As you know, the Quicksilver Quill Awards are about awarding the best writing MuggleNet Fan Fiction authors have had to offer for the year. This year, nominations were received across six categories and we have thirteen winners in total.
Before we get to the results, I would like to profusely thank the judges and category leaders, who made this all possible. This could not have been done without them, and having winners chosen by our members and for our members really reflects how our community works and what sets it apart from other sites out there.
Despite our smaller number of judges and categories than previous years, we had a large number of nominations and many of the decisions were fiercely contested. To preserve the integrity of the QSQs, we still judged to the standards we have held for nearly a decade, and the results are truly reflective of how our fandom has carried on for so many years and still produces fine, well-honed literature after all this time. Always.
Best General Fic
One-Shot - Aunt Marge’s Even Bigger Mistake by FloreatCastellum
We loved this fic for bringing us pure enjoyment. With laugh-out-loud moments and excellent characterisation, this is more than just your average humour fic. The characters are just right, not so over the top as to make them caricatures, but still undeniably unpleasant. Ginny is an absolute gem, and Harry's anxiety about seeing his family again is captured perfectly. The laughs are in the rhythm of the writing, and in the words that paint a picture ripe with comedy. Delightful.
Chaptered - Makers of Fine Wands by CanisMajor
The research and detail that has gone into this fic is phenomenal, and the execution of the premise is rich and flawless. Everything works together to build up a very vivid picture of an era and place we very rarely see in fanfiction – Athens, 382 BC. We love the mixture of canon and mythology, and the different portrayal of the Muggle/Wizarding divide that could have existed in Classical times. This is an exciting and original backstory for the Ollivander family.
AND
Not From Others by FloreatCastellum
With great writing and fresh characterisation, we loved the way this fic filled in those Seventh-year gaps. This fic gave us chills, excited and intrigued us. Ginny can be a difficult character to write, and we appreciated the way she was captured in this fic, giving us a window into her inner self and her experiences during that year at Hogwarts. The scope of this fic is astounding, and those of us who didn’t finish it during the judging process can’t wait to go back and read more!
Best Dark/Angsty Fic
One-Shot - Fortress: An Anatomy by teh tarik
This story is brilliantly written, and the metaphor of the building as a living thing survives the entire story without becoming repetitive or forced. Telling the story from the perspective of a personified building is a bold choice, but it works oh so well. The characters of Gellert and Albus are done just as well as their surroundings. In the young Albus we glimpse the older Albus we know, and Gellert feels both human and inhuman, the man he was and the monster he has become. This story takes the time to dig into the dark elements and find something new. It is both creepy and beautiful, stepping over the line and pushing the imagination.
Chaptered - A Slant-Told Tale by Squibstress
Many unique elements of dark desperation appear in this author's vision of the earlier part of Minerva McGonagall's life. We described the story as "extremely dark and gritty", "edgy, original", "well-written", "powerful". It dives into the taboo depths of the Wizarding World that were not explored in the original, children's series, and delves into the pureblood society, bringing to light the nastiness that was only hinted at in the books. It is a disturbing story at many points involving choices that Minerva makes and their inevitable fallout. The author adds a new dimension to Minerva: she is seen not only as a strong, powerful witch, but as a faulty human being who is sitting on some pretty big secrets. We look forward to reading the conclusion of this imaginative, original story.
Best Post-Hogwarts/Next Generation Fic
The Aurors by FloreatCastellum
We found this story original and new, gripping and exciting, and we couldn’t wait to read more of it! The action is great, the mystery tense and intriguing. We liked how it portrays Harry's transition from always having Ron (and Hermione) by his side to making it on his own and having to put his trust and faith in someone else. Theia is also a richly drawn character with her own past, quirks and flaws.
AND
On The Verge of Happy Endings by WrenWinterSong
We loved the hopefulness of this story, and the way the separate chapters can be read as one-shots yet flow together nicely to give it a sense of completeness too. The story does a great job of filling in some of the gap between the end and the epilogue.
