Just a few days left to vote in the Sunnydale Memorial Fanfic Awards

[red_satin_doll]

Voting in Round 28 of the SunnyD Awards ends June 30th, so hurry over, check it out and cast your ballets now. Quite a lot of the stories and authors were entirely new to me and I would never have known about otherwise, which is one of the best things about these fanfic awards.

Comments

[baphrosia]

Oh hey, I like your choices. :) Especially 'Spirits', 'cause I nominated it.

I was thinking about making my own recommendation post, but I'll just piggyback onto yours instead.

I HAVE to pimp Anaross and 'My Life Closed Twice', since I nominated her also. How has she never won? She's one of my top favorite authors. I had a hard time choosing which story to nominate; they're all fantastic in different ways.

Under Angst, 'Mine' was new to me, and excellent. 'The Promise' by Annapurna is also wonderful; I'd forgotten about it and was glad to be reminded.

I branched out from Spuffy and tried a few other stories, since I already knew most of the Spuffy ones. 'Paternity Suit' by Shapinglight is horrifying and wonderful. 'Vampires in the Caribbean' by Goldenusagi was also amusing and creepy... Darla's just scary, I guess.

I'm not a slash fan, but 'The Kidnappee's Handbook' by Sparrow2000 has spot-on hysterically perfect Spike and Xander dialogue. 'A Side of Beefsteak' by Gilescandy is very cute.

'Best Job Share Ever' by Jedi Buttercup doesn't seem to have a plot, and Buffy's voice isn't quite right, but if you're an Avengers fan, it's a very cute crossover. And all the other voices seem right. I especially love the Buffy/Hawkeye angle (and I don't ship her with anybody other than Spike!).

'Not in the Brochure' was an automatic vote, of course. As was, 'Well... I sing' by BMB.

'Cracks in the World' is long... and no Spuffy... but it's on my list to read. From the beginning, I expect it to be excellent.

And, whew, I stole your forum. :)

[red_satin_doll]

And, whew, I stole your forum. :)

Stole? No way! I was hoping that other people would feel free to do just this, thanks for the additional recs. I couldn't begin to read everything - the same thing happened the last round, which was the first ones I'd ever heard of.

I didn't mention "My Life Closed Twice" because I like what I've read of it - were you the one who first rec'd it to me? I think you might have been almost a year ago - but I can't claim to have read the whole thing, so that doesn't seem fair if that makes sense? (I've read the last couple of chapters three times, though. I'm weird that way.)

I'm trying to remember if I've read "Well...I Sing." everytime I think I've read everything of BMB's (or of BGF's) I discover I haven't. What is UP with these prolific writers, making the rest of us look bad? ;)

'Paternity Suit' by Shapinglight is horrifying and wonderful. 'Vampires in the Caribbean' by Goldenusagi was also amusing and creepy... Darla's just scary, I guess.

I'll have to check these out. I haven't read much Darla in the past (I haven't watched AtS which may be part of it.) but recently I read snowpuppies' Buffy/Darla fic, so I may get into more Darla fic in the future.

'Not in the Brochure' was an automatic vote, of course.

*hugs* But of course.

The hardest category for me was the "Quick Fic" one - there were two stories that I wanted to vote for equally. I had to chose - no fair! *sobs*

[baphrosia]

Well, I told 3hours and wolffan I was nominating them, and even asked which categories they thought the story ought to be in. Plus, I have no problem telling others, 'Hey! This story is worth your time!' I like the Secret Santa analogy - I know who nominated me last round, but not this one, and I wish I did. :) The folks I nominated last round knew it was me too. If there are rules about not talking about it, well, I guess I broke them. Seem silly to me. I suppose it's so the people you didn't nominate don't feel left out, especially if they're friends? But my criteria for nominating authors involves finding quality unknown, new, or fringe authors. And I don't think it's a secret I'm very picky about what I read, so... What's the polite way of saying this? It probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone that I nominate and give my vote sparingly, and friendship means nothing to me when it comes to recommending somebody's work. Maybe if I'd been in fandom longer, I'd be more circumspect. Then again, probably not. I've never been one for alliances or choosing corners. :)

I broke my rule about fringe authors with Anaross, but that's only because her name wasn't on the winners list. It's a mistake that needs rectifying immediately! You have to finish one of her stories. Screw your concentration to the computer monitor for a few hours. The payoff is so worth it.

