Star Wars Fanon:Short Story Contest/Summer 2011

Well folks, it is time once again for the third annual (if not entirely consistent with scheduling) Star Wars Fanon Short Story Contest! Hosted by yours truly, the contest hopefully will spark more interest in fan fiction writing and possibly get more stories to featured work status. So, without further ado, get out a pen and paper (that's the archaic form of a word processing program for you younguns out there) and let's get this show on the road!

Rules
Yes, rules. They're short and easy to follow, though. If you have any questions, though, don't hesitate to ask!
 * Length: Entries must be between 2,500 and 26,000 words. This allows for the possibility of shorter short stories, as well as decent-sized novellas. However, the novellas must not be longer than 26,000 words. Just remember, though, quantity does not necessarily dictate quality, so there is no need to pad your story just to make it longer than it needs to be. There are plenty of great shorter stories and plenty of awful longer stories out there that prove this (I rest my case). Additionally, only complete stories will be accepted, meaning that stories that are not yet finished are not eligible for this contest.
 * Nominations: You can nominate your own story. You can also nominate other users' stories. You cannot, however, vote for your own story once voting begins. If you nominate another user's story and they want it taken down, that is their right to do so. Additionally, if you wish to withdraw your own nomination or story, you may do so.
 * Past nominees: Past nominees that did not win can be nominated in their corresponding categories.
 * Past winners: Past winners from previous contests may be renominated in the "Best of the Past" category.
 * Multiple entries: You can nominate as many stories you want for as many categories you want. If you nominate a story in a category that it does not belong in, it will be moved by the contest's host (yours truly) to the appropriate category.
 * Content: All stories must comply with the content policy. Stories that do not will be removed and an administrator will review the story.
 * Medium: Only textual narratives will be accepted, so no comics, photonovels, videos, video games, etc. Narrative texts can be in article sub-page form ( Story's name/Chapter 1, per the Manual of Style), .PDF file form, etc. Stories must be hosted on Star Wars Fanon (no external linking).
 * Voting: Once voting begins, you may only vote once per category. You may not vote for your own story. You can, however, vote for your own nomination, provided that you are not the author of the nominee. All relevant matters of the voting policy apply.
 * Ties: In the event of a tie, there will be an additional tie-breaker voting session and the nominations will be deferred to the Seers and Archivists for a final verdict.

Prizes
Like the last contest, special userboxes and talk page templates will be created so you can show off how super duper awesome you are to all of your friends!!! (Three exclamation points mean it's even more awesome!)

Additionally, if an Archivist reads your work and enjoys it, there is always the possibility that they might nominate it for featured work status (or convince you to do so, if you have not already by the time you nominate it for this contest). Yet another stroke for your ego, and we all enjoy a good ego-stroking!

Schedule
The nomination period will last from 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time on July 10th to August 21st, giving you just over six (6) weeks to write your story (if you have not already written one). At the end of the nomination process, the host (with input from the Archivists) will decide whether a category with less than three (3) nominees will remain or be merged with another category. Categories with only one nominee will be automatically merged with the most applicable category. There will be no winning by default.

Voting will run from 12am Eastern Standard Time on August 22st to 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time on September 5th. At that point, the voting will be closed and the stories with the most votes in each category will be declared the winners. Good luck to all nominees!

Nominations
Now for the fun part... nominating the stories! As with the last contests, be sure to nominate in the following format: #Story's title, by Story's author

Best Short Story
This category is for the best overall short story. Awards will be given for the first (1st) and second (2nd) place stories in this category, unless only two (2) stories are nominated.
 * 1) Jaq In His Box, by Goodwood
 * 2) Smuggler: Meridan's Tale, by SavageOpress1138
 * 3) Rookie Blues by Bluethunder213

Best Pre-Movie Era Story
This category is for any story set before 50 BBY.
 * 1) Jaq In His Box, by Goodwood
 * 2) Smuggler: Meridan's Tale, by SavageOpress1138

Best Movie Era Story
This category is for any story from 50 BBY through 5 ABY.

