Hi Lin,
> Is there some sort of quick reference or way to find out if a story is
> eligible before I nominate it?
>
> I was thinking of my own "Healer's Tale" which was nominated in the
> incomplete category last year. According to last year's rules it would be
> eligible this
> year.
>
> There are a few stories I'd like to nominate, but not sure if they were
> entered in previous years. How would I find out?
>
> Thanks,
> Lin
>
There is a list. Specifically, two FAQs:
For completed -
http://www.mefawards.net/faq/viewtopic.php?t=2
For incompleted -
http://www.mefawards.net/faq/viewtopic.php?t=3
As part of these lists of qualities, the story could not have competed
before. Or to be more specific: a completed piece could not have competed in
2004 or 2005 as a completed piece, and an incomplete piece could not have
competed before as an incomplete piece.
Maybe a few scenarios will make this easier to see:
Scenario #1 - You write a story called "The Trials of Tweenagers". It's
completed when it's nominated last year so it's not eligible as a completed
story this year. Technically it's still eligible as a WIP, but that's beside
the point because the story is already finished.
Scenario #2 - You approve TToT's nomination, but this time it's a WIP (and
it isn't completed before the close of voting, as things turn out). In this
case TToT is eligible to compete again once it's complete, but not again as
a WIP.
Scenario #3 - TToT is a WIP at the beginning of last year. It's nominated
and you accept. Around July you finish it and let the MEFA admins know, so
we can move it into a subcategory with other completed stories. As far as
the MEFAs are concerned, this qualifies as the story competing as both a WIP
and a completed sotry, so this year it's not eligible as either.
Scenario #4 - TTOT was nominated last year but you don't consider it as
polished as you'd like so you decide not to let it compete. It is nominated
but has not competed either as a WIP or a completed story. TToT can now be
nominated this year as either a WIP or a completed story (whch ever is
appropriate).
As for what stories have been nominated in previous years - there are
databases at the Yahoo group. One lists the stories nominated as completed
stories, the other as incompleted stories. They are the definitive lists of
what is and is not eligible in that regard.
Hope this helps!
Marta