Best Poetry
The Lethifold by Oregonian
The Lethifold didn't grab us as much as slithered its way into our imaginations, wrapping us in its atmosphere. It is an impressive feat of Gothic storytelling, rhythm, structure, and pacing. This is a visceral poem which is perfectly matched to the subject matter. The writing itself is fleshy and full, like the lethifold as it devours its victim.
Best Canon Romance Fic
One-Shot - The Moon and the Sea by FloreatCastellum
Stories about the last days of James and Lily are not uncommon, but this one stands out for its originality, simplicity, and poignancy. It gave us chills when we read it, whimsical and bittersweet, the relationship of parents with an infant who they are in love with as much as they are with each other, ending with the heart-dropping revelation of the date, the unexpected flash of tragedy in the midst of this peaceful, happy interlude. The romance shines through in the small moments, the easy back-and-forth dialogue, the little details and simple acts, and the way in which baby Harry is part of their love.
Chaptered - Firewhiskey (A Love Story) by Wonk
We were impressed by the originality of this story and the remarkable detail about Neville's efforts to restore his parents' minds, really showing his love for them and his determination to heal them. At a deeper level it shows the great love between Hannah and Neville in their efforts to protect each other and then in the sacrifices they are willing to make for each other. The dramatic tension is well-developed and believable, the characterizations are true, and the complex and richly detailed plot makes sense in terms of Neville's determination, bravery, and loyalty, which we all know makes Neville Neville.
Best Non-Canon Romance Fic
One-Shot - love and lycanthropy and other institutions by teh tarik
The writing of this story blew us away: the prose hooked us from the very first sentence. The words seem nearly acrobatic, bending and contorting themselves in new and unusual ways to accommodate the author’s wishes. The characterisation of the Marauders is beautifully drawn; Sirius and James are as we expect them to be from canon, and Remus is poignantly written: his anguish, his surprise at finding friends. We were particularly impressed by the way the author has written Peter in a way that predicted his eventual betrayal while also making it understandable that the other three didn’t suspect a thing. The romance is intense yet believable. A well-crafted, gorgeous piece of writing.
Chaptered - The Green Knight Rises by Kerichi
The main characters in this story, Scorpius and Rose, are appealing and sympathetically portrayed. They are a contemporary couple, both pursuing careers post-Hogwarts and they are adorable together – they almost feel like a canon couple. Kreacher in his new role as Harry’s house elf was a source of amusement, and we also particularly felt that the characterisation of Lucius Malfoy and his relationship with Scorpius stood out. It’s clear that a lot of work went into this story, and the result has action and romance in spades.
AND
A Slant-Told Tale by Squibstress
The premise of this story is great: a young Minerva McGonagall enters a loveless marriage to secure her family’s financial security and a chance to continue her Transfiguration studies, and her life thereafter is haunted by some of her early choices. Much of the story is non-romance, to the point that one might wonder if romantic love was something Minerva did not count on including in her life, but the story also shows us that she is capable of and receptive to love, even though it is difficult to fit into her complicated life. The writing is top-notch and the background setting wonderful. Although the story is long, there is a consistent premise that keeps it exactly on track. An excellent example of how all the dialogue and detail serve to propel the plot forward, and nothing is extraneous.
Hello, and welcome to the eleventh annual Quicksilver Quill awards!
Everyone’s favourite MNFF awards ceremony has rolled around once again. Since 2006, the Quicksilver Quills have celebrated the best writing MNFF has to offer. Each year, stories are nominated and judged by our members. Some of MNFF’s finest readers and writers assess each nomination and decide upon the winners.
Like last year, there will be a few changes. Rather than having the traditional twelve categories, we have condensed the categories to six. In each category there may be one or two winners, and winners may be separated into one-shots and chaptered.
Categories
Nomination threads are currently open and will close June 30th. Judging will begin soon after. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination either via the forums or as a comment on the archives. We are looking to find the absolute best stories from the last twelve months. They should be well-written, have engaging plots and characters, and be a good representation of the category for which they are nominated (though they don’t necessarily have to have been submitted to the corresponding archive category). In short, they should be the stories that make you go WOW.
