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News
Jan/Feb Silver Trinkets |
Here are our winners:
Best Comedy Best Drama Best Romance Best One-Shot Best Completed Best New Story The site is now accepting nominations for the March/April Silver Trinkets. Only stories posted/updated in March and April are eligbile to win. RLS |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2010.03.10 - 07:41PM ( 0 Comments) |
Final Reminder |
Votes for the Jan/Feb Silver Trinkets will be tallied and winners announced on Wednesday, 10 March 2010. Please remember to vote for your favorites today (8 March) or tomorrow (9 March) if you have not already. Looking at the running totals, I can say that it only takes a few votes to make a difference. Thank you for your participation, RLS |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2010.03.08 - 11:24AM ( 0 Comments) |
Facebook and/or Twitter for SIYE? |
There has been discussion among the staff about the possiblity of creating a Facebook page or Twitter account for SIYE. I think we have hashed it out about as much as we can go without feedback from the users of the site. So, we the staff wish to know what you, the authors and readers of SIYE think about the idea. Is this something a good amount of people would participate in? Is it worth the bother? If it did happen, what things would you want to see going on? If SIYE starts tweeting stuff, do you want news or story updates or both? Please let us know what you think. Thank you all and please remember to cast your votes for the Silver Trinkets. Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2010.03.02 - 03:26PM ( 31 Comments) |
You’re Having My Baby Challenge (2010-1) Closed |
Well, by now we all know Mrs. Potter is going to have a baby. There are eleven stories that tell us that. Paul Anka would be proud. Now is the time for the judges to pick up their score sheets and start reading all the entries. Remember, they are looking for Best Overall, Romance, Husband/Wife Discussion, and Best Celebration categories. The winners will be posted on Monday, March 15, 2010. Recent Comments concerning the Challenges have resulted in the conditions of the next Challenge to be less strict hopefully leading to more creative stories still based on the Challenge story plot. The Challenges are not being overhauled but just “loosened” a bit. They are still a Challenge after all.
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| Sir Ollivander on 2010.03.01 - 05:42PM ( 3 Comments) |
Silver Trinket Voting |
Nominations for the Jan/Feb 2010 Silver Trinkets have been closed and the voting opened. The ballots may be accessed via your account pages. Please have your votes in before 10 March 2010. At that point, the votes will be tallied and winners announced. Good luck and congratulations to all, Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2010.03.01 - 09:18AM ( 0 Comments) |
2010 Annual Fund Drive Concluded |
I believe that we have reached a point where we may conclude our fund drive. During the past week, generous donors have contributed $559.75 to the site. I would like to thank those generous people on behalf of our readers and authors. This would not be possible without you. |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2010.02.23 - 12:18AM ( 28 Comments) |
Last DSTA Nomination Reminder |
| Only one week left to nominate your favorite stories that have published or updated since January 1st. Nominations for January/February DSTAs reopened on January 10th and will close next Sunday, February 28th. To date, 128 users have nominated stories, which is fabulous! However, please remember that only the top ten stories that garner the most nominations will make it to the voting round. If you haven't nominated your favorite because well, gee, they were nominated already, please nominate them again. With the some of the categories having as many as 34 stories nominated, one nomination could change the ballot. So as you read, be sure to nominate if you feel the story's a good one! Jenn Administrator for Beta Relations |
| jennyelf on 2010.02.21 - 09:10AM ( 3 Comments) |
You’re Having My Baby Challenge Update #2 |
| As Harry got home, he went around the house and placed his packages at the back door. Then went around again and entered in through the front door. Ginny was sitting in the living room as he expected. After a few minutes of relaxing with her, he spoke up. “I’m a bit hungry. I’ll make dinner tonight, okay?” “You go right ahead. I’ll just sit right here and wait.” That was just what he wanted to hear. Once in the kitchen, he opened the back door and brought in his packages and started on dinner. About forty-five minutes later…, “Ginny, dinner’s ready.” The first thing she noticed when she entered the dining room was all the candles. They were everywhere. On the dining table, with an elegant red and white table setting was two long red candles bracketing a single, long stem, red rose in a tall narrow vase. Out of place, was an opened parchment on the plate at her normal seat at the table. Just another hint as to how this Challenge can be written. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2010.02.20 - 01:27PM ( 0 Comments) |
2010 Annual Fund Drive |
| Yet again, the time to pay our annual hosting bill is fast approaching. SIYE does not advertise or charge admittance. Consequently, we must turn to raising donations for the site to function because we have no income. Thanks to the 2009 Semi-Annual Fundraiser, we are better off than we normally are at this time, but we are still short of what we need to ensure that the site remains online and able to function, etc. Therefore, we’re asking for you to find it in your heart to donate to our cause if you can afford to and are willing. Even the smallest donation makes a difference and will be greatly appreciated by SIYE’s patrons, authors, etc. All donations go toward the continued functioning of the site. The staff and I provide our time and skills for free. If you are interested in helping out, please click the link below to donate via PayPal. We thank you for your generosity and continued support. Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2010.02.16 - 05:32PM ( 5 Comments) |
You're Having My Baby Challenge Update #1 |
| Not exactly impossible but highly unusual, the post owl landed on the top of Harry’s cubicle at work. St. Mungo’s emblem on it made it look important so Harry opened it up immediately. Once he realized what he was reading, he gave out a Woo-Hoo. What few Aurors there were in the room looked up to see what the commotion was all about. Harry just looked at his "in" basket, the calendar, then his supervisor’s open door. “I request to have the rest of the day and tomorrow off, please. The only assignment I have is the McDermott case and that’s just background material for next month.” “I take it that’s what all the hollering was all about?” his supervisor asked. “Yes. I got some good news about Ginny and we need to do some celebrating.” Harry replied. “Okay. I want to see you Monday morning, bright and early, and ready to hit that file.” His supervisor barely heard the acknowledgement as Harry ran back to his desk to put everything away to leave. On his way out the door, his mind kept running through a list he was trying to put together… 1) Get flowers, big, red roses. 2) Honeydukes Chocolate Bon-Bons. No, wait… 1) Dinner reservations at that Muggle restaurant she likes. 2) Hotel reservations at the beach resort they visited last year……….. This is one start on a good Challenge story. And I haven’t even started singing yet. Got any better ideas out there? |
| Sir Ollivander on 2010.02.10 - 07:02PM ( 2 Comments) |
Silver Trinkets Nomination Reminder |
Nominations for January/February DSTAs reopened on January 10th and will close after February 28th. To date, 100 unique users have nominated stories! All categories have at least three stories nominated, but more is always welcomed! |
| jennyelf on 2010.02.06 - 09:34AM ( 0 Comments) |
You’re Having My Baby Challenge (2010-1) |
| Mrs. Ginny Potter goes to St. Mungo’s to confirm she is pregnant with their first child. But due to an incident at the hospital, she has to leave without knowing the results. By accident, the results are sent to her husband by owl and not to her. A very excited Harry plans to do something special to celebrate the blessed event with his wife. This Challenge is a song fic, ”You’re Having My Baby”, written and recorded as a duet by popular Canadian music singer Paul Anka with female vocalist Odia Coats. The Challenge is to write a story with: 1. Following the lyrics of the song in mind. If used in part or in whole, the lyrics do not count as part of the minimum 1000 words. 2. Harry plans and celebrates the event with his wife; takes Ginny out to dinner, a getaway trip, romantic evening, a surprise, whatever…. 3. The typical baby stuff is discussed; names, planning a baby’s room, announcing to the world, etc. 4. All the early pregnancy symptoms start to happen to Ginny and shared with Harry. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under You're Having My Baby Challenge (2010-1) sub-category of SIYE Challenges and be submitted by midnight Sunday, February 28, 2010. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. Completed stories are preferred. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Husband/Wife Discussion, and Best Celebration. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. 1. “[Blank] is always better with a good cup of hot chocolate.” 2. “See…it’s not so easy to [blank].” 3. “If I had a Knut for every time he’s/she’s [blank].” 4. “Maybe putting a big ribbon on the [blank] wasn’t such a great idea.” 5. “You really had to see a Healer after [blanking]? Imagine that.” 6. “Since when can [blanks] speak?” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2010.02.01 - 04:19PM ( 17 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| Well…, another short round of stories for the last Challenge of the year. I thought creating your own Task for the Tournament would be easy. But That apparently was not the case. We have three very different stories our 14 judges read through and made up their minds about voting for. One very unique winning category came up. And everyone won something. And now the results… The award for Best Overall goes to: ”Mischief Managed!” by Spenser Hemmingway The award for Best Drama goes to: ”Mischief Managed!” by Spenser Hemmingway The award for Best Stealth goes to:…all three tied!!! ”Harry Potter and the House-Elf’s Questions” by Dorothy ”Mischief Managed!” by Spenser Hemmingway ”The Other Unexpected Task” by jennyelf The award for Best Daring goes to: ”The Other Unexpected Task” by jennyelf The 2010-1 Challenge is coming very soon. A blessed event is happening! I would like to thank my many judges who worked hard for this Challenge: AM, BP, CM, CP, D, EB, GC, JH, JM, JS, LN, NS, RS, & YC. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. It wasn’t too difficult with three stories but this was a busy time of the year. The Challenge would not exist if nobody judged them. Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PS.: Retro, quad, tourney, task, and “Quem e voce” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2010.01.15 - 07:32PM ( 3 Comments) |
Silver Trinkets Nominations Reminder |
| Nominations for January/February DSTAs reopened on January 10th and will close February 28th. To date, 28 users have nominated stories, which is fabulous! However, the categories of Best One-Shot and Best Completed are feeling a little left out as no stories have been nominated for them yet. Just a reminder that the stories nominated should be published or updated between January 1, 2010 and February 28, 2010. So as you read, be sure to nominate if you feel the story's a good one! Jenn Administrator for Beta Relations |
| Jennyelf on 2010.01.14 - 02:20PM ( 3 Comments) |
2008-2009 Silver Trinket Winners |
Votes have been tallied and the awards issued. In this round of the Trinkets, Honourable Mention is second place. Congratulations to our winners.
