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I've noticed that there are not that many stories nominated, with ten days left to nominate. Or were there about this many nominated at this time last year?

Has everyone reading this message nominated five, or ten or twenty pieces of whatever type or length for MEFA this year?

Something to think about; or am I being paranoid.

Hiya Raksha,

I'm afraid this is a "Go not to the Elves" moment - because it's something
that I *am* a little concerned about, but not terribly so.

While nominations only have about ten days to go, it's also the case that
they've only been going for about 2.5 weeks. So, if you look at things from
one perspective, we might seem right on target whereas from another
perspective we may be lagging behind previous years. Based purely on my
memory (I don't have any hard statistics, offhand, just my impressions), it
seems like we had a little less than this number at ten days from the end of
2009's nominations. But it also seems like we have more nominations now than
we did 2-3 weeks into the 2009 awards.

As I said, Go not to the elves.... :-P

Even if nominations are down, I'm not sure that's the end of the world. Of
course, having more nominations would help in the next stage of the awards,
settling things into their categories and subcategories. And having more
nominations means more stories to read over the next several months. But it
also means there's less pressure to choose which stories you are going to
read, which I think might help some people. Frankly, I'm more concerned that
people nominate the stories they really enjoyed from the past year, than
that they nominate a lot of stories. If the fandom is slowing down, and
there are less nominations because less people are writing Tolkien-based
fanfic, that's a bit sad but not really a *problem* in my book.

On the other hand, if people just haven't gotten around to getting those
nominations in - by all means, get started!

Marta

> -----Original Message-----
> From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of raksha022002
> Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 1:13 AM
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [MEFAwards] Should we be concerned?
>
>
>
> I've noticed that there are not that many stories nominated, with ten
> days left to nominate. Or were there about this many nominated at this
> time last year?
>
> Has everyone reading this message nominated five, or ten or twenty
> pieces of whatever type or length for MEFA this year?
>
> Something to think about; or am I being paranoid.
>
>

I've used up my total complement of nominations. I've tried to offer our
constituency a good variety of fics by a number of highly talented writers.
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 haven't yet used up *all* my nominations, though I most certainly will
before the end of the nomination season.

And yet part of that reason has been-- three-fourths of the stories I wished
to nominate were taken already and nominated by someone else before I got to
them! Frustrating for me, though it also makes me glad that others
appreciate the same stories I do, but I think it may show that there are
fewer eligible stories now than there used to be.

Thousands of older stories have already been through the MEFAs and are no
longer eligible, and the fandom has cooled down from the heady days when the
movies were new and we had a lot of new writers in the fandom. I think
those still remaining are in for the long haul and wll probably never leave
the fandom, but some of those may no longer be writing fanfic, due to RL
concerns, or they may be writing, but not as much.

It's not necessarily something to worry about; sadly, it's the normal course
of events.

Dreamflower

On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 12:12 AM, raksha022002 <PGail99@aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> I've noticed that there are not that many stories nominated, with ten days
> left to nominate. Or were there about this many nominated at this time last
> year?
>
> Has everyone reading this message nominated five, or ten or twenty pieces
> of whatever type or length for MEFA this year?
>
> Something to think about; or am I being paranoid.
>
>
>


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

I haven't done my nominations yet, so that will be a handful more, though
I'm sure that many of those on my list have already been nominated. A
combination of changing jobs and being a natural procrastinator has kept me
from doing them yet. Hopefully, there are a few other procrastinators out
there who will give us some excellent new stories to read for MEFA season.
:)

Dawn

On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 1:12 AM, raksha022002 <PGail99@aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> I've noticed that there are not that many stories nominated, with ten days
> left to nominate. Or were there about this many nominated at this time last
> year?
>
> Has everyone reading this message nominated five, or ten or twenty pieces
> of whatever type or length for MEFA this year?
>
> Something to think about; or am I being paranoid.
>

--
~oOo~
Dawn Felagund
http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/
http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org


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

I've wondered about that myself. Some of my authors for whom I am responsible as their liaison have not even had a story nominated this year, though they did have stories last year. On the other hand, I've got two new authors who are not only new to MEFA but also new to LOTR fanfic, and that's an encouraging sign.

