Yahoo Forum Archive

> See my recent post on it. I don't think we could or even
> would want to
> force readers to only read the first chapter or two. But it
> might encourage
> them to read if we said they didn't have to read more than
> the first chapter
> or two.
>

Next question,
why then would you apply this rule only to WIPs
and not to novellas ?

It is the same problem: a long story has to be read
before voting with an informed background.

I see no difference between a long WIP
and a novel-length completed fic.

As I said before,
also a WIP could change so much from the first chapter
that one would change ones views on the WIP
if one reads on as intended by the author.

And I have read many a fic
that changed so much along the story line
that only the complete story or WIP should be voted at.

Best wishes from Elanor
who is being obstinate, she knows

-----Original Message-----
From: elanor of aquitania [mailto:elanor@codacode.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 4:08 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: AW: [MEFAwards] Re: Post Mortem recap concerning WIP

> See my recent post on it. I don't think we could or even would want
> to force readers to only read the first chapter or two. But it might
> encourage them to read if we said they didn't have to read more than
> the first chapter or two.
>

>Next question,

why then would you apply this rule only to WIPs and not to novellas ?

Because a lot of readers are already biased against WIPs. I know I am.
Though when I started reading LOTR fanfic, I got sucked into them.
Fortunately now I have such a deluge of interesting finished fics that I no
longer have to start reading a WIP. I prefer a finished story. If I saw a
completed 40-chapter story and a WIP at 10 chapters, I'd still pick reading
the 40-chapter completed story.

I have read, and am still reading, some WIPs, and even enjoyed them, but I'd
much rather rad a story that isn't going to leave me hanging.

That's why it's different.

>It is the same problem: a long story has to be read before voting with an

informed background.

A long completed story is complete. A long WIP is not.

>I see no difference between a long WIP

and a novel-length completed fic.

One has an ending, the other doesn't. The WIP may not even have a middle
yet.

>As I said before,

also a WIP could change so much from the first chapter that one would change
ones views on the WIP if one reads on as intended by the author.

That's true, but I'd argue that if a WIP changed that much from the first
chapter to the 10th, it's usually for the worse rather than the better.

>And I have read many a fic

that changed so much along the story line that only the complete story or
WIP should be voted at.

Commenting on the first couple of chapters could look like this:

While I haven't read all that is available here, the author presents and
interesting premise and believable characters. She caught me with the very
first page. What a hook! Even just two chapters in, I'm tied to these
characters. I want to know what will happen next. I'll definitely be coming
back to read this story. I hope the author finishes soon.

I don't think an in depth critique can be done on a WIP because an ending is
part of the story. If there's no ending, it's going to, at best, get a B
from me. But that is why WIPs have their own subcategories. So they don't
have to compete with completed stories. As far as WIPs go, I say "Let the
best B win." But when completed, they might get an A.

(Those are grades from school here in the US. A is best. F is failing. I
taught in the Czech Republic where 1 was best and 5 was failing, so I
realize that some may not be familiar with this grading system.)

--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