Best Comedy Best Drama Best Romance Best One-Shot Best Completed Best New Story Nominations for the Jan/Feb 2010 Silver Trinkets are now open. Be sure to nominate your favorite stories that have been published or updated during this month or the next. Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2010.01.10 - 10:07AM ( 11 Comments) |
Silver Trinket Voting Reminder |
| To date, we have at least 167 voters. Votes will be closed as early as the morning of 10 January 2010 and winners announced on the same day. Be sure to vote by then if you haven't already. Your favorite authors will thank you. Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2010.01.07 - 10:11PM ( 0 Comments) |
Changing of the Guard |
| We regret to announce that effective 1 January 2010, our very own Spenser Hemmingway has resigned his post as an Administrator on the SIYE Staff. In light of the fact that Spenser has been such a prominent part of the community and also in light of his tremendous services to this site, I think it's only proper that we dub him with the title of Emeritus Administrator and wish him a very fond but regretful farewell with best wishes for his exciting new endeavors. Though we are sad to see Spenser go, we are nevertheless excited to announce that his post over Beta Relations will be filled by our very own Jennyelf who has been functioning quietly as an Admin for a couple of months. If you would like to be an official SIYE Beta, contact her. Also- remember to vote for the Silver Trinkets. Thus far, I'm seeing that about 77 people have voted. As Spenser is fond of saying, Mischief Managed, Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2010.01.02 - 08:19PM ( 13 Comments) |
Tri-Wizard Tournament Challenge (2009-6) Closed |
| HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! WOW?! Another repeat of the last Challenge. I thought this ‘Task’ would have been easier. But we did end up with three entries instead of two. So judging should be pretty easy. Remember, the categories are Best Overall, Drama, Stealth, and Daring. Again, due to the lack of stories, the judging instructions will be a bit different. Keep an eye open for Friday, the 15th when the winners will be posted. Each story is unique so may the best story win. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2010.01.01 - 11:13AM ( 3 Comments) |
Silver Trinket Voting |
| The nominations for the 2008-2009 Silver Trinkets are now closed. The system has created a voting ballot. Most categories have the top ten, but owing to ties, some categories have more than ten choices on the ballot. We will accept votes through 10 January 2010. I will then ensure that the top story in each category does indeed fit the category and issue awards, at which time, the nominations for the next round will be opened. Please take the opportunity to review these excellent stories and vote for your favorite in each category. The link to the ballot can be found on your account page. If you are at this moment logged in, you can also click on the link provided below. Also, on behalf of the staff, I wish all of you a very Happy New Year. Robert L. Scott President, SIYE VOTE NOW! |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2010.01.01 - 02:17AM ( 23 Comments) |
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and all the Politically Correct Stuff. |
| Hi Thar! Well everyone it is that time of Year again. Where SirOllivander sits on his Porch in the Snow and Spenser gets drunk with his Garden Gnomes (which he likes to use as targets for his Skeet shooting 0_0) Also this is a time to be with Family and Friends and celebrate by giving and receiving Gifts. We the Staff of SIYE like to think of all the Authors and Readers of this Site as Family (and at around 6800 members thats a big Family XD) So we would like to Wish you all a Merry Christmas and for those who don't Celebrate Christmas a Very Happy Holidays. And remember to watch out for Spenser and his skeet shooter. Those gnomes of his are Dangerous 0_0 Sincerely, RyokoTenchi Administrator for Author Relations |
| RyokoTenchi on 2009.12.24 - 02:17PM ( 16 Comments) |
Silver Trinkets Reminder |
| Nominations for the 2008-2009 Annual Silver Trinket Awards will close after 31 December 2009. As of now, we have a goodly number of nominations from 97 unique users. At that point, the website will automatically select the ten stories that received the most nominations in each category and create a voting ballot for all of you to select a winner in each category. Please be sure to take the opportunity to nominate your favorite stories. For some categories, like Comedy and One-Shot, a couple of votes could change everything. Have a Merry Christmas. Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2009.12.21 - 07:57PM ( 0 Comments) |
The Tri-Tournament Challenge Update #2 |
| As the Challengers and audience alike gathered around the Quidditch Pitch, which was surrounded in a very heavy fog or mist, Mr. Bagman explained the next Task. “For the purpose of not seeing what you are about to face, the pitch is shrouded in mist. There are two reasons for this. One, so you can’t see what you are about to enter and two, some secrecy of the three ministries involved.” “We have taken a number of ideas from the different Auror Training Academies and combined them into this Obstacle Course. You lot will enter from here and hopefully come out at the other side end where others are waiting for you. Inside the Course there are a number of obstacles you must get around. Some are easy and some are not. There are signs directing you in which direction you must go. They are indiscriminate. They are based upon who gets to it first or second and so on. The first person might have to go left while the second person may have to go straight. So what obstacles you face are at random. But all of you will face equal difficulties.” Walking up to what appeared to be an entrance, he added, “If you are ready, please enter here. This is a timed event so don’t waste your time inside.” Come on you lot! I’ve given you two good ideas to get some plot bunnies to start nesting in your little gray cells. Give it a go. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.12.21 - 07:48PM ( 5 Comments) |
Old and Inactive Memberships |
| While doing some maintenance on SIYE, we have found a number of old membership accounts. We have listed them in two categories: One-shot Memberships: a person signed on to SIYE and created a membership account and then NEVER logged on again. Inactive Members: regular members that have not logged onto SIYE in a very long time. SIYE is looking at membership accounts that have this inactivity for over 24 months. There are about 3,000 of them, inflating our real membership numbers on SIYE. These same members have no stories posted. We carefully checked that one issue. Therefore, we are going to remove these inactive accounts in one week, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009. If you are one of these members and don’t wish to have your account removed, you just have to log onto SIYE. If, in this process, we have made an error and removed an active account, you can always re-register and become a member again. But our techs have been very careful to ensure the statuses of these accounts so we don’t make such a mistake. No stories, complete or otherwise, will be deleted. We will not remove any stories. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.12.11 - 07:34PM ( 20 Comments) |
The Tri-Wizard Tournament Challenge Update #1 |
| After breakfast in the Great Hall, where everybody but the four champions ate hearty, they made their way to the small antechamber like last time. They were all wearing Muggle clothes as directed for the Mystery Task. Already in the room were Ludo Bagman, the three heads of the schools and a few assistants. Also, a table with an odd assortment of small objects. “Thank you for coming on time.” Mr. Bagman spoke up. “In front of you is a table of Portkeys. Each one is keyed to a different location. Your task is to return to Hogwarts in the shortest possible time. In an emergency, you can grip your Portkey and say ‘Hogwarts’ and you will promptly be returned. Also, if you exceed the time limit, which you will not be told, the Portkey will warm up, warning you it will activate in five minutes. There are two rules you must follow. The Statute of Secrecy will always apply and you may not break Wizarding or Muggle laws. And last, you will not have your wands with you. Any questions?” “No wands?!” asked Cedric more of a statement than a question. “Correct. Are you ready?” Mr. Bagman replied. When nobody else spoke up, he continued. “Very well, then. Please place your wands on the table and pick up any Portkey.” After removing their wands and placing them on the table, Cedric picked up an eraser, Fleur reluctantly grabbed a cigarette lighter, Harry took a box of matches, and Viktor pondered a small bottle of paint in his hands. “Please hold the Portkeys in your hands and hold out your hands so they are touching each other.” When they did, Mr. Bagman touched one of them with his wand and said, “Portus.” Their hands glowed light blue for a moment then the four completely disappeared as they ported to their new locations. Mr. Diggory emerged from an alley where an old man said, “Tko ste vi?” Miss Delacour found herself coming out of a phone booth on a street corner where the next person in line said, “Hvem er du?” Harry looked around and realized he was sitting at a fountain in an old town square. A child nearby said, “Kto są wy?” Mr. Krum thought he was in a dressing room of a clothing store and quickly exited. As he was leaving, a store clerk said, “Quem é você?” In the distance, one of them saw a sign over a door. It was the ‘Broken Branch Pub.’ The Mystery Task can come in various shapes, sizes, or colors. Hopefully, this example with stimulate some writers' minds. PS: Yes, Spenser, the language was in Portuguese. Good work. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.12.10 - 09:39AM ( 3 Comments) |
The Tri-Wizard Tournament Challenge (2009-6) |
| The fifth Challenge of the Retro series but Year #4. Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute join Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the competition in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. There are actually four tasks the school champions must face. We know of the Dragon Task, the Lake Task, and the fateful Maze Task. But for seven days, the four contestants were missing while competing in the Mystery Task. The Challenge is to write a story involving: 1. Describing the Mystery Task. 2. Explaining why it was not public knowledge before the Task. 3. Describing at least two contestants’ adventure through the Mystery Task, one will be Harry. 4. Explaining why one contestant ended up in the Hospital Wing. 5. Who won or lost and the point values gained or lost. The Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. This is not a limit. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under The Tri-Wizard Tournament (2009-6) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight Thursday, December 31, 2009. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapters that are submitted by the deadline. Completed stories are highly encouraged! 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Drama, Stealth, and Daring. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. 1. “Ah yes…a boy and his [blank].” 2. “Are we there yet?” 3. “Oops! Sorry about that Your Majesty!” 4. “Proper etiquette calls for you to [blank].” 5. “The pen is mightier than the [blank].” 6. “Who forgot to tell me those house-elves can’t [blank]?” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.12.01 - 07:19PM ( 8 Comments) |