At the same time, I have to confess that I have not seen too many stories since the last MEFA that I considered worthy of nomination. People are just not writing as much I think and it was hard for me to find stories to nominate and some that I wanted to nominate were already nominated by others.

On the other hand, based on my experience from last year as a liaison, I suspect that people will wake up to the fact that the nomination period is nearly done with and will start nominating like mad. It seemed to me that last year I had a whole slew of nominations to deal with just before the deadline. This may be the case this year as well. We'll just have to see and keep our fingers crossed. *grin*

Fiondil

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "raksha022002" <PGail99@...> wrote:
>
> I've noticed that there are not that many stories nominated, with ten days left to nominate. Or were there about this many nominated at this time last year?
>
> Has everyone reading this message nominated five, or ten or twenty pieces of whatever type or length for MEFA this year?
>
> Something to think about; or am I being paranoid.
>

I have only used up a tiny portion of my nomination lot. Partly it is due to the difficulty of getting an E-mail address from authors whose names have not had an account on the site (FanFiction.Net requires one to ferify codes for the E-mail address to show, and I am craps with that (both the visual and audio ones)), and partly because there seem not to be many good fics I have read which are elligible for MEFA and have not been nominated either this year or the years before.
 
Well, and my procrastination does have a share in this, coupled with real life activities which seem to be determined to drag me away from the Internet (or the computer altogether). Hopefully I will manage to add at least several nomination before the deadline. (I am a "deadliner" sometimes - Or at least it is what we call people with that tendency here in Indonesia. *grin*) I do hope that I am able to use up all 20 nominations this year, in my first time at MEFA, and that nominations will flock in before the 15th. If you said that it happened last year, then it might happen again this year. :)
 
Rey

--- On Sun, 6/6/10, raksha022002 <PGail99@aol.com> wrote:


From: raksha022002 <PGail99@aol.com>
Subject: [MEFAwards] Should we be concerned?
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, June 6, 2010, 1:12 AM


 



I've noticed that there are not that many stories nominated, with ten days left to nominate. Or were there about this many nominated at this time last year?

Has everyone reading this message nominated five, or ten or twenty pieces of whatever type or length for MEFA this year?

Something to think about; or am I being paranoid.











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

I might be making this up, but it seems to me that the drabble count is down this year. Last year, a large subsection of the competing stories were true drabbles or true drabble series. There don't seem to be as many this year, but that might be indicative of low totals all around. ::shrugs:: Just my impression.

Thundera

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "raksha022002" <PGail99@...> wrote:
>
> I've noticed that there are not that many stories nominated, with ten days left to nominate. Or were there about this many nominated at this time last year?
>
> Has everyone reading this message nominated five, or ten or twenty pieces of whatever type or length for MEFA this year?
>
> Something to think about; or am I being paranoid.
>

Tanaqui, who writes some of the most exquisite drabbles around, is starting a
new series on LiveJournal that I recommend. http://tanaquilotr.livejournal.com/
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."

Perhaps recommendations like this are better done through a private means of communication such as e-mail or IM if the need for it must be done.

Remember there are others who write drabbles and this could be viewed as "stacking the deck" in favor of this author.

Elvish Writer

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Bonnie L. Sherrell" <blslarner@...> wrote:
>
> Tanaqui, who writes some of the most exquisite drabbles around, is starting a
> new series on LiveJournal that I recommend. http://tanaquilotr.livejournal.com/
> 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."
>

Sorry--it's just that since the particular correspondent mentioned drabbles I
noted an author who is known for her drabbles and who is just now writing
another series. I know a few others who also have series of drabbles and other
drabble multiples, including Marta, Jay of Lasgalen, Lindelea, Dwimordene,
Dreamflower, Grey Wonderer, and several others, including myself. I'd even
tried to nominate a drabble by AnnMarwalk, who has chosen to sit out this year's
competition. So, we know there are drabbles and drabble series out there--just
not many have been nominated as yet.
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."

