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I know there's a fine line in there somewhere, but as a general premise, I thought we had to remain non-graphic? Especially where someone may object to slash content? If such *is* allowed, then there are some worthies I'd like to nominate...thanks!

beruthiels_catz wrote:

>
>
>
> I know there's a fine line in there somewhere, but as a general premise,
> I thought we had to remain non-graphic? Especially where someone may
> object to slash content? If such *is* allowed, then there are some
> worthies I'd like to nominate...thanks!
>

Hi Beruthiels Catz,

Well, we do have ratings requirements but they don't quite line up with
what is NC17 at every archive. This is because what is NC17 at one
archive might be R-rated at another, and we don't control those
descriptions. What we *do* require is that every nominated story fit the
General, Teen, or Mature ratings laid out

http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/index.php?page=FAQratingsguide

Here's what the guidelines say on the subject of sex (which I assume is
what you mean by graphic, as you refer to slash):

"Full sex scenes can be depicted. The depiction should focus on the
characters' emotions and thoughts rather than a clinical description of
the events. R-rated stories do not need to "fade to black" before actual
sex occurs, but the sexual content should focus on thoughts and emotions
rather than what is physically being done. Any explicit sex scenes
should be integrated into the larger story or serve some purpose beyond
titillation."

How we usually handle ratings is this. Authors are kind of on their
"honor system" - if they think a rating is appropriate, they can select
it. BUT! We also allow listen to members' complaints if they say that
they think a story is too mature for a certain rating. Say a story is
nominated, the author rates it Mature but a member later looks at it and
says that they think it should be Adult. What I would do is email our
ratings panel - a group of three volunteers and one alternate who will
read over the questionable passage. (The author can also contextualize
it for them, explain what goes on in previous chapters and where this is
all leading.) Whatever the majority think the story should be rated
based on that scene, that's the rating it's given.

This can cause a problem for the author because if pieces are withdrawn
after July 7 for any reason, they're just as ineligible as if they
competed the whole year. (That's the deadline authors have to get their
stories ready to compete - exact date will vary from year to year, but
it's always one week after nominations close.) So let's say you nominate
a story. Author thinks it's Mature. In August a reader questions that,
and we send it to the Rating Panel, who think it's Adult. MEFA policy is
I withdraw the story because adult isn't eligible, and since it's past
that July 7 deadline, the story can't compete again.

To help with this situation, authors can voluntarily put their story to
the ratings panel, during nominations. If the rating panel says the
story is adult, the story still has to be withdrawn. But the story
hasn't competed, so it is still eligible in the future - for instance,
if the author comes up with a less graphic version, or if our rating
guidelines themselves every change.

One last thing: slash or het doesn't even enter into things when
deciding what a story is rated. Authors will need to list "romance
partners," so readers will know that it's slash, e.g. if they list
Faramir/Eomer rather than Faramir/Eowyn. But that doesn't earn a higher
rating. The slash/het issue is totally different from the rating issue,
which depends on what kind of erotic acts you're describing, and in what
detail.

I know that's a lot of info! Hope I answered your question.

Marta

Thanks! I'd read the ratings page, but was still a bit confused, especially as the ratings would apply to something in a single-chapter short story where there was very little 'time' to establish characters firmly before such a scenario would come into play.
Thanks again!