Return of the Silver Trinkets |
| I am pleased to announce that we are reinstating the Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards. SIYE presents these awards to stories that have been chosen by the readers—or in other words, chosen by you. The DSTA was discontinued in March 2008 due to programming problems. One of our new Tech Administrators, Tom (Bear) has been able to rewrite the coding and restore the DSTA to full working order. We are extremely grateful to him. The rules have changed so as to better ensure that everyone has a fair chance. I will do my best to explain everything to you: 1) Nominations will be opened, typically on the tenth day of odd-numbered months. Anyone who has an SIYE account created before nominations were opened may nominate stories for each category. The catch is that the story has to actually fit into the category—the system automatically regulates this. All stories posted here on SIYE fall into at least one DSTA category. The categories are as follows: Drama, Comedy, Romance, New Story, One-Shot, and Completed. Only stories that have been published or updated (meaning: new chapter) since the last nominations were closed may be nominated. Any author that has their story nominated for a DSTA will be notified by e-mail. This e-mail will only be sent for the first nomination a story receives and does not guarantee that the story will make the voting ballot. Of further note, users may go to their account page and see the stories that have been nominated. 2) The system automatically tallies the nominations, picks the top ten for each category, and creates a voting ballot. Users who registered prior to the opening of nominations may vote for their favorite story from each category. After about ten days of voting, the system reports the results to the Administrator presiding over that round of the DSTA’s. (We note that Admins who have stories on the ballot will automatically be disqualified from functioning in this specific position and the DSTA’s entirely- for that round.) The Admin will check and make sure that the “winners” for each category are in fact qualified to win that category. If they see a problem, with the concurrence of at least five other staffers, they are authorized to reject the winner and accept the next story that is qualified. 3) We will announce the winners and re-open nominations. A story may win in each specific category once a year. If the votes are in favor for them to win a category they’ve already won that year, they will be given “Honourable Mention.” If such a story wins a third time, it won’t be publicly noted. “Honourable Mention” may also be given to second-place winners who haven’t previously won a category. However, if a category-winner has already received “Honourable Mention” and then wins a second time, the fact won’t be publicly noted either. 4) At the end of each year, the winners from each category over the past year will be put on the ballot to win the annual award for each category. The first official annual vote under this system will occur at the end of 2010. In the meantime, we acknowledge that a lot of great stories have been written and posted since the DSTA was discontinued in 2008. Therefore, effective immediately, nominations are open for all stories posted/updated between 1 April 2008 and 31 December 2009. Voting will be held from 1 January 2010 to 10 January 2010 when winners will be announced. These winners will be acknowledged as the 2008/2009 Annual DSTA winners. Meanwhile, we hope that you all nominate lots of stories because a major award is at stake. You can find the link to do so on each story page. If you have any questions or find a bug, please post a comment so we can clear it up for everybody. On behalf of the SIYE Staff, I express our excitement for the DSTAs, and wish all of our wonderful authors the best of luck. Robert L. Scott President, SIYE --Additional: There was an error that meant authors were receiving emails regarding the Silver Trinket awards, even if they had opted out of receiving emails in their settings: This has now been fixed. Secondly there was also a problem where some stories in the Humor genre were not eligible for the Best Comedy award: This has also been fixed - Tom. |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2009.11.28 - 05:10PM ( 10 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| Well, well, well… This was a most unusual Challenge. There were more categories to win than there were Challenge submissions. So the instructions to the 12 judges that voted were a little different. The separation between all votes was just 4 points all around. Both stories were still excellent in their own right. And now the results… The award for Best Overall and Most Elaborate goes to: ”Muggles Tomorrow – Comedy Tonight!” by Spenser Hemmingway The award for Best Prank and Best Humor goes to: ”Bragging Rights” by tangle elfwand The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2009-6 Challenge is coming very soon. Quem é você? I would like to thank my many judges who worked hard for this Challenge: BP, CM, D?, DW, EB, IV, JM, JS, MC, NSL, RS, and ZA. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. It wasn’t easy this time around. The Challenge would not exist if nobody judged them. Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PS.: F & G war, pranking, and find a dark corner and start planning. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.11.15 - 10:01AM ( 8 Comments) |
New Tech Admins |
| Tom (Bear) and Chris (Professor_Chris) have joined the SIYE staff as Tech Admins. You will probably notice that many changes and fixes have already been authored and put into place by them. We welcome them to the staff and are thrilled to have their help. Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2009.11.07 - 10:54AM ( 3 Comments) |
Prank Wars Challenge (2009-5) Closed |
| WOW?! This is going to be a very interesting Challenge. Not due to all the great stories but for the fact that there are only two submissions. Having four categories to win, the judging will be a little different this time around. We should have a quick decision. The judges will be given their marching orders shortly. However, you will still have to wait till Sunday, November 15, to see who will have real bragging rights to Best Overall, Best Prank, Best Humor, and/or Most Elaborate. May the best story win, or best stories, or wins, or…whatever. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.11.01 - 08:09AM ( 9 Comments) |
Beta Readers Wanted! |
| Hello there boys and Girls! It's that time of year when we again recruit new Beta Readers for our staff. I won't lie to you--outside of my stories--the work is hard and time consuming, but it is also extremely rewarding. Candidates must demonstrate superior skill in spelling, grammar and knowledge of the Harry/Ginny world. We also ask that Betas be authors themselves, both to ensure perspective, and to provide us with a better idea of individual capabilities. Please contact me if you are interested. At this time, I am working to contact our current team members; trying to establish continued interest and current projects. For those who haven't already, please respond to my emails as soon as possible. Hopefully all of you are working with Challenge entries at this time. Thanks to everyone! Eric B. Administrator for Beta Readers |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2009.10.22 - 11:36AM ( 11 Comments) |
Prank Wars Challenge Update #2 |
| A couple of days ago, Luna was seen tapping on the storefront window of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and waving hello to George and Ron inside. Later that day, she invited a friend over to her house. “Hi Richard. I need your help with a project I’m working on.” “Ok,” he replied. “What do you need?” “I’m going to drink this potion I just made and we’re going to play Exploding Snap for 15 minutes. This way you know I’m not going to poison you.” “Poison me?!” Richard said, backing away a few steps. “Yes. I can’t test it on myself so I need you,” she said as if it was clear as day. After 15 minutes where they both won three games apiece, Richard did drink the potion. “Now I need you to duel me for about 15 minutes. Give me your best shot,” she added. Following her instructions, Richard dueled Luna. But something was definitely wrong. Every spell, regardless of strength, concentration, or direction, flew in some crazy direction away from both of them, with no power or effectiveness behind them. If you were watching, all his colored spells, charms, and hexes flew out of his wand in some crazy cork screw pattern in some off-the-wall direction and fizzled out. About 15 minutes later, they started shooting straighter. Luna actually yelled, “YES!” A few days later, Luna was seen tapping on the storefront window of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and waving hello to George and Ron inside. This may help you gain ideas as to what to write for the Challenge. Come on you lot! Eleven days left in the Challenge. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.10.20 - 07:52AM ( 3 Comments) |
2009 Semi-Annual Fund Drive (Concluded) |
| In light of the fact that SIYE does not advertise or charge patrons admittance fees to access the archive, it is necessary from time to time to raise donations in order to ensure the site's continued existence. Because the entire staff works for SIYE on strictly a volunteer basis, the money raised is used only to pay the hosting and domain fees for the site. Traditionally, these donation drives have occurred once a year. However, it has been decided to make this a semi-annual event in order to make the whole process easier for everyone involved as well as to put SIYE's future in a safer and more stable position. Therefore, if you can afford to donate any amount, the staff and the users of SIYE would be greatly appreciative of that. SIYE uses PayPal to collect and hold funds. It is not necessary for you to have a PayPal account to donate, but you'll have to have a credit card. The link below leads to the donation page. ”DONATE!” As always, the staff, the users of SIYE, and I will be extremely grateful for any support you can provide. Thank you much, Robert L. Scott President, SIYE Update as of 19 Oct 2009: Our goal was $600 for this fund drive. To date, we've received many generous donations that total just above that. I suppose that concludes the fund drive for this half of the year. I would like to thank everyone- we really couldn't do this without you. We will hold another fund drive come March, though anyone is welcome to donate between now and then. |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2009.10.12 - 03:08PM ( 9 Comments) |
Prank Wars Challenge Update #1 |
