Yahoo Forum Archive

> Hey guys,
>
> As I mentioned in an email a few days ago, the 2008 MEFAs will begin
> accepting nominations this Sunday, May 4. Nominations will be open until
> June 15. So right now seems like a good time to make some announcements
> about what will change about that part of the awards.
>
> First, I want to explain about this email I'm writing right now. The
> MEFAs are a complicated awards system and take some getting used to. So
> to help educate members, every week I'll be making a post at MEFAwards
> and at the LJ community mefas. These won't be sent out as special
> notices but they will have a subject starting with "ADMIN." So watch out
> for these; I hope everyone will take the time to read them. I'll try to
> be quick, though this post will be longer than most, as there's a lot to
> talk about.
>
> Second, I want to remind everyone: keep an eye on your spam filters. All
> MEFA-related emails should be coming from addresses ending in
> "mefawards.net" after the @. But we're emailing you to let you know
> you've been nominated for an award, and many spam filters are sensitive
> to emails like that - so please, before you delete your spam box, check
> that there aren't any emails from an @mefawards.net email address.
>
> Now, on to the changes about this year's awards.
>
> 1. New FAQs and Rules
>
> I've added several new items to the FAQ section of the website, prompted
> by questions people had in 2007 and also by changes we made in the
> post-mortem after the 2007 awards. Some new FAQs:
>
> --- "Are series and anthologies of stories eligible?" in the Eligibility
> FAQ
> --- "What are main categories?" in the Categorization FAQ
> --- "Can I include spoilers in my reviews?" and "What do I do if a
> review contains spoilers but isn't labeled as such?" in the Voting FAQ
> --- "Common Acronyms and Terms" - a totally new FAQ
>
> In addition, there will be lists of the most useful FAQ items for new
> nominators, voters, and authors. So if you're new to the awards, that
> will give you some places to start. (Or even if you just need a
> refresher!)
>
> *******
>
> 2. Changes to the Website
>
> The overall structure of the website is basically the same, so if you
> participated in the past there will be a lot that is similar. But there
> are some important changes that I think people will enjoy discovering.
> For instance, there is now a timer on the review form that tells you how
> long until you are automatically logged out. Hopefully this will help
> people from losing their review because they logged out while entering it.
>
> Another thing about entering the reviews that has changed is that
> there's a check-box at the bottom of the review form that allows you to
> tell the website that the review contains spoilers. This will allow us
> to warn people reading your review that the review might give away part
> of the story. Use the golden rule: if you hadn't read the story and were
> looking at the review, would you like to be warned that the review might
> include spoilers? If so, check the box.
>
> The page where you go to look at the nominated stories now is a little
> simpler. There's a neat new feature that lets you see how many stories
> involve any of the available places, characters, events/time periods,
> subgenres, lengths, or source materials; and with a single click you can
> pull up the listings for all of the stories that involve those things.
>
> Also, on the home page (what you see when first logging in), there will
> be a randomly-selected story displayed. There will also be a
> randomly-selected review, from those that are visible at that point of
> the awards (i.e., final while the awards are going on, final or hidden
> after voting closes). The point of this is to make it easier for you to
> vote. If you don't have time to look at the whole story list, maybe this
> randomly-selected story will spark your interest.
>
> *******
>
> 3. Characters, Settings, Canonical Events, and Subgenres
>
> One of the most common frustrations I've heard about in past years is
> that it's hard to use the lists of characters, settings, time periods,
> and subgenres. And those lists often can get long and unwieldly, I
> agree. So we've put a lot of work into making them easier to use.
>
> On the nomination form, the list of characters will be grouped by races,
> so you'll be able to see all of the Gondorians together, and all of the
> Elves together, and all of the Hobbits together. There are also lots of
> "other" character listings - like "Other Kings of Gondor" or "Other
> Brandybucks" or "Other Elves of Aman," where you can select a general
> group if a character you like isn't listed. If a character changed
> races, she'll be listed with the race of her birth (like, Arwen is
> listed with Half-elves, not with Gondorians; Eowyn with Rohirrim, not
> with Gondorians).
>
> Settings are listed by regions, too. So the Houses of Healing will be
> listed as "Gondor - Minas Tirith - Houses of Healing," and will be
> displayed with all the other settings in Gondor. Canonical events will
> be listed in chronological order, and subgenres and poetic forms will be
> listed separately.
>
> All of this will hopefully make it easier for authors to find
> appropriate settings, characters, and so on, because it will display
> similar items near each other.
>
> ******
>
> 4. The Archive
>
> One of the most useful (IMO) additions to the site is the archive. This
> will list all of the stories nominated in previous years, by author.
> Which we had in 2007, but the archive does much more. For one thing,
> it's searchable, which some people had requested in the past. It stores
> basic nomination info, like what category the story competed in and what
> prize (if anything) it won; who nominated it; and the summary. Plus --
> and here's what I'm really excited about -- it displays the votes.
>
> So as an author I can see all of my stories that have competed, and all
> of their reviews, in one place. And as a reviewer, I can now search for
> a specific title or author and find whether it's been nominated in the
> past.
>
> This is a majorly cool part of the site that I'm really excited about.
> It will replace the old list of previously-nominated stories.
>
> You'll still need to look both here and at the list of stories that have
> already been nominated in 2008, but I think having the archive will make
> it a lot easier to tell what's eligible and what's not.
>
> Speaking of eligibility....
>
> *******
>
> 5. Changes to Eligibility Rules
>
> There are two major changes to eligibility rules. They have to do with
> works-in-progress and poetry that is posted in larger stories.
>
> In previous years, works-in-progress had to have been updated within a
> year of when that year's nominations began. For instance: in 2007
> nominations opened on June 1, so all WIPs had to be updated since June
> 1, 2006. That's no longer the case; we won't be checking when WIPs were
> last updated.
>
> That doesn't mean that every WIP is suddenly eligible. Remember, WIPs
> are only eligible if they've never been nominated before, and finished
> stories are only eligible if they've never been nominated as finished
> stories. So if your WIP competed back in 2005, even if you're still
> plugging away at it, it's not eligible again until it's finished.
>
> Another thing we looked at in the post-mortem is how to deal with poems
> that also appeared in longer stories, like a song that some of the
> characters sang. This causes a problem because of that same rule that I
> mentioned above, that finished stories can only compete once. If a poem
> competed, and then a story containing that poem competed in a later
> year, you could argue that the poem competed twice. This is why we don't
> allow drabble series to compete, and then for drabbles that are part of
> that series to compete in a later year. (Or vice versa, for the drabble
> to compete first and the series to compete later.)
>
> However, there's often an added factor with poems: a lot of times the
> poems and stories are by different authors. And unless both are listed
> as co-authors, maybe in the past the poem competed without the poem
> author's permission, if a story containing it competed. Or, in the
> reverse situation: maybe a poem competed that would make a story
> ineligible, without the story author giving the go-ahead.
>
> So: if a poem and story are by different authors, and both authors
> aren't listed as co-authors when a piece is nominated for the MEFAs, the
> nomination of one won't affect the eligibility of the other. If the poem
> and story are by the same author, or if both authors are listed as
> co-authors, the nomination of one *will* affect the eligibility of the
> other.
>
> Oh, and there's a grandfather clause - if a piece was nominated in 2007
> or earlier, we won't count it against you (because this issue was
> vague); but if you accept a nomination in 2008 or beyond, you need to be
> aware that you could be affecting the eligibility of a poem that appears
> as part of the story, or of a story that is published including that poem.
>
> One last thing I need to talk about. I know this email is a bit long.
>
> ******
>
> 6. The Two-Weeks Rule
>
> One big change for the 2008 awards. Is the two-weeks rule. Here's the
> idea: the liaisons will try for two weeks to contact an author, through
> email and anything else we can think of like LJs or archives where the
> author hangs out.
>
> If, after two weeks of trying, we've failed to make any contact with the
> author, then the liaison will approach the person who nominated the
> story. The nominator will be given the option to withdraw the story and
> nominate another one in its place; or to leave the story in competition
> in case the author *does* make contact. (The nominator can try his- or
> herself for a little while, and then later have it withdrawn if they'd
> like.) The point is, if it looks like we won't be able to get in touch
> with an author we may let the nominator replace it. This is why it's
> important to enter your nominations early so you can replace them if the
> author is hard to reach.
>
> This doesn't mean the author has to finish everything to do with a
> nomination within two weeks. All an author has to do is let us know
> they've received emails about the MEFAs; just a two-line email along the
> lines of "I got your emails, I'd love to compete, and I'll work on the
> stuff you told me to do this weekend" will do the trick. Or even "I got
> your emails, I need to think about whether I want to compete." In either
> case, the liaison now knows that she's being read.
>
> Also, this doesn't mean that stories will be automatically withdrawn two
> weeks after they're nominated. This will only happen at the liaison's
> and the nominator's discretion, when they're run out of ways to try to
> reach the author.
>
> Btw - when you nominate an author it's really helpful if you drop them a
> line to let them know they've been nominated (if you know them, of
> course). That way they can be on the lookout for an email.
>
> ********
>
> I'll end this email with a brief note on time zones. And then I really
> will be done.
>
> I said that the MEFAs would start on Sunday May 4, but for many of us in
> America it will actually start Saturday May 3. This is because the MEFAs
> are based on Greenwich Mean Time. All MEFA days begin at 12:00:01 AM,
> GMT; and they end at 11:59:59 PM, GMT. I have no head for time zones and
> so I won't try to explain when exactly that is in various local times.
> Instead, go to http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2007/, the 2007 website. At
> the bottom of the page there will be a line like:
>
> Page Served at: 2008-05-02 07:33:20 GMT
>
> This is the official time according to the site clock, at the time you
> loaded the page. Compare that to your current time, and you'll see when
> the MEFA day begins and ends. (For reference, when I loaded that page,
> it was 3:34 AM on May 2, here in the U.S. Eastern time zone.)
>
> Thanks for reading this far! If you have any questions, please reply and
> I'll do my best to answer them. Otherwise, happy nominating in a few days!
>
> Marta
> (MEFA Admin.)
>
>

>
>
> Number four has me excited too.
>

> Hey guys,
>
> As I mentioned in an email a few days ago, the 2008 MEFAs will begin
> accepting nominations this Sunday, May 4. Nominations will be open until
> June 15. So right now seems like a good time to make some announcements
> about what will change about that part of the awards.
>

>
>
> Wow. Wow. Wow! This is gorgeous! Thanks and kudos to all involved in
> this labor of love - it's amazing.
>

>
> I must be doing something wrong, I get "Site not found" when I

>
> Ann <ann@...> wrote: Wow. Wow. Wow! This is gorgeous! Thanks and

> this labor of love - it's amazing.
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2007/Yahoo! Groups

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Elrond, Lord of Imladris
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Elrond-LordOfImladris/
>
> Stories Archived as Brindlemom2 at
> http://www.scribeoz.com/
>
> Also Archived as Gilnaur at
> http://lotr.adultfanfiction.net/main.php?list=6
>
> http://www.henneth-annun.net
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.