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> beruthiels_catz wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > I know there's a fine line in there somewhere, but as a general premise,
> > I thought we had to remain non-graphic? Especially where someone may
> > object to slash content? If such *is* allowed, then there are some
> > worthies I'd like to nominate...thanks!
> >
>
> Hi Beruthiels Catz,
>
> Well, we do have ratings requirements but they don't quite line up with
> what is NC17 at every archive. This is because what is NC17 at one
> archive might be R-rated at another, and we don't control those
> descriptions. What we *do* require is that every nominated story fit the
> General, Teen, or Mature ratings laid out
>
> http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/index.php?page=FAQratingsguide
>
> Here's what the guidelines say on the subject of sex (which I assume is
> what you mean by graphic, as you refer to slash):
>
> "Full sex scenes can be depicted. The depiction should focus on the
> characters' emotions and thoughts rather than a clinical description of
> the events. R-rated stories do not need to "fade to black" before actual
> sex occurs, but the sexual content should focus on thoughts and emotions
> rather than what is physically being done. Any explicit sex scenes
> should be integrated into the larger story or serve some purpose beyond
> titillation."
>
> How we usually handle ratings is this. Authors are kind of on their
> "honor system" - if they think a rating is appropriate, they can select
> it. BUT! We also allow listen to members' complaints if they say that
> they think a story is too mature for a certain rating. Say a story is
> nominated, the author rates it Mature but a member later looks at it and
> says that they think it should be Adult. What I would do is email our
> ratings panel - a group of three volunteers and one alternate who will
> read over the questionable passage. (The author can also contextualize
> it for them, explain what goes on in previous chapters and where this is
> all leading.) Whatever the majority think the story should be rated
> based on that scene, that's the rating it's given.
>
> This can cause a problem for the author because if pieces are withdrawn
> after July 7 for any reason, they're just as ineligible as if they
> competed the whole year. (That's the deadline authors have to get their
> stories ready to compete - exact date will vary from year to year, but
> it's always one week after nominations close.) So let's say you nominate
> a story. Author thinks it's Mature. In August a reader questions that,
> and we send it to the Rating Panel, who think it's Adult. MEFA policy is
> I withdraw the story because adult isn't eligible, and since it's past
> that July 7 deadline, the story can't compete again.
>
> To help with this situation, authors can voluntarily put their story to
> the ratings panel, during nominations. If the rating panel says the
> story is adult, the story still has to be withdrawn. But the story
> hasn't competed, so it is still eligible in the future - for instance,
> if the author comes up with a less graphic version, or if our rating
> guidelines themselves every change.
>
> One last thing: slash or het doesn't even enter into things when
> deciding what a story is rated. Authors will need to list "romance
> partners," so readers will know that it's slash, e.g. if they list
> Faramir/Eomer rather than Faramir/Eowyn. But that doesn't earn a higher
> rating. The slash/het issue is totally different from the rating issue,
> which depends on what kind of erotic acts you're describing, and in what
> detail.
>
> I know that's a lot of info! Hope I answered your question.
>
> Marta
>

I need to clarify something as there is a chance one of my romance novels will be nominated. (or so I've heard :P )

If the story has two different versions, for instance, I am planning one R rated version for FFN but there will also be a more graphic version posted at LOTRFF, my story can still compete provided the link is to the R rated version? Yes?

Much thanks

NiRi

My understanding is that the more graphic version can compete if it's 1.
given the highest rating available in the awards, and 2. viewable by the
public through the link. This same question came up regarding one of my
stories a year or two ago, and I had to repost it to my LiveJournal since
the archive I generally use locks R & NC-17 rated stories.

I'm interested to hear the Modlie answer, though, since the story of mine
that has been nominated this year is about to get graphic in the next
chapter. I won't bother doing the nom form if something has changed from
years past.

On Sun, May 24, 2009 at 2:45 PM, NiRi <equineinclined@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
> I need to clarify something as there is a chance one of my romance novels
> will be nominated. (or so I've heard :P )
>
> If the story has two different versions, for instance, I am planning one R
> rated version for FFN but there will also be a more graphic version posted
> at LOTRFF, my story can still compete provided the link is to the R rated
> version? Yes?
>
> Much thanks
>
> NiRi
>
>
>


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

How does one send a story to the ratings panel, Precious?

