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Well, we aren't going to be able to make a Dec. 1st date. How about two
more weeks? Erase that one penciled date and pencil it in on Dec. 15th.
Just hang around and we'll let you know when for sure.

And the post mortem...Thank you, everyone, for giving me a few days off. I
can't remember if I ever got the point total database copied over. I'll
check on it tomorrow and if I haven't got it done, I'll do it tomorrow.

Let's try and keep the post mortem organized somewhat. I am very vulnerable
to stress and want to keep that to a minimum, especially with the holidays
coming up. So, in that vein, no more than 3 topics at a time, if we can
manage it. (And if I should forget one topic in discussion of another,
don't take it personally. Forgetfulness comes along with the stress
vulnerability. Hey, I forgot two weddings!)

So, here's a topic: Author comments. They're not as easy to write as story
comments, especially when there are multiple nominations for teh same
author. Now, if we continue to include author comments, I wouldn't want to
limit them because how one writes humor is different from how one writes
drama, etc.

So, any suggestions? Should we take them out? Should we leave them in?
What should we do?


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



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

> So, here's a topic: Author comments. They're not as easy to write

as story

> comments, especially when there are multiple nominations for teh

same

> author. Now, if we continue to include author comments, I wouldn't

want to

> limit them because how one writes humor is different from how one

writes

> drama, etc.
>
> So, any suggestions? Should we take them out? Should we leave them

in?

> What should we do?
>

I agree, authors' comments are a problem. I think I wrote over a
hundred story reviews but certainly less than ten author reviews. It's
particularly hard in two scenariors: when the ame author had pieces in
several categories (Zimraphel and Lindelea jump to mind, though I'm
sure there were others). I could really like such authors but not be
able to give them as many votes in each category because I would have
to write twice or however many times as much.

It's also hard to write where an author just has one entry in a
category. I know I found myself not sure what to say about an author
because I had already said it in my story review.

My suggestion? Create an "authors" category. This way people can write
however much they want to about an author, and only have to write it
once. (This also allows them to review more authors if they so choose;
I think a lot of people were pressed for time at the end.) I would
have probably reviewed some authors, but was not sure which category
to review them in and so did not review them in any. :-/ My problem, I
know, but I think having all the authors together would really help.

Marta

-----Original Message-----
From: Marta [mailto:MartaL0712@netscape.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 9:40 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Post Mortem and postponed surprise

>I agree, authors' comments are a problem. I think I wrote over a hundred

story reviews but certainly less than ten author reviews. It's particularly
hard in two scenariors: when the ame author had pieces in several categories
(Zimraphel and Lindelea jump to mind, though I'm sure there were others). I
could really like such authors but not be able to give them as many votes in
each category because I would have to write twice or however many times as
much.

>It's also hard to write where an author just has one entry in a category. I

know I found myself not sure what to say about an author because I had
already said it in my story review.

Yeah a lot of my author reviews ended up sounding like story reviews,
especially if they had only one story in that category. They are definitely
more difficult. Would anyone be interested in me posting a few author
comments from the ASC Awards to see how they were done successfully for so
many years?

>My suggestion? Create an "authors" category. This way people can write

however much they want to about an author, and only have to write it once.
(This also allows them to review more authors if they so choose; I think a
lot of people were pressed for time at the end.) I would have probably
reviewed some authors, but was not sure which category to review them in and
so did not review them in any. :-/ My problem, I know, but I think having
all the authors together would really help.

While I acknowledge that difficulty, I still have to say No to this one.
Two reasons: 1) Because as I said before, how one writes drama is different
than how one writes humor. How do you say a poet is better than a novella
author? You can't really compare them. And 2) what you propose would come
down to an Overall Best Author category. That was tried one year with ASC
and it was thrown out in the post-mortem. It is too elitist and far too
inaccruate because of reason #1.

What about allowing copied comments? In other words, I could choose to copy
the same comment that I gave for Dwim in AuthorDrama for AuthorLOTR. I
wouldn't necessarily always choose to do that and could tweak it where I
could (for poetry or drabble or humor, something that is definitely
distinct), but it wouldn't be required that I tweak it.

But only for authors, of course, not sor stories.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

<snip>

>Would anyone be interested in me posting a few author
> comments from the ASC Awards to see how they were done successfully

for so

> many years?
>

That would be good.

Ainae, correct me if I'm wrong, but ASC is divided into ENT/TOS/TNG/
DS9/VOY, right? And not subdivided along multiple ways (like we have:
source material, race, genre)? You've spent more time in the Trek
fandom than I have, but it was my impression that most people tend to
write within one show. So I imagine the overlap between characters
isn't quite as great.

That doesn't fix our problem, but it is something to consider.

