Writers Workshop Winter Awards 2017 - Nomination Thread

[diamondpearl876]

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Winter's the time of the year where we all want to get cozy near a fire with some hot chocolate and a good book. How about we get cozy with some of the best works the Writers Workshop has to offer, too?!

Our Writers Workshop 2017 Winter Awards will be a celebration of all the work our authors have done over the past six months! This is a fantastic way to let your fellow authors know what you think about their stories and characters. When you participate, you're also guaranteed detailed feedback by at least two different authors to help you yourself grow as a writer. Plus, you might even win a banner, a badge, and a spot in our Hall of Fame! The best part is, any user, new or old, can participate!

For the guidelines and a list of the categories, click the spoilers below! Please make sure to read this post in full before nominating, even if you are a veteran, as some of our guidelines have changed. A detailed explanation of the categories is available in the Hall of Fame for any first time nominators or people who need a refresher.

Spoiler: Writers Workshop 2017 Winter Awards Categories

STORY-BASED CATEGORIES

- Best Journey authors will compete for the Adventure badge!

- Best Drama authors will compete for the Shadow badge!

- Best Expansion authors will compete for the Distortion badge!

- Best Crossover/Non-Pokémon authors will compete for the Combo badge!

- Best Poetry and Short Prose authors will compete for the Quill badge!

- Best Alternate authors will compete for the Mystery badge!

The winners of each of the above categories will compete for Best Story and the Prime badge!

CHARACTER-BASED CATEGORIES
- Best Protagonist authors will compete for the Hero badge!

- Best Antagonist authors will compete for the Villain badge!

- Best Supporting Character authors will compete for the Sidekick badge!

- Best Pokémon Character authors will compete for the Pikachu badge!

The winners of each of the above categories will compete for Best Character and the Ace badge!

USER-BASED CATEGORIES
- Best Reviewer users will compete for the Feedback badge!

- Best Newcomer users will compete for the Hatchling badge!

- Best Contributor users will compete for the Quote badge!

Spoiler: Writers Workshop 2017 Winter Awards Guidelines

- Nominations will now be PUBLIC! You are still free to message me with your nominations if you wish them to be private. However, I encourage you to post out in the open to spread the love!

- Please provide your nominations in a format like this:

Yes, we are now asking that a 1-2 sentence blurb accompany each of your nominations. You can provide a summary of the story, explain the role the character plays in the story its in, gush over what you liked about the story/character, tell about how a reviewer offers consistently insightful feedback on stories, anything. Be as specific as you can!

Example: Rival’s Story is an unique take on the Kanto journey story, told from the perspective of Blue. @Gama puts a twist on a classic formula and makes you feel for this forgotten side character.

- Please limit nominations to no more than 3 stories and 4 characters per user.

- Self-nominations are allowed for story- and character-based categories, but not user voting categories. We just ask that you nominate at least one character and one story by another author first.

- If you have won three or more Hall of Fame badges or won an award in our 2017 Summer Awards, you must sign up as a judge in order for your work to qualify.

- Any story and any character can receive more than one nomination now. This means that, if someone's already nominated Rival's Story by @Gama or Blue from Rival's Story, you can nominate them again. Spread the love! If you enjoy a certain story/character, let the authors and the community know!

- A story or character can only be nominated within one category. Generally, the author has the final say on which category a story or character belongs in, but the moderators may change categories if the story or character obviously does not belong in the category it was nominated for.

- If a story or character has previously won in one category, it cannot be submitted into a different category without providing a reasonable explanation as to why the change should be allowed.

- Eligible stories are stories that have been updated since June 20, 2017. Eligible characters are characters that have appeared in a story since that time frame.

And last, but not least...

Our newest moderator, @Emma Prescott, came up with the idea and offered to make trainer cards for all of our authors who are currently entered in our Hall of Fame. These trainer cards are for you to display in your signature, your story threads, or anywhere else you want to! Your main works as well as all of the badges you've earned thus far are displayed. We're willing to change the avatar picture, the card's colors, and the list of works displayed, as well as make Trainer Cards for our authors who have posted but haven't quite made it into the Hall of Fame just yet! Also, if you wish to put your trainer card in your signature, let us know so we can resize it according to Bulbagarden's signature size limit and have it look like this. If you're interested in having a trainer card made, resized, or personalized a tad more, feel free to post here or message me. All of the current trainer cards are now viewable here and will be incorporated into the Hall of Fame once edits are done being requested.

