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.
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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.
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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!
Voting is now OPEN for the winner of the Milestone Celebration competition.
Please read the seven stories within the category and cast your vote, either on facebook or on our beta boards.
Voting is open until April 10th so get reading!
Today is a momentous occasion here on MuggleNet Fan Fiction. We've hit the 10,000 fictions mark.
From all of the staff here on the site, we'd just like to thank every single author who has submitted their work to make our archive such an amazing source of fiction for fans of Harry Potter.
We've been around for eight years now and in that time we've developed a fantastic community of writers that warm our hearts and sparks our collective imagination on a daily basis.
We hope to see many more fabulous fictions coming our way in future years, but for now, there's 10,000 stories to read on this archive and I think that calls for a celebration!
We are giving away a 'Harry Potter' wand from the WB Studio Tour in London to one lucky member of our archives. All you have to do is submit a one-shot fiction to our 'Milestone Celebrations' category in competition submissions.
Your one-shot must describe a celebration within the Potter world. They can be celebrating anything you'd like, but your fiction must include a party and be over 1200 words.
The deadline for this competition will be two weeks from today, the 18th March at 5pm GMT/Midday EST.
Please note that the deadline has been extended until Sunday 24th March at Midday EST
We'll then be asking our readers to vote for their favourite fiction and the story that receives the most votes will win the coveted prize!
If you have any questions, ask them in the comments of this post!
Thank you for all your hard work over the last eight years! Good luck with the competition, and make sure you check out as many as possible of the 10000 stories now available here to you on MNFF
Hello everyone!
As you may be aware, every year MNFF host the Quicksilver Quill awards which aim to celebrate the best writing that the site has to offer. For several months, users nominate their favourite stores and teams of dedicated judges discuss the stories and vote for the winners. I am please to announce that the 2012 awards have come to a close and the winners are ready to be announced.
All winners will receive a personalised version of this banner, sent to them either by forum PM or email over the next few days. If you head to the beta forums you can also view the list of winners in the community awards which include categories such as Best Reviewer and Best Beta.
The winners for the 2012 awards are as follows:
General
One-Shot - Reveries & Butterflies by lucca4
This is an absolutely beautiful story, with an interesting and unusual viewpoint. Neville is also well-written here, with a good mix of good old Neville and grown-up Healer Longbottom. Stunningly original and heartrending.
AND - Maps by the opaleye
So stylish. I could happily drown in this prose. The story was beautifully written and really sensual, too. I loved the brief snippets of all four couples. They just flowed together so well, that I was sorry to see it end. As someone who doesn't think Neville became an overnight star after his bravery (he was so diffident in the books and that doesn't vanish overnight), I think this story captures him perfectly.
Chaptered - The Unbreakable Curse by Karaley Dargen
The author wove a very good mystery that kept me guessing (and I read a lot of mysteries). What brought the story to life was the characterisation, in fact, as well as the wonderful mystery plot. I also liked the setting of the story and the amount of research Kara must have done to make this believable; the mention of the heliographs, describing the way the curse-breakers worked; it all added to the sense of story. This is such a well-plotted fic, showing great characterisation of both canon characters and OCs, amazing world-building and rather sensational smut.
Dark/Angsty
One-Shot - Hangman by littlebird
The characterisation of Ron is truly exceptional in this fic. This period of time, when the trio is searching for Horcruxes, is a very difficult time for the three of them, but yet, we never really see Ron’s conflicts, especially before he leaves. The author has managed to characterise Ron perfectly, all while in first person. Instead of being told what Ron is feeling, it is incorporated into the narrative, so the reader is never getting the information just thrown at them. The reader really feels as if they are Ron in this story.
Chaptered - Inner Demons by lucca4
This story is so beautifully written. This story manages to draw emotion from the reader without it feeling forced. The characterisation of Draco and Katie and the way that their relationship develops over the two chapters is so well-paced. The tone of desperation and lust is always there, whether it be simmering below or bursting to the surface. The story is intense. The pain that Katie and Draco feel is so well done. It also ends on a hopeful note, which makes it all the more powerful, because otherwise the dark and angst would be too much.