> >My suggestion? Create an "authors" category.

<snip>

> While I acknowledge that difficulty, I still have to say No to this

one.

> Two reasons: 1) Because as I said before, how one writes drama is

different

> than how one writes humor. How do you say a poet is better than a

novella

> author? You can't really compare them.

Fair enough. I write multiple genres and races and everything, but I
think I write it in basically the same way, the story just molds my
basic technique into one way or a not. So I could easily review all my
stories (Drama, Action, and Romance, Men and Hobbits) stories
together. But that's me. I can see how ot might create problems for
other authors.

> And 2) what you propose would come
> down to an Overall Best Author category. That was tried one year

with ASC

> and it was thrown out in the post-mortem. It is too elitist and far

too

> inaccruate because of reason #1.
>

I can understand that. You're right, this idea wouldn't work very
well.

> What about allowing copied comments? In other words, I could choose

to copy

> the same comment that I gave for Dwim in AuthorDrama for AuthorLOTR.

I

> wouldn't necessarily always choose to do that and could tweak it

where I

> could (for poetry or drabble or humor, something that is definitely
> distinct), but it wouldn't be required that I tweak it.
>
> But only for authors, of course, not sor stories.
>

I like this idea much better. Provided it was properly publicized
(like you did for "Voting ahead" during reading season, so people knew
they could do this), I'd be fine with this idea.

Marta

I think this is a good suggestion. One overall authors category would be good
and I'd write more author comments too.

Larian


--- Marta <MartaL0712@netscape.net> wrote:

>
> My suggestion? Create an "authors" category. This way people can write
> however much they want to about an author, and only have to write it
> once. (This also allows them to review more authors if they so choose;
> I think a lot of people were pressed for time at the end.) I would
> have probably reviewed some authors, but was not sure which category
> to review them in and so did not review them in any. :-/ My problem, I
> know, but I think having all the authors together would really help.
>
> Marta
>
>
>
>

I agree. Perhaps, to avoid that elitist Best Author
thing, there could be Author(Poetry), Author(Drabble),
Author(WIP), etc for each writing *form*, rather for
each individual subcategory. After all, if someone
writes hobbit poetry and orc poetry, it's the same
poet and the style and quality is usually consistent
across subject matter.

That would also cut down on the sheer number of things
to vote on, which was a problem for some folks.

viv


--- Larian Elensar <larian_elensar@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I think this is a good suggestion. One overall
> authors category would be good
> and I'd write more author comments too.
>
> Larian
>
>
> --- Marta <MartaL0712@netscape.net> wrote:
>
> >
> > My suggestion? Create an "authors" category. This
> way people can write
> > however much they want to about an author, and
> only have to write it
> > once. (This also allows them to review more
> authors if they so choose;
> > I think a lot of people were pressed for time at
> the end.) I would
> > have probably reviewed some authors, but was not
> sure which category
> > to review them in and so did not review them in
> any. :-/ My problem, I
> > know, but I think having all the authors together
> would really help.
> >
> > Marta
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

=====
Spacellama Palace: http://spacellama.net

I agree with this. I know that it is not easy to
categorize authors because some write poetry, some
write drama and some write humor, but maybe we could
have *few* sub-categories inside the authors' one?

I was here shortly while you were discussing all this,
so I am aware I have not read all the reasons given
for so many categories, but simplicity, when it's
possible, is a good thing.

CC

--- Larian Elensar <larian_elensar@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> I think this is a good suggestion. One overall
> authors category would be good
> and I'd write more author comments too.
>
> Larian
>
>
> --- Marta <MartaL0712@netscape.net> wrote:
>
> >
> > My suggestion? Create an "authors" category. This
> way people can write
> > however much they want to about an author, and
> only have to write it
> > once. (This also allows them to review more
> authors if they so choose;
> > I think a lot of people were pressed for time at
> the end.) I would
> > have probably reviewed some authors, but was not
> sure which category
> > to review them in and so did not review them in
> any. :-/ My problem, I
> > know, but I think having all the authors together
> would really help.
> >
> > Marta
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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=====
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--- Ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:

>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marta [mailto:MartaL0712@netscape.net]

>
> >My suggestion? Create an "authors" category. This way people can write
> however much they want to about an author, and only have to write it once.
> (This also allows them to review more authors if they so choose; I think a
> lot of people were pressed for time at the end.) I would have probably
> reviewed some authors, but was not sure which category to review them in and
> so did not review them in any. :-/ My problem, I know, but I think having
> all the authors together would really help.
>
> While I acknowledge that difficulty, I still have to say No to this one.
> Two reasons: 1) Because as I said before, how one writes drama is different
> than how one writes humor. How do you say a poet is better than a novella
> author? You can't really compare them. And 2) what you propose would come
> down to an Overall Best Author category. That was tried one year with ASC
> and it was thrown out in the post-mortem. It is too elitist and far too
> inaccruate because of reason #1.