This is just one of the fun additions we plan to add for the awards this season. By participating you could earn another badge to put on your trainer card! Stick around to find out more!

Below is a list of every fic eligible for nominations as of right now. This list is subject to be updated until nominations end, should you update or release work that isn't eligible yet! This list has been provided so that you don't have to fetch dates and question if something's eligible, and also, you can use this list to check out work you haven't read yet but might be interested in reading and nominating. If you see that a fic is missing from this list, do let me know ASAP!

Spoiler: Current Eligible Fics

Because You Were There by @Flaze
Hunter, Haunted by @canisaries
Iterations by @Athena
Pokemon Moonlight Silver by @LightningTopaz
How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps by @AceTrainer14
Live from the Fireside, Season 14 by @LightningTopaz
Infinite ∞ Reins by @Ghostsoul
Reverberations of Time by @Unown Seer
The Worldslayers by @Sike Saner
Pokémon: Invasion by @Elixir
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Unequivocant by @lucarioknight56
Land of the Roses by @Emma Prescott
Keystone by @UselessBytes
Walking with Gods by @Twilight-Kun
Dente's Tale by @lucarioknight56
A Blond Ray of Sunshine by @Antoshi
Legend of the Darkness by @TRNatalie
Experimentation by @Anime Psyclone
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Azure Rescuers by @Gengarzilla
Galactic by @AceTrainer14
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Forgotten Isles by @lucarioknight56
Pokemon: A Marvelous Journey by @Juliko
The Eternal Bond by @Anime Psyclone
The origin of Missingno by @Anime Psyclone
After the Ashes: Sasha's Story by @Twilight-Kun
Unsteady Blade - Deen's Story (Fire Emblem) by @UselessBytes
XY019-Satoshi's Call by @Skalesgon
Those Eyes by @UselessBytes
Project Toaster: Decolonized by @jasonwolf
Metanoia by @canisaries
The Girl on the Couch by @canisaries
The Shadow by @canisaries
Puppy Eyes by @canisaries
Night One by @canisaries
Prayer by @canisaries
Rara Avis: Oak and Iron Bound by @AetherX
The Barefoot, Fighting Genius! by @Kyuuketsuki
Project Toaster: Legacy by @jasonwolf
In Memory by @ArvAl
Retelling of Satoshi's Kanto Journey by @Skalesgon
A Series of Rather Humorous Events by @Jared DiCarlo
After the Ashes: Ailette's Story by @Twilight-Kun
Wally's Journey: A Rival's Story Fanfic by @maxi106
The Island of Dr. Fuji: A Six Part Mini-Series by @Gama
Gem Run by @Derpghost
Grave Situation by @Derpghost
So Close by @diamondpearl876
The Long Walk by @Beth Pavell
The Eternal Bloodline by @Emma Prescott

And below is a list of the nominations, which I'll update as they come in. For nominations sent privately, I'll update them here as they come in. At the end of the nomination period, I will PM the authors with blurbs about their stories/characters that were given to me privately through PM. This will allow for 100% anonymity.

Spoiler: Current Nominations

Best Journey
How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps by @AceTrainer14
Land of the Roses by @Emma Prescott
Iterations by @Athena
The Long Walk by @Beth Pavell

Best Drama
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Azure Rescuers by @Gengarzilla
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Forgotten Isles by @lucarioknight56
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Unequivocant by @lucarioknight56
Galactic by @AceTrainer14
Because You Were There by @Flaze

Best Expansion
After the Ashes: Sasha's Story by @Twilight-Kun
The Barefoot, Fighting Genius! by @Kyuuketsuki
Project Toaster: Decolonized by @jasonwolf
The Worldslayers by @Sike Saner
Legend of the Darkness by @TRNatalie