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

>>>>On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 5:02 PM, araneltook <araneltook@gmail.com>

>
>
> Um, silly me was nominating tonight and I got distracted by my kids
> and inadvertently posted wording from my draft review in the block
> intended for giving the author's contact info... I was nominating
> three stories by Fiondil.
>
> Can one of the admin types help fix this goof? I DID put the review
> text into the correct box, when I realized what I'd done...
>
> *Feeling absolutely foolish*
>
> Rhyselle
>
> (AKA Helmsdaughter and Berni)

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Ann" <ann@...> wrote:
>
> The MEFA Archive is here: http://mefawards.net/mefa-archive/
>

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "nau_tika" <nau_tika@...> wrote:
>
> This is awesome!
>
> nautika
>
> --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Ann" <ann@> wrote:
> >
> > The MEFA Archive is here: http://mefawards.net/mefa-archive/
> >
>

> I thought things started on the fourth! I somehow am behind the
> eight-ball, apparently. I was just testing!
> 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 mourn for this nation.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

> Hi Rhyselle,
>
> We should be able to fix this, no problem. I just want to make sure I
> understand the error, because once it's deleted, what I delete will be
> gone for good.
>
> As I understand it, you accidentally pasted your review of a story into
> the "Nomination Notes" (the text field at the very bottom of the
> nomination form). You also entered the review in the actual review form.
> Is this correct?
>
> If my understanding is correct, just let me know what story was affected
> (if you remember) and I will delete what you entered into the Nomination
> Notes part of the form.
>
> If you also will need to enter this into the review form (i.e., if you
> haven't already entered your review), let me know and I will email you
> what you pasted into the Nomination Notes textbox, so you can enter it
> as a review for that story.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Marta
>
> helmsdaughter wrote:
> >
> >
> > Um, silly me was nominating tonight and I got distracted by my kids
> > and inadvertently posted wording from my draft review in the block
> > intended for giving the author's contact info... I was nominating
> > three stories by Fiondil.
> >
> > Can one of the admin types help fix this goof? I DID put the review
> > text into the correct box, when I realized what I'd done...
> >
> > *Feeling absolutely foolish*
> >
> > Rhyselle
> >
> > (AKA Helmsdaughter and Berni)
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "melayton@..." <melayton@...> wrote:
>
> Ann wrote:
> >
> >
> > Wow. Wow. Wow! This is gorgeous! Thanks and kudos to all involved in
> > this labor of love - it's amazing.
> >
>
> It really is, isn't it? I really like it, too.
>
> Marta
>

>
>
> I thought things started on the fourth! I somehow am behind the
> eight-ball, apparently. I was just testing!
> 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 mourn for this nation.
>

>
>
> Thank you, Marta.
>
> That is correct. I accidentally pasted my review of THE LAST MESSENGER: A
> Tale of Numenor into the Nomination Notes area of the nomination form. I
> did enter the review in the actual review form. I did this also for
> PROPHECY: Changing the Future.
>
> So if you can delete the review bits in the Nomination Notes, I would really
> appreciate it. :) Thank you!
>
> Vorondavë ar linalmië,
> Rhyselle
>

>
>
> In character names, under Valar and Maiar, Ganadlf appears. This is
> amusing! I think he'd laugh about it!
>
> 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 mourn for this nation.
>

>
>
> Well, don't mind me--a day late and several braincells short. I've had
> a LOOONNNNGGGG week, and will have a longer one next week! Please
> forgive me! Marta, can you remove my nomination of Fiondil's "The Wars
> of the Valar," as it has already been nominated, and I thought I was
> just testing the system! Will it count against me?
>
> (/me makes big puppydog eyes at Marta and Aranel!)
> 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 mourn for this nation.

On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 9:12 PM, surgeon_ruth <surgsteel@hotmail.com> wrote:

> *de-lurks*
>
> Hey, so I think the archive's gorgeous, but I have a question. I've got
> fic that was nominated in 2006 and 2007 which no longer resides at its
> previous home. Is there any way to update those links? I can provide
> the new addresses if there is.
>
> Thanks so much!
> --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "melayton@..." <melayton@...> wrote:
> >
> > Ann wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Wow. Wow. Wow! This is gorgeous! Thanks and kudos to all involved in
> > > this labor of love - it's amazing.
> > >
> >
> > It really is, isn't it? I really like it, too.
> >
> > Marta
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


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

> Hiya Larner,
>
> Well, technically Gandalf *is* a maia. Sort of. But yes, he probably
> would have a good chuckle at it.
>
> Would it make more sense to list him under "Other," do you think? Or
> where would you suggest?
>
> Marta
>
> Bonnie L. Sherrell wrote:
> >
> >
> > In character names, under Valar and Maiar, Ganadlf appears. This is
> > amusing! I think he'd laugh about it!
> >
> > 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 mourn for this nation.
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 10:36 AM, <heartofoshun@aol.com> wrote:

>
> In a message dated 5/3/2008 9:29:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> melayton@gmail.com <melayton%40gmail.com> writes:
>
> Well, technically Gandalf *is* a maia. Sort of. But yes, he probably
> would have a good chuckle at it.
>
> Would it make more sense to list him under "Other," do you think? Or
> where would you suggest?
>
> Butting in here with my own strong opinion. He is a Maia and should be
> listed there, not other. But I think she was trying to say he is listed as
> a
> Valar? Or are those the same category?
>
> **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on
> family
> favorites at AOL Food.
> (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



--
"What part of 'You're dead' don't you understand?" -- Nýmo to an
Unidentified Elven Fýa giving the Lord of Mandos grief

****
Auta i lýmý! Utýlie'n aurý! ý Battle Cry of the Noldor at the Dagor Nirnaeth
Arnediad

Aurý entuluva! ý Battle Cry of Hýrin at the Dagor Nirnath Arnediad

Utýlie'n Estel ý Hope hath come


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

>
>
>
> In a message dated 5/3/2008 9:29:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> melayton@gmail.com <mailto:melayton%40gmail.com> writes:
>
> Well, technically Gandalf *is* a maia. Sort of. But yes, he probably
> would have a good chuckle at it.
>
> Would it make more sense to list him under "Other," do you think? Or
> where would you suggest?
>
> Butting in here with my own strong opinion. He is a Maia and should be
> listed there, not other. But I think she was trying to say he is listed
> as a
> Valar? Or are those the same category?
>

>
>
> It is not the category that is in question, but the spelling of Gandalf's
> name... In the character list, it is spelled "Ganadlf" and not "Gandalf" and
> it needs to be fixed.
>
> Rhyselle
>

> I think you're all missing the point unless Bonnie misspelled his name
> because she has him listed as Ganadlf. If that is the typo to which she
> refers, then yes, it should be corrected.
>
> BTW, Marta, perhaps Gandalf could be listed as "Gandalf/Olórin" since his
> name as a Maia was originally Olórin and there are fics out there (some of
> mine for example) where he is pre-Gandalf. Just a suggestion.
>
> Fiondil
> On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 10:36 AM, <heartofoshun@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 5/3/2008 9:29:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>> melayton@gmail.com <melayton%40gmail.com> writes:
>>
>> Well, technically Gandalf *is* a maia. Sort of. But yes, he probably
>> would have a good chuckle at it.
>>
>> Would it make more sense to list him under "Other," do you think? Or
>> where would you suggest?
>>
>> Butting in here with my own strong opinion. He is a Maia and should be
>> listed there, not other. But I think she was trying to say he is listed as
>> a
>> Valar? Or are those the same category?
>>
>> **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on
>> family
>> favorites at AOL Food.
>> (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

>
> Yes, we can update those links. Just send me a list of the stories

> new URLs (you can either post it here or email it to
> techsupport@...) and we'll get them updated.
>
> Aranel
>
> On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 9:12 PM, surgeon_ruth <surgsteel@...> wrote:
>
> > *de-lurks*
> >
> > Hey, so I think the archive's gorgeous, but I have a question.

> > fic that was nominated in 2006 and 2007 which no longer resides

> > previous home. Is there any way to update those links? I can

> > the new addresses if there is.
> >
> > Thanks so much!
> > --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "melayton@" <melayton@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Ann wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Wow. Wow. Wow! This is gorgeous! Thanks and kudos to all

> > > > this labor of love - it's amazing.
> > > >
> > >
> > > It really is, isn't it? I really like it, too.
> > >
> > > Marta
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo!