| “Ok, George.” Ginny started into him. “You raised this Challenge. How do you plan on ending it?” “Simple” he replied. “We all have to come up with a prank and spring it on someone else in this lot.” Ron gasped, “What?! We have to do seven pranks? Isn’t that a little much?” “No, no, no. Just one prank. And to give you some help, you can team up with someone. But not Hermione, Ron. No couples on this one.” “Kitty, you may know George somewhat, but we all have known each other since early school years. Wanna team up with me?” Ginny invited George’s girlfriend. “Indeed, I would be pleased.” she answered. Hermione looked around the group to see who would be her best partner. Neville was waving his finger between the two of them. That was enough for her. “Neville and I” she spoke up. Neville smiled in satisfaction. “Luna? Care to partner with the likes of me?” “I’m thankful for the offer, George. But I was thinking of going with myself. I have some ideas I think would go well on some of you.” The others were a bit surprised at her statement. Ron was seriously looking at Harry so he put his two Knuts in. “I was thinking the same as Luna. I want to go solo as well. Sorry Ron.” “So Ronikins, you’re either stuck with me or you go alone. Pick one.” George offered. That was easy. “Alright, you and me. That way I’ll know you won’t prank me.” Ron let out. “Okay.” George said while clapping and rubbing his hands. “The game is afoot, as someone once said. May the best wizard and/or witch win.” “So when do we start? I don’t want to wait till next year to get a bucket of cold water over my head.” Neville asked. Again, George came up with a solution. “In answer to a very good question, Neville, this is the beginning of October. And a good prank takes some careful planning. I think New Years Eve would be the perfect ending. That’s three months. So we all have three months or less to plan and execute a prank on another person or team. Is that satisfactory with everyone?” Everybody shook their heads and smiled at their opponents. PS: This short update covers Rules 1, 2, & 7. I'm sure authors can cover a few more. Rules 5 & 6 will probably be the bulk of the story. There are many ways to tell this Challenge. Otherwise, it would just be another story. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.10.10 - 09:11AM ( 3 Comments) |
Prank Wars Challenge (2009-5) |
| At any one of the many birthday parties celebrated at the Burrow, there are always discussions of one kind or another. And if George is in the group, he usually can change the discussion to pranks or a new WWW product. One particular discussion involving Harry & Ginny, Ron & Hermione, Neville & Luna, and George & his current girlfriend, got a little heated about who was really the best prankster. So a challenge was issued forth. The Challenge is to write a story involving: 1. One and/or “two-person” teams in the group must pull a prank on another one or “two- person” team in the group. Example, if Hermione and Neville team up, they have to prank someone or a “two-person” team. That means there will be between 4 to 8 pranks pulled, depending on how many two-person teams there are. 2. If two people make a team, we must know who they are before the start of the pranking war. Couples may NOT team up, no Harry/Ginny or Neville/Luna, etc. 3. The planned pranks must be quantified or documented somehow; we need to know who is going to do what so we know it happened the way it’s supposed to. 4. Other people outside the group may innocently help or assist as requested but may not know why or that it involves a prank. 5. One planned prank is to go wrong and backfire on the pranksters or prank the wrong person(s). 6. Two pranks, successful or not, must be the center of the story. The outcome must be discussed somehow and the winner(s) get some kind of award. 7. The time frame is after everybody has completed school and the pranking must be done during a specifically stated three month period. The Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Prank Wars Challenge (2009-5) category and be submitted by midnight Saturday October 31, 2009. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. Completed stories are preferred. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Best Prank, Best Humor, and Most Elaborate. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. 1. "They won't know what hit them." 2. “Ready? ......... Now!" 3. “This may even top the Marauders!” 4. “Well, that wasn't supposed to happen.” 5. “I told you not to touch your tongue to that!” 6. “I love you! Now come closer! I want to kill you!” PS: This Challenge is based mostly on a suggestion by Zapatorf. I hope I did it justice. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.10.01 - 07:55PM ( 19 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| “Merlin’s smelly boots!” This was a very close Challenge. In the “Seven Words,” there were eleven stories submitted. And this time around, we had fifteen judges, quite a large number in these times. But the more judges the better. Every story got a vote for something. It was so close, it was a matter of who had the more second place votes, three, or four, or five. There were so many stories tied for an Honorable Mention, I couldn’t choose one. And now the results… The award for Best Overall goes to: ”Does Your Boyfriend Have Long-Term Potential?” by lilyevans_Jan30 The award for Best Originality goes to: ”Taking The Taste Out Of Peanut Butter” by Spenser Hemmingway The award for Best Choice of Words goes to: ”Romance--All A Girl Wants” by jennyelf The award for Best Effects goes to: ”Seven Strings to Tie Me to You” by hpgirl7777 The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2009-5 Challenge is coming very soon. Find a dark corner and start planning. I would like to thank my many judges who worked hard for this Challenge: AM, BP, CM, DL, EB, GC, IV, JH, JP, JS, KS, MC, NS, RS, & YC. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. It wasn’t easy this time around. The Challenge would not exist if nobody judged them. Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PS.: Seven words, seven days, and dig out all those old Harlequin romance novels! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.09.15 - 09:39PM ( 3 Comments) |
Seven Words Challenge (2009-4) Closed |
| Your Seven Words are up and your thirty-one days are over. The Challenge is now closed to any new entries. We have twelve Challenge stories to read and consider which are best for our categories of Best Overall, Originality, Choice of Words, & Best Effects. There are a bunch of words our authors came up with. Some even I didn’t think of. A good variety in all wouldn’t you say. And how they were played out was quite interesting. So now the judges take over and start reading all the stories and figuring out which are worthy of note. Watch on the 15th when the results are posted for all to see. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.09.01 - 05:56PM ( 7 Comments) |
New Staff and an Updated Staff Page |
| The following members have been added to the SIYE Staff as Archivists: GinnyMolly_Weasley Ginny_Lola GWP4Ever Mario Tobler MySweetNothings SinisterDei I would like to thank everyone who volunteered to be on the staff and express regrets that we are unable to bring every one of you on. A complete list of our staff is located on the Staff Page. Feel free to refer to that when you have occasion to contact us. Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2009.08.27 - 12:40PM ( 1 Comments) |
Seven Words Challenge Update #2 |
| Walking down Diagon Alley together, Ginny made sure she acted slightly affectionate in public. They were doing some light shopping for things Ginny came up with. If Harry didn’t hold her hand, she would initiate it. If they stopped to look at something, she would casually reach around his waist or shoulder and hold him. “Now I know what you mean by TOUCHING. It’s not what I thought of.” “We’re in public and what we’re doing is perfectly acceptable.” She answered. “But wait till we’re in private.” She hinted. “Well, do we need to continue shopping?” Harry sounded a little enthusiastic. “Maybe an ice cream treat to cool you off, first.” She flirted and steered him further down the alley. There are many ways to write this story. This is just one suggestion to get your mines creatively thinking. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.08.20 - 04:24PM ( 2 Comments) |
One Last Birthday |
| Sink Into Your Eyes would like to wish Ginny Weasley-Potter a very happy birthday. By canon calculation, she should be...ouch, ouch, that hurt...she should be twenty-one (give or take). Our site is obviously dedicated to our favorite couple (if you haven't discovered that yet). We mark Harry and Ginny's birthdays, as well as those of Daniel and Bonnie who portray them. Naturally, we especially commemorate Joanne Rowling, who makes all of this possible (and who, curiously, shares Harry's birthday). As they have not been offended by earlier comments, or our approaching them on the subject, The Monkees have agreed to provide the music. SIYE Virtual Ballroom One; Seamus has the Punch; Molly has the cake. Mischief managed! Eric (Anonymous Admin Pokes Eric) |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2009.08.11 - 12:37AM ( 13 Comments) |
Seven Words Challenge Update #1 |
| While Harry was distracted cooking breakfast, Ginny held out a box full of slips of paper in front of him. Being the third morning, he knew he had to pick one. With a free hand, he pulled one out and read the word on it. “FUN. We’re suppose to have fun today?” Harry inquired. “Yup.” replied Ginny. As they ate their breakfast, they discussed what they were going to do that day involving FUN. “Piccadilly Circus, London Zoo, going to a movie with fish and chips? Pick whatever you want to do.” Ginny suggested. Harry asked, “Have you ever been to the London Zoo?” “No.” she replied. “Well, then, that’s my choice. We can have lunch with the monkeys” he exclaimed. “Are you kidding?! I grew up with Ron, remember.” Finishing breakfast, Ginny had a small smirk on her face. Harry thought he had choices. But what he didn’t know was that all the slips of paper had the same word on them. Yesterday they all had MASSAGE, the first day was STRIP. Their friend Hermione wasn’t the only witch who could do research. She had her seven words in a row for a reason. There are many ways to write this story. This is just one suggestion to get your mines creatively thinking. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.08.10 - 07:17PM ( 8 Comments) |
Seven Words Challenge (2009-4) |
| Harry and Ginny are very much in love. But due to Harry’s upbringing without love and affection in the Dursley’s home, he’s not the best boyfriend he can be. Taking a hint from one of her Young Witch Romance novels, Ginny picks seven words to “act out” with Harry over seven days to better their relationship. Harry reluctantly agrees to this. The Challenge is to write a story involving: 1. Ginny picking seven words to demonstrate on or with Harry. 2. Suggestions are, but not limited to: love, adventure, fun, affection, risky, romance, humor, strip, caress, frolicking, travel, dress-up, etc. 3. Give a brief explanation as to why she picks the words she uses. 4. The seven words are used over a seven day period. Planning and such can take as long as necessary. 5. The time frame is after Hogwarts when both are of age. 6. Give a brief description of the results from Ginny’s and/or Harry’s perspective. The Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Seven Words Challenge (2009-4) category and be submitted by midnight Monday, August 31, 2009. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. Completed stories are preferred. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Originality, Choice of Words, and Best Effects. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. 1) “Now what do you suppose would happen if I tried this?” 2) “I love [blanks]…everyone should own one.” 3) “It has to be true. I read it in [blank].” 4) “Always beware of [blanks] between March and July.” 5) “The suspense is killing me, but I guess that’s better than [blank].” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.08.01 - 08:13AM ( 26 Comments) |
Happy Birthday Joanne and Harry! |
| The staff and membership here at Sink Into Your Eyes would like to wish J,K. Rowling and Harry Potter a very happy birthday! Cake will again be served in SIYE Virtual Ballroom Two, and we are excepting recipes for good, unspiked, non-exploding punch. |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2009.07.31 - 09:28AM ( 11 Comments) |
Happy Birthday Daniel |