Best Crossover/Non-Pokémon
Infinite ∞ Reins by @Ghostsoul
Unsteady Blade - Deen's Story (Fire Emblem) by @UselessBytes
So Close by @diamondpearl876
The Eternal Bloodline by @Emma Prescott

Best Poetry and Short Prose
Keystone by @UselessBytes
Dente's Tale by @lucarioknight56
Puppy Eyes by @canisaries
Grave Situation by @Derpghost

Best Alternate
Rara Avis by @AetherX
Reverberations of Time by @Unown Seer
A Blond Ray of Sunshine by @Antoshi
Walking with Gods by @Twilight-Kun

Best Protagonist
Red Akai from Hunter, Haunted by @canisaries
Alaska Acevedo from How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps by @AceTrainer14
Avis from Rara Avis by @AetherX
Sahara Plattina from Galactic by @AceTrainer14
Mewtwo from After the Ashes: Sasha's Story by @Twilight-Kun
Andrea Dennison from Land of the Roses by @Emma Prescott
Zia Carver from Iterations by @Athena
Evelina Joy from The Long Walk by @Beth Pavell
Joshua Cook from The Long Walk by @Beth Pavell

Best Antagonist
Arthus Zoroark from Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Forgotten Isles by @lucarioknight56
Spiritomb from Keystone by @UselessBytes
Buzz Bolton from How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps by @AceTrainer14
The Darkness from Legend of the Darkness by @TRNatalie

Best Supporting Character
Kimberly Fairbrooke from Land of the Roses by @Emma Prescott
Seraph from Iterations by @Athena
Sarah Villareal from Because You Were There by @Flaze
Ren from The Worldslayers by @Sike Saner
Alice Maez from Project Toaster: Decolonized by @jasonwolf

Best Pokémon
Paige the Pidgeot from How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps by @AceTrainer14
Chica the Chikorita from Reverberations of Time by @Unown Seer
Juliano the Blastoise from Land of the Roses by @Emma Prescott
Peredur the Aggron from Rara Avis by @AetherX

Best Reviewer
@Athena
@Beth Pavell
@Ghostsoul
@Flaze
@AceTrainer14

Best Newcomer
@Gengarzilla
@TRNatalie

Best Contributor
@Athena
@Emma Prescott
@canisaries
@diamondpearl876

Since not everyone wants to take part, below are a list of stories, characters, and users that are ineligible for nomination. This does not count stories that have not been updated since the last awards. If you wish to withdraw your characters, stories, or yourself, please message me and I will update the list.

Spoiler: Non-eligible characters, stories, and users

Flying in the Dark, Phantom Project, and Love and Other Nightmares by diamondpearl876
AceTrainer14 (Best Contributor)
There and Back Again by Beth Pavell
Charles Legend's Transamewusing Adventures by Charles Legend
Pokemon Island Sun by LightningTopaz

You have a week and a half (until December 15, 11:59PM EST) to nominate! Again, if you have any questions - if something's eligible or not, what category we think a certain fic fits in, etc - feel free to post here or message me! Also, if you're interested in judging, let me know! The more judges we have, the better.

 

[AceTrainer14]

Are blurbs required for self nominations, and is it only three characters per author overall now as opposed to two per story/three if you have only one?

Loving the new look - best of luck to you all with the awards and to everyone who takes part!

 

[Misfit Angel]

Blurbs are not required for self nominations, no. They are meant to show that the person nominating isn't just choosing from the list without knowing what they're actually endorsing. We trust that you know your own story well enough

As far as the characters go, it's just three characters per author now, according to the wording of the guidelines. If I'm mistaken, @diamondpearl876 can correct my error.

 

[lucarioknight56]

First nominations!

Story: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Azure Rescuers
Author: @Gengarzilla
Award: Best Drama
Blurb: Gengarzilla has so far written a fantastic story worthy to read by any Pokemon fan. While there may be issues, they do not detract overall from his work.

Story: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Forgotten Isles
Author: @lucarioknight56
Award: Best Drama
Blurb: [This is myself, so…]

Story: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Unequivocant
Author: @lucarioknight56
Award: Best Drama
Blurb: [Same here…]

Story: Hunter, Haunted
Character: Red Akai
Author: @canisaries
Award: Best Protagonist
Blurb: The sadistic character that canisaries brings us is believable, if sociopathic. He is enjoyable to read about in a morbid way, and is in every way a ‘bad’ protagonist!