'Well... I Sing' belongs to my most favorite trope, Rock-Star-Spike, but it's all vampires, not an AH version. I love it. And I love her writing. BMB can evoke an entire AU in only a few words. (Anaross has a singing vampiric Spike too. Because she's the best.) I'm not sure why singing Spike is my kink - I hate songfic, I'm not a groupie type, nor 'into' music, and I abhor the attention our culture lavishes on entertainers - but there you have it. The world needs moar rock'n'roll Spike.

I'm not a fan of Darla, and certainly not of Darla fic, but they were short and very well written.

I hate when I have multiple choices I want to vote for... That's when I hope they're in multiple categories, so I can spread my vote out.

[red_satin_doll]

If there are rules about not talking about it, well, I guess I broke them. Seem silly to me.

In terms of nominations you're probably right, and it may be my hang up. Trying to behave myself a little as the "new girl in class". Afraid of not fitting in - I still tend to ask "is this ok?" a lot. I'm getting bolder though, I think? Like, ok, this is my fandom too, and I've already gotten scolded and had bizarre accusations lobbed at me, but also lots of hugs and support so.

I suppose it's so the people you didn't nominate don't feel left out, especially if they're friends? But my criteria for nominating authors involves finding quality unknown, new, or fringe authors. And I don't think it's a secret I'm very picky about what I read, so... What's the polite way of saying this?

But there's no way to nominate everyone is there? Not in a fandom with so much creativity and output. And there are people who every reader will prefer for various reasons - or who are just objectively better writers IMHO.

My mom once called me an intellectual snob and my reply was "So?"

and friendship means nothing to me when it comes to recommending somebody's work. Maybe if I'd been in fandom longer,

Is that it? I think I'm newer in fandom that you are - but as I said to slaymesoftly downthread, when I've judged or rec'd work, friendship doesn't enter into it. My best friend is a novelist who asks for my opinion on her drafts and actually wants to hear what I have to say. So I've learned how to be critical w/out being cruel.

[slaymesoftly]

Yay you for nominating "My Life Closed Twice". As you say, she has so very many wonderful fics - but I don't know how many people are still reading her. This is one of my favorites of hers.

[baphrosia]

I absolutely adore Anaross. And I learned so much about poetry from this fic, which is not my forte, not at all. I'm sad she moved on to other things. But SunnyD is a way to bring attention to authors and stories which might otherwise be overlooked, so hopefully new readers will find her!

I left categories blank too - I won't read slash or songfic, so there's no way I can choose one. But I always try every Spuffy nomination, and all of the quickie and humor nominations, just to be as fair in my choices as possible.

[slaymesoftly]

Me too. That's where I usually have problems - when it's a category that I'm really not interested in reading (or, occasionally, violently opposed to reading. lol) and I don't know any of the authors. If I do know one of the authors, I will usually just vote based on knowing that they probably did a good job. Which is probably not fair to the others in the category. some of whom may have written better fics, but there are only so many hours in the day and I don't want to spend them reading things I don't want to read. Fortunately, I've usually at least looked at the Spuffy fics, if not having read them completely, so all I need to do there is to read enough to remind myself why I did or didn't like them.

Yes, the poetry stuff in My Life.... was wonderful. She's a wonderful writer (and a very nice person) who can wring your heart out in a way few others can. I think nominating older fics and authors who newbies may not know about is an excellent idea. I may think about doing that in future rounds. :)

[red_satin_doll]

(or, occasionally, violently opposed to reading. lol)

When it comes to "NC-17" or m/m slash I just "walk on by"; again, except if I know the author. Is it unfair? Maybe. When I was a little girl I honestly believed that AMPAAS voters saw every single movie that was released that year before voting on the Oscars. Hey, I was eight years old. Turns out a member might have seen exactly one movie, or based their votes on the first 10 minutes of something.

I don't know if there is such a thing as totally "fair". For the Absence of Light awards I was a judge and we each got a category (two people shared some of the major categories), and so we had to read every story in the category, so that's a bit more fair, and we had sort of of chart - specific things we had to judge the story on (from technical stuff - grammer - to characterization to plot), but at the end of it our choices are still subjective. I assume my choices are "obviously" the superior ones - except they're not to someone else, and vice versa.

I think nominating older fics and authors who newbies may not know about is an excellent idea. I may think about doing that in future rounds. :)

I'm not sure how I feel about that - I tend to skew to the idea of any round of awards being based on what's been produced in that time frame, but you make a good point. *ponders* If I see a story that I know is a bit older and has already received awards elsewhere, I may be less inclined to vote for it over something else. I think I made an exception in one category this time because it simply was the best choice in the category.