| On behalf of the staff and membership of Sink Into Your Eyes, we would like to wish Daniel Radcliffe a very happy twentieth birthday. Cake and (unspiked) punch will be served in SIYE's Virtual Ballroom Two. |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2009.07.23 - 09:43AM ( 8 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| Mary Sue can now be proud, shamed, put on a pedestal, embarrassed, and a many other things, don’t you agree? The 19 stories submitted for this Challenge did it all. Most of the judges commented on a number of stories in one fashion or another. There should be an award for judging. The tally came close to seven stories. And now the results… The award for Best Overall goes to: ”Harry Almighty” by lilyevans_Jan30 The award for Best Comedy goes to: ”It That A Wand In Your Pocket?” by St Margarets The award for Most Insane and Most Profound Social Commentary goes to: ”Spenser For Hire-Two Knuts A Word” by Spenser Hemmingway The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2009-4 Challenge is coming very soon. Dig out all those old Harlequin romance novels! I would like to thank my many judges who worked hard for this Challenge: AM, BG, CQ, DW, EB, GC, JH, JS, LW, MB, NSL, & YC. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. It wasn’t easy this time around. The Challenge would not exist if nobody judged them. Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. P,S.: That difference, Sue Who, and we’re getting back on track. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.07.15 - 10:52PM ( 31 Comments) |
Revised Submission Rules |
| The submission rules have been revised and updated. The changes largely constitute clarifications rather than alterations. However, I would encourage all authors to review the revised rules located ”here.” As of now, the revised rules are applicable to all future submissions and submissions currently waiting for approval. It is unlikely that stories waiting for approval will be rejected because of the revised rules if they adhered to the old rules in the first place. Stories posted/approved prior to this time are subject to the old submission rules. We soon expect to revise and clarify the rating system, content warnings for stories, and general site rules. If you wish to make suggestions to contribute to this effort, please contact me via e-mail at president [at] siye.co.uk. Have a good day- Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2009.07.13 - 11:19AM ( 16 Comments) |
Mary Sue Challenge Closed |
| It’s now time for Mary Sue to take a bow. Her Challenge is now closed. At the end of the day, or midnight as it may be, we have 19 stories to compete for the coveted title of Best Overall, Best Comedy, Most Insane, and Most Profound Social Commentary. I do not envy our judges on this one. Nervous breakdownns, hysterical laughter, and everything in between will not stop our hardy judges from picking the best submissions. I know reading and judging has already started. I suspect they will need all the time available. I will receive their results by Tuesday, July 14, so I may tally up the scores and post the winning entries on Wednesday, 15 July. So watch your calendars. I wish the judges some very good luck and skill and a robust thank you for Torak for his creative thinking of this Challenge. He is two for two in designing Challenges for SIYE. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.07.01 - 05:59PM ( 12 Comments) |
Mary-Sue Challenge (2009-3) |
| If you've ever read a story with a Mary-Sue, you know what to do here. Set during the time period covered in either HBP or DH, your challenge is to write a story spoofing the concept of Mary-Sue. Exchange students; Muggle technology at Hogwarts; Goth original characters with outlandish names inexplicably hooking up with the main characters; they're all yours to play with. Plot-wise we're not too bothered. But we're going to try something new: go to the List of Titles and pick one. The only requirement for plot is that it should fit the title. But we're not looking for just any Mary-Sue, oh no; we're looking for spoofs of the highest order, parodies of such magnitude that our sides should split within the first paragraph. So, here are your guidelines. 1. One way or another, show how the exaggerated attributes of the Mary-Sue don't fit into the established world. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Mary-Sue Challenge (2009-3) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight, Tuesday, June 30, 2009. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Best Comedy, Most Insane, and Most Profound Social Commentary. This is a rather looser challenge than usual... a bit of an experiment. Let's see what you can make of it. If you have any questions or comments, just post in the comment thread or contact me. /Torak |
| Torak on 2009.05.31 - 07:20PM ( 43 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| Not exactly the Pulitzer Prize in news reporting, but a very tight race for our four story-tellers. The thirteen judges had a difficult time with just a few, good candidates to pick from. But in the end, the winners were quite clear. I would like to note our seasoned authors were bested by a relative newcomer to SIYE with his first, posted story. Good show! And now the results… The award for Best Overall and Best Security goes to: ”The Ministry Six Uncovered” by Count Westwest The award for Best Drama goes to: ”The Other Side” by sanidad The award for Some Serious Newspaper Editing goes to: ”The “Chosen One” Speaks!” by quinn The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2009-3 Challenge is coming very soon. We’re getting back on track. I would like to thank my many judges who worked hard for this Challenge: BP, CM, CP, EB, GC, JH, JML, KC, LN, LW, NSL, RS, & YC. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. The Challenge would not exist if nobody judged them. Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PS: Judge JML, you picked ALL first place winners! Most Excellent! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.05.15 - 06:01PM ( 7 Comments) |
The Interview Challenge Closed |
| So, the second Challenge of the New Year is now closed. At the last minute, we now have four submissions to challenge our fine judges. These four will be competing for the title of Best Overall, Drama, Security, and Some Serious Newspaper Editing. The judges for this Challenge are experienced in writing stories and judging such contests. By the time you read this, the judges have already begun to read all the entries and marking up their scores for judging. Their votes will be submitted to me by Thursday, May 14, so I may post the winners on Friday, the 15th. As you may know, this was not the scheduled Challenge for April. We will try to get back on track and have the correct Challenge for June. Good luck to both the judges and all authors. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.05.01 - 08:05PM ( 9 Comments) |
The Interview Challenge Update #2 |
| “Ah. There it is I bet.” Mr. McGregor said as he noticed Hermione approaching him with some parchment in her hands. “Yes, sir. Just as you asked for. I broke it down in groups as to how close each person is to Harry and then by what House they’re in.” Hermione replied. Mr. McGregor, the outside news reporter, had asked for a list of names of fellow students of Harry’s that would be in attendance. He wanted to start with those surrounding Harry and work towards his inner circle. Hermione immediately volunteered. Looking briefly, he noticed one name from a different house but was in the second group nearest Harry. “I see that Miss Luna Lovegood is unique on this list.” “You have no idea.” Harry’s best friend answered. There are many ways to tell this story. This is but one idea to get you thinking. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.04.20 - 08:30PM ( 6 Comments) |
The Interview Challenge Update #1 |
| Security was totally the Twins idea. Everybody that was invited was showing up in ones and twos at one of the bigger rooms at the The Leaky Cauldron. George, or was it Fred, and Lee Jordan met each person at the entrance of the room, shaking hands and thanking them for coming. After a little chatter, they were led to a table full of used and discarded kitchen utensils. They were the Portkeys that would take the guests to the actual location of the main event. Each person was to take one item. Then Fred, or was it George, touched the hand holding the utensil with his wand, it glowed a light blue for a couple of seconds, and then they disappeared. All but two individuals made it to the event. One was a party crasher who just happened to be in The Leaky Cauldron for a couple of pints. The other was a reporter for the Daily Prophet. How he found his way in was not known at the time. But neither of them were getting out of their temporary holding cell for the next 24 hours. It was later revealed that the utensils were not really Portkeys at all. It was the invisible sticking powder on Fred, or was it George’s, hand. He shook hands with only two people that day. Authors can come up with many ways to tell this story. I hope this will give you some ideas to go on. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.04.10 - 08:24PM ( 7 Comments) |
Rules Revision in the Works |
| We've had our site rules in place and largely unchanged for some time now, and we've recently decided that it's time they got a facelift. So we've set up a committee to review the rules as they stand and recommend a new and revised ruleset to the administration. The committee, chaired by me, consists of five SIYE staff and two authors. We'll be holding discussions over the next few weeks, and will hopefully end up with a recommendation that Robert L Scott, SIYE President, can ratify. Now, here's where you come in. Is there anything you'd like to see mentioned in the new rules? Any rules you think need changing, anything we should tighten up? Let us know, either in the comments below or, preferably, by email to RRC@siye.co.uk Please do not debate the rules in the comments; to make it easier for us to list things, please keep it to suggestions only, no back-and-forth. We will moderate this particular comment thread heavily. Torak, for SIYE |
| Torak on 2009.04.05 - 10:52PM ( 12 Comments) |
Technical Issue |
| Recently, SIYE has developed a strange bug which makes some users unable to post chapters. The chapter looks fine when they upload and preview it, but once they actually submit it, the chapter text disappears. For an example, click here. In some other cases, an author tries to edit an existing chapter, and either the author cannot edit the text, or part of the text vanishes and the author cannot edit the text. This bug does not affect all user accounts, but thus far we have been unable to detect a pattern amongst the accounts that are affected. The only way to test accounts to see if they’re working properly is for the authors to attempt to post a chapter or story. For the moment, we do not have a reliable workaround. If you try to post a chapter and find that you’re affected by this bug, please let me know via PM or email (or you can reply to this post). We are working to address the root cause of the problem, and we’ll keep you updated if the process takes more than a few days. UPDATE: (April 6) We think we have mostly fixed the problem. Please continue posting here or contacting me if you encounter any issues of this sort. Thanks, Sovran SIYE Tech Admin |
| Sovran on 2009.04.02 - 09:11AM ( 10 Comments) |
The Interview Challenge 2009-2 |
