Forum: Author Hangout

A New Award?

red61544 🚫
Updated:

I know that the Clitorides are awards for the best erotic stories of the year. That's as it should be. Sadly, that eliminates some of the best authors on SOL and every author from Fine Stories. Many who haunt the forum's halls do very little erotica. Crumbly, Ernest, Jay Cantrell quickly come to mind. Others who make rare appearances in the Forum are some of the best authors on SOL - Oyster50, Coaster2, RadioGuy, and newbie Banadin. Each has a lot of talent but simply seldom do erotica. It would be nice to find a way that the non-erotic authors whom we love to read are recognized. Maybe we could sneak another category into the Clitorides that would recognize them (maybe the "Fully Clothed Clitty Award" or something like that). I'd just like to see something that recognizes the talent these authors share with us. They deserve the recognition.

Replies: Vincent Berg Ernest Bywater Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Vincent Berg 🚫

@red61544

Even when I do write 'erotic content' (there's no restriction on how much of the content is erotic), often my stories never fit into the years the contest ran. On the few years it was up, I'd be on the third or fourth sequel, and it's awkward nominating a book you have to read the first books to understand.

A contest which restricts submissions to the previous year, but which only runs occasionally, is one that's rife with inequalities.

But, to be fair, since SOL's content has grown considerably more mature since the Cliterides were first started (largely because of ASSTR's efforts), we really need an entirely new contest. Maybe a 'Keeping Your Pants On' contest, or simply a 'Best Only Story' contest, with subcategories of 'erotica', 'non-erotica' and 'clueless continuing series'. 'D Unfortunately, that requires the commitment of a sponsor willing to dedicate the time and energy to setting it up.

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@red61544

I'm still trying to work out howOdd Man in College got nominated for the Long Erotic Story of the Year 2015 and got second place. Although the basic concept could have been used for a major series of orgies, it actually has one very short and very plain sex scene in it. Thus there appears to be some flexibility in the system.

Replies: docholladay

docholladay 🚫

@Ernest Bywater

Even one short scene in a long story might qualify it as Erotica which I believe is the requirement. But then again who knows, what everyone will label as Erotica or not.

To do what was asked to start with the Award would almost have to become a Generic award setup which would open it up to even more categories. One major headache if its done for sure. I have observed the headaches created just under the current system. And Laz has enough of those as it is.

Replies: Vincent Berg

Vincent Berg 🚫

@docholladay

To do what was asked to start with the Award would almost have to become a Generic award setup which would open it up to even more categories. One major headache if its done for sure. I have observed the headaches created just under the current system. And Laz has enough of those as it is.

If anything (and if he has any time at all), I'd prefer seeing it be sponsored on finestories as a way of promoting the site (even if entries are open to other sites). That way the stories, and the awards, would be open to family-friendly sites. Removing the entire 'erotica' subcategory, he/they could then offer "Best Mystery", "Best Science Fiction", "Best Romance", etc.

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@red61544

Maybe we could sneak another category into the Clitorides that would recognize them (maybe the "Fully Clothed Clitty Award" or something like that). I'd just like to see something that recognizes the talent these authors share with us. They deserve the recognition.

The Clitorides Awards were created because Erotic stories were always excluded from every other award out there. To sneak no-sex stories into them will corrupt the clitorides awards and won't be fair.

If you know of any awards where these authors/stories can be nominated, then please share and we'll do our share to get deserving stories/authors nominated.

If there aren't any suitable awards on the net, it's simple to create a new one. The clitorides site engine can be used for other sites with minimal changes. We just need to come up with a name (with available domain name).

Replies: Ernest Bywater

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

If you know of any awards where these authors/stories can be nominated, then please share and we'll do our share to get deserving stories/authors nominated.

The problem is every general award I know of is linked with or through a publishing organisation of some sort. I almost applied for one I saw last year, until I saw it had ALL stories lodged had to be brand new and were given exclusively to the sponsoring organisation for six months, I forget which is was, but it stopped me from having a go.

Maybe a set of Fine Free Story Awards stories to be no sex at all and the full story available on a free story site. You could have a similar set of groups to what the Clitorides have, but suitably adjusted. That way the main host can be Fine Stories and help bring it more attention. Just allow stories from other sites, as long as the full story can be read at the site without having to buy a membership.

Vincent Berg 🚫

It seems to me that most current Awards are either unedited, stream of consciousness stories, or they're limited in content. The limits on the author's own ability to utilize his own story is also problematic.

I still think there's a need for reader-sponsored awards, rather than contests that challenge readers to write about a nonsensical event (i.e. scenes which won't appeal to most authors outside of the single contest).

I'd also suggest that the first contest, or the resumption of a postponed contest, allow for older submissions rather than keeping to an arbitrary 'past X months' limit that prevents many fine and recognized stories from being considered.

With the ASSTR ADmins down for the count (they still seem to be there, but they aren't tackling any new topics or responding to inquiries), I suspect the only likely sponsors for such a contest are either SOL or WattPad. They seem to be the only ones with active Admins who don't impose content restrictions (other than legal restrictions).

Replies: Ernest Bywater

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Vincent Berg

I still think there's a need for reader-sponsored awards,

That's the big difference between the CAs and the mainstream awards. All the mainstream awards I've seen are nominated by and chosen by big time reviewers, big time editors, publishers, or big time writers. Having a set of reader nominated awards would be good.

Replies: docholladay

docholladay 🚫
Updated:

@Ernest Bywater

True, but someone with both the time and the needed skills will have to run it. I agree it would be great to have all these writers who write stories without erotica to be acknowledged for their talents. If the combination of site and time and skills can be filled then everyone could benefit maybe. Both writers who are acknowledged and readers who will wind up with a broader selection.

edited to add: One thing which would require time is checking to confirm the stories are available online with free access to them.

richardshagrin 🚫

Nothing is impossible for the person who doesn't have to do it. I would prefer that authors continue to write stories rather than judge awards. Very few people who have access to the public who would be interested have time to spend doing what it would take to make awards possible. The original Clitorides went away because they ran out of people with time to do the work. Without Lazeez they wouldn't have come back.

This forum does a reasonable job of pointing out good stories to read. Lets not make a big deal out of setting up new awards until we find volunteers who will continue to do the work for a significant period of time. Unless you want to set up one time awards?

Reply to topic

Forum: Author Hangout

A New Award?

WARNING! ADULT CONTENT...