Story: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Forgotten Isles
Character: Arthus Zoroark
Author: @lucarioknight56
Award: Best Antagonist
Blurb: [My character, so…]

Author: @Gengarzilla
Award: Best Newcomer
Blurb: While he might have some work ahead of him for perfecting his writing, he is still a competent writer in many regards. I always look forward to whatever he writes.

 

[Beth Pavell]

Do chapter rewrites count as updates? Because The Long Walk had more than 2,000 words added on to the Prologue, after Chapter Twenty Seven, as I recall.

Withdrawing Kanto: There and Back Again along with corresponding characters

 

[diamondpearl876]

NOTE: My post didn't update properly last night, but poetry and short prose are a thing this winter given the amount of poems/stories eligible for it.

@Beth Pavell Chapter rewrites do not count, no. Sorry! You have until December 15 to update, though!

@lucarioknight56 Thanks for being the first to nominate! I'll edit those noms in ASAP.

 

[lucarioknight56]

Thanks for updating, but it looks like I'll be making a couple more later now that poetry/short prose is applicable. Keep an eye out!

 

[Persephone]

Journey: How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps (not linking cause already nommed)

Journey fic where half of Kanto explodes under the wrath of a protagonist with no idea what the words "property damage" means. Hilarity ensues.

Non-Pokemon/Crossover: Infinite Reins

An nice guy's day takes a turn for the worse when he tries to kill his teacher. Hilarity ensues.

Alternate: Reverberations of Time

A Pokemon obsessed kid challenges a Pokemon-loathing dystopia, and a girl meets a cute plant. Hilarity ensues.

Expansion: After the Ashes: Sasha's Story

Mewtwo's brooding is interrupted by an annoyingly social Eevee. Hilarity ensues.

Drama: Because You Were There

An umbreon tries to shepherd their suicidal trainer through the apocalypse. Hilarity ensues.

Short Story: Keystone

A scientist is haunted by a malignant spirits. Hilarity ensues.

Protagonist: Mewtwo (After the Ashes: Sasha's Story)

A misanthropic loner clone gets dragged into a badge quest. Shipping ensues.

Supporting: Sandy Samson (How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps)

A girl with an affinity for Diglett and Onix tries and fails to make it through Kanto with her dignity intact. Battlefield circumcision ensues.

Antagonist: Spiritomb (Keystone)

A ghost just tries to get his best scientist friend to lighten up a little and get in touch with his murderous side. Heartwarming ensues.

Pokemon: Chica (Reverberations of Time)

A plant decides that being the perpetually unchosen grass starter is boring, and that Typhlosion are now too big to cuddle. Heartbreak ensues.

 

[Charles Legend]

Err actually diamondpearl876 would you mind removing my story from the list of Current Eligible Fics? it's not that I don't operate the gesture it's just I have not decided what to do with it yet, so I would rather have it notget very much spotlight.

thanks in advance.

 

[diamondpearl876]

Err actually diamondpearl876 would you mind removing my story from the list of Current Eligible Fics? it's not that I don't operate the gesture it's just I have not decided what to do with it yet, so I would rather have it notget very much spotlight.

thanks in advance.

Not a problem! Done!

Submitted nominations are up to date as of now, too.

 

[LightningTopaz]

I would like to request the removal of Pokemon Island Sun from the list--I don't plan to discontinue it, but I consider it on hiatus for right now while I wait to find an episode that would fit in the remixed Alola (plus keep an eye on how US and UM affects the show)

 

[diamondpearl876]

I would like to request the removal of Pokemon Island Sun from the list--I don't plan to discontinue it, but I consider it on hiatus for right now while I wait to find an episode that would fit in the remixed Alola (plus keep an eye on how US and UM affects the show)

Of course! Done!

Added two stories to the eligibility list which were released this past week or so.

 

[lucarioknight56]

Story: Unsteady Blade – Deen’s Story (Fire Emblem)
Author: @UselessBytes
Award: Best Crossover/Non-Pokemon
Blurb: UselessBytes has so far made a series of stories that are worthy for consideration for their quality of writing and the characters involved. I enjoy reading what is there, and hope to see more in the future.