| The fourth Challenge (5th year) of the Retro series: After the incident at the Ministry’s Department of Mysteries at the end of his fifth year, numerous libelous and slanderous stories come out in the Daily Prophet about Harry Potter. To get the truth out, Harry and his friends ask Mr. Lovegood, editor of the Quibbler, to bring in an outside, non-partial, news correspondent to interview Harry and his friends that wish to participate. The idea is to show Harry as a normal teenager. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1) The story is to be formatted (as best possible) and written entirely like a newspaper article. Also posted in any Wizarding newspaper. 2) For security purposes, the outside news correspondent and other invited friends will be port-keyed somehow to a secret location for the interview. 3) The secret location will be any social function where everybody invited can relax and be themselves and talk to the reporter. The social function could be anything (Example: Harry’s birthday party, a dinner and dance, outdoor picnic, etc.) 4) Some topics that are answered but guarded are 1) anything to do with Sirius Black, 2) events leading up to and including what happened at the Department of Mysteries, 3) why the students were not in school at the time, and 4) the prophecy. 5) The time frame is the summer after Harry’s fifth year. The story telling can be anytime. (Grandchild finds old newspaper in attic). The Rules: 1) All general submission rules apply. Stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. This is not a limit. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2) All entries must be submitted under The Interview Challenge (2009-2) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight Thursday, April 30, 2009. 3) Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapters that are submitted by the deadline. Completed stories are highly encouraged! 4) The categories for judging are Best Overall, Drama, Security, and Some Serious Newspaper Editing. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. 1) “I love [blanks]…everyone should own one.” 2) “It has to be true. I read it in [blank].” 3) “Always beware of [blanks] between March and July.” 4) “The suspense is killing me, but I guess that’s better than [blank].” 5) “You’d make a great cowboy [blank].” 6) “I told you not to touch your tongue to that!” 7) “I love you! Come closer! I want to kill you!” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.04.01 - 08:39PM ( 8 Comments) |
Author's Notes and Story Summaries |
| Hi folks! Just a quick reminder to let you know that your story summaries and author's notes are being held to the same standards as the main body of your work. If we see netspeak such as "ur," "chappie," and other forms of slang, the chapter/story will need to be resubmitted just as if we found these sorts of errors in your story itself. Also, please remember not to embed any links in your story, including author's notes! |
| DQBunny on 2009.03.24 - 11:49AM ( 5 Comments) |
WET&R Section Updates |
| After some technical difficulties, I'm pleased to announce some updates to the Writing Essays, Tips and Recommendations area. First of all, we have a new essay on the basics of writing dialogue, found here: http://www.siye.co.uk/siye/writing_dialogue.php. In addition, we also have two new resources listed in our "Useful Books for Writers" page: The 3 A.M. Epiphany by Brian Kiteley and On Writing by Stephen King. Many thanks to member (and recent Challenge winner) Perspicacity for his recommendations. Thank you to SIYE members who have provided their support for the WET&R section. And, of course, many thanks to our president, Lord Dreadnault, for his determination in dealing (and continuing to deal) with our current technical issues. |
| sanidad on 2009.03.20 - 04:52PM ( 7 Comments) |
2009 Fund Drive Finished |
| Thanks to the generosity of many people, SIYE's existence for the next year has been ensured. On behalf of those who love and enjoy SIYE, I thank everyone who donated and wished they could have donated most profusely. If you were planning on donating, but just didn't get around to it- we do accept donations year round. Our fund drive went especially well this year partially because of the money that was already in SIYE's coffers. Thank you again- Robert L. Scott President, SIYE (Holder of the BIG Stick) I must protest that the "BIG stick" thing was put there by a staffer who thinks he's pretty funny. :) ) RS |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2009.03.19 - 05:56PM ( 4 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| Well, The Deathly Hallows seems to have been a bit of a real challenge. We had seven entries this time around with varied qualities. Some did quite well as they fought for first place in the different categories. Our fifteen judges found it difficult to judge and come out with complete nominations. However, they all did very well, didn’t they, and the proof is to be revealed. And now the results… The award for Best Overall and Best Drama goes to: ”Hallows and Pathos” by Perspicacity The award for Best Security goes to: ”It’s Kind Of Fun Doing The Impossible” by Spenser Hemmingway The award for Best Adventure goes to: ”The Hallows Questers” by sapphire200182 Honorable Mention is given to one story that had more votes than others but not in any one category to win: ”A Dark Moment” by JulietteFox16 The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2009-2 Challenge is coming very soon. Authors are going to have to be very creative. I would like to thank my many judges who worked hard for this Challenge: BP, CM, CP, DL, DW, IW, JP, JS, KD, MG, NS, PM, RS, TP, & YC. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. It wasn’t easy this time around. The Challenge would not exist if nobody judged them. Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. P.S.: Stick, stone, cloth, royal, academy, magic, and start breaking out your investigative skills. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.03.15 - 11:59AM ( 19 Comments) |
Deathly Hallows Challenge Closed |
| So, the first Challenge of the New Year is now closed. At the last minute, we now have seven submissions to challenge our fine judges, five of which are completed. These seven will be competing for the title of Best Overall, Drama, Security, and Adventure. The judges for this Challenge are experienced in writing stories and judging such contests. The candidate stories are quite varied in their theme and imagination. One is of letters from the past while one is from a very entertaining and informative dialogue of the English language. The various methods of securing the three Hallows and foiling a theft were quite ingenious. By the time you read this, the judges have already begun to read all the entries and marking up their scores for judging. Their votes will be submitted to me by Saturday, March 14, so I may post the winners on Sunday, the 15th. Good luck to all authors. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.03.01 - 12:10PM ( 11 Comments) |
Deathly Hallows Challenge Update #2 |
| Sitting around the Burrow’s living room, Harry tried to explain what he felt when he was in control of the three Deathly Hallows. “Once my parents and all disappeared, I was left holding the Stone in my hand. But I still felt something inside me. Like I should be noticing something but I didn’t know what. Later when I started seeing other people, especially the Death Eaters, I think I figured it out. I could almost see their good or bad aura. Voldemort was mostly black. But the Death Eaters were different shades of gray. Dark shades of gray. Once I was brought out to the castle and saw the rest of you, you all have very light shades of gray. Ginny,” he looked into her eyes, “yours is the lightest, almost white. I think it’s the purity of your feelings or intentions. Or maybe what you have done in the past. Just about everybody fighting for the side of Light were lighter shades of gray vice the Dark side.” Harry looked around at the others to see if they looked like they understood what he was trying to explain. This Challenge can be written in lots of different ways. This is just one way to give you some ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.02.20 - 05:08PM ( 30 Comments) |
Happy Birthday Bonnie |
| The staff and membership of Sink Into Your Eyes would like to wish a very happy eighteenth birthday to Bonnie Wright, who portrays Ginny in the Harry Potter films. Cake, punch and live music will be provided in the newly remodeled SIYE Ballroom Two (I told you we could repair the Valentine's Day damage in time).--Eric |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2009.02.17 - 12:24AM ( 16 Comments) |
Deathly Hallows Challenge Update #1 |
| Reluctantly, Harry agreed to let the Royal Academy inspect the three Deathly Hallows. But before he would send out his reply, he had some work to do. Knowing what could happen if someone was to get their hands on all three Hallows; Harry started working on some security measures. He thought about the perfect hiding places for each item. He did not want any of the Hallows to be together. That was one of his conditions. He would only allow one item to be investigated at a time, in a secure location of his choosing. Britain’s Crown Jewels would not be more protected than Harry’s Hallows. The Challenge story can be told in many ways. This is just one example to get you thinking. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.02.10 - 08:48PM ( 17 Comments) |
Staff Changes |
| The following changes have been made to the staff (some a lot more recently than others) and are currently in effect. Melkior is now our Senior Tech Administrator. Sovran is now a Tech Administrator Sanidad has joined the staff as the editor and writer for our Writing Essays, Tips and Recommendations page. And most recently, the following have joined the staff as Archivists. Dragyn Drawjones HGRHfan Jacsmompat Jennyelf MinistryMalcontent Quinn Tangle Elfwand Tom NotRiddle I would like to thank these folks as well as everyone else out there who contributes to and/or supports this site. SIYE would not be possible without you. Thank you- Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2009.02.07 - 08:56PM ( 7 Comments) |
Deathly Hallows Challenge (2009-1) |
| The Royal Academy of Magic, a group of scientists, archaeologists, and historians, studied all the official and unofficial reports, and questioned various eye-witnesses to the Final Battle. They concluded that Harry Potter did indeed possess the three Deathly Hallows. Therefore, they wrote an official letter to Mr. Potter for permission to examine the three artifacts. They have no idea of their current status. After numerous owls, Harry reluctantly agrees, with some very strict conditions. The Challenge is to write a story involving: 1. Harry recovering all three Deathly Hallows but secures each one in a different location under strict security, wards, goblins, etc, whatever…. 2. No two Hallows will ever be together in the same place at the same time. 3. Heavy security is to surround each item being inspected at all times. 4. A “Ministry official” tries to confiscate the Deathly Hallows from Harry. 5. A theft is foiled. 6. Harry explains something about possessing the Deathly Hallows that happened to him that nobody knew about. The Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. This is not a limit. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under The Deathly Hallows Challenge (2009-1) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight Saturday, February 28, 2009. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapters that are submitted by the deadline. Completed stories are highly encouraged! 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Drama, Security, and Adventure. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. • “Now that’s what I call a [blank]!” • “Really…a [blank] ate my homework.” • “Maybe I’ll just let you tell him/her what you did to his/her favorite [blank].” • “Now just a [blank] for extra zest.” • “Fastest wand this side of [blank].” • “Really Mum…I did see someone just [blank]!” • “Or die trying!” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.02.01 - 08:44AM ( 11 Comments) |
