Fanfiction Challenge

[Skykat]

Okay, this was I Love Music's suggestion and it's something I've discussed a bit with her and also with Jess and we think it's quite a good idea but we were wondering what everyone else thought.

Referring back to I Love Music's post earlier in the thread that she wouldn't enter because she was much older than the other writers, it occured to us that there's also much younger writers entering. It doesn't really seem fair to pit a 20+ year old against a 16 year old and even more unfair to pit them against a 12 year old. There's huge differences between the way a 14year old and a 16 year old write let alone a larger age gap.

So what we were wondering was whether we should try and split the entries into age categories to make things fairer. It might mean that there ends up being only one entry in a category but I personally still think that's preferable to having an entry judged against entries from writers twice their age. At least that way the writer can get genuine comments and constructive criticism from readers without their entry being judged against others.

What do people think? Is this a bad idea? Worth thinking about? Do you think it will limit the number of entries? Reduce competition? Make it fairer? What should the categories be?

Please discuss. Thanks.xx

[-Jade-]

Right, so what you're saying, is that you could have different age categories, where entries would only compete against the entries in their own category?

[sevenpuddings]

I think thats exactly what she's saying. I for one, really like the idea. I remember way back when, toying with the idea of different genre categories, but this works just as well.

Another idea that came to me was that we could have different categories people could win in, like most romantic, most heartbreaking, best overall writing style, then best overall story...

Just something else to think about...

[-Jade-]

Well I love the genre category idea, but I'm really not sure that the age category thing will work. I agree that it's a good idea but there are just never enough entries to be able to do that. I just think that sometimes there will only be one entry in one category which means that the person who has written that entry won't get any satisfaction in entering. Also, I personally believe that if you are against a writer who's older than you, then you just raise your game. That's how I think I have improved: by being put against writers who are better than me.

Furthermore, I just don't think that the age and quality of writing thing is that clear cut. Yes, generally, someone who is older will write better but that's not always the case. However, what I can see is that, if people knew the age of the writer, then they'd be able to give more appropriate reviews. However, I like being put up against older writers, it's more of a challenge, and I would prefer people to review my story with no consideration of my age.

And despite the fact that I love the genre idea, I'm still wondering whether that won't put added pressure on the writer to fit their story into another category. Again, the number of stories that each competition receives isn't super high, so that could also be a problem...

[sevenpuddings]

So when all is said and done, it comes down to basic lack of entries.

I think age makes a difference, but when there are only 5-6 fics, most from the same authors that have entered before, it doesn't really make a difference.

Same with Genre. I personally wouldn't write to suit a genre, because with one shots the muse takes a hold, but others might. Maybe the genres would be decided upon until after the entires have been submitted, or maybe we should look to something else.

Best use of a character/pairing?

Best use of a setting?

Best use of descriptive language?

Most creative story?

Most humourous story? (That doesn't sound right LoL)

Most dramatic story?

Best Overall Story

Then maybe something like Hosters Choice?

Things that don't force the genre or age upon the reviewers, and also gives them soemthing to look for while reading each story. And then, it also lets people judge a story for its pairing, and then judge the story on a whole, which, in the end, is what we really need to do.

Its all becoming mighty complex now.

[-Jade-]

Best use of a character/pairing?

Best use of a setting?

Best use of descriptive language?

Most creative story?

Most humourous story? (That doesn't sound right LoL)

Most dramatic story?

Best Overall Story

Then maybe something like Hosters Choice?

Things that don't force the genre or age upon the reviewers, and also gives them soemthing to look for while reading each story. And then, it also lets people judge a story for its pairing, and then judge the story on a whole, which, in the end, is what we really need to do.

Its all becoming mighty complex now.

You've got that right - complex it certainly is. lol

I like the "best uses of...."/ "most...." ideas, because they don't force the writer to conform to a genre, but people would get recognised for certain aspects of their stories and writing style. As you said, it would also hopefully improve the reviews, making them more specific. I think that idea is great, what does everyone else think...?

[xGlowingAngelx]

Well, I'm just completely confuzzled, so I'll just nod along happily and continue writing my entry! lol.

[I love music]

I personally think making allowances for age IS a good idea, but then I would, seeing as it was my idea!

But I don't mean splitting into several age groups. As I'm 32, I wouldn't have a problem entering a comp against someone of 52 or 22, for instance. What I AM getting at is that some of the entrants may well be very, very young - 11, 12, 13, maybe even younger.

In a normal (outside) comp, there WOULD be a category that said "16 or under". But in this comp, most of the writers are aged around 15, 16, 17 anyway. So I think the fairest thing to do would have a "14 and under" category. It doesn't matter if there is only one entry in that category - people can still review.

Maybe the best thing to do would be for someone to post a poll on "What Do You Think?" and go with the majority opinion...?

Voting on "most creative story", "most dramatic story" etc is a nice idea, but you'd need a LOT of entries for that. What about creating another poll (again in the "What Do You Think?" section) with "best overall fic" out of the fics that are already on this fanfic board instead...?

[sevenpuddings]

Wow... this has become mightly complicated.

I agree that the age thing is important, because it does influence the quality of fics. Maybe 16 & Under?

And I've always liked the ideas of different ideas of categories for the fics to be judged upon.

But, in the end, it all comes down to lack of entries, which sadly, I don't think is going to change any time soon. And when it comes down to it, given the option people will vote in polls, but really only a handful of people review the stories anyway, which is what I really believe to be the most important thing in the end... as that is what helps everyone to improve.

As for judging the fics already on the board... I think thats for another thread, in another time, when there aren't so many avid JM fans out there... (no offence to JM fans) but it wouldn't be judged on the quality of the fic, but the quality and overall appeal of the pairing.

Perhaps each reviewer could give their "Best {insert statement here}" for which stories they believe are the best in the categories provided. Then give best overall story. I'm basically pushing for that because I want people to be able to look at the story not from just a pairings/character point of view, which, as the challenges have moved along, we have, but I don't know if we've gone far enough for people to accept reading stories for just that... stories... as opposed to recreations of a pairings life, and if they don't like that pairing they won't vote for it.

Having said that, it will be interesting to see how the fics in this challenge are judged, because its been stated over and over that the pairing must be unconventional. So I should say thank you here to both SKYKAT and I Love Music for forcing the issue on us, should make for an excellent challenge.

[I love music]

I think the only change to the fanfic competition would be the additional rule:

"Writers 14 and under should state their age with their entry."

Nobody else would need to.