Hi Elvish Writer and everyone,

I'm glad you brought this up. While I don't think Larner meant any harm by
all this --and it's all too easy to want to recommend authors you liked in
discussions like this!-- I do see how it could make some authors
uncomfortable.

Everyone, I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't discuss how much you like
specific stories or authors here or at the mefas LJ. And I don't blame
Larner here! This isn't the first time this has happened, and it probably
won't be the last. But *because* it's so easy to talk up a certain author or
story, I think it's something we need to be careful to stay away from.

There *is* a good way to get people excited about the MEFAs, and I want
everyone to do that. In fact, I'll make my next educational post (every
Wednesday) about just this kind of issue. It's a very important topic.

Marta

> -----Original Message-----
> From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Elvish Writer
> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 12:10 PM
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Should we be concerned?
>
>
>
> Perhaps recommendations like this are better done through a private
> means of communication such as e-mail or IM if the need for it must be
> done.
>
> Remember there are others who write drabbles and this could be viewed
> as "stacking the deck" in favor of this author.
>
> Elvish Writer
>
> --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <mailto:MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com> ,
> "Bonnie L. Sherrell" <blslarner@...> wrote:
> >
> > Tanaqui, who writes some of the most exquisite drabbles around, is
> starting a
> > new series on LiveJournal that I recommend.
> http://tanaquilotr.livejournal.com/
> > 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."
> >
>
>
>
>

Thank you, Marta. The mentioning of specific authors made me uncomfortable.

I hope I'm not out of line for mentioning this, but it's been eating at me for a couple days. Another comment that made me very uncomfortable was someone stating that there are few good stories 'worthy of nomination'. I think we need to be sensitive to the fact that there are a lot of people on this list who write and whose stories have NOT been nominated, so to say there aren't many stories 'worthy of nomination' is rather like a slap in the face to those authors. I really think comments like that are hurtful and drive people away rather than encouraging participation. :(

NiRi

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "telperion1" <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Elvish Writer and everyone,
>
> I'm glad you brought this up. While I don't think Larner meant any harm by
> all this --and it's all too easy to want to recommend authors you liked in
> discussions like this!-- I do see how it could make some authors
> uncomfortable.
>
> Everyone, I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't discuss how much you like
> specific stories or authors here or at the mefas LJ. And I don't blame
> Larner here! This isn't the first time this has happened, and it probably
> won't be the last. But *because* it's so easy to talk up a certain author or
> story, I think it's something we need to be careful to stay away from.
>
> There *is* a good way to get people excited about the MEFAs, and I want
> everyone to do that. In fact, I'll make my next educational post (every
> Wednesday) about just this kind of issue. It's a very important topic.
>
> Marta

I only nominated a few this year, as I went through my list, most of
the ones I enjoyed so much were already nom'd or had been in previous
years. I know I've been much less active in the fandom over about the
last two years, even down from being less active over the last couple
of years before that. Real Life has had me by a strangle-hold, but
thankfully hasn't kept me out of the fandom completely. I didn't know
if there were less stories being published or if I just wasn't active
enough to be hitting the good ones.

Either way, I'll read and vote as much as I can without stressing.

Sulriel

On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 2:04 AM, telperion1 <marta.fandom@gmail.com> wrote:
> And having more
> nominations means more stories to read over the next several months. But it
> also means there's less pressure to choose which stories you are going to
> read, which I think might help some people. Frankly, I'm more concerned that
> people nominate the stories they really enjoyed from the past year, than
> that they nominate a lot of stories. If the fandom is slowing down, and
> there are less nominations because less people are writing Tolkien-based
> fanfic, that's a bit sad but not really a *problem* in my book.

I haven't nominated any stories yet. I usually keep a file during the year where I store stories I want to nominate for the next Mefas. Unfortunately, the last year was not very kind to me. Due to an increased workload and trying to read for the Mefas as much as I could, I didn't read anything outside of the competition. I'm still working through my email reminders of updates to the stories I'm following and discovered that most of them are already nominated. So, I guess my nomination slots will be lost.

Chris


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

I have to admit, that that comment NiRi mentioned made me uncomfortable too, and I think that things like that discourage participation in general any time they are made in any open forum. It is possible to be positive about what you like, without being negative about the work of others.