The rules are similar to previous years but please refresh yourself with them anyway to make sure you nominate the right stories in the right categories.
Rules
+ Only stories written (or, in the case of chaptered fics, updated) since the 1st June 2015 are eligible to be nominated.
+ Stories do not have to be in the corresponding archive category to be nominated. For example, a story may be in a romance category but if you think it is particularly dark, it can be nominated in Dark/Angst.
+ An author or story can win more than one award in the same year. We reserve the right to place a cap on the number of awards given to any one author/story at a later date.
+ An author is eligible to win in a category they have been either winner or runner up in before.
+ Winning stories from previous years may not be nominated again in any category, though with the twelve month rule, we do not expect this to be an issue.
+ Please use the form provided in the first post of each nomination thread and ensure you provide a working link. Nominations that do not follow the correct format will be removed.
+ Do not second nominations - seconding clutters up threads and gives an unrealistic indication of how many stories have been nominated. Having more than one nomination does not increase a story’s chances of winning.
+ Any author can be nominated, including moderators.
+ Each person may only nominate a maximum of FIVE stories across the six categories. Please try and keep all your nominations for a category in one post to make it easier to keep track of how many stories you have nominated.
+ There is a cap on the maximum number of stories able to be nominated this year at thirty-five. Again, due to the low estimated participation of judges it is simply not realistic to judge more stories than this. This means that nominations
will be done on a first come, first serve sort of basis.
These are changes from 2014's rule of twenty-five per member and no limit on total stories.
+ The judging committees reserve the right not to present an award in any categories where they do not feel the standard of nominations is high enough. However this will only be done as a last resort.
Judging
There is a thread open on the forums for members to volunteer to be judges. This can be found in Fiction Junction. Judging can be demanding but also fun, and we really value the input of as many members as possible in the judging process. You can find more information on judging in the sign-up thread. We do require that one be a member of the forums in order to judge, as judging does take place within the forums.
Finally…
If you have any questions, please post below! Any nominations, also post below, using this form:
Nomination Category: (Best General, Poetry, etc.)
Story Title:
One-Shot/Chaptered:
Reason for Nomination:
Title: (including link)
Rating/Warnings:
Title: (including link)
Rating/Warnings:
First Place: Good King Ragnuk by Oregonian
Chosen Title and link:
Author’s note:
First Place: No Ghost Is Safe by Nagini Riddle
Second Place: Forgive Us Our Trespasses by Oregonian
Third Place: An Offer I Couldn't Refuse by Kerichi
Summer has been and gone for most of us and it’s time to get into the Halloween spirit. For this challenge you must take on the persona of a ghost and write either a drabble or a fic in first-person from their perspective. It can be a canon ghost e.g. Nearly Headless Nick or an original character! It could even be a canon character who has become a ghost since we last saw them in the books.
Winners will be awarded a banner and will be featured on this home page and on the official Mugglenet Fanfiction Tumblr.
+All drabbles must be posted in the challenge thread on the forums and all fics must be in the queue by October 31st, 11:59pm GMT.
+All drabbles must fall between 300 and 800 words. Submit them in the challenge thread on the Beta Forums using the form below. You must be a member of the forums to do this.
+All fics must be one-shots and fall between 1000 and 10,000 words. They must be submitted to the queue and linked to in the comments section (or the challenge thread on the beta forums) using the form below.
+Depending on the number of entries, winners will be split into two categories: drabbles and one-shots.
+All questions should go in the Great Hall Questions Thread #4 on the beta forums or in the comments section below.
Let the ghoulishness begin!
Username:
Story Title: (+ link)
Rating & Warnings:
Summary:
Word count: (drabbles only)
Author's Notes:
As you know, the Quicksilver Quill Awards are about awarding the best writing MuggleNet Fan Fiction authors have had to offer for the year. Nominations are received across several categories. This year, we have eight winners in total.
