TWL Best of the Year Nominations!

We've had looooads of stories, poems, essays, reviews, and all other sorts of literature come through our halls, and now it's time to honor the best of 2008! Welcome to the first ever annual TWL Best of the Year Nomination ceremony!

Everyone gets a whopping nine nominations, one for each of the following categories. Current nominees are:

The Writers' Lounge's Best Writing of the Year 2008
This title goes to the most revered work of the year. Entries have to have been released during '08.

Blood Horizon by sandyqbg
Noodles by Foolz3h
the Curse of the Black Diamond by waZelda
Codename: Alignments Clash by EndlessGame

The Writers' Lounge's Writer of the Year 2008
This title goes to our favorite writer! Entrants must have completed at least one work throughout this year and have commented on at least one other work (besides their own) in the past.

sandyqbg - Prestige Level 4
iloveflash - Prestige Level 6
Foolz3h - Prestige Level 8
Aberinkulas - Prestige Level 4
EndlessGame - Prestige Level 4

The Writers' Lounge's Critic of the Year 2008
This title goes to the number one commenter in the union. To be elligible, entrants must be at least ranked Prestige Level 3, "I'm a Big Deal," and have commented on at least three works throughout the year.

Foolz3h - Prestige Level 8
Aberinkulas - Prestige Level 4
iloveflash - Prestige Level 6
waZelda - Prestige Level 3
MetalGear_Ninty - Prestige Level 3

2008 Short Story of the Year
You gotta love a nice, short, satisfying read. This title goes to the best short story of '08! Entries must be no longer than 10,000 words and have been regarded as a completed piece, not ongoing in parts after its release.

Mankind During a Car Accident by iloveflash
Meteor by Aberinkulas (gbarules2999)
Vehicle Battle by irmeleeman5995
Symbolism by EndlessGame

2008 Series of the Year
"This world ain't big enough for the two of us." :x This title goes to the most highly praised series of the year! Entries must be at least three chapters (or parts) in length and be considered ongoing. The series does not have to be complete to be elligible for nomination.

Crimson Moon by freek666
Codename: Alignments Clash by EndlessGame
Metal Shadow by iloveflash
Pellet by Blade_Tr4iner
the Curse of the Black Diamond by waZelda

2008 Review of the Year
Entries must have at least one recommendation or other form of thumbs-up and have been written with the sole intention of critiquing something.

Far Cry 2: Should've Brought the Bug Spray by ZiikuTV
Patapon Review by iloveflash
F.E.A.R. review by stevenscott14
Condemned: Criminal Origins review by millwrought
Metroid Prime review by Aberinkulas (gbarules2999)

2008 Essay/Editorial of the Year
Entries must be at least three paragraphs in length and have been written in essay format.

Grand Theft Autopsy by Foolz3h
Love in Education by millwrought
Sparta's Culture and War by irmeleeman5995

2008 Poem of the Year
Entries must be considered poetry, not prose.

Skellebull's untitled by Skellebull3000
Honkyjoe's Poetry Thread by honkyjoe
Freiheit! by kingkilla3
In Hand by kingkilla3
Devine Romantic by valla666

2008 Novel/Novella of the Year
Entries must be over 10,000 words in length.

43DH5 by Aberinkulas (gbarules2999)
Noodles by Foolz3h
Red and Grey by iloveflash

(This list is updated periodically)

Your nominations may include any previously nominated works for the Hall of Fame. Nominations end on January 17th, but elligible works must be written before New Year's Eve. Nominees will be eligible for the Best of the Year Vote, which will be held January 18th - February 1st, 2009. You cannot nominate a previously nominated work (for one of the above categories), nor can you nominate your own work. You do not have to use all nine of your nominations. Tickets are redeemable for $5 before December 17, 2008; side effects may include cramps, drowsiness, and runny nose.

Now start choosing your picks! A big Good Luck to everyone! ;)

REMINDER:

1) Please CATEGORIZE your nominations. You can copy/paste the above list if it makes things simpler for you, but do not simply say what you wish to nominate without putting it in a category.

2) Please try not to nominate something until you've made up your mind about it.

3) Please, until you've read a substantial amount of stuff from 2008 to make an educated nomination, avoid nominating. :P

*To those infuriated by all the PM's: I DID NOT SEND OUT THOSE PM'S SEVERAL TIMES. GLITCHSPOT FLOODED YOUR INBOXES. Thanks for your understanding.