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

On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 10:42 PM, Berni Crumb <rhysylle@gmail.com> wrote:

> It is not the category that is in question, but the spelling of Gandalf's
> name... In the character list, it is spelled "Ganadlf" and not "Gandalf" and
> it needs to be fixed.
>
> Rhyselle
>
>
> On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 10:28 PM, melayton@gmail.com <melayton@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hiya Larner,
>>
>> Well, technically Gandalf *is* a maia. Sort of. But yes, he probably
>> would have a good chuckle at it.
>>
>> Would it make more sense to list him under "Other," do you think? Or
>> where would you suggest?
>>
>> Marta
>>
>> Bonnie L. Sherrell wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> > In character names, under Valar and Maiar, Ganadlf appears. This is
>> > amusing! I think he'd laugh about it!
>> >
>> > 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 mourn for this nation.
>> >
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Vorondavë ar linalmië,
> Rhyselle
>
> Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our derivative
> mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and
> likeness of a Maker. -- J.R.R. Tolkien, On Fairy-Stories, 1939




--
Vorondavë ar linalmië,
Rhyselle

Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our derivative
mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and
likeness of a Maker. -- J.R.R. Tolkien, On Fairy-Stories, 1939


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

> Hi Fiondil,
>
> I did indeed miss the point - I am in a bit of a rush tonight, and so
> assumed (incorrectly) that Bonnie was questioning the placement of
> Gandalf under Valar and Ainur. I didn't realize that it was a spelling
> error.
>
> Gandalf will now be displayed as
>
> Valar and Maiar - Gandalf (Olýrin)
>
> Hope that works,
>
> Marta
>
> Arthur Boccaccio wrote:
> > I think you're all missing the point unless Bonnie misspelled his name
> > because she has him listed as Ganadlf. If that is the typo to which she
> > refers, then yes, it should be corrected.
> >
> > BTW, Marta, perhaps Gandalf could be listed as "Gandalf/Olýrin" since
> his
> > name as a Maia was originally Olýrin and there are fics out there (some
> of
> > mine for example) where he is pre-Gandalf. Just a suggestion.
> >
> > Fiondil
> > On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 10:36 AM, <heartofoshun@aol.com<heartofoshun%40aol.com>>
> wrote:
> >
> >> In a message dated 5/3/2008 9:29:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> >> melayton@gmail.com <melayton%40gmail.com> <melayton%40gmail.com>
> writes:
> >>
> >> Well, technically Gandalf *is* a maia. Sort of. But yes, he probably
> >> would have a good chuckle at it.
> >>
> >> Would it make more sense to list him under "Other," do you think? Or
> >> where would you suggest?
> >>
> >> Butting in here with my own strong opinion. He is a Maia and should be
> >> listed there, not other. But I think she was trying to say he is listed
> as
> >> a
> >> Valar? Or are those the same category?
> >>
> >> **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on
> >> family
> >> favorites at AOL Food.
> >> (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
> >>
> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

> Speaking of misspelled names in the character list on
> http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/index.php?page=storiesBrowseQuickLinks&filter=hide&linktype=character
> <http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/index.php?page=storiesBrowseQuickLinks&filter=hide&linktype=character>
>
> there's also: "Ereknbrand" which should be "Erkenbrand".
>

> Also, is there a particular reason that some of the Valar are listed by name
> but others are not? You've got Manwe, Namo/Mandos, Nienna, Yavanna, Varda,
> Aule and Orome, and even Orome's horse, Nahar (LOL!) but not Irmo/Lorien or
> Tulkas, or the rest of the Valie.
>

> That's okay. I've not looked at the character list myself but Rhyselle and I
> are chatting right now and she sees that you have Mandos (Námo). I think you
> should reverse that. Námo is the Vala's proper name while Mandos is where he
> resides. I don't care if some people think of him as Mandos the Silmarillion
> clearly states that his proper name is Námo and I think that should be
> listed first. I always believe in educating people through my writing even
> while they are having fun reading my stories. *grin*
>

> Also, and this is just a pet peeve, I really think ALL 14 of the Valar's
> names should be listed separately. Rhyselle and I are getting a kick out of
> the fact that Oromë's HORSE gets top billing over some of the Valar! LOL
>

> Anyway, hope you're not readly to run to the nearest bar and drown yourself
> in spirits yet with all the first night madness going on. *grin*
>

> Hiya Rhyselle,
>
> > Speaking of misspelled names in the character list on
> >
> http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/index.php?page=storiesBrowseQuickLinks&filter=hide&linktype=character
> > <
> http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/index.php?page=storiesBrowseQuickLinks&filter=hide&linktype=character
> >
> >
> > there's also: "Ereknbrand" which should be "Erkenbrand".
> >
>
> Okay, I will gladly change the spelling. If you guys catch any other
> typos or missing alternate names, let me know and I'll fix them. They
> were all typed in by yours truly, often rather late at night, so I may
> have made a few typing mistakes.
>
> > Also, is there a particular reason that some of the Valar are listed by
> name
> > but others are not? You've got Manwe, Namo/Mandos, Nienna, Yavanna,
> Varda,
> > Aule and Orome, and even Orome's horse, Nahar (LOL!) but not Irmo/Lorien
> or
> > Tulkas, or the rest of the Valie.
> >
>
> It's not an intentional slight, I promise! I tried to strike a balance
> between being as comprehensive as possible, while at the same time only
> listing those characters that had a reasonable chance of having stories
> written about them. I didn't want the list to get so long that it was
> overwhelming to authors or readers.
>
> The fact that Manwe's horse is listed and not some of the Valar isn't a
> judgment that one is more important than the other. Rather, I had
> various volunteers (in this case Fiondil IIRC) come up with lists of
> characters in different races. Then I pared it down to what I thought
> was manageable. So when I was looking at the Valar, if I thought it was
> longer than what I felt was appropriate for the Valar, I might have not
> listed all of the Valar. But odds are there weren't as many
> animals/"others" listed by name, so it didn't occur to me to shorten it.
>
> I'd rather not add to the list at this point, though. Not that you're
> asking, but I want to explain this. Every race has a listing for "Other
> Canon [race]" and "Other [race] - Original Characters". So if there is a
> story about Irmo or Tulkas, then you could select "Valar and Maiar -
> Other Canon Ainur." I'm happy to consider adding those characters for
> next year, but it is problematic to add characters once the awards have
> started.
>
> Thanks for catching the Erkenbrand typo, btw! I appreciate it.
>
> Marta
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 11:59 AM, Berni Crumb <rhysylle@gmail.com> wrote:

> No problem! Thanks for explaining. I still am giggling though over a
> mental
> image of Tulkas sulking and muttering, "Orome's *horse* gets a specific
> mention!" and Nessa and the other Valie are all snickering about it. If it
> persists maybe I'll write a silly ficlet to get it out of my head. *grin*
>
> Thanks for all the excellent work that you and the MEFA team have put into
> preparing for this year's awards!
>
> Rhyselle
>
> On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 11:38 PM, melayton@gmail.com <melayton%40gmail.com><
> melayton@gmail.com <melayton%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> > Hiya Rhyselle,
> >
> > > Speaking of misspelled names in the character list on
> > >
> >
> http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/index.php?page=storiesBrowseQuickLinks&filter=hide&linktype=character
> > > <
> >
> http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/index.php?page=storiesBrowseQuickLinks&filter=hide&linktype=character
> > >
> > >
> > > there's also: "Ereknbrand" which should be "Erkenbrand".
> > >
> >
> > Okay, I will gladly change the spelling. If you guys catch any other
> > typos or missing alternate names, let me know and I'll fix them. They
> > were all typed in by yours truly, often rather late at night, so I may
> > have made a few typing mistakes.
> >
> > > Also, is there a particular reason that some of the Valar are listed
> by
> > name
> > > but others are not? You've got Manwe, Namo/Mandos, Nienna, Yavanna,
> > Varda,
> > > Aule and Orome, and even Orome's horse, Nahar (LOL!) but not
> Irmo/Lorien
> > or
> > > Tulkas, or the rest of the Valie.
> > >
> >
> > It's not an intentional slight, I promise! I tried to strike a balance
> > between being as comprehensive as possible, while at the same time only
> > listing those characters that had a reasonable chance of having stories
> > written about them. I didn't want the list to get so long that it was
> > overwhelming to authors or readers.
> >
> > The fact that Manwe's horse is listed and not some of the Valar isn't a
> > judgment that one is more important than the other. Rather, I had
> > various volunteers (in this case Fiondil IIRC) come up with lists of
> > characters in different races. Then I pared it down to what I thought
> > was manageable. So when I was looking at the Valar, if I thought it was
> > longer than what I felt was appropriate for the Valar, I might have not
> > listed all of the Valar. But odds are there weren't as many
> > animals/"others" listed by name, so it didn't occur to me to shorten it.
> >
> > I'd rather not add to the list at this point, though. Not that you're
> > asking, but I want to explain this. Every race has a listing for "Other
> > Canon [race]" and "Other [race] - Original Characters". So if there is a
> > story about Irmo or Tulkas, then you could select "Valar and Maiar -
> > Other Canon Ainur." I'm happy to consider adding those characters for
> > next year, but it is problematic to add characters once the awards have
> > started.
> >
> > Thanks for catching the Erkenbrand typo, btw! I appreciate it.
> >
> > Marta
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Vorondavý ar linalmiý,
> Rhyselle
>
> Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our
> derivative
> mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and
> likeness of a Maker. -- J.R.R. Tolkien, On Fairy-Stories, 1939
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



--
"What part of 'You're dead' don't you understand?" -- Nýmo to an
Unidentified Elven Fýa giving the Lord of Mandos grief

