Award for what? Most annoying?
If I was going to write an essay about this, I'd probably title it "Fandom Awards and the Confusion of Quantity with Quality", but I'm far too lazy to write an essay. I am going to rant just a little.
Flipping through my flist, I spotted an author posting on one of the comms I watch. (I shall name no names.) This author writes chapter after chapter, each one only about... five hundred words long each? Give or take. This author's fics are very popular with a certain circle of readers. Basically, this author writes the internet version of the soap opera. Melodramatic, tear jerker, overly saccharine stories which go on forever.
Now, let me say that I don't think there is anything wrong with this author writing these fic, nor with other people enjoying them. You write what you write and you like what you like. Go for it and good for you! Who am I to sit in judgement of someone else's pleasure? I am neither religious, nor Republican. But...
This author has had two fic nominated for a fandom award at one of the awards comms. Huh.
I could hope it would be for best soap opera, but no. It's not. They don't have a section for that. So, I have to ask myself, why participate in these things? And certainly, why put any weight on having either been nominated or having won one? Don't get me wrong, it would be nice to win something, but it certainly isn't a stamp of quality work if you do. It's more a stamp of popularity. Sometimes what's popular is good, sometimes its not. Think Baywatch. Is this just because the folk who write and read the good stuff can't be arsed to involve themselves in the tedium of nominating and reading to a schedule? I know that's why I rarely participate. It's a lot of trouble to go to.
The last round of these awards did see authors that I respect getting awards, right alongside other soap writers. I also noted that some fantastic fics and authors weren't even represented. Should I feel guilty because I didn't exert myself and nominate some of the fantastic fic I've read that more than deserve an award? Should I feel remorse at not having voted last time? Just how much time and effort am I willing to put into fandom? Fandom puts no food on my table, nor does it wash my dishes, take care of my cats, or clean my home. Admittedly, it does enrich my life, but that's just it. I have one, and really no time to put into awards which they run several times a year.
If I were going to start an awards comm, I'd do it once a year. Why have everyone put in all that effort multiple times per year? And I'd definitely have a "Sudsies" section for the soap writers. I still think it's great that they're writing, but lets not confuse popularity with quality. That way leads to madness and George Lucas making a seventh Star Wars movie.
Flipping through my flist, I spotted an author posting on one of the comms I watch. (I shall name no names.) This author writes chapter after chapter, each one only about... five hundred words long each? Give or take. This author's fics are very popular with a certain circle of readers. Basically, this author writes the internet version of the soap opera. Melodramatic, tear jerker, overly saccharine stories which go on forever.
Now, let me say that I don't think there is anything wrong with this author writing these fic, nor with other people enjoying them. You write what you write and you like what you like. Go for it and good for you! Who am I to sit in judgement of someone else's pleasure? I am neither religious, nor Republican. But...
This author has had two fic nominated for a fandom award at one of the awards comms. Huh.
I could hope it would be for best soap opera, but no. It's not. They don't have a section for that. So, I have to ask myself, why participate in these things? And certainly, why put any weight on having either been nominated or having won one? Don't get me wrong, it would be nice to win something, but it certainly isn't a stamp of quality work if you do. It's more a stamp of popularity. Sometimes what's popular is good, sometimes its not. Think Baywatch. Is this just because the folk who write and read the good stuff can't be arsed to involve themselves in the tedium of nominating and reading to a schedule? I know that's why I rarely participate. It's a lot of trouble to go to.
The last round of these awards did see authors that I respect getting awards, right alongside other soap writers. I also noted that some fantastic fics and authors weren't even represented. Should I feel guilty because I didn't exert myself and nominate some of the fantastic fic I've read that more than deserve an award? Should I feel remorse at not having voted last time? Just how much time and effort am I willing to put into fandom? Fandom puts no food on my table, nor does it wash my dishes, take care of my cats, or clean my home. Admittedly, it does enrich my life, but that's just it. I have one, and really no time to put into awards which they run several times a year.
If I were going to start an awards comm, I'd do it once a year. Why have everyone put in all that effort multiple times per year? And I'd definitely have a "Sudsies" section for the soap writers. I still think it's great that they're writing, but lets not confuse popularity with quality. That way leads to madness and George Lucas making a seventh Star Wars movie.