We would like to thank the judges, who make this all possible. This could not have been done without them, and having winners chosen by our members and for our members really reflects how our community works and what sets it apart from other sites out there.
As the number of nominations was small this year, we do have fewer winning stories than in the past. However, to preserve the integrity of the QSQs, we still judged to the standards we have held for over a decade.
Like in previous years, winners of the awards will also receive a personalised banner, created by one of MNFF's finest bannermakers and chosen through a special competition. This year's winning banner was created by our very own showrunner, Lily/Padfoot11333, and you can view a sneak peak by clicking here. Now, on to the moment you’ve all been waiting for!
QSQ Winners 2015
Best General Story
Tiny Animals by Oregonian
This is a wonderful Missing Moment...absolutely beautifully written. It gave us chills and made us think hard about the British social services system. It is thought provoking, stays with us, and is so sad...totally different from the other winner. They are both stellar examples of what their categories should be. We can't even make a meaningful comparison because both stories are so good.
and
The Not-So-Fast and Furious by minnabird
We thought this story was hilarious. The two winners are so different it's like comparing apples and oranges. Neither is of higher quality than the other, and The Not-So-Fast and the Furious was excellent. Although we didn't need to read previous stories in this timeline, we definitely want to now. The characterization is great, it felt good to read, it was funny and it made us throw back our heads and howl...uh....we mean laugh.
Dark/Angsty
Astriferous by Padfoot11333
This story has everything dark/angst requires: romantic angst, parental angst, existential angst, overwhelming doubt, and rough struggles. At the same time, it radiates stardust and there is a strength in Merope that is not often mentioned: the hopes for her son. There is also very vivid language that captures the raw textures of Merope's world, leaving us as readers in no doubt of what is happening to her.
Post-Hogwarts/Next-Generation
One-shot - Now and Forever by Northumbrian
This unique story was full of creative ideas and contained some seriously cool magical elements. The thought of a statue deciding where it wants to be and then to travel to that place is very funny, although the main thread of the story is rather sad: how important is to those involved that only the fallen be memorialized at Hogwarts. We’ve never read another story like it, but it fits right into the Wizarding World; it feels like it could’ve sprung from Rowling’s own imagination.
Chaptered - Friends and Foes by Northumbrian
This story is great fun: the characterisation is golden, the writing is crisp, enjoyable and engaging. It has plot in spades, a good balance between plot and exploration of family as a theme, and OCs with drew us in. A major asset of the writing is how grounded it is in both Britain and Rowling's world. It's well-paced, well written and, most importantly, enjoyable to read.
and
Chaptered - Allegiance by ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor
This dark story moves seamlessly between past and present in a way that is not a device but a definite strength. The plot is promising, the writing is powerful, and no characterisation can compare to what has been done with Draco here: the story has delved into aspects of his character that are complex and beg for sympathy without straying from the character we know in the books.
Poetry
Early, Early Spring: Professor Sinistra Reflects by Oregonian
I absolutely love the imagery in this piece. The clear picture it painted hooked me and the kaleidoscope of shifting springtime images and the easy rhythm carried me through. The language flowed well from one thought to the next, and the rhyme scheme seemed effortless. It stuck in my head because it gave me a surprisingly good idea of Sinistra's character, and a convincing one. Far from being confined to her Astronomy Tower, she is a woman deeply in tune with the beauty and order of the world around her. Everything, in its way, serves not only to be beautiful but to characterize Sinistra and show how she sees the world. It’s a subtle and lovely character piece.
Non-Canon Romance
James and Me by Northumbrian
This story amply demonstrates Neil’s solid craftsmanship with his accustomed complexity of plot unfolding in his straightforward, unaffected style. The smoothly flowing narrative treats us to a friendship developing slowly and cautiously into a romance, built on the ruins of previous relationships of both characters, in a setting of forgiveness and redemption. The story springs from a rich background of Neil’s extensively-chronicled head canon, with a broad cast of well-developed canon and non-canon characters and carefully detailed scenes. The theme of budding romance is interwoven with the tension of straddling the line between the Muggle and magical worlds, and a hint of startling revelations about the legends of Robin Hood and his merry men.