****
Auta i lýmý! Utýlie'n aurý! ý Battle Cry of the Noldor at the Dagor Nirnaeth
Arnediad

Aurý entuluva! ý Battle Cry of Hýrin at the Dagor Nirnath Arnediad

Utýlie'n Estel ý Hope hath come


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

> Ditto for me, Marta. I'm not going to quibble, but I was curious about the
> Horse. LOL Anyway, great job.
>
> Fiondil/Arthur
>
> On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 11:59 AM, Berni Crumb <rhysylle@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> No problem! Thanks for explaining. I still am giggling though over a
>> mental
>> image of Tulkas sulking and muttering, "Orome's *horse* gets a specific
>> mention!" and Nessa and the other Valie are all snickering about it. If it
>> persists maybe I'll write a silly ficlet to get it out of my head. *grin*
>>
>> Thanks for all the excellent work that you and the MEFA team have put into
>> preparing for this year's awards!
>>
>> Rhyselle
>>

>
>
> Is there any way I can nominate someone when I don't know their email
> address? They're not already on the list.
>

>
>
> Is there any way I can nominate someone when I don't know their email
> address? They're not already on the list.
>

On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 8:29 PM, <BLJean@aol.com> wrote:

> I know when I was on the MEFA site (yesterday? quick glance, interrupted)
> I saw a list of authors who had declined participation in the MEFAs, but
> today when I went to start nominating I couldn't find that list. Can you
> tell me how to find it so I don't accidentally waste a nomination?
>
> The site looks beautiful, by the way. Kudos to all who worked so hard. It
> was really easy to enter my first nomination. I'll have to come back later
> to write that review, though, as I am (inevitably) interrupted.
>
> Thanks,
> Lin
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


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

>
>
> DD (pen name Dinossiel) is interested in joining MEFAs and reviewing. Is
> there a lower age limit for members? Also, DD uses my email address.
> Will that be a problem? (We can get her a yahoo address, I think, if we
> have to. It's not hard to get a yahoo address, is it?)
>
> Please advise, and thanks.
>
> Lin
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

>
>
> Thank you, Marta. I could leave a message on their LJ.
>
> The author is Sue Denimme.
>

> Hi PipMer,
>
> Leaving a LJ comment sounds like a good idea.
>
> I don't know this author, unfortunately. If anyone else does, please
> help her get in touch.
>
> Marta
>
> debnear@comcast.net <debnear%40comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Thank you, Marta. I could leave a message on their LJ.
> >
> > The author is Sue Denimme.
> >
>
>
>

>
>
> Dinossiel reads only G-rated stories, so hopefully we can filter for
> that, eventually? In any event, I am always there reading over her
> shoulder when she is on the Internet.
>

>
>
> Sue Denimme is also known as Rowan at Stories of Arda. Could she be listed
> by that name?
> (I don't know if that will help or not.)
>
> Dreamflower
>

> On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 8:58 PM, melayton@gmail.com
> <mailto:melayton%40gmail.com> <melayton@gmail.com
> <mailto:melayton%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi PipMer,
> >
> > Leaving a LJ comment sounds like a good idea.
> >
> > I don't know this author, unfortunately. If anyone else does, please
> > help her get in touch.
> >
> > Marta
> >
> > debnear@comcast.net <mailto:debnear%40comcast.net>
> <debnear%40comcast.net> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Thank you, Marta. I could leave a message on their LJ.
> > >
> > > The author is Sue Denimme.
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>

>
>
> I was browsing the database
> (stolen moments, really, already been interrupted once and soon will be
> again) and noticed something odd.
>
> For this story:
>
> 118
>
> Hope Remains (Story details)
>
> Baggins Babe
>
> N/A
>
> Skip · Wish
>
> Enter New Review
>
> Invalid URL - requires log-in to view story or does not link to later
> chapters (submitter loses nomination)
>
> Clicked
> on the link, and yes, the title at the top of the page doesn't seem
> right, but then I brought up the "Chapter List" for the whole
> collection of short stories, and the name of this story in the chapter
> list *is* "Hope Remains". It's only when you click on the chapter title
> in the chapter list to bring up the chapter that you see the title "The
> Mathom House" at the top of the page (But you have to click on "Hope
> Remains" to get into the chapter). I don't know if that's the author's
> error, or an alternative title, or what. Anyhow, I do believe that this
> link is to the story "Hope Remains".
>
> Good story, by the way. Hate to see it thrown out on a technicality.
>
> Of course, if the author has withdrawn it, please disregard this comment.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lin
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, BLJean@... wrote:
>
> DD (pen name Dinossiel) is interested in joining MEFAs and reviewing.
Is there a lower age limit for members? Also, DD uses my email address.
Will that be a problem? (We can get her a yahoo address, I think, if we
have to. It's not hard to get a yahoo address, is it?)
>
> Please advise, and thanks.

If you have a Yahoo email account, it's easy to set one up for your
child...I just did this for my own two kids. The only requirement is
that they be subaccounts under your main account, so that you are
responsible for them.

Drop me a line if you need more info about this.

Kathy/Inkling

>
>
> Sue Denimme is also known as Rowan at Stories of Arda. Could she be listed
> by that name?
> (I don't know if that will help or not.)
>
> Dreamflower
>

> On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 8:58 PM, melayton@gmail.com
> <mailto:melayton%40gmail.com> <melayton@gmail.com
> <mailto:melayton%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi PipMer,
> >
> > Leaving a LJ comment sounds like a good idea.
> >
> > I don't know this author, unfortunately. If anyone else does, please
> > help her get in touch.
> >
> > Marta
> >
> > debnear@comcast.net <mailto:debnear%40comcast.net>
> <debnear%40comcast.net> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Thank you, Marta. I could leave a message on their LJ.
> > >
> > > The author is Sue Denimme.
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>

> I had that problem of not being able to get on the page briefly last
> night, although within about ten minutes I could get on, too, Aranel.
> I don't think it was just you.
> 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 mourn for this nation.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

>
> Hey all,
>
> I've added a new feature to the navigation bar on the Browse
> Stories and Users pages. It's a
> "Jump to Page" feature, which allows you to go to a specific page
> of the listings.
>
> Along with that, a reminder that on the Browse Stories page, you
> can order the stories
> alphabetically by title or author, or by Story ID, by clicking on
> the "ID", "Title" and "Author"
> links at the top of the listing table.
>
> Aranel
>
>

> If you've already been told this, I apologize.? But when I clicked on
> the?Strategies from Veteran Reviewers?link, I got the Archive instead.?
> Tried several times.

> If you've already been told this, I apologize.? But when I clicked on
> the?Strategies from Veteran Reviewers?link, I got the Archive instead.?
> Tried several times.

>
>
> Hi Tanaqui!
>
> It's on the Support Documents Page:
>
> http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/index.php?page=FAQ
> <http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/index.php?page=FAQ>
>
> under Other Helpful Information.?
>
> Isabeau
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tanaqui <tanaqui@blueyonder.co.uk <mailto:tanaqui%40blueyonder.co.uk>>
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <mailto:MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tue, 6 May 2008 5:08 am
> Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] New Feature - Jump to Page
>
> Hi Isabeau
>
> > If you've already been told this, I apologize.? But when I clicked on
> > the?Strategies from Veteran Reviewers?link, I got the Archive instead.?
> > Tried several times.
>
> I can't find the link where this is happening - all the links for
> Strategies from Veteran Reviewers that I can find go to the right page.
> Could you give me the URL of the page it's happening on (or describe the
> page) and I'll look into it.
>
> Thanks, Tanaqui

>
>
> Hi Tanaqui!
>
> It's on the Support Documents Page:
>
> http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/index.php?page=FAQ
> <http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/index.php?page=FAQ>
>
> under Other Helpful Information.?
>
> Isabeau
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tanaqui <tanaqui@blueyonder.co.uk <mailto:tanaqui%40blueyonder.co.uk>>
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <mailto:MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tue, 6 May 2008 5:08 am
> Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] New Feature - Jump to Page
>
> Hi Isabeau
>
> > If you've already been told this, I apologize.? But when I clicked on
> > the?Strategies from Veteran Reviewers?link, I got the Archive instead.?
> > Tried several times.
>
> I can't find the link where this is happening - all the links for
> Strategies from Veteran Reviewers that I can find go to the right page.
> Could you give me the URL of the page it's happening on (or describe the
> page) and I'll look into it.
>
> Thanks, Tanaqui

On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 2:07 PM, <MarigoldCotton@aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> Hullo!
>
> The Archive is just spectacular and must have been a massive amount of
> work for all those invloved - thank you very much!
>
> I don't know if this has been addressed yet as I am on a computer for the
> first time in well over a week and can't get through all of my several
> hundred waiting e-mails, but what I am wondering is about stories on the
> Archive that have bad links. Who should we report these to and supply any
> current links?
>
> Cheers
>
> Marigold
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


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

On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 2:07 PM, <MarigoldCotton@aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> Hullo!
>
> The Archive is just spectacular and must have been a massive amount of
> work for all those invloved - thank you very much!
>
> I don't know if this has been addressed yet as I am on a computer for the
> first time in well over a week and can't get through all of my several
> hundred waiting e-mails, but what I am wondering is about stories on the
> Archive that have bad links. Who should we report these to and supply any
> current links?
>
> Cheers
>
> Marigold
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