[slaymesoftly]

*nods* When you're judging, you don't usually have to deal with so many fics, so you can read them all and use whatever point sheet/criteria you've been given to figure out the ones that should win. One would have to be extremely dedicated (and have no life?) to do that at a large award site. Fortunately, SMA doesn't seem to mind if/when you skip a category. There have been award sites that limit you to skipping no more than three (or whatever). I know I've had to walk away from some of those if there were too many categories in which I just had no idea whatsoever.

The Spuffy sites were easier because I'd usually already read most of the fics nominated. Alas, those days are gone forever... :)

I see what you mean about what's been produced in that time frame - and it's a good thought. However, if the site doesn't require that a fic have been produced within that year (or whatever), then I think it's fine to throw an older story into the mix. While there are some truly amazing stories still being written now, if I saw a category full of less-than-amazing stories, I would be sorely tempted to stick in an oldie or two just so readers could see what really good is. Might they still vote for their friends? Sure. But at least those who were really trying to be fair would have been given other options. (I've been known to rant both publicly and privately about award sites - but not so much lately.)

[red_satin_doll]

I just remembered - oh, yes, you know what the hell I'm talking about re: AoL. DUH. Mind like a sieve over here.

>The Spuffy sites were easier because I'd usually already read most of the fics nominated. Alas, those days are gone forever... :)

I've only been in fandom a year and in terms of most Spuffy fic I'm already "bored, now." But maybe that's what comes of having 10+ years of fanfic at my disposal.

While there are some truly amazing stories still being written now, if I saw a category full of less-than-amazing stories, I would be sorely tempted to stick in an oldie or two just so readers could see what really good is.

HAH. Oh that's a good point. (And then we'll chase those whippersnappers off the lawn, right? Damn I am getting crochety in my old age.)

One thing I noticed is the way occasionally some nominees simply do not seem to fit the categories, and I wonder when that happens if the person nominating didn't understand the "criteria", loose as they often are.

I do pride myself on judging a story (as a judge or a reader) on it's own terms, no matter my relationship with the author (if we're friends) but that comes of being a "muse/beta" to novelists friends for several years, I think.

[slaymesoftly]

*nods* Not fitting the category is a big problem. It may be a wonderful story, well-written, etc, but if the category is "humor" or "angst" or "hawt sex" and the story isn't one of those things, then it's hard to vote for it as the best in that category. I think I did a meta-type post a very long time ago that addressed that issue as well as some others. This was back when more sites were judged and every story was held to a certain list of qualities and judged accordingly. Without letting on that I was a frequent judge, I tried to emphasize the things that show up on our judging sheets - suitability to the category being one of them. As well as pointing out that there is always a mechanical component to the system, so you aren't doing your friend any favor by nominating her poorly beta'd story full of mistakes. At that time, on a lot of sites you'd see maybe ten or twelve fics in a category and probably as many as half of them didn't belong there - not only because they didn't fit the category, but also because they just weren't very good or well written or mechanically correct - or all of the above! In fact, a friend of mine ran a site for awhile precisely because she wanted to be able to reject nominations that didn't belong on an award site so that her judges didn't have to waste their time reading things that weren't going anywhere.

As a judge, a category where you can dismiss half the entries is much easier, but one in which you agonize over 1/2 points in an effort to figure out which wonderful story is the most wonderful is much more rewarding. :)

[red_satin_doll]

As a judge, a category where you can dismiss half the entries is much easier, but one in which you agonize over 1/2 points in an effort to figure out which wonderful story is the most wonderful is much more rewarding. :)

Exactly - it's one of those wonderful problems to have. Almost every category in the SunnyD awards this time was fairly easy for me except one and I AGONIZED over it. Again, good problem - I want the fic to be that good.

I think thats part of the reason I like fic recs, or things like the Buffyverse Top 5 site. You can list favorite stories without having to rate them numerically. (I know people who love to make lists, like Nathaniel Rogers and his The Film Experience blog, but it doesn't come naturally to me.)

[baphrosia]

I'm enjoying reading the downthreads on all these comments. And here is where I consolidate into one big reply. :)

I wish there were judged awards, or more like there used to be. They seem... more fair? I'm not a big fan of SunnyD simply because it seems more kinky smut = more votes; grammar, plot, and characterization be damned. On the other hand, better open voting than no award sites at all. Even if I often don't agree with the results, at least it opens my eyes to new authors.

(And here is where I remind myself that everybody is just trying their best and having fun, and there's no need to be such a *snob* about it. Yes, I have often been accused of being an intellectual snob as well, but that attitude came directly from both my parents. The downside of growing up in a family filled with PhDs. I still can't shake the belief that an award for 'BEST' should actually mean 'BEST', though.)

