt über einen herausragenden Schutz gegen Massenmails.
http://mail.yahoo.com

*joins the chorus* Thank you so much to all the hard-working people behind the MEFA scenesm the admins and volunteers who made everything run so smoothly; and wow! to the dedicated reviewers who managed to read hundreds of stories.

As a newbie, I'm incredibly impressed. It's been great fun to participate. :-)

(However, I'm disappointed with myself for not managing more reviews; a lot of stories sits unread and unreviewed on my wish list. But next year!)

Lissa

Hi there. Erm, how does one see how many reviews one gave? I'm pretty sure I gave quite a few - at least fifty... though I'm pretty sure it was more than that.

Hi!

> Hi there. Erm, how does one see how many reviews one gave? I'm pretty
> sure I gave quite a few - at least fifty... though I'm pretty sure it
> was more than that.

On the home page, click on the link "Read Reviews by Reviewer" in the
"Reading Reviews" section (it's quite a long way down the page). That
defaults to showing you all the reviews you wrote yourself, and will
show you the number you wrote above the filter and at the top of the
listing.

Tanaqui
The MEFA Admin Team

Wendy, at the bottom of the MEFA home page there is a function "Read reviews by reviewer" which when you click it defaults to the reviews you have written and gives you the number. If you've set yourself a review target earlier, the number of your reviews should also be displayed in the top section of the home page. Strangely, in my case, the numbers don't match.

HI Lissa,

Don't be disappointed with yourself. I participate for years in the Mefas,
and I have yet to manage to read all the stories on my wish list. Every year
I start out with great enthusiasm only to have RL intrude and cut my reading
time short. I resign myself to use the wishlist to wittle down the number of
stories to read, and then I read what I can when I can. If it is more the
better, but at least I review a few stories every year.

Chris

> As a newbie, I'm incredibly impressed. It's been great fun to
> participate. :-)
>
> (However, I'm disappointed with myself for not managing more
> reviews; a lot of stories sits unread and unreviewed on my wish
> list. But next year!)
>
> Lissa
>
>

Thanks to all the volunteers and reviewers! You did an awesome job!!

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "dwimmer_laik" <dwimmer_laik@...> wrote:
>
> * falls across the Grand Meridian, review in hand *
>
> Well, I thoroughly bombed when it came to pacing myself as a reviewer this year, but at least I got a few last reviews crammed in there in the final minute.
>
> Three cheers for the MEFA volunteers - you ladies and gentlemen make fandom fun!
>
> Dwim
>

Let this newbie say a few more words. :) No, I am not new to fanfiction, but this year is the first time that I participated actively in MEFAwards. What I really like about MEFA and fanfiction - apart from reading beautiful stories, laughing and crying with all those wonderful characters in stories - is that I am able to find new friends all over the world. We may be thousands of kilometers apart, but there are some of you that I feel like we are really close. *hugs* The bonds between many of us are real and strong, and there are some of you that I can call friends.
Unfortunately, RL is merciless and day lasts only 24 hours, so there is no time to get to know all of you; as Bilbo says - "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like." :(
 
Ok, I'll make my speech "nice and short" (another LotR quote :) ), so I'll finish it. Thank you for making this year so special - all the authors, reviewers, and of course, big thanks for all those who made all this possible - admins and volunteers. Big hug for everyone! :)
 
Bye,
 
Ellynn




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Can I just say that I totally agree with Ellynn. A fellow newby to the MEFAs, and fairly new to this particular fandom, I have so enjoyed participating, and am full of admiration for the wonderful organisational skills of all those involved in making the MEFAs work.

curiouswombat

Thanks! It's good to hear I'm not the only one, and you're right: a little reviewing must be better than none at all. :)

Lissa

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <grzonka@...> wrote:
>
> HI Lissa,
>
> Don't be disappointed with yourself. I participate for years in the Mefas,
> and I have yet to manage to read all the stories on my wish list. Every year
> I start out with great enthusiasm only to have RL intrude and cut my reading
> time short. I resign myself to use the wishlist to wittle down the number of
> stories to read, and then I read what I can when I can. If it is more the
> better, but at least I review a few stories every year.
>
> Chris
>
> > As a newbie, I'm incredibly impressed. It's been great fun to
> > participate. :-)
> >
> > (However, I'm disappointed with myself for not managing more
> > reviews; a lot of stories sits unread and unreviewed on my wish
> > list. But next year!)
> >
> > Lissa
> >
> >
>

Thanks - that's very reassuring. Yes, some reviewing must be better than none. :)

(I tried to reply earlier but seem an internet goblin ate my post.)