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






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

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "melayton@..." <melayton@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
> Earlier today I was thinking about the MEFAs (not a rare occurrence
> these days!). Specifically, I was thinking about the members who help
> out. See, I know a lot of people associate the MEFAs with my name
> because I am the one whose name is at the bottom of the announcements,
> and I am often the one who answers questions. However, I am far from
the
> only one who is involved. If anything, the MEFAs are like an iceberg:
> 10% visible, 90% below the surface.
>
> I talk sometimes about some of these volunteers, but I usually talk
> about the ones I actually have regular contact with. There are lots of
> other people who do jobs just because they need to be done. I can call
> on them and tell them what needs to be done, and then they just run
with
> it. Usually these people do such a good job that it is easy for me to
> forget they are even there. Which I know I really shouldn't, because
> they are invaluable to the whole process. For me the MEFAs can be a
real
> juggling act; I try to give my attention to as much as I can, and areas
> that are working well, I tend to forget about because I *can.*
>
> That's no excuse, though. So I want to take a moment to thank just some
> of the people who don't get NEARLY as much credit as they deserve, and
> without whom these awards would not be happening.
>
> First and foremost of this list is Elliska. She has been a very
> dependable volunteer since she first got involved (I think in 2005?),
> and has always been willing to pitch a helping hand wherever needed.
I'm
> not sure there's been a part of the awards (nominations, categorizing,
> voting, or "clean-up") where she hasn't been doing something behind the
> scene. She is a liaison and has already signed up to be a categorizer.
> More importantly, it is Elliska who looks at everyone who tries to join
> the MEFAwards list, checks out for spammers, and sets up membership
> accounts for the legitimate ones. After the post-mortem I at least get
> to take a few weeks off and recuperate; Elliska does not get a day off.
> She is also one of the most reliable volunteers I've worked with. I
> seriously doubt that these awards would be happening if I didn't have
> her help. Because she does her job so well, it is all too easy for
me to
> forget her effort. But that's only because it doesn't require any
effort
> on my part. Thank you, Elliska. I mean that.
>
> Tanaqui and Aranel are two names that you probably hear fairly often,
> but you may not realize the full extent of their work. Go and check out
> the FAQ sometime, even if you think you understand the awards. Look at
> all the ways those FAQs link to each other. All the special formatting.
> And realize that someone had to take the Word documents in which I
wrote
> the FAQs and convert them into computer files. Now look at the way it
> fits into a complicated website pretty seamlessly. And consider that
> these FAQs are available both when you're logged in and when you're not
> – and that the same computer documents work for both people who can
> access the rest of the website, and who can't. It's complicated,
> sophisticated code, and someone has to write and update it. And that
> takes a lot of tedious work. That someone is Tanaqui. She does this on
> *top* of her other volunteer hours coding this website, which are
> substantial.
>
> Aranel does a tremendous amount of work as well. One of the biggest
> time-consuming parts of this year's coding was the archive. The list of
> stories itself is very useful, and took a lot of technical work. But
> Aranel also took the 2004 reviews and formatted them by hand. This was
> not a matter of simply pulling data from a website database, because in
> 2004 the votes were posted to the MEFAwards Yahoo group as emails, not
> entered into a website. Aranel also went through all the names and
> grouped stories together where the author was nominated under different
> pseudonyms.
>
> Most importantly, these two put up with me. The MEFAs are the first
time
> I have ever tried to coordinate a project of anything like this
> magnitude – which of course means I make mistakes. Vague coding
> requirements. Lots of forgetfulness on my part. (I can't tell you how
> many times I've said "Oh, did I forget to mention..."!) They listen to
> my suggestions and those of others, and make them work. Or explain why
> it can't work. They deserve a lot more recognition than I give them for
> that.
>
> Another person who deserves a lot more recognition than she gets is
> Inkling. If I told you one thing that Inkling has done I'd have to tell
> you a hundred. Suffice it to say that there has never been a time that
> I've come to her with a special project that she has said no to. And,
> like Elliska, she is a perpetual and continuous volunteer: liaison,
> categorizer, and just general jack-of-all-trades during the voting
> season.) Most importantly, Inkling is my release valve. When I need
> someone to kvetch to, she is there to listen, to reassure me, and to
> help me see the problems more clearly. I think I would have quit my
> involvement a half-dozen times in the last few years if not for her
> support, both emotionally and practically. (Elliska has been great
about
> this as well.)
>
> Banner makers are another group that don't get nearly enough credit. Go
> and check out http://www.mefawards.net/fanart/, and you will see some
> really nice artwork. What you won't see is the name of the artists who
> created them, unless you click on an image. And when a member selects a
> banner, they just display the banner – not who created it. I
hesitate to
> mention names because I know I'll forget someone, but I know that
> nau_tika and elea24 have both created banners. Rhapsody and Llinos also
> created a lot last year. And I am certain that there are others! But
all
> of these artists who share their work with us deserve our appreciation.
>
> As does Fiondil. Fiondil is a new volunteer who has taken on the job of
> making sure we have a good assortment of banners. Think how diverse
> fandom is, how diverse the contributions to the MEFA are every year,
and
> imagine trying to make sure that every little niche has an appopriate
> banner to select if they win. Now multiply that by three because you
> also need a good selection of banners for nominees and people who reach
> their reviewing goal. Fiondil also has taken on the dreary work of
> uploading peoples' submissions, something I am very glad to delegate.
> Thank you, Fiondil!
>
> And I don't want to forget AmandaK, Baranduin, and nau_tika, who
> personalized the winners' banners so quickly to display what place was
> won. They all did a really top-notch job, and I don't think they were
> recognized even once. (Rhapsody, AlexCat, Ainaechoiriel, and other
> people did similar jobs in previous years.)
>
> I see that I've gone on for quite some time already, and the more and
> more I think about the MEFAs, the more "unsung heroes" I think of.
> Annmarwalk posted all of the reviews made last year, to both here and
> the mefas LJ. Imhiriel has read many, many reviews looking for
> formatting errors, like incorrectly-marked quotes. Sulriel has
helped on
> many, many projects, such as preparing lists of previously-nominated
> pieces and adding accounts to the MEFA website when people joined
> MEFAwards – another person I can turn to when I need help. I can't even
> begin to name all of the people who have participated in the
post-mortem
> every year – and that's a time commitment of at least an hour a night,
> for over a month in most cases.
>
> You get the idea. There are so many people to thank, I can't even name
> them all.
>
> But I do want to recognize three people who, though they don't
volunteer
> in the same capacities anymore, really helped give the MEFAs their
> start. Those three people are Ainaechoiriel, Anthony, and Rhapsody.
> Rhapsody created the banner website, including the software that allows
> us to vote for banners (when we still did that). She also adminned this
> section of the awards, uploading all of the banners submitted and
> communicating with artists. Anthony actually built the site we saw in
> 2005 – all by himself, building on code from H. Weinreich but donating
> so much time I'm kind of scared to know the actual tally. And Ainae
> brought these awards to the Tolkien fandom and got them started.
Without
> them, we wouldn't be here.
>
> I know full well that there are people I am failing to mention, mostly
> because I have run out of room but also because you do such a damned
> good job that I never have to give your part of the awards a second
> thought. Thank you.
>
> And thank you, again, to everyone I did mention. I am sorry I don't
draw
> attention to you more often, because you really are invaluable.
>
> Marta
> (MEFA Admin.)
>

>
>
> You forgot one person Marta. YOU! lol
>

>
>
>
> Is there a way to find stories about a specific character?
>
> TariElfLady
>

>
>
>
> Is there a way to find stories about a specific character?
>
> TariElfLady
>

> How do I add my name to the list of authors who don't want to be
> nominated? I intend to do some nominating, but would rather not have
> any of my fics nominated. I'm not sure who to contact about this.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ellen
> Lbilover
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2008/Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

>

> I'll add you to the list. If you would like to be nominated again
> in the
> future, just email techsupport@mefawards.net and let us know.

>
>
> Hi Marta,
>
> This is just a heads-up, something that the liaisons probably should be
> aware of:
>
> On the Nomination form, in the Length field, there's a link for the
> question: "Does my wordcount need to be precise?" which leads to a very,
> very nicely-written blurb saying, basically "Yes, if it's an FLF." Which is
> great, but it also says "You can also calculate your story length by copying
> and pasting your story into the form here."
>
> And it links to a word-count tool. Which, unfortunately is even
> *more*inaccurate than the word counts in MS Word or any other tool
> I've ever
> tried, which are frequently off by 1 or 2 percent.
>
> I tried counting the words in each of my 3 nominated drabbles by hand (not
> directly: I copy the drabble, break it up into groups of 5 words, and then
> count the groups), and they are all precisely 100, which is not surprising,
> since I tend to be a bit... er... well... *cough* obsessive *cough* about
> that sort of thing....
>
> But the MEFA word-count tool gives counts of *98*, *95*, and *92!*
>
> *Sigh*
>
> So, if an author of a true drabble is confused about whether to trust their
> own count (by hand), or the count with any software, including the tool
> provided by the MEFAs, you might want to tell them that a hand count is
> still the only one guaranteed to be accurate.
>
> The tool is perfectly fine for estimating approximate word counts (like, to
> see if a story qualifies as a novel...), but it is *far* too inaccurate to
> use for FLFs. I will squirrel away a reminder to myself to bring this up at
> the post-mortem... it probably should not be linked to the blurb about FLF
> lengths, where precision is needed.
>
> - Barbara
>
> *Note to self: I am not paranoid if word-count tools are really out to get
> me.*

>
> Hey guys,
>
> Earlier today I was thinking about the MEFAs (not a rare occurrence
> these days!). Specifically, I was thinking about the members who help
> out. See, I know a lot of people associate the MEFAs with my name
> because I am the one whose name is at the bottom of the announcements,
> and I am often the one who answers questions. However, I am far from

> only one who is involved. If anything, the MEFAs are like an iceberg:
> 10% visible, 90% below the surface.
>
> I talk sometimes about some of these volunteers, but I usually talk
> about the ones I actually have regular contact with. There are lots of
> other people who do jobs just because they need to be done. I can call
> on them and tell them what needs to be done, and then they just run

> it. Usually these people do such a good job that it is easy for me to
> forget they are even there. Which I know I really shouldn't, because
> they are invaluable to the whole process. For me the MEFAs can be a

> juggling act; I try to give my attention to as much as I can, and areas
> that are working well, I tend to forget about because I *can.*
>
> That's no excuse, though. So I want to take a moment to thank just some
> of the people who don't get NEARLY as much credit as they deserve, and
> without whom these awards would not be happening.
>
> First and foremost of this list is Elliska. She has been a very
> dependable volunteer since she first got involved (I think in 2005?),
> and has always been willing to pitch a helping hand wherever needed.

