Rule Correction & New Timeline
A fan brought up an interesting point today: the groups/ships we've set aside for nomination and voting read as romantic and sexual in nature, but that was an error on our part for misleading you. The ships we called out are for were meant to highlight stories where those two characters (Draco/Harry, Snape/Harry, NextGen character A/NextGen character B, Draco/Hermione, Harry/Hermione, Hogwarts Staff & Spirits character A/Hogwarts Staff & Spirits character B, and Marauders character A/Marauders character B for the Spring/Summer Round) are the main characters of the tale and the plot revolves around those two characters and their relationship, whatever that may be.
For example, Snarry is not just a category for Snape and Harry in a romantic or sexual relationship (unrequited lovers, boyfriends, spouses, friends with "benefits", rentboy, Dom-sub, creature mates, secret lovers, cheating with each other, ex-spouses, parents). It is also for stories where Snape and Harry might best friends, co-workers, teammates, Order members, Death Eaters, roommates, competitors, enemies, relatives by marriage, 'Severitus' stories (fics that place Snape in a parental or mentor role over Harry - student/teacher, adoption of Harry, godfather/godson, master/apprentice), 'Sevitus' (fics where Snape is actually Harry's father, mother-Mpreg situation, or great ancestor-time travel situation), or other relative by blood (cousins, siblings).
That goes likewise for every other ship/group we've designated.
The exception to the rule is the GEN FIC group, which is specifically designed for stories where there is no main pairing that the story's plot is based around, but the story falls into a range of several characters interacting. No sexual or romantic stories are allowed for this group at all. It is literally a general fiction group.
As a result of this clarification/correction, we've decided to extend the nomination period out to allow those who might want to nominate fics that fall under these revised guidelines to have a shot, too. Here is the new timeline information:
Nomination Period: April 1 - May 15
Voting Period: May 19 - July 20
Winners Announced by July 31
For example, Snarry is not just a category for Snape and Harry in a romantic or sexual relationship (unrequited lovers, boyfriends, spouses, friends with "benefits", rentboy, Dom-sub, creature mates, secret lovers, cheating with each other, ex-spouses, parents). It is also for stories where Snape and Harry might best friends, co-workers, teammates, Order members, Death Eaters, roommates, competitors, enemies, relatives by marriage, 'Severitus' stories (fics that place Snape in a parental or mentor role over Harry - student/teacher, adoption of Harry, godfather/godson, master/apprentice), 'Sevitus' (fics where Snape is actually Harry's father, mother-Mpreg situation, or great ancestor-time travel situation), or other relative by blood (cousins, siblings).
That goes likewise for every other ship/group we've designated.
The exception to the rule is the GEN FIC group, which is specifically designed for stories where there is no main pairing that the story's plot is based around, but the story falls into a range of several characters interacting. No sexual or romantic stories are allowed for this group at all. It is literally a general fiction group.
As a result of this clarification/correction, we've decided to extend the nomination period out to allow those who might want to nominate fics that fall under these revised guidelines to have a shot, too. Here is the new timeline information:
Nomination Period: April 1 - May 15
Voting Period: May 19 - July 20
Winners Announced by July 31