reviews_and_ramblings | How to create an Award

How to create an Award

It's all day that I'm thinking and reading posts and thinking again. Actually I have always pondered the idea to create an award, but I have always thought, who am I to do that? And now I'm thinking that I'm not alone, am I? I have a lot of friends, readers and authors, and so if I give a space, the Awards could be yours not mine. Only I have nothing to give to the winner if not the a virtual price, you are the winner of the LGBT Award of a little slash/gay/lesbian/romance/whatever online community. And here start one of the problem, I read gay fiction, but not lesbian fiction at all, so I really need your help, friendslist or anonymous commenters.

I have 40 tags among genres and themes, I can create 40 posts for 40 categories and screen the comments. I can open the candidatures for each category and after a month, close the posts and draw the first 10 of each category. I can then open 40 polls for each category and draw the winner for each of them. I can then open 5 polls with 8 titles mixed together and draw the final 5 titles. Finally the last poll, 5 titles from which drawing the all together winner.

As I said, I have nothing to give to the winner if not a virtual award, but to entice people to comment and vote on the polls, I can probably ask to the authors/publishers if they are willing to donate an ebook copy of the final 40 titles and then draw one name among who voted as winner of the full 40 ebooks. If I find people willing to read 5 books in a month, we can also think to not create a poll for the last 5 titles, but to have a jury to read them and give a reasoned vote. Even more of 5, I don't know, 10?

We can consider print books and ebooks, maybe released from August 2008 to August 2009. I will not ask the gender of the author or its sexual orientation ;-)

Starting to setting things --> http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/799266.html

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I think it's a wonderfully generous thing to do.

Thank you Jan, I will count you for entering books in the categories so ;-)

Well, I'll pitch in a book. Let me know where and when you want it sent.

As for names... I suggest either the Elisas or the Rollees...

GREAT timing!

LOL Lee, thank for the suggestion on the name, but no, I don't think a so "personal" name would be right... I really have the idea to set this thing, help it grow and then let it go for better and bigger places (I hope). So yes, we need to find a name... mmm... thinking again... Elisa

Lee, when you said that you will pitch a book, you mean that you want to submit a book in one or more categories or/and that you are willing to donate a book for the gift basket? I ask so to know if adding you to the list of authors who are willing to donate a book. Elisa

Yes--pitch in = contribute. And sure, if I can submit as e-books, I'd be happy to participate.

Yes of course ebooks are all right ;-) And if no one said it's not right, I'm considering to include also the re-release. In the meantime I'm adding you to the list of the authors. Elisa

As always, you take such a thoughtful, well-reasoned, good-hearted approach to things. This is one of the reasons I love your LJ.

A few of us (

erastes, <"c_smith_author">, and

lee_rowan and myself) have been batting around the idea of a contest for GLBTQ fiction, in which the judges read e-copies of books with the author name and book title removed (by someone who is not a judge). The idea is at the "wouldn't that be cool" stage, and not at all developed.

I think we could get some support from publishers, especially those who sell a lot of m/m books written by women. You have a great idea, to solicit prizes from the publishers.

As a well known reviewer, I think you would make a fantastic judge. I also like your proposal for setting things up. I'm putting together a list of people who have expressed interest in putting together an award. Would you like to be on it?

If you would like to do your own award, I'd be happy to help there as well.

Jessica

Jessica,

I'm total open to a collaboration, I contacted yesterday with a private emails some friends and I stated that. As you read on my post, I wouldn't mind the idea of an impartial jury once we have skimmed the title to a few, I think it would be an impossible task with too much books to read.

It's a good idea, you think we can combine the two things? Candidatures and Polls to limit the books and then a special jury to read them?

And I have already received answer from 4 ebooks/print books publishers and 1 ebooks seller, so the gift basket is already growing.

Elisa

Edited 2009-09-27 08:32 (UTC)

Wow! Awesome! I just read this morning's post, and you are FAST. Please tell me how I can help your efforts, and I'll be happy to do whatever you need.

You, and all who offered, can read the categories and see if I need to compact or expand them ;-) And obviously, once the categories are setted, I will need help in filling them with titles. Elisa

Thanks, Elisa -

I think it's an important idea. You don't have to see the full design of the thing right now - you have the luxury of letting it evolve based on what people are actually willing to do. Sometimes just getting it started is enough, and the thing takes on a life of its own.

Lloyd Meeker

Thank you Lloyd. Yes, I'd like to set things a bit and then give the rein to someone else (possible more). I hope it will involve people so they will feel as a part of it and the virtual "reward" for the authors will be more worthy. Elisa

That sounds like a fantastic idea! I'd be willing to help. I like the idea of Rollies as the title too.