The Writers' Lounge's Critic of the Year 2008
This title goes to the number one commenter in the union. To be elligible, entrants must be at least ranked "I'm a Big Deal," and have commented on at least three works throughout the year.

You'd be insane not to pick this guy. He's read and commented on nearly EVERY WORK to have been released on TWL, and that's saying something. I won't keep you all in suspense, since you already know who I'm talking about, so without further ado--

I nominate Foolz3h for Critic of the Year 2008!

Shouldn't we wait unti... you know... 2008 is finished? :PFoolz3h

This is only the nominating process. Once December 31st has passed, no more works will be allowed to be nominated for 2008. Gotta think ahead of the game, man. ;)

The Writers' Lounge's Critic of the Year 2008
This title goes to the number one commenter in the union. To be elligible, entrants must be at least ranked "I'm a Big Deal," and have commented on at least three works throughout the year.

You'd be insane not to pick this guy. He's read and commented on nearly EVERY WORK to have been released on TWL, and that's saying something. I won't keep you all in suspense, since you already know who I'm talking about, so without further ado--

I nominate Foolz3h for Critic of the Year 2008!

iloveflash

He haven't commented on the Curse of the Black Diamond yet!

Anyways, I nominate Aberinkulas in that category and 43DH5 in the best novel category.

I also nominate Crimson Moon as best series. 

Hey, Flash, stop sending messages about this. I got four. Settle down.

I'll nominate people soon; just wanted to say, you know, hold off spamming my inbox for a bit.

Okay, now I'm kind of getting annoyed. Unfortunately I can't send out the following by PM because the spam thing may happen again, so I'll just reiterate it wherever possible:

I DID NOT SEND OUT THOSE MESSEGAES SEVERAL TIMES. I CLICKED SEND ONCE, AND GLITCHSPOT FLOODED YOUR INBOXES.

Before anyone complains again, let me just point out to you all that I have almost one hundred pages of spam to delete from my outbox at the moment. Meaning I have to go and delete literally just as many PM's as everyone in TWL combined. So you settle down, please. I know what you're going through times 275.

I have to go and delete literally just as many PM's as everyone in TWL combined. So you settle down, please. I know what you're going through times 275.

iloveflash

Who's fault is that? HMMMM?!?!?!

In any case, that is a satisfactory answer.

Okay, now I'm kind of getting annoyed. Unfortunately I can't send out the following by PM because the spam thing may happen again, so I'll just reiterate it wherever possible:

I DID NOT SEND OUT THOSE MESSEGAES SEVERAL TIMES. I CLICKED SEND ONCE, AND GLITCHSPOT FLOODED YOUR INBOXES.

Before anyone complains again, let me just point out to you all that I have almost one hundred pages of spam to delete from my outbox at the moment. Meaning I have to go and delete literally just as many PM's as everyone in TWL combined. So you settle down, please. I know what you're going through times 275.

iloveflash

Well I was atually feeling proud of myself because I had 4 messages, but it wasn only one...

and I also vote ILF as critic of the year, since he has atleast tryed comment as much as Foolz :P

I'm voting Allen's Saga as the best Novel, I need more thinking for the other titles...Allikiza

Dude, seriously, read the rules.

You can't vote for your own work.

The Writers' Lounge's Best Writing of the Year 2008
Blood Horizon by sandyqbg

The Writers' Lounge's Writer of the Year 2008
sandyqbg

The Writers' Lounge's Critic of the Year 2008
wazelda

2008 Short Story of the Year
The Caffeine Files 2: Human Touch and Love

2008 Series of the Year
Crimson Moon by Freek (though it's been a little slow)

:(

2008 Essay/Editorial of the Year
Grand Theft Autopsy by Foolz

2008 Poem of the Year
Skelebull's untitled (the one in the "writer's block")

2008 Novel/Novella of the Year
Noodles

I did not intentionally select recent works; those were just the ones I enjoyed the most.

2008 Review of the Year
My Metroid Prime review

Aberinkulas

*moar facepalm*

What did I just say!?

He even goes off to add a link to his Metroid Prime review! Wha--I--wha--did he--just--I mean--!?

...Well, nothing I can do I guess. But that's a sad waste of a nomination, imo. To both of you. For shame.

2008 Series of the Year
Crimson Moon by Freek (though it's been a little slow)

Aberinkulas

Blame school for that :P However I'm back in my groove, so more should be out by the end of the year.

