How to create an Award

[reviews_and_ramblings]

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

Comments

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

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

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

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!

Q

[semioticwarrior.livejournal.com]

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

award

[liam-moran.livejournal.com]

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

[amielove1.livejournal.com]

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

[yachay.livejournal.com]

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.

[scarlethyacinth.livejournal.com]

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.

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

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

[julesjones]

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).

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

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.

[(Anonymous)]

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!

from Laura Baumbach

[(Anonymous)]

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!

Laura Baumbach

Rainbow Award!

[(Anonymous)]

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.

Count me in darlin

[(Anonymous)]

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

[m-barnette.livejournal.com]

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.