Hello, and welcome to the TENTH annual Quicksilver Quill awards!
Yes, that’s right, everyone’s favourite MNFF awards ceremony has rolled around once again. Since 2006, the Quicksilver Quills have celebrated the best writing MNFF has to offer, last year giving 15 writing awards across twelve categories. Each year, stories are nominated and judged by our members. Some of MNFF’s finest readers and writers assess each nomination and decide upon the winners.Â
This year there will be a few changes. Rather than having the twelve categories we have always had, we are condensing the categories due to the number of stories posted this year. In each category there may be one or two winners, and winners may be separated into one-shots and chaptered.
Categories
Â
Nomination threads open today and will close at either the end of the day on the 23rd July or once thirty-five stories have been nominated, at which point there will be a one week break in order to assign judges to each category. Judging will begin soon after. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination either via the forums or as a comment on the archives. We are looking to find the absolute best stories from the last twelve months. They should be well-written, have engaging plots and characters, and be a good representation of the category for which they are nominated (though they don’t necessarily have to have been submitted to the corresponding archive category). In short, they should be the stories that make you go WOW.
Â
The rules are similar to previous years but please refresh yourself with them anyway to make sure you nominate the right stories in the right categories. There is also at least one new rule for you to take note of.Â
Rules
+ Only stories written (or, in the case of chaptered fics, updated) since the 1st June 2014 are eligible to be nominated.
+ Stories do not have to be in the corresponding archive category to be nominated. For example, a story may be in a romance category but if you think it is particularly funny, it can be nominated in humour.
+ An author or story can win more than one award in the same year. We reserve the right to place a cap on the number of awards given to any one author/story at a later date.
+ An author is eligible to win in a category they have been either winner or runner up in before.
+ Winning stories from previous years may not be nominated again in any category, though with the twelve month rule, we do not expect this to be an issue.Â
+ Please use the form provided in the first post of each nomination thread and ensure you provide a working link. Nominations that do not follow the correct format will be removed.Â
+ Do not second nominations – seconding clutters up threads and gives an unrealistic indication of how many stories have been nominated. Having more than one nomination does not increase a story’s chances of winning.
+ Any author can be nominated, including moderators.
+ New Rule: Each person may only nominate a maximum of FIVE stories across the six categories. Unfortunately, this is a necessary step to keep the number of nominations under control, as an ever-decreasing number of judges means we simply don’t have the resources to judge overly large categories. Please try and keep all your nominations for a category in one post to make it easier to keep track of how many stories you have nominated.
+ New Rule: There is a cap on the maximum amount of stories able to be nominated this year at thirty-five. Again, due to the low estimated participation of judges it is simply not realistic to judge more stories than this. This means that nominations
will be done on a first come, first serve sort of basis.
These are changes from last year’s rule of twenty-five per member and no limit on total stories. It does allow for fewer nominations per member, but it is an unfortunate necessity.Â
+ The judging committees reserve the right not to present an award in any categories where they do not feel the standard of nominations is high enough. However this will only be done as a last resort.
Judging
As with the past few years, I will be opening a thread on the forums for members to volunteer to be judges. Judging can be demanding but also fun, and we really value the input of as many members as possible in the judging process. You can find more information on judging in the sign-up thread. We do require that one be a member of the forums in order to judge, as judging does take place within the forums.
Finally…
If you have any questions, please post below! Any nominations, also post below, using this form:
Nomination Category: (Best General, Poetry, etc.)
Story Title:Â
Author:Â
Character Name: (only use for Original Character nomination)
One-Shot/Chaptered:Â
Reason for Nomination:
Chosen Title and link:
Author’s note:
As you know, the Quicksilver Quill Awards are about awarding the best writing MuggleNet Fan Fiction authors have had to offer for the year. Nominations are received across twelve categories and separated in one-shot and chaptered stories. This year, we have fifteen winners in total.