Thank you Amie. You can for sure help me to enter the books in the categories when they will be ready. Elisa

I should haven known that you come up with something sweet and amazing, when everyone else is busy ranting about what is going on. ;)

I at least think this is a great idea. It would definitely be fun and exiting, And even if the rewards are not anything huge (tho I think free books would be beyond amazing, and just the fact you know you won something is a reward in itself), it would definitely be something that brings everyone some good time, a pleasure of taking part in something good, and that it would be all in the name of sharing a love for LGBT-fiction.

The publishers are brighter than me ;-) The ones who already answered offered a gift certificate, that is better since obviously if you vote on a book, you probably already read it, and so if you win the chance to have more books, you will choose another one. Elisa

I love the idea, hun. It'll be a lot of work, for you though. Everyone appreciates everything you do for GLBT literature. I'll donate a copy as well. Just keep us posted as to the progress of the idea :D.

Yes, I know it will be a lot of work, but at least for this year I'm willing to do it ;-) Next year we will see. And can I use the Siren Publishing banner (trying to remember that are you who are donating the book)? I have no contact with them. Elisa

I have a contract with Siren, although my first book is coming out on the 8th of October. Either way, I will mail my publisher and ask if they'd like to also participate in the thing.

If you want me 2 do so, of course. :) I was donating one of my own free author's copies so I don't think you could use the banner. Sorry, I'm new at this :D.

It's alright Scarlet, I'm new too. So I will consider your "donation" without linking to the publisher. If you want to pass an email to the publisher to ask them if they are interested, I'm open to that, but it's all your decision. Elisa

Great idea. Count me in if you need help :)

Thank you Alex. I'm setting things, any suggestion is welcome. Elisa

I've only got one title released in that period (Lord and Master 2). I'll kick in a prize copy of that, or of winner's choice of any of my solo titles (to cover what's already been mentioned about people are likely to have already read titles they vote for).

Thank you Jules, I will add your name to the list of authors who are willing to donate a copy. And I will be sure that your book is in all the right categories. Elisa

This is a brilliant idea, Elisa! You're a star :) And I would be very happy to enter, and to donate a book for the prize. (I think 40 ebooks is a fabulous prize!)

I'm also happy to donate any graphics making abilities I might have to make buttons and banners for people's websites. Eg, a banner for the actual competition and "Rolle Award semi-finalist", "Winner of the Rolle award for (whatever category)" etc buttons which could be awarded to people to put on their websites, if you think that's a good idea.

It's a marvelous idea Alex, I wanted so much to ask help for that but didn't want to bother my friend who has the ability / skill to do that. I still haven't decided on the name of the award ;-) I don't want to call it a name too much bonded to my LJ, I would really wish for it to be more a readers award than "mine". Do you have any suggestion? And for the semifinalist or finalist banner we have time, at least 1 month and half. And I'm adding you to the authors list who will donate an ebook. Elisa

Well, the "Rainbow Awards" is what comes to mind at once, but I don't know whether that would be treading on the toes of the Rainbow Writers chapter of the RWA. I don't suppose they own the symbol, any more than the LLA own the Lambda symbol.

I like to do graphics, so that would be a pleasure for me :)

I like Rainbow Awards. Let's call them that for now :-) Elisa

I'm available to help out in any way I can, Elisa. I'll submit books, do promo and even work on creating some type of award or icon or certificate for winner if you need the help. Anything I can do for you, I'm there!

Thank you Laura. The promo work is more than welcome, and a small gift certificate to add to the basket in the name of MLR Press is also very welcome. Elisa

What a great idea Elisa - something positive coming out of the you-know-who's discriminatory new rules. I'll be happy to donate books - e or print, whatever, and if I can help, let me know. I think I speak for all of us at MLR Press when I say you're the top! And that's no bull.
Cheers! J.P.

Thank you Jim! I will add you to the list of authors. And your words are always so kind and able to lift my mood. Elisa

Let me know what I can do to support you in this worthy endeavor, and thanks for your support of writers of male/male romance~!

John Simpson
johnsimpsonbooks@hotmail.com

John, thank you. So can I add you to the list of authors who will donate an ebook / print book? for now it's the only thing I need ;-) I will ask all of you to fill the candidature with the your own books you want to submit in a week or so. Elisa

Elisa,

This is a great idea. We have a lot of lady m/m authors and some f/f authors at Shadowfire Press (http://shadowfirepress.com/) and while we don't issue print books, we do have some really great book tethers we give away to readers. I could offer a selection of those for the gift basket(s).

Thank you for even considering doing such a badly needed award.

Thank you Michael, I will add SP banner to the list. And want to pass word to your author (especially F/F) if they would like to submit books for the categories? Elisa

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How to create an Award

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Rainbow Award!

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