Story: Dente’s Tale (A Short PMD Story)
Author: @lucarioknight56
Award: Best Short Story
Blurb: [This is my story, so…]

 

[Misfit Angel]

Best Non-Pokemon
So Close by @diamondpearl876

It's a cozy little story about true friendship and what it really means to escape the past together.

Best Alternate
A Blond Ray of Sunshine by @Antoshi

It's an interesting read, if a little cliched at points. It's undergone a rewrite and the author has taken criticism to heart.

Best Protagonist
Red Akai from Hunter, Haunted.

Red is... an interesting character. A terrifying character. A character I don't understand. And I love him for that reason.

Best Reviewer: @Beth Pavell
What more needs to be said? This guy is a machine at reviewing and loves doing it at the same time. His reviews are tidy, consistantly helpful and he's not afraid to point out where things have gone wrong and how to improve them.

Best Reviewer: @Athena
Athena is also a review machine. She's unafraid of picking up new or controversial stories and is always meticulously thorough about the things she points out. Her criticisms can be a bit heavy handed at times, but they're always fair and never malicious.

Best Contributor: @canisaries
canisaries certainly contributes a lot to this section. She's written over half a dozen stories, contributes to the review league, keeps the review game moving along, provides artwork prizes for the view league and is, in general, just a fun person to have around in the discussion threads.

Best Journey
Land of the Roses by @Emma Prescott

Land of the Roses is a story set in the fictional region of Lanark and focuses on the travels of a young scientist with her various friends and colleagues. The story's plot centers around the various research projects that are assigned to her, but also focuses on her day to day life and the friendships she cultivates along the way.

Best Protagonist
Andrea Dennison from Land of the Roses by @Emma Prescott

Andrea Dennison is an intellectually bright scientist hired by a research firm to as a field analyst. The story focuses on her efforts to study the world around her and investigate mysterious circumstances that pop up around the country, all while she tries to make sense of her new-found place in the professional, adult world.

Best Supporting Character
Kimberly Fairbrooke from Land of the Roses by @Emma Prescott

Kimberly Fairbrooke is a novice coordinator and an all-around ray of sunshine. While she takes the lead in some circumstances, her main contribution to the story so far is to support Andrea's various adventures and hijinx.

Best Pokemon
Juliano the Blastoise from Land of the Roses by @Emma Prescott

Juliano is Kimberly's faithful protector and friend. They've been together for nearly two years and have developed a close bond, one that can sometimes lead to jealousy or untrustworthiness of others. Every appearance he makes is important to his characterization.

More nominations may come... we'll have to see how things work out with some stuff that's being worked on.

Edit: additional

Best Non-Pokemon
The Eternal Bloodline by @Emma Prescott

The Eternal Bloodline is a short story that focuses on the legendary monster hunter, Verynn Montague, and the most difficult hunt of his long and illustrious career.

 

[Flaze]

It wouldn't be an award season without me cutting it close now would it?

Best Journey

Iterations by @Athena

You like Pokemon? You like adventures? You like battles for the sake of the world led by a group of chosen ones comprised of a half-assed empath, a girl that can barely physically function, a god (possibly two) and probably a ghost? Well Iterations has that and more with a story that takes an interesting look at a group of...let's call them misfits, as they aim to stop the end of the world...and hopefully not fail for the umpteenth time in a row.

The Long Walk by @Beth Pavell

Dude goes out on a journey with his Bulbasaur, meets girl, they travel yadayadayadda, come for the vivid descriptions of sceneries and honestly pretty cute moments and stay for uh...well the walk I guess.

Best Expansion

The Barefoot Fighting Genius by @Kyuuketsuki

Ever wanted to know the story of Maylene? the petite but awesomely badass gymleader from Gen 4? Well now you get a chance to see how her story started and the road she had to take to reach her spot as gymleader, involves a lot of fighting as you can get.

Best Poem/Short Story

Keystone by @UselessBytes

Keystone explores the memos of the elder Dr. Cosmos as he investigates the truth hidden behind the Odd Keystone. However, as he'll soon find out, there's more to this oddly shaped rock than meets the eye.