> not sure there's been a part of the awards (nominations, categorizing,
> voting, or "clean-up") where she hasn't been doing something behind the
> scene. She is a liaison and has already signed up to be a categorizer.
> More importantly, it is Elliska who looks at everyone who tries to join
> the MEFAwards list, checks out for spammers, and sets up membership
> accounts for the legitimate ones. After the post-mortem I at least get
> to take a few weeks off and recuperate; Elliska does not get a day off.
> She is also one of the most reliable volunteers I've worked with. I
> seriously doubt that these awards would be happening if I didn't have
> her help. Because she does her job so well, it is all too easy for

> forget her effort. But that's only because it doesn't require any

> on my part. Thank you, Elliska. I mean that.
>
> Tanaqui and Aranel are two names that you probably hear fairly often,
> but you may not realize the full extent of their work. Go and check out
> the FAQ sometime, even if you think you understand the awards. Look at
> all the ways those FAQs link to each other. All the special formatting.
> And realize that someone had to take the Word documents in which I

> the FAQs and convert them into computer files. Now look at the way it
> fits into a complicated website pretty seamlessly. And consider that
> these FAQs are available both when you're logged in and when you're not
>  and that the same computer documents work for both people who can
> access the rest of the website, and who can't. It's complicated,
> sophisticated code, and someone has to write and update it. And that
> takes a lot of tedious work. That someone is Tanaqui. She does this on
> *top* of her other volunteer hours coding this website, which are
> substantial.
>
> Aranel does a tremendous amount of work as well. One of the biggest
> time-consuming parts of this year's coding was the archive. The list of
> stories itself is very useful, and took a lot of technical work. But
> Aranel also took the 2004 reviews and formatted them by hand. This was
> not a matter of simply pulling data from a website database, because in
> 2004 the votes were posted to the MEFAwards Yahoo group as emails, not
> entered into a website. Aranel also went through all the names and
> grouped stories together where the author was nominated under different
> pseudonyms.
>
> Most importantly, these two put up with me. The MEFAs are the first

> I have ever tried to coordinate a project of anything like this
> magnitude  which of course means I make mistakes. Vague coding
> requirements. Lots of forgetfulness on my part. (I can't tell you how
> many times I've said "Oh, did I forget to mention..."! many times I've
> my suggestions and those of others, and make them work. Or explain why
> it can't work. They deserve a lot more recognition than I give them for
> that.
>
> Another person who deserves a lot more recognition than she gets is
> Inkling. If I told you one thing that Inkling has done I'd have to tell
> you a hundred. Suffice it to say that there has never been a time that
> I've come to her with a special project that she has said no to. And,
> like Elliska, she is a perpetual and continuous volunteer: liaison,
> categorizer, and just general jack-of-all- categorizer, and just ge
> season.) Most importantly, Inkling is my release valve. When I need
> someone to kvetch to, she is there to listen, to reassure me, and to
> help me see the problems more clearly. I think I would have quit my
> involvement a half-dozen times in the last few years if not for her
> support, both emotionally and practically. (Elliska has been great

> this as well.)
>
> Banner makers are another group that don't get nearly enough credit. Go
> and check out _http://www.mefawardhttp://www.meh_

> really nice artwork. What you won't see is the name of the artists who
> created them, unless you click on an image. And when a member selects a
> banner, they just display the banner  not who created it. I

> mention names because I know I'll forget someone, but I know that
> nau_tika and elea24 have both created banners. Rhapsody and Llinos also
> created a lot last year. And I am certain that there are others! But

> of these artists who share their work with us deserve our appreciation.
>
> As does Fiondil. Fiondil is a new volunteer who has taken on the job of
> making sure we have a good assortment of banners. Think how diverse
> fandom is, how diverse the contributions to the MEFA are every year,

> imagine trying to make sure that every little niche has an appopriate
> banner to select if they win. Now multiply that by three because you
> also need a good selection of banners for nominees and people who reach
> their reviewing goal. Fiondil also has taken on the dreary work of
> uploading peoples' submissions, something I am very glad to delegate.
> Thank you, Fiondil!
>
> And I don't want to forget AmandaK, Baranduin, and nau_tika, who
> personalized the winners' banners so quickly to display what place was
> won. They all did a really top-notch job, and I don't think they were
> recognized even once. (Rhapsody, AlexCat, Ainaechoiriel, and other
> people did similar jobs in previous years.)
>
> I see that I've gone on for quite some time already, and the more and
> more I think about the MEFAs, the more "unsung heroes" I think of.
> Annmarwalk posted all of the reviews made last year, to both here and
> the mefas LJ. Imhiriel has read many, many reviews looking for
> formatting errors, like incorrectly- formatting errors, like

> many, many projects, such as preparing lists of previously-nominate m
> pieces and adding accounts to the MEFA website when people joined
> MEFAwards  another person I can turn to when I need help. I can't even
> begin to name all of the people who have participated in the

> every year  and that's a time commitment of at least an hour a night,
> for over a month in most cases.
>
> You get the idea. There are so many people to thank, I can't even name
> them all.
>
> But I do want to recognize three people who, though they don't

> in the same capacities anymore, really helped give the MEFAs their
> start. Those three people are Ainaechoiriel, Anthony, and Rhapsody.
> Rhapsody created the banner website, including the software that allows
> us to vote for banners (when we still did that). She also adminned this
> section of the awards, uploading all of the banners submitted and
> communicating with artists. Anthony actually built the site we saw in
> 2005  all by himself, building on code from H. Weinreich but donating
> so much time I'm kind of scared to know the actual tally. And Ainae
> brought these awards to the Tolkien fandom and got them started.

> them, we wouldn't be here.
>
> I know full well that there are people I am failing to mention, mostly
> because I have run out of room but also because you do such a damned
> good job that I never have to give your part of the awards a second
> thought. Thank you.
>
> And thank you, again, to everyone I did mention. I am sorry I don't

> attention to you more often, because you really are invaluable.
>
> Marta
> (MEFA Admin.)
>

> ~oOo~
> Dawn Felagund
> www.silmarillionwritersguild.org

On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 10:43 AM, Tanaqui <tanaqui@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

> Hi Barbara
>
> I've goggled and found what seems to be a more accurate online word
> count tool at http://www.wordcalc.com/. So we'll be changing that link
> to point to this new one shortly (maybe this evening - it depends when I
> do my next upload of bug fixes).
>
> Tanaqui
>
>
> Elena Tiriel wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hi Marta,
> >
> > This is just a heads-up, something that the liaisons probably should be
> > aware of:
> >
> > On the Nomination form, in the Length field, there's a link for the
> > question: "Does my wordcount need to be precise?" which leads to a very,
> > very nicely-written blurb saying, basically "Yes, if it's an FLF." Which
> is
> > great, but it also says "You can also calculate your story length by
> copying
> > and pasting your story into the form here."
> >
> > And it links to a word-count tool. Which, unfortunately is even
> > *more*inaccurate than the word counts in MS Word or any other tool
> > I've ever
> > tried, which are frequently off by 1 or 2 percent.
> >
> > I tried counting the words in each of my 3 nominated drabbles by hand
> (not
> > directly: I copy the drabble, break it up into groups of 5 words, and
> then
> > count the groups), and they are all precisely 100, which is not
> surprising,
> > since I tend to be a bit... er... well... *cough* obsessive *cough*
> about
> > that sort of thing....
> >
> > But the MEFA word-count tool gives counts of *98*, *95*, and *92!*
> >
> > *Sigh*
> >
> > So, if an author of a true drabble is confused about whether to trust
> their
> > own count (by hand), or the count with any software, including the tool
> > provided by the MEFAs, you might want to tell them that a hand count is
> > still the only one guaranteed to be accurate.
> >
> > The tool is perfectly fine for estimating approximate word counts (like,
> to
> > see if a story qualifies as a novel...), but it is *far* too inaccurate
> to
> > use for FLFs. I will squirrel away a reminder to myself to bring this up
> at
> > the post-mortem... it probably should not be linked to the blurb about
> FLF
> > lengths, where precision is needed.
> >
> > - Barbara
> >
> > *Note to self: I am not paranoid if word-count tools are really out to
> get
> > me.*
>
>
>


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

On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 4:08 PM, Tanaqui <tanaqui@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

> Two things
>
> 1) The FAQ on the nomination form now links to the new Word Count tool
> at http://www.wordcalc.com
>
> 2) Elena Tiriel also let us know about a bug in the way the stories were
> displayed on the QuickLinks pages, so that you couldn't get to all the
> stories. This has now been fixed.
>
> The pages have been modified so that now when you click on an item, the
> site displays all the stories for that item item rather than displaying
> them in pages of so many stories at a time.
>
> That means you will also no longer see the navigation bar (with the
> Search box, page links, and jump to page and per page dropdowns) on
> those pages.
>
> It also does mean that as we add more stories, the QuickLinks pages will
> take a little longer to display on your screen - but once you have the
> page loaded, clicking on any of the items will bring up the list of
> stories instantly.
>
> I've taken this approach to the fix because the navigation bar code and
> the QuickLinks code didn't want to play nicely together, and this was
> the best way to get something that worked properly in a reasonable
> length of time. I may revisit this when I have more time to get a more
> "ideal" solution. Meanwhile, if you find the QuickLinks pages slow to
> load, you can always use the filter on the main Stories page.
>
> Tanaqui
>
>
>


