I still have that huge question of what to do if I find out a story isn't eligible, but find out very late in the awards. Do I let it compete even though it's ineligible? Or do we set up some kind of deadline and don't pull stories after that date for any reason? Both of those are pretty big policy changes, much bigger than the change most people are objecting to; I'm not going to make them just as my own decision, and I'm too exhausted and busy to make a good decision right now in any event.
Of course these are big changes as well, especially for those who run the awards, but please do not underestimate any changes made or requirements put on the author's doing nomination season. I know that in the past (even with the experience of a categoriser) I often wondered: is most of this required information really needed? The explanation of adult scenes in a story in a field: that might have appeared a small change, but for especially novel writers it’s a daunting task to know exactly those scenes, where in the story and such. The staff might be busy balancing this with Real Life, but the same applies for participants. It is just that after I have written a novel and have edited it, even I wouldn't know where such a scene exactly might be (let alone that what I as an author would find offensive can be utterly different to that of a reader, I might think oooo that's a 3 in sexuality, but a reader might think otherwise) and to be honest, I am not willing to comb through a novel to find those bits to please a reader who might see an offense in everything I've cooked up. As a writer I cannot be held responsible for how a reader will read my story. They chose to read the work; the writer didn't made them do that. It still is a clear choice made by the reader to read the work. The current system is just too subjective from person to person and raises more questions than it actually clarifies.
Anyway.... back to the posed question up until when a story can be withdrawn. I would say a month after check ballots have been posted and people can see in what category they run. Because many people will be compiling wish and skip lists during nomination and check ballot season and will have a closer look at what exactly is competing and what might suit their fancy. It will be still early then in the actual voting season and it won't leave reviewers or the author that disappointed if a story is withdrawn after all (and please not during vote counting at the end). At the end of the season a huge effort has been put into reviewing and hopes of the author will be high. This is just a proposal though.
Of course these are big changes as well, especially for those who run the awards, but please do not underestimate any changes made or requirements put on the author's doing nomination season. I know that in the past (even with the experience of a categoriser) I often wondered: is most of this required information really needed? The explanation of adult scenes in a story in a field: that might have appeared a small change, but for especially novel writers it’s a daunting task to know exactly those scenes, where in the story and such. The staff might be busy balancing this with Real Life, but the same applies for participants. It is just that after I have written a novel and have edited it, even I wouldn't know where such a scene exactly might be (let alone that what I as an author would find offensive can be utterly different to that of a reader, I might think oooo that's a 3 in sexuality, but a reader might think otherwise) and to be honest, I am not willing to comb through a novel to find those bits to please a reader who might see an offense in everything I've cooked up. As a writer I cannot be held responsible for how a reader will read my story. They chose to read the work; the writer didn't made them do that. It still is a clear choice made by the reader to read the work. The current system is just too subjective from person to person and raises more questions than it actually clarifies.
Anyway.... back to the posed question up until when a story can be withdrawn. I would say a month after check ballots have been posted and people can see in what category they run. Because many people will be compiling wish and skip lists during nomination and check ballot season and will have a closer look at what exactly is competing and what might suit their fancy. It will be still early then in the actual voting season and it won't leave reviewers or the author that disappointed if a story is withdrawn after all (and please not during vote counting at the end). At the end of the season a huge effort has been put into reviewing and hopes of the author will be high. This is just a proposal though.
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