Even if I'm willing to blab about who I nominated, I'm not as likely to admit what I voted for, especially when it comes to the 'big' categories. Do your damndest, you'll never get my choice for 'Best Author' out of me. :) Also, unlike Slaymesoftly, not that many people pay attention to what I say. With her, a recommendation one way or the other means something. For me, hardly anybody cares. So I don't have to be as circumspect.

I'm with Slayme on reasons to nominate older authors... when I first saw the nominees this round, I wanted to add an author of substance, because (at that time, partway through open nominations) there few choices I would vote for, or out of the ones I would, they'd won over and over and over already. And I didn't want to nominate a current author who had already won recently. I admit, I get tired of seeing the same names over and over. Hence my personal rule about nominating unknown/fringe/never won before authors.

With regards to slash - I never thought about the fact that it separates straight from gay relationships on purpose. I suppose because in my mind (and ONLY in my mind), 'slash' means shipping a cannonically straight character in a gay relationship. I wouldn't consider W/T slash, but W/Buffy would be. Spike/Angel is border slash for me (I will read it, because it's not that unlikely a pairing), but Spike/Xander? Definitely slash. Trust me, it makes sense in my mind. :) I suppose by my definition, putting a gay character in a straight relationship is also slash. *Thinks about it* Yep, I wouldn't read Tara/Spike either. I think it has to do with characterization. Don't make Giles mean and stupid, don't make Buffy a horndogger, and don't make Xander gay or Tara straight. It just ain't right.

(And Buffy being with Satsu doesn't change my opinion that she is 100% straight. To me, that was part of them trying on various Buffys for size - and trying to boost sales. JewelThief!Buffy. Superman!Buffy. Lush!Buffy. HittingonmybestmalefriendbecauseI'mdesperate!Buffy. Gaynow!Buffy. Loser!Buffy. Pregnant!Buffy. Robot!Buffy. Helpless!Buffy. The list of remade Buffys is endless... And they wonder why everybody thinks they've assassinated her character. One or two changes can be seen as character development. A whole slew of them is ridiculous. At least she finally seems to be Buffy again.)

Anaross *IS* a lovely person. She didn't know me, and yet she helped me with some poetry questions when I emailed her out of the blue. I was very grateful and impressed.

You know this is gonna be a long reply...

[red_satin_doll]

I wish there were judged awards, or more like there used to be. They seem... more fair

That's part of what I like about the Absence of Light Awards. It's based on a certain set of criteria, which doesn't mean we all agree on what's best even then, but for me at least it made me examine WHY I like or disliked a given story more carefully.

And here is where I remind myself that everybody is just trying their best and having fun, and there's no need to be such a *snob* about it.

Well why not? *ducks flying tomatoes* Remember back in the day when at most we got to share our writing with a few friends, assuming it didn't end up in a dresser drawer? The internet allows the world to have access to your work and that's heady stuff. But I think some people are more selective (read: insecure) about the value of their work, sometimes to a fault; on the other extreme you have people who think every damn word they write is precious.

Yes, I have often been accused of being an intellectual snob as well, but that attitude came directly from both my parents. The downside of growing up in a family filled with PhDs.

I came from a working class family; neither of my parents, or either of my ex-stepfathers, went to college. I can't tell you how many times I heard from classmates "Why do you use words with so many syllables?" (and in the next breath "Help me with my homework!" Which is fun (not) when it's the same people who treat you like shit on a daily basis. But enough about me...)

OT for a second: One of my pet peeves though is the notion that being "smart" and "intellectual" - however the hell you define it - is "bad". (Isn't more people having access to higher education part of the American dream? Am I supposed to want to be dumb and ignorant?)

I still can't shake the belief that an award for 'BEST' should actually mean 'BEST', though.

If that makes me a "snob"? I can live with that. I'm not downgrading my criteria for anybody. Nor is anyone else obligated to change theirs to suit me. I'll just continue to direct people to what I think is good work and continue to encourage writers who are sincerely dedicated to their craft and want to improve.

Also, unlike Slaymesoftly, not that many people pay attention to what I say. With her, a recommendation one way or the other means something. For me, hardly anybody cares.

Really? What do you base that on? I appreciate your opinion, but maybe Slaymesoftly has been in fandom longer than you? Most (all?) of the people I interact with in fandom buck the trends of popular opinion, including Slaymesoftly, even if they disagree with me and each other. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I admit, I get tired of seeing the same names over and over. Hence my personal rule about nominating unknown/fringe/never won before authors.