I thought a separate authors category was a good idea, but I can see the point
about the different categories. Couldn't you just have subcategories then?
This probably doesn't sound a lot different than what we did this year, except
that there wouldn't be a story and author category for every main category.
Just one authors category with sub-categories for different things like humor,
drama, etc?

>
> What about allowing copied comments? In other words, I could choose to copy
> the same comment that I gave for Dwim in AuthorDrama for AuthorLOTR. I
> wouldn't necessarily always choose to do that and could tweak it where I
> could (for poetry or drabble or humor, something that is definitely
> distinct), but it wouldn't be required that I tweak it.
>
> But only for authors, of course, not sor stories.

This is a good compromise too, copied comments would work well, I'd think.

>
> --Ainaechoiriel
> MEFA Admin and Founder
>
> "This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
> it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.
>
> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
> Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

-----Original Message-----
From: Marta [mailto:MartaL0712@netscape.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 11:51 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Post Mortem and postponed surprise



<snip>

>Would anyone be interested in me posting a few author comments from
>the ASC Awards to see how they were done successfully

for so

> many years?
>

>That would be good.

I'm not sure Trekiverse has comments archived, but I have, of course, kept
mine. Let me find a few:

From Valerie, 2001 ASC Awards:

I've read everything Gabrielle writes (even if she thinks mine are too
grim) and enjoy her style very much. As one who writes and rewrites until
you get it right, I am amazed that she doesn't. She writes grim stuff, but
always has that touch of hope there to balance it. Not all of us do that,
but she is excellent at balancing the good with the bad without having to
have a cheeze "happy" ending.

From Seema (can't remember which year):

It was good to see Gabrielle back this year. No one writes
Julian the way she does. Good luck with finishing "Faith."

From RabbbleRouser 2001:

Lawson is a very strong writer in terms of her narrative gift and
the pacing, description, style, and characterizations are all nicely in
place in her stories; as is a solid plot with an interesting sci-fi based
mystery at its center in "Faith: Forgiveness." Her Bashir is very
interesting.

This is one of my favorites. Meghan missed the deadline, so this vote did
not count, but she sent it to me, and I treasure it. Would have been for
the 2003 Awards:

Gabrielle is one fo those authors that you wonder why they aren't writing
professionally (maybe cause you write too much!). Her stories are so
complex and developed that you forget you're not reading a best selling
author (maybe that's redundant). The characters are true to life and
although she may disagree, her description is so compelling. Sometimes,
after reading one of her stories, I remember a scene that was so vivid that
I don't know if I read it or saw it on television. Her stories grab you
from the first sentence and don't let go until after you've finished. Some
like Oswiecim don't let go at all. Gabrielle is a truely talented writer
and I look forward to more from her.

(See why I treasure it? And Oswiecim was the Best DS9 General Story winner
for 1998!)

>Ainae, correct me if I'm wrong, but ASC is divided into ENT/TOS/TNG/

DS9/VOY, right? And not subdivided along multiple ways (like we have:
source material, race, genre)? You've spent more time in the Trek fandom
than I have, but it was my impression that most people tend to write within
one show. So I imagine the overlap between characters isn't quite as great.

They are first broken into the series. ENT, TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, and MIS
(Mis being Miscellaneous, which includes cobined series and crossovers and
original crews). From there, the series are broken down. I won Best DS9
Story in 1996. That just meant it was not a subcategory. Someone else won
Best DS9 Romance, and that might even break down into pairings or "Featuring
Sisko". In 1998 and 2000 I won Best DS9 General Story and Best MIS
Combined. DS9 General meaning no subcategory though they did exist and MIS
Combined being a mix of two series, in that case TNG and DS9. So yes, they
have subcategories.

>That doesn't fix our problem, but it is something to consider.

Info and answers above for consideration. :-)

>Fair enough. I write multiple genres and races and everything, but I think

I write it in basically the same way, the story just molds my basic
technique into one way or a not. So I could easily review all my stories
(Drama, Action, and Romance, Men and Hobbits) stories together. But that's
me. I can see how ot might create problems for other authors.

Good for you! I only recently took the leap in trying to write a drabble
and shocked myself to find out that I could write a filk parody! I had no
idea I could do either of those and I don't think I write them in the same
way at all. I write DS9 differently than I do LOTR. Ask Julian Bashir.
He's probably jealous of Legolas. I've not put Legolas in Auschwitz.
Yet.... ;-)

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com