Best Crossover/Non-Pokemon Story

Infinite Reins by @Ghostsoul

Rick and Morty fans rejoice! Take a look at the interior of the Citadel and follow in the footsteps of an amnesiac Morty as he tries his best to not get himself killed by...pretty much everything and everyone around him. Lots of card symbolism to be had.

Best Alternate

Walking with Gods by @Twilight-Kun

A boy living a less than ideal life ends up going through a chance meeting with Arceus. When the boy shows his kindness to the God, the being returns the favor by making him his ward and showing the boy the world the legendaries inhabit.

Best Protagonist

Zia Carver from Iterations by Athena

Zia isn't your typical journey fic protagonist. They have more than a few aspects that help them stand out from their brethren, from a ultra troubled past they're trying to leave behind, to a career they'd prefer to actually be focusing on rather than journey, to well...other aspects that play a huge part in their character. That doesn't mean they're not a capable trainer though and you definetily should prey not to get on their bad side.

Andrea Dennison from Land of the Roses by @Emma Prescott

Andrea is just an aspiring scientists looking to start working with one of the leading minds in her field, only for her to get sent to dangerous missions that may involve, but are not limited to, weird toxic mushrooms, strange demonic monsters, even stranger cults and worst of all...a journey of self discovery. Seriously, this girl can't catch a break.

Best Supporting

Seraph from Iterations by Athena

If Zia is the brawn then Seraph is the brain. Having been stuck in a hospital bed attached to a bunch of machines just to continue to live, Seraph has pretty much played out through every possible scenario of the story thanks to her clairvoyance. Now, with Zia by her side, she'll have to try and figure out what path they should take while trying not to die from her condition. She also gets a totally adorbs Starly along the way.

Sarah Villareal from Because You Were There

Originally starting out as an aspiring trainer aiming for the top, Sarah's plans took a side turn when Ultra Beasts descended and plunged the world into an Apocalypse. Now, years later she and her Umbreon band together to fight in a giant Robot against this beasts, but this relationship might go through a few more blocks than she and her Umbreon think.

Best Contributor

@diamondpearl876

You can't say that she doesn't work hard. Ever since she started up as the new head (and even before that), diamond's tried her best to improve upon the workshop and pick up the slack. So it's fitting that her contributions should be considered on her first awards as new head.

 

[diamondpearl876]

Nominations are 100% updated as of right now!

We've got a decent turnout so far, guys! So excited and happy! There's a few days left to get to reading and nominating, so make the most of 'em!

 

[Persephone]

Throwing in two best reviewer nominations

@Ghostsoul

Definitely the most promising reviewer to show up during my hiatus. She has good, critical things to say without getting overly negative. Made me reconsider a lot of Iterations right at the start and I'm glad she did. And she does genuinely seem to like and care about at least some of the many stories that she reads.

@Flaze

Basically running neck and neck with Pavs for most points in the review league, and he reads about as many stories as anyone. He's also quite good with responding promptly to updates.

 

[Beth Pavell]

Adding a few of my own

Best Protagonist

Evelina Joy of The Long Walk

Evelina Joy is an independent young adult with a strong rebellious streak and a childish sense of humour. Her story arc focuses on her insistence on living life on her own terms and making a name for herself while she does it.

Joshua Cook of The Long Walk

Joshua Cook is a working-class boy from a post-industrial town branching out into pokémon training. Typically grumpy and not very outgoing, he has an unexpectedly romantic soul underneath

EDIT: Best Alternate

Rara Avis: Oak and Iron Bound by AetherX

An uncompromising "medieval" Pokémon story eschewing artificial grit for cold realism, and I'm not just saying that because I beta it.

Best Pokémon

Peredur the Aggron of Rara Avis

Peredur acts as both the most significant pokémon character and villain by proxy, a monster without malice that acts as a reminder of his human trainer who had malice

 

[diamondpearl876]

Nominations are now closed! Thanks, everyone!

I'll be posting the final nomination list this weekend, after a bit of discussion is had on some of the categories chosen. The judging hub will be opened on Monday.