I think that's a very good rule. There are some authors I see repeatedly who really are just that damn good (ok, one in particular) or are extremely active in the fandon; part of it also is just who people know, how big your audience is? We can be pretty damn insular in our fandom pockets. The last round of the Willowy Goodness Awards was filled with names/stories I had never heard of before.

Re: You know this is gonna be a long reply...pt 2

[red_satin_doll]

With regards to slash - I never thought about the fact that it separates straight from gay relationships on purpose. I suppose because in my mind (and ONLY in my mind), 'slash' means shipping a cannonically straight character in a gay relationship.

I'm not sure that was the original intention? But that's what it's become. it highlights the fact that there are almost no outright gay characters and almost all same sex shipping is non-canonical by necessity.

I wouldn't consider W/T slash, but W/Buffy would be. Spike/Angel is border slash for me...but Spike/Xander? Definitely slash.

Your definition hinges on canonical or non-canonical, if I'm reading correctly; but I don't think that's the general definition? there's still a problem in that, or at least for me as a "lesbian" (yes, I know that's still a label) because I've lived with my relationship not being considered not as "real" or legitimate (morally or legally) as if I were with a man. Whereas I'm fine with canon/noncanon, and Smut/Romance as categories. Those apply to any pairing regardless of gender. With the SunnyD awards this time the categories were confusing: "unconventional pairing" "conventional pairing" etc categories, and what was actually nominated only added to my confusion: do the terms refer to what's canonical or noncanonical? to what's popular or frequently written in fanon? Both?

(And my apologies to anyone reading this who is an awards moderator, I don't mean to offend anyone personally!)

I wouldn't read Tara/Spike either. I think it has to do with characterization. Don't make Giles mean and stupid, don't make Buffy a horndogger, and don't make Xander gay or Tara straight. It just ain't right.

AMEN, SISTER. I don't know if you saw the conversation I was having with eilowyn on my Buffy & Tara meta thread on the subject of Spike/Tara shipping, and why I find it problematic at best and offensive at worst on several levels?
http://red-satin-doll.livejournal.com/17902.html?thread=378094#t378094 (NOTE: edited to fix link)
If a writer wants to change the characters that badly, then why the hell write in fandom? write OC's. Even if you want to write about Spike - make a few changes and you've got an OC. Its not that difficult. There's a difference between changing canon events and changing characterization; the best fan writers IMHO understand that.

And Buffy being with Satsu doesn't change my opinion that she is 100% straight.

Total agreement. I think it's because of the way Sarah plays it. I don't see any indication of erotic interest in women, although there's a lot of subtext in her relationship with Faith. (And people had to point that out to Joss, who then toned it down. And we were stuck with Bangel S3. Dumbass.) OTOH, I enjoy it in fanfic though, when it's well done; Snowpuppies and Emmie (angearia) made a B/F fanon shipper out of me; and I don't ship B/T but then I just wrote a rough draft for such a story *runs and hides*.

To me, that was part of them trying on various Buffys for size - and trying to boost sales... And they wonder why everybody thinks they've assassinated her character.

THIS. I love every word of this paragraph, esp "various Buffys" . that's exactly it. it points up the importance of another thing I've discussed on other people's journals: having an actor who will fight for the integrity of the character. Sarah gets a lot of shit thrown her way for that, but I love that about her. It's really gross to think that the comics represent what Joss would have liked to have done the whole time, specifically to Buffy and her body.

Anaross *IS* a lovely person.

I've never spoke to her myself but heard nothing but high praise about her.

Re: You know this is gonna be a long reply...pt 2

[baphrosia]

Yup, my slash definition is my own personal one. But since I only ready Buffy/Spike (unless it's in the humor or quickie categories), it doesn't matter to me whether it's conventional or slash or whatever. I don't have to hurt my brain thinking about these things. But I suppose we need some way to categorize.

I know folks who ship Tara/Spike, and the idea is definitely 'Spike deserves better than Buffy (that b*itch), and Tara is the nicest'. She accepts Spike! She even says he's good and Buffy should love him (that b*tch)! I didn't read the thread, but I can pretty much imagine how it goes. Everybody has their filter they view the show through?

With regards to some people thinking their every word is precious... I started a story yesterday that was *coughterriblecough*, and the author's notes were filled with admonitions not to flame or complain about the story. Normally I just quietly hit the back button, but boy did I want to leave a review suggesting the use of... oh, I don't know. Spell check. A dictionary. A beta. A grammar book. All of the above. :) If my 11yo is a better writer than you, you should not be so proud of your skillz. Sorry. Not everyone deserves a medal.