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

On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 12:27 AM, melayton@gmail.com <melayton@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thank you, to everyone who has replied to this post. I wanted to let you
> know that I am reading all the replies (and smiling!) even though I am
> not replying to them all.
>
> *hugs all her MEFA friends*
>
> Marta
>
>

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, KAT702H@... wrote:
>
>
> I second that. I know you put in a lot of time, Marta, and
deserve thanks
> for all your hard work.
>
> TariElfLady
>
> In a message dated 5/6/2008 6:55:47 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> alassante7@... writes:
>
>
>
>
> You forgot one person Marta. YOU! lol
>
> Thanks to everyone behind the scenes. :)
>
> --- In _MEFAwards@yahoogrouMEFAwa_
(mailto:MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com) ,
> "melayton@, <melayton@...> wrote:
> >
> > Hey guys,
> >
> > Earlier today I was thinking about the MEFAs (not a rare
occurrence
> > these days!). Specifically, I was thinking about the members who
help
> > out. See, I know a lot of people associate the MEFAs with my
name
> > because I am the one whose name is at the bottom of the
announcements,
> > and I am often the one who answers questions. However, I am far
from
> the
> > only one who is involved. If anything, the MEFAs are like an
iceberg:
> > 10% visible, 90% below the surface.
> >
> > I talk sometimes about some of these volunteers, but I usually
talk
> > about the ones I actually have regular contact with. There are
lots of
> > other people who do jobs just because they need to be done. I
can call
> > on them and tell them what needs to be done, and then they just
run
> with
> > it. Usually these people do such a good job that it is easy for
me to
> > forget they are even there. Which I know I really shouldn't,
because
> > they are invaluable to the whole process. For me the MEFAs can
be a
> real
> > juggling act; I try to give my attention to as much as I can,
and areas
> > that are working well, I tend to forget about because I *can.*
> >
> > That's no excuse, though. So I want to take a moment to thank
just some
> > of the people who don't get NEARLY as much credit as they
deserve, and
> > without whom these awards would not be happening.
> >
> > First and foremost of this list is Elliska. She has been a very
> > dependable volunteer since she first got involved (I think in
2005?),
> > and has always been willing to pitch a helping hand wherever
needed.
> I'm
> > not sure there's been a part of the awards (nominations,
categorizing,
> > voting, or "clean-up") where she hasn't been doing something
behind the
> > scene. She is a liaison and has already signed up to be a
categorizer.
> > More importantly, it is Elliska who looks at everyone who tries
to join
> > the MEFAwards list, checks out for spammers, and sets up
membership
> > accounts for the legitimate ones. After the post-mortem I at
least get
> > to take a few weeks off and recuperate; Elliska does not get a
day off.
> > She is also one of the most reliable volunteers I've worked
with. I
> > seriously doubt that these awards would be happening if I didn't
have
> > her help. Because she does her job so well, it is all too easy
for
> me to
> > forget her effort. But that's only because it doesn't require any
> effort
> > on my part. Thank you, Elliska. I mean that.
> >
> > Tanaqui and Aranel are two names that you probably hear fairly
often,
> > but you may not realize the full extent of their work. Go and
check out
> > the FAQ sometime, even if you think you understand the awards.
Look at
> > all the ways those FAQs link to each other. All the special
formatting.
> > And realize that someone had to take the Word documents in which
I
> wrote
> > the FAQs and convert them into computer files. Now look at the
way it
> > fits into a complicated website pretty seamlessly. And consider
that
> > these FAQs are available both when you're logged in and when
you're not
> > â€" and that the same computer documents work for both people who
can
> > access the rest of the website, and who can't. It's complicated,
> > sophisticated code, and someone has to write and update it. And
that
> > takes a lot of tedious work. That someone is Tanaqui. She does
this on
> > *top* of her other volunteer hours coding this website, which
are
> > substantial.
> >
> > Aranel does a tremendous amount of work as well. One of the
biggest
> > time-consuming parts of this year's coding was the archive. The
list of
> > stories itself is very useful, and took a lot of technical work.
But
> > Aranel also took the 2004 reviews and formatted them by hand.
This was
> > not a matter of simply pulling data from a website database,
because in
> > 2004 the votes were posted to the MEFAwards Yahoo group as
emails, not
> > entered into a website. Aranel also went through all the names
and
> > grouped stories together where the author was nominated under
different
> > pseudonyms.
> >
> > Most importantly, these two put up with me. The MEFAs are the
first
> time
> > I have ever tried to coordinate a project of anything like this
> > magnitude â€" which of course means I make mistakes. Vague coding
> > requirements. Lots of forgetfulness on my part. (I can't tell
you how
> > many times I've said "Oh, did I forget to mention..."! many
times I've
> > my suggestions and those of others, and make them work. Or
explain why
> > it can't work. They deserve a lot more recognition than I give
them for
> > that.
> >
> > Another person who deserves a lot more recognition than she gets
is
> > Inkling. If I told you one thing that Inkling has done I'd have
to tell
> > you a hundred. Suffice it to say that there has never been a
time that
> > I've come to her with a special project that she has said no to.
And,
> > like Elliska, she is a perpetual and continuous volunteer:
liaison,
> > categorizer, and just general jack-of-all- categorizer, and just
ge
> > season.) Most importantly, Inkling is my release valve. When I
need
> > someone to kvetch to, she is there to listen, to reassure me,
and to
> > help me see the problems more clearly. I think I would have quit
my
> > involvement a half-dozen times in the last few years if not for
her
> > support, both emotionally and practically. (Elliska has been
great
> about
> > this as well.)
> >
> > Banner makers are another group that don't get nearly enough
credit. Go
> > and check out _http://www.mefawardhttp://www.meh_
> (http://www.mefawards.net/fanart/,) and you will see some
> > really nice artwork. What you won't see is the name of the
artists who
> > created them, unless you click on an image. And when a member
selects a
> > banner, they just display the banner â€" not who created it. I
> hesitate to
> > mention names because I know I'll forget someone, but I know
that
> > nau_tika and elea24 have both created banners. Rhapsody and
Llinos also
> > created a lot last year. And I am certain that there are others!
But
> all
> > of these artists who share their work with us deserve our
appreciation.
> >
> > As does Fiondil. Fiondil is a new volunteer who has taken on the
job of
> > making sure we have a good assortment of banners. Think how
diverse
> > fandom is, how diverse the contributions to the MEFA are every
year,
> and
> > imagine trying to make sure that every little niche has an
appopriate
> > banner to select if they win. Now multiply that by three because
you
> > also need a good selection of banners for nominees and people
who reach
> > their reviewing goal. Fiondil also has taken on the dreary work
of
> > uploading peoples' submissions, something I am very glad to
delegate.
> > Thank you, Fiondil!
> >
> > And I don't want to forget AmandaK, Baranduin, and nau_tika, who
> > personalized the winners' banners so quickly to display what
place was
> > won. They all did a really top-notch job, and I don't think they
were
> > recognized even once. (Rhapsody, AlexCat, Ainaechoiriel, and
other
> > people did similar jobs in previous years.)
> >
> > I see that I've gone on for quite some time already, and the
more and
> > more I think about the MEFAs, the more "unsung heroes" I think
of.
> > Annmarwalk posted all of the reviews made last year, to both
here and
> > the mefas LJ. Imhiriel has read many, many reviews looking for
> > formatting errors, like incorrectly- formatting errors, like
> helped on
> > many, many projects, such as preparing lists of previously-
nominate m
> > pieces and adding accounts to the MEFA website when people
joined
> > MEFAwards â€" another person I can turn to when I need help. I
can't even
> > begin to name all of the people who have participated in the
> post-mortem
> > every year â€" and that's a time commitment of at least an hour a
night,
> > for over a month in most cases.
> >
> > You get the idea. There are so many people to thank, I can't
even name
> > them all.
> >
> > But I do want to recognize three people who, though they don't
> volunteer
> > in the same capacities anymore, really helped give the MEFAs
their
> > start. Those three people are Ainaechoiriel, Anthony, and
Rhapsody.
> > Rhapsody created the banner website, including the software that
allows
> > us to vote for banners (when we still did that). She also
adminned this
> > section of the awards, uploading all of the banners submitted
and
> > communicating with artists. Anthony actually built the site we
saw in
> > 2005 â€" all by himself, building on code from H. Weinreich but
donating
> > so much time I'm kind of scared to know the actual tally. And
Ainae
> > brought these awards to the Tolkien fandom and got them started.
> Without
> > them, we wouldn't be here.
> >
> > I know full well that there are people I am failing to mention,
mostly
> > because I have run out of room but also because you do such a
damned
> > good job that I never have to give your part of the awards a
second
> > thought. Thank you.
> >
> > And thank you, again, to everyone I did mention. I am sorry I
don't
> draw
> > attention to you more often, because you really are invaluable.
> >
> > Marta
> > (MEFA Admin.)
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists
on family
> favorites at AOL Food.
> (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

>
>
> I've withdrawn a story....but only because it had already competed.
> However, the author wanted the nominator to keep their vote.....but when
> it was withdrawn there was nothing we could do about that.Can I just
> check...if the nominator withdraws it do they keep the vote?
>
> Lily
>