I would like to profusely thank the judges, who made this all possible. This literally could not have been done without them, and having winners chosen by our members and for our members really reflects how our community works and what sets it apart from other sites out there.
As the number of nominations was small this year, we do have fewer winning stories than in the past, with most categories having only one winner and one category none at all. However, to preserve the integrity of the QSQs, we still judged to the standards we have held for nearly a decade, and the results are truly reflective of how our fandom has carried on for so many years and still produces fine, well-honed literature after all this time. Always.
Like in previous years, winners of the awards will also receive a personalised banner, created by one of MNFF's finest bannermakers and chosen through a special competition. This year's winning banner was created by the most excellent Julia/the opaleye, and you can view a sneak peak by clicking here. Banners will be sent out to winners in the next few days. But now, on to the moment you’ve all been waiting for!
QSQ Winners 2014
Best General Story
One-Shot - Tea Behind Bars by WeasleyMom
There is a great deal packed into this very short story: beautiful prose, spot-on characterisation of Draco, and apt symbolism. Draco is as complex here as in canon. The lustre and thoroughness of the characterisation give this story more steam than many five times its length.
Chaptered - Exile Vilify by the opaleye
We enjoyed seeing the story of other characters on the run from Voldemort. Nell is an abrasive and ambitious character, but it’s obvious there are layers of hurt and caring in her - perfect characterisation for a Muggle-born Slytherin, who has been an outcast in and out of Hogwarts. Though currently incomplete, the smooth intensity of the writing, the set-up of the premise, and the mysteries and secrets hinted at make us look forward to reading more.
Dark/Angsty
Sybill Trelawney and the Unexpected Gift by Squibstress
This story gives so much vivid and aching life to why Trelawney is how she is, and what brought her to the places she'd been. At first, it isn't quite dark enough, but gradually, it sinks into the mire, and then maintains that through to the end. It's got exactly what we were looking for in a winner - great characterisation, interesting plotline, growth, appropriate atmosphere, and really great pacing.
Humour
Wood by ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor
Jess's story is novel, funny, and definitely connected to the spirit of the Potterverse, in an outrageous but hilarious manner. The characterizations are stretched for comedy, but the voices of Marcus Flint and Oliver Wood are well-differentiated and believable. It also manages to be a good parody without the benefit of a bigger word count. And of course, the most important thing in this category: it kept the judges grinning.
Alternate Universe
Four Secrets by hestiajones
This story takes everything that has become stale and overdone about Marauder Era stories and turns it on its head. The subtle changes made to canon are intricately considered, and one cannot help but be riveted as they all play out and blossom into a new identity for the Marauders.
Original Character
Beatrice Avery from Tom Riddle and the Chamber of Secrets by CanisMajor
Though it is difficult to pull off a fascinating character who is so mired in shades of grey, Beatrice Avery fits the bill. This Riddle Era story really sheds light on the dynamics between Gryffindor and Slytherin, while really carrying an authentic, period feeling. Beatrice’s perspective shows who she is in the barest, most unapologetic light, but her astuteness lends a lot to both her own characterisation, as well as for the surrounding cast. In other words, Beatrice is everything you could want in an original character and why she is this year’s best and brightest.
Post-Hogwarts
Crocus by Equinox Chick
This story exemplifies the Post-Hogwarts category, tying to events that link the story to wizarding history. At the same time, it's a refreshing change reading a romance story that does not involve teenagers! Crocus is extremely well-written, with a wonderful exploration of Andromeda's character after the war.
Next Generation
Pat-A-Cake by foolondahill17
It's original, touching, and we get to see a good deal of the Next Gen world through the eyes of a Squib - and a Weasley one, at that. There was a real pathos to this tale, especially in Molly “Pat†Weasley's struggles with her lack of magical ability. Through Pat’s eyes, there is so much to see about the Potterverse’s most beloved family by how they perceive one of their own who doesn’t fit the mould, and it's easy to empathise with Pat because we don't have the barrier of magic to isolate us from the character.