Lissa

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <grzonka@...> wrote:
>
> HI Lissa,
>
> Don't be disappointed with yourself. I participate for years in the Mefas,
> and I have yet to manage to read all the stories on my wish list. Every year
> I start out with great enthusiasm only to have RL intrude and cut my reading
> time short. I resign myself to use the wishlist to wittle down the number of
> stories to read, and then I read what I can when I can. If it is more the
> better, but at least I review a few stories every year.
>
> Chris
>
> > As a newbie, I'm incredibly impressed. It's been great fun to
> > participate. :-)
> >
> > (However, I'm disappointed with myself for not managing more
> > reviews; a lot of stories sits unread and unreviewed on my wish
> > list. But next year!)
> >
> > Lissa
> >
> >
>

This too was my first year participating and probably will be my last. Unlike Ellin I experienced none of the joys she had with this. Instead all I got back was silence unless I asked a question to which I will say thank you to those of you who had responded to them. I'm also appreciative of the two wonderful souls who took the time to read and give my story a review even though I have yet to complete it.

As for my reviewing of other stories I decided it wasn't worth the time towards the end. It's hard to participate in something when you feel it only leaves you farther behind the others.

Elvish Writer

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Ellin Ithilwen <ellin_revenger@...> wrote:
>
> Let this newbie say a few more words. :) No, I am not new to fanfiction, but this year is the first time that I participated actively in MEFAwards. What I really like about MEFA and fanfiction - apart from reading beautiful stories, laughing and crying with all those wonderful characters in stories - is that I am able to find new friends all over the world. We may be thousands of kilometers apart, but there are some of you that I feel like we are really close. *hugs* The bonds between many of us are real and strong, and there are some of you that I can call friends.
> Unfortunately, RL is merciless and day lasts only 24 hours, so there is no time to get to know all of you; as Bilbo says - "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like." :(
>  
> Ok, I'll make my speech "nice and short" (another LotR quote :) ), so I'll finish it. Thank you for making this year so special - all the authors, reviewers, and of course, big thanks for all those who made all this possible - admins and volunteers. Big hug for everyone! :)
>  
> Bye,
>  
> Ellynn
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Elvish Writer -

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with MEFAs and I'm sure that once in awhile people do have problems or feel lost in the whole process of this contest. As someone who has participated for the last four years, I can say that this contest has grown into a well-oiled machine as far as how well it operates. But no group is perfect of course. I'm sure that no one meant to make you feel left out or that you were 'farther behind the others'. Everyone I've dealt with seems to try really hard to make this contest fun and run smoothly. If you had a different experience than others, I would say that it was definately a rarity rather than the norm. Maybe you should give it another chance next year before making your decision to never participate again.

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "elvishwriter" <elvishwriter@...> wrote:
>
> This too was my first year participating and probably will be my last. Unlike Ellin I experienced none of the joys she had with this. Instead all I got back was silence unless I asked a question to which I will say thank you to those of you who had responded to them. I'm also appreciative of the two wonderful souls who took the time to read and give my story a review even though I have yet to complete it.
>
> As for my reviewing of other stories I decided it wasn't worth the time towards the end. It's hard to participate in something when you feel it only leaves you farther behind the others.
>
> Elvish Writer
>
> --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Ellin Ithilwen <ellin_revenger@> wrote:
> >
> > Let this newbie say a few more words. :) No, I am not new to fanfiction, but this year is the first time that I participated actively in MEFAwards. What I really like about MEFA and fanfiction - apart from reading beautiful stories, laughing and crying with all those wonderful characters in stories - is that I am able to find new friends all over the world. We may be thousands of kilometers apart, but there are some of you that I feel like we are really close. *hugs* The bonds between many of us are real and strong, and there are some of you that I can call friends.
> > Unfortunately, RL is merciless and day lasts only 24 hours, so there is no time to get to know all of you; as Bilbo says - "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like." :(
> >  
> > Ok, I'll make my speech "nice and short" (another LotR quote :) ), so I'll finish it. Thank you for making this year so special - all the authors, reviewers, and of course, big thanks for all those who made all this possible - admins and volunteers. Big hug for everyone! :)
> >  
> > Bye,
> >  
> > Ellynn
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>