Vote vote vote--and rec rec rec rec

[ellen_datlow]

Ok. Here's my impassioned plea/push/nag for anyone who reads this blog and is eligible to recommend stories and or novels for the various peer group science fiction, fantasy, and horror awards.
I know that some people feel that awards themselves are a bad thing and that they should all be abolished. I'm not talking to you. I don't believe that and I know I'm not going to change your minds.

Awards are NOT going to go away but they could become less visible (which I think is a bad thing). As an editor I really appreciate it when the stories/books I edit make final award ballots and win awards. And I think most writers are even more appreciative of this. It gives a sense of validation for what you're doing by your peers (for the Nebula and Stoker).

Right now is "award rec season" and there are discussions on both the SFWA Bulletin Board and the HWA Bulletin Board about how their respective awards are dying --not enough members are recommending works to even make a preliminary ballot.

Now some people think that this might be because no one likes the work being published.
Others that no one is reading enough short fiction to be interested in recommending works in those categories.
I have a really difficult time believing the first reason. I've been reading sf/f/h short fiction for twenty five years and have found no drop off in quality in any of those fields.

I can't answer for the second but I hope it's not true because if so my profession will die and I love editing short fiction.

If you care at ALL for the genre short story then I urge you to recommend the stories that you think are worth bringing to the attention of your peers.

This is totally off the cuff and I know if I thought about it more I'd have more to write--but I'd also probably just delete the whole post...

Comments welcome!

Comments

[bluetyson.livejournal.com]

The only magazine I have seen recently is FSF. They did used to be around.

Fictionwise multi-year subscription a lot more consistent, there, and around 1/7 the price.

If you don't like sitting at the computer reading 'em, you could consider a cheap old Palm pilot, fits in a pocket nicely.

[david-de-beer.livejournal.com]

Forgot about Fictionwise:) they are an additional option, although they don't have many mags there - F&SF, Asimovs, Analog. Who else? ASIM just does pdf through their own website, but at least they are offering options, which too many are not.

Something that occurred to me just now (and I'm going to tap on you a bit, Tyson), but - are only writers allowed membership in the organizations and therefore eligible for voting?
What about non-writing affiliated readers, like Tyson? meaning, voters coming in as readers, not because they're writers or editors. Surely, if such an option existed and more effort was made from HWA and SFWA to include a form of associate for "fans only", with perhaps no say or privy to writer issues, but at least a vote in the Nebula, Stoker, etc.
The awards are pretty much fan/ popularity driven anyways, aren't they? so, imo, including non-writer readers into voting rights would make buggerall difference except there could be more nominations. And that's pretty much the issue right now - not enough votes. Non-writers would pay for minimal membership if they could vote, no?

[bluetyson.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone would care what I think, or anyone else like that, David. :)

Reader affiliate memberships and let the people who buy the stuff in? Those commoners? Lol. Wouldn't think so, in a writing organisation.

You do have a bit of a point though. Charles Stross for example I saw say writes the stuff, doesn't read it, and a lot of writers are likely similar, so lots of the members will be about as useful as an octopus at a three legged race meeting for things like nomination. A lot of them will be wasting valuable reading time doing insane stuff like write 200K word novels for hours and hours a day.

Would having just the major editors pick the stuff be better? Any particular way will have flaws or biases, etc. No-one else can easily get to most of the stuff, anyway.

Some good news coming on that front, David, perhaps :-

Interzone electronic, perhaps?

They have done their Crimewave mag in the same format as Asimov's etc. Looks good.

Speaking of costs though, with a membership and a sale at the time I think two year subs to the digest type mags came out around $2 each in that Northern Hemisphere monopoly money.. Not a big deal difference to the yanks who can maybe get print similar prices doing the same thing, but is to us.

Aeon? Is that a yearly? You can get that electronic, too I have seen. ElectricStory.com perhaps?

[david-de-beer.livejournal.com]

the digests cost me either $40 x 7 = R280 for 1 year, or $80 x 7 = R560 for 2 years. And since I make sooooo much money (I squat over the toilet and the diamonds roll out, you know), it's totally not a problem!

hehe, yes, writers make so many unappreciated sacrifices for the fans, like offering up their beloved reading time to write stories. Slaves to the fans, ungrateful wretches!
All the more reason, in point of fact, to get people involved who DO read the stories!

ta for the link on Interzone, not a forum I'm often on, will keep an eye on that.

[bluetyson.livejournal.com]

US post office (Craziest in world) dumped surface mail, too, does that make it worse?

No way would I subscribe and hope they make it through that given what other people have been saying.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

David,
Yes, only fiction writers are allowed into SFWA as active members. But fiction and nonfiction writers can join HWA as active members. The idea is for these to be "peer" awards unlike the Hugos, which are a fan award --anyone can vote, just pay the fee.
To allow fans into an organization only in order for them to vote is a bad idea. HWA and SFWA, as imperfect as they are, are intended to help professional writers.

[david-de-beer.livejournal.com]

hmm, well I suppose then both organizations will need to do an active effort to recruit and keep more members, is all.

Hugos - but you need to have attented Worldcon to vote for them, isn't it? or is that applicable only to the Campbell best new writer?

(there's too many awards, you know; they're blurring into one vast amoeba in my brain).

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Someone may have already responded to this(I've been out all day) but if not: I believe that as a member of the year before you can nominate...in order to vote for the final ballot you have to be a member of the forthcoming Worldcon.

[bluetyson.livejournal.com]

The Academy Awards don't bar directors from voting, do they? Barring editors is a bit like that, isn't it?