Humour
One-Shot - 'i' Before 'e' by Equinox Chick
The characters in this story were rich and real, and the panel loved the unique take on the Percy/Audrey dynamics. And Percy Weasley? Funny and in-character? You really must see this.
Chaptered - Much Ado About Nothing by Argelfraster
This story charmed the judging panel with its clever mesh of Potterverse and Shakespeare, but without taking away from the power of either. It takes a brow-raising pairing in the form of Filch/Pince and really makes an audience believe in them and want them to be happy, all while sporting snappy, witty dialogue. It was the clear winner.
Alternate Universe
Quiet In Our Town by the opaleye
Julia, we’re giving you this award only on the condition that you write more! I’m not sure any of us thought we’d be saying we needed more zombie apocalypse but we absolutely do! It's original and fresh, and it's everything AU should be. It was a really brilliant piece of writing. Writing in reverse worked perfectly and I think gave the story even more impact than if we'd seen it in chronological order. When I first heard of the zombies in HP idea floating around I could only picture something slightly ridiculous And yet this worked. It worked really well. It was serious and moving and believable. Wow.
Original Character
Henry Tstosie from Alexandra Quick and the Stars Above by Inverarity
Though not a major character in the story for which he was written, Henry has the feel of a character who is a rich, fully-realised human being and leaves readers wanting to know more about what stories he has to tell. His life has meaning and scope outside of the realm of the story and the main character. Also, the art of portraying an antagonist who is on the side of good is a difficult one, but Inverarity succeeded with flying colours in the form of Henry Tstosie.
Marauder
One-Shot - Vendetta by lucca4
Vendetta was effing amazing, so chillingly violent and showing the very much darker side to Bellatrix's character. It’s such an impressive insight into Bellatrix; she is made understandable, almost, by her past, but you can still see the insanity building in her. The writing is gorgeous, too, with lovely imagery throughout. As an example of skill in writing, Vendetta takes it. Bellatrix is not a character that I can give my sympathy to, but Ariana made her seem real. I am completely in love with the style and flow of this story. It works so well and makes the story itself and the plot very strong.
Chaptered - Defiance by Gmariam
The plotting was fantastic, and I just think all the characters were really well-rounded and beautifully characterised, particularly James and Lily. I couldn't forget Defiance. The plot was so jaw-droppingly amazing. The characterisation in this fic is outstanding and I loved the twists and turns in the plot. The prose was full of tension and a darkness that was so apt for the plot. It was extremely brilliant and well-thought out.
Post-Hogwarts
One-Shot - The Latecomer by halfaslug
This story had me laughing one minute and nearly crying the next - I genuinely don’t think any piece of writing has made me go through emotions so fast before. The characterization is so...perfect. I love the little portraits of grief, and I love Fred and George's trademark silliness. It was a marvelous way to bring closure. I was truly blown away by this, it is so well-written. In addition, despite being quite humorous, it still deals with the subject matter sensitively. Even though I've read tons of fics about this period before, this one still kept me interested and I still evoked strong emotions in me which is a testament to just how good the writing is.
AND - Steel Hearts by ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor
This was a wonderfully written story focusing on two characters we don’t hear about that often. The perspectives of one person just few years younger than Harry and one just a few older were interesting, different experiences of the war than we saw in canon. Romilda Vane is not a likable person in the books, but Jess shows how her actions towards Harry were just the result of, well, being a teenager, and that actually she's a nice person. The characters have complex, sometimes conflicting, motivations for continuing to meet with each other. It feels very…human. Their characterization isn’t sacrificed to bang on about the themes of the story. It’s just a brilliant story!