Best Post-Movie Era Story
This category is for any story during or after 6 ABY.
 * 1) Rookie Blues by Bluethunder213

Best Action
If the story is action-oriented, it gets nominated here.
 * 1) Smuggler: Meridan's Tale, by SavageOpress1138

Best Drama
This category is a broad classification for any story that is dramatic. Subcategories such as angst, hurt/comfort, and the like would go here.
 * 1) Jaq In His Box, by Goodwood

Best Mystery
If mysterious happenings, whodunits, and howdunits are at the forefront of your story, nominate it here.
 * 1) Rookie Blues by Bluethunder213

Best Other Story
This category is for any story that does not fit into any of the aforementioned genre categories (action, drama, mystery). You may nominate in this category only if the story does not fit into another category.

Best of the Past
This category is for past winners. Let the top dogs duke it out for more ego-stroking!
 * 1) Rakata, by Solus
 * 2) River, by MPK
 * 3) Through Her Eyes, by Atarumaster88

Discussion
Please be sure to keep the conversation civil! And for the record, no, I'm not adding in a "hurt/comfort" category.  Trak Nar  Ramble on 04:57, July 6, 2011 (UTC)

I want to nominate the story Through Her Eyes by User:Atarumaster88. However, as it won last year, IDK if I can do it. Could it go into a different category?Gnost-Dural | Hands off the holocrons, THEY'RE MINE!! 13:29, July 11, 2011 (UTC)

Imma try my hand at this. Any ideas for subject matter?  Seb  olto  19:34, July 11, 2011 (UTC)
 * NOOO!!! I'm too bogged down writing in the Dawnbreaker project to write a short story! Blast, I'll have to wait 'till next year... AK2.png Ty294 AK1.png (Talk) 18:46, July 11, 2011 (UTC)
 * Same here. Looks like this is where I announce my first project that's actually going to get done haha (don't count on it, though). A new, three-part series called Trials, which is currently following three young male padawans during the New Jedi Order. It will document their passage of the Jedi trials. If anyone has any suggestions (and I do mean any suggestions) contact me ASAP.Gnost-Dural | Hands off the holocrons, THEY'RE MINE!! 10:42, July 12, 2011 (UTC)
 * Mysteries are my favorite. Comedy's good too, as long as it's clean. Have any suggestions for my story (see above)? Respond on my talk page.Gnost-Dural | Hands off the holocrons, THEY'RE MINE!! 12:03, July 12, 2011 (UTC)
 * I'm disappointed that the rules for this contest were unchanged from the last contest based on the results of that and the epic lulz that was the 6WA. It doesn't reflect well on the community or the organizers. There are some practices and loopholes that I consider unhealthy for the overall health of the competition which are quite apparent in the rules for this contest to my jaundiced eye. My only debate is to what extent should I exploit them. Atarumaster88  Jedi_Order.svg ( Talk page ) 21:08, July 11, 2011 (UTC)
 * If Trak is to fix those loopholes, it would be helpful if you pointed them out to her rather than what you just said. - Brandon Rhea Alliance Starbird.svg (talk) 21:25, July 11, 2011 (UTC)
 * Fixed. I just killed off that part of the rules entirely.  I found it to be confusing anyway.  Trak Nar  Ramble on 02:58, July 12, 2011 (UTC)
 * We talked it over in IRC and all is well. Holes plugged. :) Atarumaster88  Jedi_Order.svg ( Talk page ) 04:13, July 12, 2011 (UTC)