And The Winners Are... |
| The Marauders Map was a very exciting Challenge as our 14 judges can attest to. Half the stories shot out of the starting block and never looked back. It was neck to neck for some of the categories. Switching places only when the last two or three judges narrowed the field at the end. All 12 stories are winners in their own right. I was glad to see some new author’s names in the line-up. To write a story is fairly easy. To write a Challenge story with requirements and a deadline is, well…Challenging to say the least. A “Hardy Well Done” to all. And now the results… The award for Best Overall goes to: ”Never Sniff A Gift Hippogriff” by Spenser Hemmingway The award for Best Adventure goes to: ”Festively Besieged” by Torak with Fett dFacto The award for Best Secrets, a tie, goes to: ”No Matter How Improbable” by Tom NotRiddle and ”Never Sniff A Gift Hippogriff” by Spenser Hemmingway The award for Best Drama goes to: ”Vulnerability” by Amour Honorable Mention is given to the one story that had the most votes but not in any one category to win: ”I Solemnly Swear” by M_And The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2009-1 Challenge is coming very soon. Start breaking out your investigative skills. I would like to thank my many judges who worked hard for this Challenge: AP, AS, BP, CQ, DL, GC, IV, JM, MG, NSL, RS, SH, WC, and ZA. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. The Challenge would not exist if nobody judged them. Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PS: The, map, Ginny, black, dog, and remember how book #3 went? |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.01.15 - 10:58AM ( 15 Comments) |
The Marauders Map Challenge (2008-6) Closed |
| First, let me say…Happy New year!!! Second, The Marauders Map Challenge is now closed. We have thirteen great contenders, eight completed and five works in progress, fighting for the grand prize; to be named Best Overall, Adventure, Secrets, or Drama. The judges, mostly veterans of previous Challenges, are ready to read through the works and vote their decisions. Our thirteen candidates pretty much stuck to the rules, getting most, if not all, the requirements in as they should. There were a variety of ways in discovering Sirius Black and getting him, Harry and Peter Pettigrew together for the final confrontation. It’s a shame Sirius never gets to enjoy a long life of freedom with Harry. But that’s for another story. The judges have started their work and will have their nominations in by Wednesday, January 14 so I can tally up the votes and post the winning entries on Thursday, Jan 15. Good luck to all the authors. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2009.01.01 - 09:44AM ( 18 Comments) |
Happy Happy Joy Joy! Mistletoe and Aunt Tessie's Fruitcake! |
| On behalf of the staff and membership of Sink Into Your Eyes, we would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas! SIYE is an international site with participants and visitors from Tonga to Tibet (literally). Many have actually completed their celebrations while others such as my own family (except my son who has been up all night) have yet to face the day. Regardless of how you spend the holidays, or if you celebrate them at all, here's hoping that you and yours have a special, wonderful day! By the way, for those of you who also had mysterious damage done to your roof and chimney overnight--I know an excellent repair service. |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2008.12.25 - 07:54AM ( 15 Comments) |
It's a Revival! |
| Greetings, everyone! You may or may not be aware that SIYE has an area for authors who are looking for tips and recommendations to improve their writing. Oddly enough, the name of this section is "Writing Essays, Tips and Recommendations." (Boring, but effective.) Don't feel bad if you were unaware of its existence. This area of SIYE has been under-utilized lately, and with Lord Dreadnault's permission, we are in the midst of reviving it. What has been going on? Well, the updates include:
As the new coordinator for this section, I plan on adding a new essay/tip every two to three months, depending on demand for new material and other SIYE obligations (you know, like writing and beta-ing). I'd like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the members of the SIYE staff and SIYE Betas who have assisted me so far in this endeavour, and I look forward to working with them more in the future. If anyone has any suggestions, comments or complaints, feel free to contact me at sanidad[at]siye.co.uk Thanks for your time. --sanidad |
| sanidad on 2008.12.22 - 09:47AM ( 5 Comments) |
The Marauders Map Challenge Update #2 |
| Harry and Ginny stopped at the top of the ladder to catch their breath before entering through the trap door in the floor. They were following the dots of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. But they were more surprised the map showed the Shrieking Shack because they thought it was beyond the Hogwarts property. “I’m going to take a look.” Harry whispered to her. Ginny nodded in understanding. Slowly opening the door, Harry stuck his head out so he could see around the room. The place looked beat up and long discarded. He could see the layer of dust on the floor near his face. But the footprints and what looked like something dragged beside the person walking was clearly evident. What was worse was the one, raggedy-dressed man sitting at a dilapidated table in the corner looking back at him. “Hello Harry. And Ginny I believe I see behind you. Please come on in. You two are probably safer in here than you are in the castle. Especially, Harry, since I’m your godfather.” More on shock than anything else, Harry raised the trap door higher and started climbing into the room, only extending a hand to help Ginny. This word story can be told in many ways. This is just one example to get you thinking. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.12.20 - 09:07AM ( 1 Comments) |
The Marauders Map Challenge Update #1 |
| “I solemnly swear I am up to no good.” Hidden from sight in her bed in her dorm, with her curtains charmed closed, Ginny took a more detailed look at the parchment her twin brothers insisted on giving her. With her wand for light, the Marauders Map they called it started opening up and drawing lines and dots all over the place. When it seems to have finished, she looked at what was before her. She quickly found her name. She appeared to be in her bed in her dorm in the Gryffindor’s House. Knowing the layout, she moved her finger on the parchment to where she knew Ron and Harry slept. Just like her dorm, there were five beds and…four dots with names. Ron, Harry, Dean, and Neville. But then one dot was moving from the loo to the fifth bed. Seamus. “Ok, where are the twins?” She quickly looked at the 5th year dorm and easily discovered three dots. Fred and George were missing. So she started flipping through the pages of the map trying to see if she could find them. “Ops, there they are.” Reading the map she saw their dot names sitting at a table with a number of house-elves around them. They were in the kitchens having a midnight snack. Thinking of the most direct route and seeing that nobody was in the way, she started planning to join her dear brothers. “Mischief managed.” This word story can be told in many ways. This is just one example to get you thinking. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.12.10 - 06:19PM ( 6 Comments) |
The Marauders Map Challenge (2008-6) |
| The Third Challenge in the Retro Series: In their infinite wisdom, the twins give Ginny the Marauders Map, not Harry, in her second year. She makes good use of it throughout the school year with her friends. Eventually she teams up with Harry using the map. And…she makes a discovery, seriously. The Challenge is to write a story involving: 1. Ginny using the map to get around Hogwarts at various times of the day or night. 2. Ginny making friends with a smart but shy, large, black dog on Hogwarts grounds. 3. Ginny having a special use of the map during the Christmas holidays at Hogwarts. 4. Ginny and Harry realizing who Wormtail on the map is and its implications. 5. Ginny talks to Sirius before Harry knows. 6. Ginny in the final confrontation involving Wormtail, Sirius, and Harry. The Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under The Marauders Map (2008-6) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight Wednesday, December 31, 2008 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. Completed stories are highly encouraged! 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Adventure, Secrets, and Drama. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “There is no such thing as a free [blank].” · “Never sniff a gift hippogriff!” · “Why doesn’t it ever do that for me?” · “That will put color in your cheeks!” · “My Healer recommends that I [blank] twice a day.” · “There’s something you don’t see every day.” · “Because is not a reason!” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.12.01 - 08:07PM ( 30 Comments) |
Ho, ho, ho...Hogwarts? |
| It is indeed the Holiday season! By coincidence we now have a new category dedicated to such. You say that you have a Christmas story, or one in your head?! This is the place for you! Older, past works are just as welcome, and our newest Challenge should not be ignored in the least. The strongest part of writing is our consideration of those who actually read, and I for one am still scrubbing the lump of coal out of my socks after missing a year. Remember—“To thine own [Christmas] ‘elf’ be true!” No, not everyone celebrates Christmas. Naturally, we are open to all legitimate celebrations. Okay...maybe not Saint Ozymandias Day. Uhm...patron saint of leprechauns. Ho, ho, ho! |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2008.12.01 - 06:20PM ( 5 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| Well, I must say this was a very interesting Challenge. So much was said in so few words. A lot of members participated with some very good stories across the board. Due to the possibly large amount of submissions, Double Eliminations was necessary. And as hectic as it could have been, it went smoothly. Spenser, your Challenge suggestion was spot on. And now the winners… The award for Best Overall goes to: “Camera: worn, singed, reliable. Needs photographer.” by Jonathan Avery The award for Wizard’s Best goes to: “Prefer money over health? Call George.” by tangle elfwand The award for Witch’s Best, with the most votes per story, goes to: “Ladies: Noble git taken. Back off.” by Tamaran Girl The award for Potterverse goes to: “Chudley Cannons Season Tickets: Sold Out” by BrunetteGinny The winning stories are now listed under ” Hemingway Six Challenge: Finals” in our Featured Stories section. I would like to thank all 22 judges that participated, twice I need to say, to make this Challenge possible: AR, BP, CM, CW, EB, ER, GC, IV, JH, JML, KC, LBS, LC, MG, MH, NSL, RS, RS, STX, TP, TW, and YC. You know who you are and any Challenge would not happen without you. Because of the way the Double Eliminations went, please don’t ask how well your story was judged. It would be too difficult to calculate out. The December (2008-6) Challenge is coming up shortly. Remember how Book #3 went? Well, not this time. PS: very short story, Papa did it, and you will need all your wit and wisdom. Update: How well did you do: Only 44 stories out of 658 received more than 1 vote. Only 6 stories out of 129 semi-finals received more than 3 votes. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.11.16 - 09:56AM ( 19 Comments) |