Agape

On Sun, May 24, 2009 at 10:52 AM, Marta <marta.fandom@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> beruthiels_catz wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > I know there's a fine line in there somewhere, but as a general premise,
> > I thought we had to remain non-graphic? Especially where someone may
> > object to slash content? If such *is* allowed, then there are some
> > worthies I'd like to nominate...thanks!
> >
>
> Hi Beruthiels Catz,
>
> Well, we do have ratings requirements but they don't quite line up with
> what is NC17 at every archive. This is because what is NC17 at one
> archive might be R-rated at another, and we don't control those
> descriptions. What we *do* require is that every nominated story fit the
> General, Teen, or Mature ratings laid out
>
> http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/index.php?page=FAQratingsguide
>
> Here's what the guidelines say on the subject of sex (which I assume is
> what you mean by graphic, as you refer to slash):
>
> "Full sex scenes can be depicted. The depiction should focus on the
> characters' emotions and thoughts rather than a clinical description of
> the events. R-rated stories do not need to "fade to black" before actual
> sex occurs, but the sexual content should focus on thoughts and emotions
> rather than what is physically being done. Any explicit sex scenes
> should be integrated into the larger story or serve some purpose beyond
> titillation."
>
> How we usually handle ratings is this. Authors are kind of on their
> "honor system" - if they think a rating is appropriate, they can select
> it. BUT! We also allow listen to members' complaints if they say that
> they think a story is too mature for a certain rating. Say a story is
> nominated, the author rates it Mature but a member later looks at it and
> says that they think it should be Adult. What I would do is email our
> ratings panel - a group of three volunteers and one alternate who will
> read over the questionable passage. (The author can also contextualize
> it for them, explain what goes on in previous chapters and where this is
> all leading.) Whatever the majority think the story should be rated
> based on that scene, that's the rating it's given.
>
> This can cause a problem for the author because if pieces are withdrawn
> after July 7 for any reason, they're just as ineligible as if they
> competed the whole year. (That's the deadline authors have to get their
> stories ready to compete - exact date will vary from year to year, but
> it's always one week after nominations close.) So let's say you nominate
> a story. Author thinks it's Mature. In August a reader questions that,
> and we send it to the Rating Panel, who think it's Adult. MEFA policy is
> I withdraw the story because adult isn't eligible, and since it's past
> that July 7 deadline, the story can't compete again.
>
> To help with this situation, authors can voluntarily put their story to
> the ratings panel, during nominations. If the rating panel says the
> story is adult, the story still has to be withdrawn. But the story
> hasn't competed, so it is still eligible in the future - for instance,
> if the author comes up with a less graphic version, or if our rating
> guidelines themselves every change.
>
> One last thing: slash or het doesn't even enter into things when
> deciding what a story is rated. Authors will need to list "romance
> partners," so readers will know that it's slash, e.g. if they list
> Faramir/Eomer rather than Faramir/Eowyn. But that doesn't earn a higher
> rating. The slash/het issue is totally different from the rating issue,
> which depends on what kind of erotic acts you're describing, and in what
> detail.
>
> I know that's a lot of info! Hope I answered your question.
>
> Marta
>
>
>



--
Life's been good to me so far!!! Praise God!


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

Agape 4Rivendell wrote:

>
>
>
> How does one send a story to the ratings panel, Precious?
>
> Agape
>

Hi Agape,

The author should send me an email at mefasupportATmefawardsDOTnet.
Please include a link to the story and the chapter (or part of chapter)
you want looked at. They can also include the concern you have, like why
they're doubting the rating. And they can tell me whatever else they
want, like what was going on in the story leading up to this chapter or
what will happen after it.

I will forward this information to our ratings panel. When they get back
to me, I will reply to the author with what the majority decided.

Thanks,

marta

Hi NiRi,

We look at whatever version your story URL points to. So long as you
give the FFN link, you shouldn't run into problems.

Marta

NiRi wrote:

>
>
>
> I need to clarify something as there is a chance one of my romance
> novels will be nominated. (or so I've heard :P )
>
> If the story has two different versions, for instance, I am planning one
> R rated version for FFN but there will also be a more graphic version
> posted at LOTRFF, my story can still compete provided the link is to the
> R rated version? Yes?
>
> Much thanks
>
> NiRi
>

Thanks!!!

On Mon, May 25, 2009 at 2:06 AM, Marta <marta.fandom@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> Agape 4Rivendell wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > How does one send a story to the ratings panel, Precious?
> >
> > Agape
> >
>
> Hi Agape,
>
> The author should send me an email at mefasupportATmefawardsDOTnet.
> Please include a link to the story and the chapter (or part of chapter)
> you want looked at. They can also include the concern you have, like why
> they're doubting the rating. And they can tell me whatever else they
> want, like what was going on in the story leading up to this chapter or
> what will happen after it.
>
> I will forward this information to our ratings panel. When they get back
> to me, I will reply to the author with what the majority decided.
>
> Thanks,
>
> marta
>
>
>



--
Life's been good to me so far!!! Praise God!


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