First Annual Competition

As our one-year anniversary approaches, we want the opinions of you, our valued readers, on which fictions are the best of the best at PhoenixSong!

This will be done in two phases.

Phase One will be preliminary voting. This voting will nominate those stories that will be considered finalists for the awards in each of the categories listed below. Every story on PhoenixSong is eligible to be nominated, provided it meets the criteria of the specific category. You can nominate in as many categories as you'd like; however, please only nominate one story per category. The nomination period will run until 10 PM PDT, September 14.

Phase Two will be final voting. The three stories with the most nominations in each category will be listed on the website for final voting. Final voting will take place from 12:01 a.m. PDT September 17 through 10 PM PDT, September 27.

Announcement of winners in each category will be made on our anniversary date: September 29^th!!

Best Overall Novel-length Fiction: The best completed multi-chaptered story, at least 30,000 words in length.  Genre and category (AU, Pre-OotP, Post-OotP, Post-HBP etc.) don’t matter, only how impressive the story’s prose, characterization, dialogue and plot are to you.

Best Overall One-shot Fiction: The best completed single-chapter story, at least 3,000 words. Again, genre and category don’t matter.

Best WIP Fiction: It’s a fic that keeps people coming back for more, one that makes them stop what they’re doing to read the chapter. Must have a minimum of 8,000 words completed.

Arias: The best single or multi-chaptered poem in any category.

Best Angst Story:

The best completed, single or multi-chaptered story, at least 1,500 words in the angst genre. The story nominated must focus primarily on angst (ie: fluff must be mostly fluff, angst mostly angst) but can include sub-genres.

Best Fluff Story:

The best completed, single or multi-chaptered story, at least 1,500 words in the fluff genre. The story nominated must focus primarily on fluff (ie: fluff must be mostly fluff, angst mostly angst) but can include sub-genres.

Best Humor Story:

The best completed, single or multi-chaptered story, at least 1,500 words in the humor genre. The story nominated must focus primarily on humor (ie: fluff must be mostly fluff, angst mostly angst) but can include sub-genres.

Most Intriguing Plot: Originality is the key here; size doesn’t matter, as long as it’s over 1,500 words.

Best Depiction of Harry Potter: For those stories that portray Harry Potter the best. Nominated stories must feature Harry, if not tell the story from his perspective. 1,500 word minimum.

Best Depiction of Ginny Weasley: This being a Harry/Ginny archive, we would be remiss to not include this category. Stories nominated need to include Ginny as a main character, if not from her POV. Must be at least 1,500 words long.

Best Prank: This does not have to have been perpetuated by Harry or Ginny, just be in the fic. If there is more than one prank in the story, make sure to specify which prank you want to have nominated!

Best Kiss: No matter how long the story, it’s got to have at least one scorching kiss in it, preferably between Harry and Ginny, but it doesn’t matter, as long as it conforms to the site’s shipping rules. Make sure to specify which kiss in the story you want to have nominated!

Best Anti-Slytherin Moment: When a Gryffindor gets something on one of the Slytherins, whether that be Snape, Malfoy, Pansy or anyone else. If there is more than one prank in the story, make sure to specify which prank you want to have nominated!

Most "Out There" Fiction: For that fic that is just so far out of left field. Although this is an unusual story, it still needs to meet the standards of good writing – good plot, characterization, dialogue, etc. Minimum 1,500 words.

The Drifting Feather Award: For those stories that don’t ‘fit’ in another category but are just too excellent to ignore. 1,500 word minimum.

Best Overall Author: Nominees for this category will have published at least one multi-chaptered (30,000 words minimum) and one one-shot story (1,500 words minimum). Authors will be judged on quality of work, including, but not limited to: writing style, characterization, dialogue, plot, and breadth of work. By that we mean the author has proven abilities to write angst, romance, drama, and humor, the ability to write in more than one POV, and/or displays consistent quality in their work. Please specify which stories you are nominating for each author.

Best Angst Author: The winner of this category will have written at least two works that primarily focus on the angst genre. Please specify both stories in the nomination. 1,500 word minimum per story. Remember, the author nominated has to have two stories in the same specific genre (two angst stories or two fluff stories or two humor stories).

Best Fluff Author: The winner of this category will have written at least two works that primarily focus on the fluff genre. Please specify both stories in the nomination. 1,500 word minimum per story. Remember, the author nominated has to have two stories in the same specific genre (two angst stories or two fluff stories or two humor stories).

Best Humor Author: The winner of this category will have written at least two works that primarily focus on the humor genre. Please specify both stories in the nomination. 1,500 word minimum per story. Remember, the author nominated has to have two stories in the same specific genre (two angst stories or two fluff stories or two humor stories).

Please! Take the time to nominate your favorite stories and authors for these awards. Remember, the nomination period is September 1 . 14. Once nominations are complete, those stories that earn the top 3 nominations in each category will be posted and up for final voting. Please take the time to come back and vote for the final winners in each category. Final voting will be September 17 . 27. Good luck to all the authors, and have fun!