Subject: Re: [FFML] VOTE! Vote for your favorite Ranma 1/2 fanfic
From: Richard Lawson
Date: 7/8/1997, 11:37 PM
To: Gary Kleppe
CC: Fanfic Mailing List <fanfic@fanfic.com>

Gary Kleppe wrote:

How about having a special category starting next quarter
for those who need our encouagement and recognition most 
of all: first time writers?

I propose a special award: "Best fanfic by a new writer". 
Only fics that are entirely by authors who have never 
previously posted any fics to RAAC would be eligible. These
fics would still be eligible for the main awards, and it 
would be possible for a fic to win both.

What do you think?

I've thought about this for a long time.  Here are my thoughts.

This is a great idea.  We need a way for first-time writers to get
noticed, especially with the glut of fanfics that have been appearing
recently.  (It's tapered off now, but wait until school gets back in
session.)  I'm all for anything that gets people noticed.

The problem, as I see it, is how do you define "new"?

You've said anyone who has never posted to raac.  What if Robert Jordan
were to write a Ranma 1/2 fanfic?  Would he be eligible?

The bigger problem, as I see it, is how easy it is to forge a new
identity on the internet.  If I wanted to, I could easily assume a new
identity and start posting fanfics.  I could claim I've never written a
fanfic before, and who's going to prove otherwise?

I've been trying to find a way around these problems, and have so far
been able to come up with one.  Any ideas?

I'd like to do it.  I'm just not sure how to protect the integrity of
the process.

Gary Kleppe

-- -Richard sterman@sprynet.com |-------------------------------------------------------| | All of my fanfics can be found on my fanfic web page: | | http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/sterman/fanfic.htm | |-------------------------------------------------------|