>
>
> What if I wish to nominate an author whose e-mail is not made known to
> public?
>
> -Calenlass
>

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "melayton@..." <melayton@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Calenlass,
>
> We do need an email address that the author checks regularly in
order to
> nominate for these awards. If you don't know the author's email
address,
> maybe you could try leaving a review for them at a place where they
post
> their stories, saying something like,
>
> *******
> Greetings Author,
>
> My name is Calenlass, and I'd like to nominate your story, [title], for
> the Middle-earth Fanfiction Awards. In order to nominate you, I need to
> give the awards maintainers an email where they can reach you. Would
you
> mind me doing this? Could you email me at [your email] to discuss this
> situation?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Calenlass
> *******
>
> If they're uncomfortable giving out their normal email, then they could
> establish a special email address where we could contact them for these
> awards - Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, and many other services provide free
> email. As long as they'd check it during the awards, that would be fine.
>
> But, yeah, we really do need an email address for them, so our
> volunteers can contact them.
>
> Marta
>
> eldariel_perdhel wrote:
> >
> >
> > What if I wish to nominate an author whose e-mail is not made known to
> > public?
> >
> > -Calenlass
> >
>

>
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm Cactuskim and I just joined about a week ago and I wanted to
> introduce myself.
>
> I had heard people mention MEFA awards occasionally but was not all that
> familiar with them and did not understand them until I offered to help a
> friend *Waves at Nautika* when she mentioned that they needed more help
> with banners.... I'm a bit of a Photoshop junky ;p
>
> I love LOTR and the Silmarillion and have since long before the
> movies.... I would tell you how long, but someone would call me old,
> and then I would have to lie and claim that I was reading them when I
> was only 2 to try and disprove the charges ;p. My favorite LOTR
> character is Legolas followed by Aragorn and Faramir. My favorite Sil
> character is Finrod.
>
> I do a little fanfic writing and a Lot of LOTR art work. A good friend
> of mine (NiRi) who I think is also a member here has been pestering me
> and telling me that I should post my stories where people can actually
> find them and read them.. So after only procrastinating for another 6
> months after she poked me, and 2 years before that, *I do not
> procrastinate!.... OK, I do ;p* I have actually posted my first story
> to ff.net today. :D
>
> Here is a link to the story I just posted if anyone is interested in
> reading it, it is a humor based story featuring Aragorn and Legolas
> with the rather odd name of "The Weaving Cow".
>
> http://www.fanfiction.net/u/417850/cactuskim
> <http://www.fanfiction.net/u/417850/cactuskim>
>
> I look forward to getting to know all of you.
>
> Cactuskim
>
>

> I offered to help a
> friend *Waves at Nautika* when she mentioned that
> they needed more help
> with banners.... I'm a bit of a Photoshop junky ;p

On Tue, May 13, 2008 at 10:10 PM, Viv <spacellamaprincess@yahoo.com> wrote:

*MEFA needs help with banners? I'm there! Who do I contact?*

You would contact me, Fiondil, at this email address: namondil@gmail.com

Fiondil

--
"What part of 'You're dead' don't you understand?" -- Nýmo to an
Unidentified Elven Fýa giving the Lord of Mandos grief

****
Auta i lýmý! Utýlie'n aurý! ý Battle Cry of the Noldor at the Dagor Nirnaeth
Arnediad

Aurý entuluva! ý Battle Cry of Hýrin at the Dagor Nirnath Arnediad

Utýlie'n Estel ý Hope hath come


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

>
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm Cactuskim and I just joined about a week ago and I wanted to
> introduce myself.
>
> I had heard people mention MEFA awards occasionally but was not all that
> familiar with them and did not understand them until I offered to help a
> friend *Waves at Nautika* when she mentioned that they needed more help
> with banners.... I'm a bit of a Photoshop junky ;p
>
> I love LOTR and the Silmarillion and have since long before the
> movies.... I would tell you how long, but someone would call me old,
> and then I would have to lie and claim that I was reading them when I
> was only 2 to try and disprove the charges ;p. My favorite LOTR
> character is Legolas followed by Aragorn and Faramir. My favorite Sil
> character is Finrod.
>
> I do a little fanfic writing and a Lot of LOTR art work. A good friend
> of mine (NiRi) who I think is also a member here has been pestering me
> and telling me that I should post my stories where people can actually
> find them and read them.. So after only procrastinating for another 6
> months after she poked me, and 2 years before that, *I do not
> procrastinate! .... OK, I do ;p* I have actually posted my first story
> to ff.net today. :D
>
> Here is a link to the story I just posted if anyone is interested in
> reading it, it is a humor based story featuring Aragorn and Legolas
> with the rather odd name of "The Weaving Cow".
>
> http://www.fanficti on.net/u/ 417850/cactuskim
> <http://www.fanficti on.net/u/ 417850/cactuskim>
>
> I look forward to getting to know all of you.
>
> Cactuskim
>
>

On Tue, May 13, 2008 at 2:40 PM, kimberli leal <kim@flash.net> wrote:

> Hi Marta,
>
> Thank you for the welcome. I have been delighted when rummaging thru the
> list of previous years nominees and winners to find active links to stories
> and authors that I had lost track of.... I replaced a hard drive 2 year ago,
> and had to reformat my HD last December and I lost all of my bookmarks both
> times! *Sniff* that really hurts. Some of the archives stories had been on
> had been closed, and remembering the exact names of fictions, or authors
> (which some times use different names in different places) to try and search
> places like ff.net (which has a flaky search function) was very difficult
> at best, and I thought that some of the stories were gone forever.
>
> Sorry about the link, I assumed that since this group is about
> fan-fiction, that posting story links was OK like in my other groups. I
> never really thought about the awards focus here, although if I had thought
> it thru, it actually makes sense. I don't think that my story is even
> eligible for a nomination anyways, because even though I just posted it at
> ff.net, it was actually written a few years ago and is not a new story
> written in the last year. BTW, What is the exact cut off dates for when a
> story is written for it to be eligible for a nomination?
>
> Bye for now, Got to go work on more Banners ;p
>
> Cactuskim
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: "melayton@gmail.com <melayton%40gmail.com>" <melayton@gmail.com<melayton%40gmail.com>
> >
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 6:58:43 AM
> Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Hello... new member, and new story posting
>
> Hi Cactuskim,
>
> Welcome to the MEFAs! I'm glad you took the time to introduce yourself,
> and hope you have fun spending time in our little corner of the intarwebs.
>
> I did want to mention one thing, and this is as much for all the other
> members that are new this year as it is for you in particular. It's
> natural to want to post links to your stories, especially when you first
> join a group, to post a link to your story. It's sort of like your bona
> fides as a "real" fanfic writer. But, because of the nature of our
> group, we don't usually post links to stories here. If your story ends
> up being nominated, the fact that you mentioned it can feel a little
> like you're asking for votes.
>
> Which I know you're not! It's really the most natural thing in the world
> to want to do. Just thought I'd mention it.
>
> Btw, I did want to mention that we *do* allow self-nominations. If you
> think your story is good enough that you'd like it to compete, you're
> welcome to nominate your own story.
>
> Marta
>
> cactuskim123 wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> > I'm Cactuskim and I just joined about a week ago and I wanted to
> > introduce myself.
> >
> > I had heard people mention MEFA awards occasionally but was not all that
> > familiar with them and did not understand them until I offered to help a
> > friend *Waves at Nautika* when she mentioned that they needed more help
> > with banners.... I'm a bit of a Photoshop junky ;p
> >
> > I love LOTR and the Silmarillion and have since long before the
> > movies.... I would tell you how long, but someone would call me old,
> > and then I would have to lie and claim that I was reading them when I
> > was only 2 to try and disprove the charges ;p. My favorite LOTR
> > character is Legolas followed by Aragorn and Faramir. My favorite Sil
> > character is Finrod.
> >
> > I do a little fanfic writing and a Lot of LOTR art work. A good friend
> > of mine (NiRi) who I think is also a member here has been pestering me
> > and telling me that I should post my stories where people can actually
> > find them and read them.. So after only procrastinating for another 6
> > months after she poked me, and 2 years before that, *I do not
> > procrastinate! .... OK, I do ;p* I have actually posted my first story
> > to ff.net today. :D
> >
> > Here is a link to the story I just posted if anyone is interested in
> > reading it, it is a humor based story featuring Aragorn and Legolas
> > with the rather odd name of "The Weaving Cow".
> >
> > http://www.fanficti on.net/u/ 417850/cactuskim
> > <http://www.fanficti on.net/u/ 417850/cactuskim>
> >
> > I look forward to getting to know all of you.
> >
> > Cactuskim
> >
> >
>
>
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>
>
>


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

> Thank you for the welcome. I have been delighted when rummaging thru the
> list of previous years nominees and winners to find active links to
> stories and authors that I had lost track of.... I replaced a hard drive
> 2 year ago, and had to reformat my HD last December and I lost all of my
> bookmarks both times! *Sniff* that really hurts. Some of the archives
> stories had been on had been closed, and remembering the exact names of
> fictions, or authors (which some times use different names in different
> places) to try and search places like ff.net (which has a flaky search
> function) was very difficult at best, and I thought that some of the
> stories were gone forever.
>

> Sorry about the link, I assumed that since this group is about
> fan-fiction, that posting story links was OK like in my other groups. I
> never really thought about the awards focus here, although if I had
> thought it thru, it actually makes sense.

> I don't think that my story is
> even eligible for a nomination anyways, because even though I just
> posted it at ff.net, it was actually written a few years ago and is not
> a new story written in the last year. BTW, What is the exact cut off
> dates for when a story is written for it to be eligible for a nomination?
>

> Bye for now, Got to go work on more Banners ;p
>