Poetry
Red Squirrel/Sun Rises by hestiajones
This poem is thoughtful and beautifully structured. It has a different take to the Fred/George tragedy to many other poems, because it has that element of narrative and the future to it. George with his son, George without Fred, and then ugly crying from the entire judging panel. The writing is very evocative, particularly the use of ‘half’ and the theme of red, and it carries an aura of hope you sense at the end, even through George’s grief and hopelessness.
AND
The Cookie-Cutter Life by minnabird
The language of this poem was just one of the many things that draws you to this tale of Dudley Dursley and his perfect suburban life. It carries a hard-hitting moral, which rounds off the poem fittingly, and fantastic use of rhythm, phrase and structure add to its charisma. It really feels like Dudley has grown immensely.
Canon Romance
A Light in the Gap by WeasleyMom
Lori's story encompasses so much that's at the heart of a great canon-romance. It tells the story without being over sentimental. A missing moment from the books turned into something golden. The language of the story is fluid and easy to follow. This is definitely a story that could reach all audiences.
Non-Canon Romance
One-Shot - Glass over the Flame by the opaleye
There is a beautiful and subtle intimacy to this story, which is essentially one of what-if. Glass over the Flame has that aching slow burn version of Harmony that remains loyal to canon, to the point that we as judges were rooting for them the whole way through. The imagery is gorgeous and lyrical, and the author artfully explores just how much Harry and Hermione have been through together, to the point that even the most cynical reader would be convinced those buried feelings existed.
Chaptered - Serenade by Equinox Chick
Carole takes us through a romance that is so much more than just two characters getting together. It’s plotty, redemptive and sensual, adhering to what we know about Pansy and Terry in canon and also adding some intriguing personality attributes to them both. The way the narrative alternates between flamboyant parties, corporate settings and romance is effortless. And Pansy’s redemption arc is made all the better because it doesn’t erase or excuse the character we saw in the books, the one ready to hand Harry over the Voldemort; instead, the author simply revealed her better character traits.
Same Sex Pairing
One-Shot - Sanguini, the Vampire by teh tarik
The way Eldred Worple essentially created this Sanguini persona for David means his behaviour in HBP makes a lot more sense. He is such a 3D and fully fleshed out character - intelligent, yet delusional, in a way, and also succumbing to a relationship that was intensely unhealthy. So too is David's characterisation and his acceptance that this is no love story. Rather, their relationship is both mutualistic and parasitic. The pairing is well drawn into the story without being overbearing, but still incredibly important.
Chaptered - Under My Skin by Equinox Chick
This is a fantastically written story with great characterisation - and with characters like these, that's not something we usually get a lot of. Zach and Cormac were so distinct in their characterisations, especially the little details, like Zach being a neat freak and his aloofness, and Cormac's protectiveness of Zach and the way he was in so many ways the complete opposite of Zach. The supporting cast were so well fleshed out, as well - Romilda in particular was a standout character for us judges. More than that, unlike some romance stories, it was great that the author delved further with Zach's backstory.
Hello, and welcome to the ninth annual Quicksilver Quill awards!
Yes, that’s right, everyone’s favourite MNFF award ceremony has rolled around once again. Since 2006, the Quicksilver Quills have celebrated the best writing MNFF has to offer, last year giving twenty-seven writing awards across twelve categories. Each year, stories are nominated and judged by our members. Some of MNFF’s finest readers and writers assess each nomination and decide upon the winners.
This year, there will once again be twelve categories. In each category, there may be one or two winners, and winners may be separated into one-shots and chaptered.