I find the "Past winners" rule to be utterly nonsense. Winners from two years ago are fine, but winners from this past year are not? That's just bonkers. -- D.W. (talk)(Glorior) 20:00, July 12, 2011 (UTC)
 * Gives us a chance for new winners to appear. We do the same thing with the Wiki Awards.-- Josh Bender щ(ﾟДﾟщ) 20:12, July 12, 2011 (UTC)
 * That's the part I agree with. The part I disagree with is letting winners from two years ago return. -- D.W. (talk)(Glorior) 20:53, July 12, 2011 (UTC)
 * I guess that's where the honor system would come into play. If it seems unfair to nominate a past winner, then simply don't do so.  The reason that portion was nixed was due to a discussion that pretty much said that this year, we may have jax schlitz when it comes to a decent selection of nominees.  Simply put, the active writers on here are usually the same group of users.  I'm hoping that with my shoving the link to the contest in my sig on TFN that it'll draw some interest, but like last year and the year before, the entrants will no doubt be by the same group of users.  And thus, if that group of users weren't very productive in terms of cranking out works this year, the variety of entrants will be low.  I only intend to nominate perhaps two things (BiB is not one of them and never will be again.  It had its moment, it's done.) this year, which compared to the perhaps one or two things that perhaps the same four or five users will nominate, it isn't much.  Trak Nar  Ramble on 05:35, July 13, 2011 (UTC)
 * Well, instead of allowing winners, we allow past nominees that didn't win. If I recall, there were a few that could have won, but didn't. That way it isn't cheating this years entries, but also giving the old ones a chance. It is pretty unfair to allow winners back in. Another option is to make an entirely separate category, ala Wiki Awards, specifically for the past winners. That would allow the best of the best to go at it for top dog as Best Past Winner story. Just saying.- I'm the Chosen One You must see it... 05:55, July 13, 2011 (UTC)
 * I actually like that idea. -- Wylind (talk)(narratives) 06:13, July 13, 2011 (UTC)
 * Adding that in, then. Though, if I get the third degree on IRC for it, I'll point the accuser to you guys. =P  Trak Nar  Ramble on 06:31, July 13, 2011 (UTC)
 * I won't fail you, I'm not afraid (of them)!- I'm the Chosen One You must see it... 06:33, July 13, 2011 (UTC)
 * You will be. You. Will. Be. - Brandon Rhea Alliance Starbird.svg (talk) 15:53, July 13, 2011 (UTC)

I would like to nominate "Shadows of Coruscant" by user barrissoffeefan. I am currently writing and posting it! It will be finished by August.-User: barrissoffeefan


 * Cool, looking forward to seeing it here and reading it! - I'm the Chosen One You must see it... 22:19, July 13, 2011 (UTC)

How about a "Worst" category? I think that my hastily thrown together attempt at comedy whose only redeeming value is the laughable absurdity would fit quite nicely.Gnost-Dural | Hands off the holocrons, THEY'RE MINE!! 23:36, July 13, 2011 (UTC) Category:Star Wars Fanon:Short Story Contest


 * Absolutely not, that's not what we're here for. - Brandon Rhea Alliance Starbird.svg (talk) 23:39, July 13, 2011 (UTC)
 * As much as it pains me to agree with Rhea and all that jazz, he is right. We aren't here to belittle, demean or attack another user's work and I suggest you erase that link completely as it is embarrassing to the author.- I'm the Chosen One You must see it... 23:51, July 13, 2011 (UTC)
 * -Darth Sidious reference- I am the author.Gnost-Dural | Hands off the holocrons, THEY'RE MINE!! 00:39, July 14, 2011 (UTC)
 * Should have figure lol. Anyway, yeah, this isn't a good idea since it would probably offend people.- I'm the Chosen One You must see it... 00:49, July 14, 2011 (UTC)
 * I know we won't do it, but if we did, I'd be fine with it as long as nominees were from the author themselves, that way we knew they thought it was bad. I've got a story that I'd nominate. -- Josh Bender щ(ﾟДﾟщ) 01:16, July 14, 2011 (UTC)
 * You may have something there. Only have the AUTHOR nominate them. Sort of like ignore the log in your brother's eye and pay attention to the forest in your own.Gnost-Dural | Hands off the holocrons, THEY'RE MINE!! 11:38, July 14, 2011 (UTC)
 * I don't think such a category is needed. Like ITCO said, we aren't here to belittle, demean or attack other people's work - all three of those are my job. -MPK, Free Man  13:18, July 14, 2011 (UTC)
 * Like Bender and I said, it wouldn't be for the belittlement of others. Only the authors could nominate. And I think I have a good chance of winning lol.Gnost-Dural | Hands off the holocrons, THEY'RE MINE!! 11:45, July 15, 2011 (UTC)

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