Chaptered - Uncommon Friends by Gmariam
I liked this forging of an unlikely friendship, and the ways Draco and Neville been there for each other over the years. They're both well-characterized, and Gina made it work very well. This fic also tugged at my heartstrings. It showed not only their friendship, but what Draco and Neville made of their lives after Hogwarts, and I liked the details of their lives, from Neville's studies to Draco trying to cut out his Dark Mark and the subsequent drug addiction to their wives and families. Gina does a wonderful job in creating circumstances under which Draco and Neville might conceivably be friendly. Her evolution of that friendship shows us how people really can change.
Next Generation
One-Shot - Today Is Victory Day by Maple_and_PheonixFeather
It's a touching and powerful story, which is about more than characterising Next Generation characters in a believable way and with an interesting plot, but tapping into something deeper than that. It’s also a very universal fic in that Maple captures something which is so relatable to real life. It's elegantly written, and Lily's characterisation is so well done, without seeming overbearing, something that's so easy to do in the first person, as well as the present tense. Her internal monologue gives such a strong impression of a very clever, thoughtful teenager, without that seeming unrealistic.
Chaptered - Stars or Carousels by Equinox Chick
As a Next-Gen story, it is exemplary of what this category can offer. Nothing is typical about it. James isn't the usual James-The-Marauder-Reincarnated; he has some of Harry's hesitancy and doubt. Dominique isn't a carbon copy of her mother, either - she's more down-to-earth, and she has some of the same doubts that James does.The canon details are firm and it feels very much a part of the Potterverse. The way the author unfurled Dominique and James's relationship - from the humorous opening scene to the heartbreaking last section - was perfect. The structure is so beautiful, slipping backwards and forwards in time very easily, and never feeling over-worked or complicated. The central image of the stars or carousels is so powerful, and memorable long, long afterwards.
Poetry
Enterprising Young Men by Equinox Chick
Reading this poem is like taking a walk through the twins' life. It is by far the greatest tribute to the twins that I’ve had the good fortune to experience. It’s also a wonderful example of prose poetry, equipped with a particular rhythm that carries me like a tide. Enterprising Young Men has stayed with me ever since I read it for the first time. I remember being in awe of it then and I still am. It still hits me in the gut each time I read those final two lines, and that is the mark of a truly powerful poem - when you can read it over and over and still feel like it’s the first time.
Canon Romance
One-Shot - Another Horcrux Down by WeasleyMom
Every emotion, every word, every moment was just so perfect. It had a great feel to it without being overbearing, and it really allowed the reader to get into the mood of being down in the Chamber. The language is beautiful, I loved the characterisation of both Ron and Hermione, and Lori built up the tension so beautifully in such a short story. Ron's sense of humor, Hermione's deep-down insecurity, the whole scene with the Horcrux, their interactions, everything is just pitch-perfect.
Chaptered - Raindrops by Gmariam
The characterisation of James and Lily was wonderful. They have that canon feel to them, but there is so much more that Gina added to make them fuller and more alive. The author also presents what is probably the most prolific type of story in the fandom - a seventh year Lily/James fic - in a way that is fresh and solid enough that it reads as if this were the only way it could've happened.
Non-Canon Romance
One-Shot -Â Love is Like a Wrong Turn on a Cold Night by lucca4
This story was just breathtaking, packed with intense emotion and with so many twists and turns that each one was a fresh blow. In so few words, Ariana has created complex, 3D characters who really work in the situations they're put into, particularly how their self-loathing kept them from really being happy together. There’s something very much unconventional about the story that makes it impossible to stop reading.
Chaptered -Â Where We Started From by Equinox Chick
There were so many little touches in Carole’s characterisation that made everything fit so well into canon. Ginny was both the girl we know from the books and a character who has matured and changed because of the conflicts of her sixth year, and Dean was very much a likeable character. This, therefore, is a perfect example of a non-canon romance story. The relationship works without breaking canon characterisation. It picks up the characters from the books with the backstory they share and builds something from there. Also, the deviation from canon feels natural, rather than forced, and that's what makes this story a winner.
