From: kleppe@execpc.com
Subject: [FFML] Re: Fanfic Polls
To: ffml@fanfic.com
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 12:50:42 -0600 (CST)

With all the talk on the FFML about 'rigged' fanfic polls and 
whatnot, I thought perhaps what we could do is see about getting a 
mailing list together that was specifically for doing a poll for best 
overall fanfic of the year. 

As most readers don't read all fanfics, the votes are likely to be 

skewed

toward popular series. Good fics based on obscure or unpopular animes 

are

likely to be overlooked -- and we'd have to endure another round of
complaints about it. :-P

Right on the money.  That's why this award made more sense, as does the 
suggested Non-Ranma award, to eliminate that bias.

Here's a modest suggestion: Let's just agree to eliminate ALL the 

awards.

Let's stop vying over whose fic is better than whose, and get on with 

the

business of trying to make ALL of our fics the best they can be.

Hmmmm...I see your point, but....  

   The awards do serve a valid purpose.  Highlighting examples of 
excellence can provide a valuable roadmap to starting authors.  While I 
can understand the "make ALL of our fics the best they can be" attitude, 
in practical terms, I find it unpragmatic.  The awards provide the FF 
community with the opportunity to say, "Here is what we are looking 
for."

Now, to prevent my being misunderstood, I want to make it clear that I 
am NOT suggesting that writers "ape" the style of the winning authors.  
However, reading fics like those that won this competition can help give 
an author an understanding of how a work "feels" when it's working.

--Freemage, who shoulda left the office a half-hour ago.

Gary

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