Cactuskim





________________________________
From: nierielraina <equineinclined@yahoo.com>
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, June 8, 2010 12:43:14 PM
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Should we be concerned?


Thank you, Marta. The mentioning of specific authors made me uncomfortable.

I hope I'm not out of line for mentioning this, but it's been eating at me for a couple days. Another comment that made me very uncomfortable was someone stating that there are few good stories 'worthy of nomination'. I think we need to be sensitive to the fact that there are a lot of people on this list who write and whose stories have NOT been nominated, so to say there aren't many stories 'worthy of nomination' is rather like a slap in the face to those authors. I really think comments like that are hurtful and drive people away rather than encouraging participation. :(

NiRi

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "telperion1" <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Elvish Writer and everyone,
>
> I'm glad you brought this up. While I don't think Larner meant any harm by
> all this --and it's all too easy to want to recommend authors you liked in
> discussions like this!-- I do see how it could make some authors
> uncomfortable.
>
> Everyone, I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't discuss how much you like
> specific stories or authors here or at the mefas LJ. And I don't blame
> Larner here! This isn't the first time this has happened, and it probably
> won't be the last. But *because* it's so easy to talk up a certain author or
> story, I think it's something we need to be careful to stay away from.
>
> There *is* a good way to get people excited about the MEFAs, and I want
> everyone to do that. In fact, I'll make my next educational post (every
> Wednesday) about just this kind of issue. It's a very important topic.
>
> Marta




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

Hi NiRi (and Cactuskim),

It's funny, I read that comment in a somewhat different way. I read it as
saying that this particular member hadn't read very many stories he liked -
not that good stories weren't out there. If you'll permit me the philosophy
terms, it's kind of the difference between a subjective vs. an objective
statement. Subjective refers to my (or anyone's) experience, the other to
how things actually *are*, how anyone could experience them. So, I read this
statement as describing Fiondil's particular experience, not making a
blanket statement about the nature of things.

But I *can* see how other people would read this differently, and I see that
point. I'm not interested in assessing blame (I don't think Fiondil meant
any harm, but that's not important to me); if it is making people feel
uncomfortable, then let's not do that kind of thing again. Statements about
the quality of recent fanfic are a little off-topic anyway. We're here first
and foremost to discuss the MEFAs.

Thanks, everyone for your concerns. I'd appreciate it if we could drop this
thread from here on out.

Marta

> -----Original Message-----
> From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of nierielraina
> Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 3:43 PM
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Should we be concerned?
>
>
>
> Thank you, Marta. The mentioning of specific authors made me
> uncomfortable.
>
> I hope I'm not out of line for mentioning this, but it's been eating at
> me for a couple days. Another comment that made me very uncomfortable
> was someone stating that there are few good stories 'worthy of
> nomination'. I think we need to be sensitive to the fact that there are
> a lot of people on this list who write and whose stories have NOT been
> nominated, so to say there aren't many stories 'worthy of nomination'
> is rather like a slap in the face to those authors. I really think
> comments like that are hurtful and drive people away rather than
> encouraging participation. :(
>
> NiRi
>
> --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <mailto:MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com> ,
> "telperion1" <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Elvish Writer and everyone,
> >
> > I'm glad you brought this up. While I don't think Larner meant any
> harm by
> > all this --and it's all too easy to want to recommend authors you
> liked in
> > discussions like this!-- I do see how it could make some authors
> > uncomfortable.
> >
> > Everyone, I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't discuss how much
> you like
> > specific stories or authors here or at the mefas LJ. And I don't
> blame
> > Larner here! This isn't the first time this has happened, and it
> probably
> > won't be the last. But *because* it's so easy to talk up a certain
> author or
> > story, I think it's something we need to be careful to stay away
> from.
> >
> > There *is* a good way to get people excited about the MEFAs, and I
> want
> > everyone to do that. In fact, I'll make my next educational post
> (every
> > Wednesday) about just this kind of issue. It's a very important
> topic.
> >
> > Marta
>
>
>
>