[QUOTE="Aberinkulas"]

2008 Series of the Year
Crimson Moon by Freek (though it's been a little slow)

freek666

Blame school for that :P However I'm back in my groove, so more should be out by the end of the year.

Glad to hear it. I think that I have finally found my grove.

Guys, I nominated Crimson Moon first. If I understood the rules, it's no need to nominate it three times.waZelda

They're not listening... (~_~)

[QUOTE="waZelda"]Guys, I nominated Crimson Moon first. If I understood the rules, it's no need to nominate it three times.iloveflash

They're not listening... (~_~)

I always listen.

Oh by the way, I nominate Crison moon :P

[QUOTE="waZelda"]Guys, I nominated Crimson Moon first. If I understood the rules, it's no need to nominate it three times.iloveflash

They're not listening... (~_~)

I'll do some nominations soon, it's been a while since I've been around so I need to do a revision of past threads.

[QUOTE="Allikiza"]I'm voting Allen's Saga as the best Novel, I need more thinking for the other titles...iloveflash

Dude, seriously, read the rules.

You can't vote for your own work.

(Sorry meant as a joke)

[QUOTE="Aberinkulas"]

2008 Review of the Year
My Metroid Prime review

iloveflash

*moar facepalm*

What did I just say!?

Your two posts were not there last night. Glitchspot strikes again.

Fine, I remove my nomination for my own review (even though technically gbarules2999 wrote it, not me). Not the Crimson Moon one, though. That one stays.

He even goes off to add a link to his Metroid Prime review! Wha--I--wha--did he--just--I mean--!?

...Well, nothing I can do I guess. But that's a sad waste of a nomination, imo. To both of you. For shame.

iloveflash

Why?

I can't tell you how many times I would have won a vote or other nonsense because I would have voted for myself. Too many. Every bit counts, and if I need to lose a little self respect in the process, that's okay.

In the words of Richard Nixon, "The only thing that matters is to win."

(I'm being facetious here)

[QUOTE="iloveflash"]

[QUOTE="Aberinkulas"]

2008 Review of the Year
My Metroid Prime review

Aberinkulas

*moar facepalm*

What did I just say!?

Your two posts were not there last night. Glitchspot strikes again.

Fine, I remove my nomination for my own review (even though technically gbarules2999 wrote it, not me). Not the Crimson Moon one, though. That one stays.

Why do people not bother to read the rules? Crimson Moon was already nominated, so you can't nominate it.

In order to fresh up your memories, here is the rules:

Your nominations may include any previously nominated works for the Hall of Fame. Nominations end on December 31st, New Year's Eve. Nominees will be eligible for the Best of the Year Vote, which will be held in January (specific dates to be determined). You cannot nominate a previously nominated work (for one of the above categories), nor can you nominate your own work. You do not have to use all nine of your nominations. Tickets are redeemable for $5 before December 17, 2008; side effects may include cramps, drowsiness, and runny nose.

iloveflash

In order to fresh up your memories, here is the rules:

[QUOTE="iloveflash"]

Your nominations may include any previously nominated works for the Hall of Fame. Nominations end on December 31st, New Year's Eve. Nominees will be eligible for the Best of the Year Vote, which will be held in January (specific dates to be determined). You cannot nominate a previously nominated work (for one of the above categories), nor can you nominate your own work. You do not have to use all nine of your nominations. Tickets are redeemable for $5 before December 17, 2008; side effects may include cramps, drowsiness, and runny nose.

waZelda

Rules only exist to be broken. I'm making a public statement.

EDIT: Actually, it would be nice to have a running list of everything nominated so far, with links. Is that feasable, oh overloads?

[QUOTE="waZelda"]

In order to fresh up your memories, here is the rules:

[QUOTE="iloveflash"]

Your nominations may include any previously nominated works for the Hall of Fame. Nominations end on December 31st, New Year's Eve. Nominees will be eligible for the Best of the Year Vote, which will be held in January (specific dates to be determined). You cannot nominate a previously nominated work (for one of the above categories), nor can you nominate your own work. You do not have to use all nine of your nominations. Tickets are redeemable for $5 before December 17, 2008; side effects may include cramps, drowsiness, and runny nose.

Aberinkulas

Rules only exist to be broken. I'm making a public statement.

VIVE LA REVOLUTION!

After searching though the board and reading a lot of reviews from this year, the review I'll nominate is Far Cry 2 by ZiikuTVwaZelda

Excellent choice!