Â
Categories
Best General Story
Best Dark/Angsty Story
Best Humor Story
Best Canon Romance Story
Best Non-Canon Romance Story
Best Same-Sex Pairing Story
Best Alternate Universe Story
Best Poetry
Best Marauders' Era Story
Best Post-Hogwarts Story
Best Next Generation Story
Best Original Character
Nomination open today and will close at the end of the day on the 23rd July, at which point there will be a one week break in order to assign judges to each category. Judging will begin in August. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination either via the forums or as a comment here on the archives. We are looking to find the absolute best stories from the last twelve months. They should be well-written, have engaging plots and characters, and be a good representation of the category for which they are nominated (though they don’t necessarily have to have been submitted to the corresponding archive category). In short, they should be the stories that make you go WOW.
The rules are similar to previous years but please refresh yourself with them anyway to make sure you nominate the right stories in the right categories. There is also at least one new rule for you to take note of.
Â
Rules
+ Only stories written (or, in the case of chaptered fics, updated) since the 1st June 2013 are eligible to be nominated.
+ Stories do not have to be in the corresponding archive category to be nominated. For example, a story may be in a romance category but if you think it is particularly funny, it can be nominated in humour.
+ An author or story can win more than one award in the same year. We reserve the right to place a cap on the number of awards given to any one author/story at a later date.
+ An author is eligible to win in a category they have been either winner or runner up in before.
+ Winning stories from previous years may not be nominated again in any category, though with the twelve month rule, we do not expect this to be an issue.
+ Please use the form provided in the first post of each nomination thread and ensure you provide a working link. Nominations that do not follow the correct format will be removed.
+ Do not second nominations – seconding clutters up threads and gives an unrealistic indication of how many stories have been nominated. Having more than one nomination does not increase a story’s chances of winning.
+ Any author can be nominated, including moderators.
+ New Rule: Each person may only nominate a maximum of TWENTY-FIVE stories across the twelve categories. Unfortunately, this is a necessary step to keep the number of nominations under control, as an ever-decreasing number of judges means we simply don’t have the resources to judge overly large categories. Please try and keep all your nominations for a category in one post to make it easier to keep track of how many stories you have nominated.
This is a change from last year’s rule of three per category. It does allow for fewer nominations per member, but it permits people who read more heavily in certain categories to concentrate on what they know and love best. I don’t anticipate any abuse of this policy. However, if certain categories or individuals spiral out of control, I reserve the right to re-impose a per-category cap to keep the categories judge-able.
+ The judging committees reserve the right not to present an award in any categories where they do not feel the standard of nominations is high enough. However this will only be done as a last resort.
Judging
As with the past few years, I will be opening a thread in the QSQ forum for members to volunteer to be judges. Judging can be demanding but also fun, and we really value the input of as many members as possible in the judging process. You can find more information on judging in the sign-up thread. If you would like to be a judge, please sign up in that forum. If you are not a member of the forums, it takes under a minute to set up an account and send a Sorting Hat request via PM to SortingHat. All judges must be sorted members of the forums simply because it is the only way you can see the judging forums.
Finally…
If you have any questions, please post below! Any nominations, also post below, using this form:
Nomination Category: (Best General, Poetry, etc.)
Story Title:
Author:
Character Name: (only use for Original Character nomination)
One-Shot/Chaptered:
Reason for Nomination:
It's a busy time here at Mugglenet Fanfiction as we prepare for a summer full of fun and festivities.
First things first you might notice a couple of differences here on our archives. Our wonderful podcast AudioFictions has been added to our navigation bar so you always know where to find your latest podcast episode. You'll also find a new Social Media block on the right hand side of your page where you can find links to our facebook, twitter and tumblr pages as well as our RSS feed to keep you up to date with the latest fictions.
In even more exciting news our aforementioned podcast will be hosting a panel at LeakyCon this month! LupinPatronus and TheGreatOm will be heading to Portland to represent us so make sure you check them out if you're heading that way too! If you haven't bought a registration yet but would like to, check out This Link or look out for the Leaky ads around the page!
Last but not least congratulations to Jess/ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor who won the Harry Potter wand in our milestone celebrations.
As I said we've got lots in store for you all this Summer so make sure you're checking back here and on our social media sites for updates on challenges, classes and those all important QuickSilver Quill awards!