Same Sex Pairing
One-Shot - Truth or Dare by Equinox Chick
Carole did an amazing job of taking two disliked characters from the books and turning them into, perhaps not loveable, but endearing characters. Both Cormac and Zach are very well portrayed here. They are completely in character from what we saw in the books, but they have still matured to where this story takes place. The way that these two people who never interacted in the books and are two of the most despised characters in the series bounce off each other and relate to each other is fantastic. The truth or dare motif was never too much, too forced, but ran through the story smoothly, making it more coherent.
Chaptered - Shadows Deep by Equinox Chick
What amazed me was the style of writing. There was the correct formalness of the era, but the intense moments were so intimate and well-written. This story was a mastery of twisted logic and devious games. Their relationship was so interesting and used as a springboard for the plot so well; it kept me hooked all the way through. The plot in it is good and highly believable, the characters in it are rich (both canon and OC), the world-building is terrific for a shorter piece, and nothing felt anachronistic. It just felt so heavily like it was canon.
Hello everyone! We are really pleased to announce the return of our fantastic audiobook podcast - Audiofictions!
All 150+ previous episodes can be found in one place, either through the Audiofictions iTunes feed, their libsyn page or via internet archive.
We're really excited to see this fantastic service return and we're in a much more stable service this time so we're here to stay!
Don't forget to subscribe for your latest episode featuring fantastic stories from around MuggleNet Fanfiction!
You can also connect to Audiofictions on Facebook or Twitter
Keep an eye out for their homepage here on MNFF soon, but in the meantime you can visit them at their forum on our beta boards - The Black Lake!
Let us know what you think about the podcast in the comments below!
Hello, and welcome to the seventh annual Quicksilver Quill awards!
Since 2006, the Quicksilver Quills have celebrated the best writing MNFF has to offer, last year giving 22 awards across twelve categories. Each year stories are nominated by our members and then judging panels made up of some of MNFF’s finest readers and writers assess each nomination and decide upon the winners.
This year, in addition to the writing awards, we are adding an exciting new element -- the Forum Quicksilver Quills! You will find more information about these and how they will be run in the Forum Awards sub-forum. You must be a member of the beta forums to be eligible to participate in the Forum Awards.
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.
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 threads open today and will close on the 23rd July, at which point judging will begin. 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 they are nominated in (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 2011 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 humor.
+ 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 below and ensure you provide a working link. Nominations that do not follow the correct format will be removed. Try to consolidate your nominations as much as possible.
+ 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.
+ 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.
Judging
As with last year, I will be opening a thread in this 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 over on the beta boards. If you don’t have an account on the beta boards, you can sign up for one and follow procedures to be sorted into a house. You can then sign up for judging.
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Nominations
Most of the nominating will be done on the forums but if you don’t have a forum account then you can nominate stories by posting a comment on this post. All the above rules still apply. To nominate in this way please, use the following form for your post:
Nomination category (this should be award category, not archive category):
Title of story and link:
Author:
Chaptered/One-shot:
Reason for nomination:
Any nominations which do not use the appropriate form will be removed.
Finally…
If you have any questions, please post below!
As some of you have come to notice, due to the malfunction in our email system, new passwords have not been sent out upon request, keeping many people from accessing their accounts. There are also many who register for the beta boards who can't validate their account because they didn't get the email. We are currently working on the issue, but in the meantime, we have devised a way for passwords to be reset and account validations to be completed.
If you need your password reset or account validated, please comment on this post on the Beta Forums: http://fanfiction.mugglenet.com/forums/showthread.php?69418-Password-Reset-Requests&p=449752#post449752
You do not need to be logged in to comment on this thread or even to have an account over there, so if you've forgotten your password, then you should be okay.
Thank you for your readership and continued use of our site, and we apologise for any inconveniences caused by these malfunctions.