[QUOTE="Aberinkulas"][QUOTE="waZelda"]

In order to fresh up your memories, here is the rules:

[QUOTE="iloveflash"]

Your nominations may include any previously nominated works for the Hall of Fame. Nominations end on December 31st, New Year's Eve. Nominees will be eligible for the Best of the Year Vote, which will be held in January (specific dates to be determined). You cannot nominate a previously nominated work (for one of the above categories), nor can you nominate your own work. You do not have to use all nine of your nominations. Tickets are redeemable for $5 before December 17, 2008; side effects may include cramps, drowsiness, and runny nose.

waZelda

Rules only exist to be broken. I'm making a public statement.

VIVE LA REVOLUTION!

Yay! I love revolutions!

I nominate Noodles for best Writing. Though it wasn't my kind of story, I must admit it was incredibly well-written. A list of the nominated so far:

Best writer:

sandyqbg

Best Writing:

Blood Horizon by sandyqbg and Noodles by FoolZ

Critic of the year:

Foolz, flash, Aberinkulas and me.

Short Story:

The Caffeine Files 2: Human Touch and Love

Series:

Crimson Moon by Freek

Essay/Editorial:

Grand Theft Autopsy by Foolz

Poem:

Skelebull's untitled

Novel/Novella:

Noodles and 43DH5

Review:

Far Cry 2 review by ZiikuTV

I think that was all so far.

Thanks waZelda! (though I think some of those links are broken)

2008 Series of the Year
"This world ain't big enough for the two of us." This title goes to the most highly praised series of the year! Entries must be at least three chapters (or parts) in length, each chapter spanning at least 1,500 words in length, or all chapters making up a total of at least 4,500 words in length. The series does not have to be complete to be elligible for nomination.

While I agree that Crimson Moon and Blood Horizon are both great picks, I'd liked to have cast my vote for the Chronicles of Syn series. But sadly it is only two chapters long... Dammit all!

However there is one series I love next to Syn, and that is EndlessGame's Alignments Clash series. Most of you newcomers haven't had the chance to get acquainted, so do so now! That's my nomination for best series.

Let me see, which nominations have I not yet used.

Writer of the Year:

I nominate FoolZ

Essay:

Love in Education

By the way, when it comes to short story, why did you have to set at least 2k as a rule? I would nominate Mankind During a Car accident, but it is not long enough to be a short story.

Thanks waZelda! (though I think some of those links are broken)

2008 Series of the Year
"This world ain't big enough for the two of us." This title goes to the most highly praised series of the year! Entries must be at least three chapters (or parts) in length, each chapter spanning at least 1,500 words in length, or all chapters making up a total of at least 4,500 words in length. The series does not have to be complete to be elligible for nomination.

While I agree that Crimson Moon and Blood Horizon are both great picks, I'd liked to have cast my vote for the Chronicles of Syn series. But sadly it is only two chapters long... Dammit all!

However there is one series I love next to Syn, and that is EndlessGame's Alignments Clash series. Most of you newcomers haven't had the chance to get acquainted, so do so now! That's my nomination for best series.

iloveflash

How many chapters did EndlessGame get out of Alingments Clash since I disappeared?

Ugh... my combination of laziness and stress from work (techies get more stressed than you'd think -_-' ) means I haven't rele been reading anything much... gotta catch up with everything at some points :P

Anyway, for now:

Novella of the year: Noodles (not sure if it's over 10000 words but it sure as hell FELT like a novella to me :P )

Poem " " ": Skelebull's untitled

As for the rest, I'll put my staying power to use and read everything before the 31st, can't guarantee my choices will be the best though since it'll probably start to blur my mind a bit (prolific year I've noticed)

Ugh... my combination of laziness and stress from work (techies get more stressed than you'd think -_-' ) means I haven't rele been reading anything much... gotta catch up with everything at some points :P

Anyway, for now:

Novella of the year: Noodles (not sure if it's over 10000 words but it sure as hell FELT like a novella to me :P )

Poem " " ": Skelebull's untitled

As for the rest, I'll put my staying power to use and read everything before the 31st, can't guarantee my choices will be the best though since it'll probably start to blur my mind a bit (prolific year I've noticed)

Blade_Tr4iner

It was 33,000 odd words. :P

Oh right, there was going to be a flash fiction category, but I removed it at the last minute. I'll fix that rule then; you can include stories from one word in length now. :)iloveflash

Consider Mankind during a car accident nominated for best short story.

The Writers' Lounge's Best Writing of the Year 2008
Curse of the Black Diamond - I loved the clarity and the setting

The Writers' Lounge's Writer of the Year 2008
Iloveflash -Even tho I haven't read as many works as I'd like to read, I liked what I read

The Writers' Lounge's Critic of the Year 2008
Foolz -The most detailed criticisms I have seen

2008 Series of the Year
Crimson Moon - Going strong despite the slack

2008 Essay/Editorial of the Year
Grand Theft Autopsy - I haven't read many essays here but this one's the best among the two or three I've read

I'll finish with the rest of the nominations later

Okay, I know it's off topic but I'm working on getting one last story out before the new year - a long one. Directly related to that 'story help" topic I put up a while back.

And yes, I'm gonna try for more than 5000 words :)

Wish me luck... doubt it'll get nominated but I gotta try, then I'll work on my own nominations (I'm off from the 23rd so I'll have lotsa time, theoretically )

Okay, I know it's off topic but I'm working on getting one last story out before the new year - a long one. Directly related to that 'story help" topic I put up a while back.

And yes, I'm gonna try for more than 5000 words :)

Wish me luck... doubt it'll get nominated but I gotta try, then I'll work on my own nominations (I'm off from the 23rd so I'll have lotsa time, theoretically )

Blade_Tr4iner

Good luck, but boy are you cutting it close! :P

Meanwhile, I still have quite a few nominations left. I'll be the smart one here (along with Foolz3h, the tricky bastard) and wait until December 31st to make my final picks.

haha, oh man. looks like i wasn't the only victim of major inbox spam. ;)

and i have been absent for so long... and i wasn't really active when i actually was here, so i don't really have much to contribute. i did, however, read Noodles - all in one sitting, in fact. and that was awesome.
i'm gonna go browse the forum and catch up on the works i didn't read.

2008 Series of the Year
Crimson Moon - Going strong despite the slack

sandyqbg

I think that series has a good chance to win, if beeing nominated five times is an indication.

[QUOTE="sandyqbg"]

2008 Series of the Year
Crimson Moon - Going strong despite the slack

waZelda

I think that series has a good chance to win, if beeing nominated five times is an indication.

Yup

haha, oh man. looks like i wasn't the only victim of major inbox spam. ;)

and i have been absent for so long... and i wasn't really active when i actually was here, so i don't really have much to contribute. i did, however, read Noodles - all in one sitting, in fact. and that was awesome.
i'm gonna go browse the forum and catch up on the works i didn't read.

stevenscott14

Lol, welcome back. You earn my respect for reading that thing in one sitting! :o

Looking forward to your picks. Please check to make sure it hasn't already been nominated.

[QUOTE="waZelda"][QUOTE="sandyqbg"]

2008 Series of the Year
Crimson Moon - Going strong despite the slack

sandyqbg

I think that series has a good chance to win, if beeing nominated five times is an indication.

Yup

See, this is the main reason we nominate now and vote later, to keep everyone in suspense!! :roll:

Just a question though--I noticed some folks nominated one series for best writing of the year, like Blood Horizon, but then nominate another series for Series of the Year. What's up with that? :P

[QUOTE="stevenscott14"]

haha, oh man. looks like i wasn't the only victim of major inbox spam. ;)

and i have been absent for so long... and i wasn't really active when i actually was here, so i don't really have much to contribute. i did, however, read Noodles - all in one sitting, in fact. and that was awesome.
i'm gonna go browse the forum and catch up on the works i didn't read.

iloveflash

Lol, welcome back. You earn my respect for reading that thing in one sitting! :o

it really wasn't that difficult. the writing was utterly superb. :)

Time to post a new list of what is nominated so far (I apolagixe if some links are broken):

Best writer:

sandyqbg, iloveflash and Foolz3h

Best Writing:

Blood Horizon by sandyqbg, the Curse of the Black Diamond and Noodles by FoolZ

Critic of the year:

Foolz, flash, Aberinkulas and me.

Short Story:

The Caffeine Files 2: Human Touch and Love and Mankind during a car accident

Series:

Crimson Moon by Freek and Alignment clash

Essay/Editorial:

Grand Theft Autopsy by Foolz and Love in Education

Poem:

Skelebull's untitled

Novel/Novella:

Noodles and 43DH5

Review:

Far Cry 2 review by ZiikuTV

I hope some of you will nominate in the categories where only one work is nominated so far.