The Hemingway Six Challenge: Semi-Finals |
This is the Semi-Final round of the Hemingway Six Challenge (2008-5). The judges chose these 129 from the original 658 stories to narrow down the votes. The final round of nominations will be submitted no later than Saturday, November 15. Then the winners will be posted on Sunday, November 16, a day later than normal. Remember, these are the prize categories: · Best Overall · Wizard’s Best (any guy stuff) · Witch's Best (any girl stuff) · Potterverse (anybody/anything) |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.11.11 - 08:29PM ( 15 Comments) |
Hemingway Six Challenge (2008-5) Closed |
| This is it. The moment you all been waiting for. The Hemingway Six Challenge is now closed and all 658 legitimate entries are posted in one, big story, ” Hemingway Six Challenge”. Unfortunately, there is a disclaimmer at the bottom explaining why some entries will not be found or author’s names will not be listed next to their entry. I did a lot of “cut and pasting” from e-mails to document so the rules of submission were quite explicit. So, now, it’s the judges’ turn to read the entries for the first time and try to determine the best entries for the winning category of: · Best Overall · Wizard’s Best (any guy stuff) · Witch's Best (any girl stuff) · Potterverse (anybody/anything) The judging will be a double elimination. Each judge will submit his or her first and second place nominations for each category. Then all the submitted nominations will be re-judged to narrow down the actual winners. The winners will be posted at the top of the Hemingway Six story. So watch out for Sunday, November 16, to see the winning entries. And don’t forget to brush up on your Cartography. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.11.01 - 10:18AM ( 10 Comments) |
Note To Members |
| A number of members might notice that they've been logged out of the site, even though they checked the "Remember Me" box. Up to this point the site had been accessible by entering both siye.co.uk and www.siye.co.uk into your address bar. Well, this is still true, but now, the non-www version redirects automatically to the www version. So, if you enter siye.co.uk, it's going to turn into www.siye.co.uk. All the links, no matter how they were written are still OK and should be working. The same is true for any bookmarks you might have. Since the system recognized those two different versions as separate sites, even though they had the same content, if you were logged in on one version, you still had to log in on the other version of the address. So, now, if you have been logged out, just log in again and you shouldn't experience any problems, no matter what URL you enter into your address bar. This was done to make all the on-site links consistent, and keep the users logged in, no matter how they visit the site. If you notice any errors, let me know. melkior, Tech Admin |
| melkior on 2008.10.30 - 06:28AM ( 1 Comments) |
Reminder |
| Hi folks! We're running into a slight problem with several stories that have involved us pulling one story from the site and talking with other authors about their stories. The first rule of submission for this site is the following: "Sink Into Your Eyes is a shipper archive for Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley fan fiction. Stories submitted for posting on SIYE must have Harry and Ginny as the primary couple. In very rare cases, with prior approval of the Head Administrator, SIYE may allow them to be a secondary couple along with other main characters and/or ships that align with H/G. H/G must ALWAYS be in the story - this is after all, an H/G archive." This does not matter if you've written 100 stories and 99 of them are H/G. If the one story you posted doesn't contain H/G, it gets pulled from the site. If your story doesn't appear to have Harry/Ginny in it at the start, or one or the other suddenly drops out in the middle of the story and doesn't seem to be making an appearance any time soon, we will be questioning you about this. I'm sure the readers of this site would be disappointed to have a story start out as Harry/Ginny, have Harry disappear for a few chapters then suddenly come back engaged to Hermione or Luna. That was not and has never been the purpose of this site. There are also some absolutely wonderful missing moments and general one-shots focusing on other characters. Again, it's not for this site unless the Harry/Ginny ship is a focus of it. If you are a validated author and have violated this rule, it is grounds for having that validation eventually being revoked if it continues. Validated authors are given this privilege because they have shown repeatedly that they write excellent stories that are relatively error-free and they follow site rules. If a story is turned down from this site because it doesn't focus on the Harry/Ginny ship, it doesn't mean that you're not a good author. This site fills a niche of the Harry Potter fandom and it's the focus on Harry/Ginny that makes SIYE stand out from other archives. We understand that at times a story needs to be told without Harry or Ginny in order to build it towards a Harry/Ginny outcome, and we will accommodate you. But if the end of your story you want to tell isn't Harry/Ginny, then there are archives out there that are better suited for it. Thanks, folks! DQBunny, Chief Archivist |
| DQBunny on 2008.10.27 - 08:08PM ( 3 Comments) |
Happy Halloween…Merry Christmas…et infinitum |
| Hey there boys and girls! It’s that nifty time of the year again! Time to gorge yourself on candy and turkey, to find that special someone just the right gift and to make merry at any number of wild parties. I’m way ahead since I never took down last year’s Christmas tree (brown is…sort of seasonal). In the spirit of the season, Sink Into Your Eyes unveils its newest story category--Holidays Henceforth, any stories with a holiday theme (Halloween, Christmas, New Years, Easter, etc.) may be marked as such and included there. When you submit a new story, or if you want to include one or more of your current holiday stories, simply click on the new category in addition to any other you choose such as AU or Post Hogwarts. SIYE is special in that you can designate your work as belonging to more than one. Be sure to notate in your summary which holiday you are writing. So let the festivities begin! You say you wrote a Christmas story three years ago and you’d like to share it again? Mark it as Christmas in its summary and post it to the Holiday Category! Uncle Spenser my Halloween story is already in the AU, Challenge and Pre-Ootp categories. No problem! It’s about to be in the Holiday group as well. Enjoy people! Enjoy the season, whichever season it may be, and let us enjoy your special stories with our bag of chocolate, pumpkin pie and cup of eggnog. Thank you! EricP.S.--Holiday, as associated with this new category, refers to those formal occasions during the year that call for celebration and/or special remembrance. We understand now that in many parts of the world holiday can also simply refer to a vacation a person takes. The latter is not our intention. Please forgive my Americanization at our international site. Eric |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2008.10.25 - 09:30AM ( 25 Comments) |
Hemingway Six Challenge Update (2) |
| As of last night, we have 517 entries. A little less than I expected at 2/3 into the Challenge. That’s like reading one 3100-word story. Yup! That’s it. Please remember the proper format they need to be in. I am cutting and pasting your e-mails directly into one document. If your name is not on the same line in your e-mail, it’s not in the story document. And only one e-mail per day. Here are some more “proper” examples to go by: · “Red Mohawk. Did Ron lose bet?” by Sir Ollivander · “Why is the Forbidden Forest forbidden?” by Sir Ollivander · “Three-headed Fluffy is guarding something!” by Sir Ollivander · “Ginny’s excited over Harry’s surprise date.” by LittleMissMuffet This six-word story can be told in many ways. These are just a few examples to get you thinking. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.10.20 - 08:15PM ( 7 Comments) |
Hemingway Six Challenge Update (1) |
| WOW! As of last night, we have 337 entries. That’s a lot of entries. A few I cannot figure any connection to Potterverse. But the vast majority makes lots of sense and some are quite cute. Please remember the proper format they need to be in. I am cutting and pasting your e-mails directly into one document. If your name is not on the same line in your e-mail, it’s not in the story document. Here are some more “proper” examples to go by: · “Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean, Seamus: Gryffindors!” by Sir Ollivander · “Six--Little--Words--'Harry--Eats—MRE’” by One Burundian Kowtowing Toadie · “Forbidden Forest, named for a reason!” by Sir Ollivander · “Shampoo-challenged Snape, very greasy hair” by LittleMissMuffet This six-word story can be told in many ways. These are just a few examples to get you thinking. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.10.10 - 08:18PM ( 23 Comments) |
Hemingway Six Challenge (2008-5) |
| “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Once upon a time, during the 1930’s, the great writer Ernest Hemingway was challenged to write a novel in exactly six words. He won with the above entry. The six-word novel has been popular ever since. The author’s challenge is to write a story with exactly six words—no more, no less: 1. No particular theme, setting, or plotlines need to be specified. Not necessarily Harry/Ginny. It simply has to be about something from the seven books from J.K. Rowling. The challenge is in the construction and story-telling. 2. Titles, summaries and authors’ notes would not be used. The six-word story has to be self-explanatory. 3. Grammar and spelling are still important. Punctuation can be used in any way but must be used correctly. 4. Muggleborn is one word. Death-Eaters is two words. Blast-Ended Skrewt is three words. If JKR wrote it, that’s what “counts.” Rules: 1. General submission rules apply, with the exception of the thousand-word standard. R-rated stories will not be accepted. Anything considered or related to death will not be allowed. 2. All entries must be submitted by email to SIYEChallenge@aol.com The e-mail subject field MUST say Hemingway Six. Up to four entries per e-mail, one e-mail per day, will be allowed. More than four entries in one e-mail and the e-mail will be rejected without comment. The e-mail must have the six-word entry and the author’s pen-name in this order. Example: “Best Challenge ever, I am fantastic” by Sir Ollivander 3. In case of a duplicate, the earlier one will be accepted. The date/time stamp will be based on the e-mail being sent. 4. Plagiarism of other’s works will be watched carefully. This is very easy to check. 5. All entries must be submitted by midnight, Friday, October 31, 2008. 6. The Chief Challenger will transfer each entry to a consolidated submission page for viewing at the end of the submission date. Nobody will see the entries beforehand. 7. The winning categories are: · Best Overall · Wizard’s Best (any guy stuff) · Witch's Best (any girl stuff) · Potterverse (anybody/anything) Examples: · Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Gryffindors! · Wand, Bat-bogie hex, scary Ginny! · Lumos, Nox, Lumos, Nox, tic, toc. PS: “Papa” was Ernest Hemingway’s most prominent nickname. PSS: This Challenge is 99 & 44/100% based on the suggestion by that other coffee-drinking Hemmingway, Spenser. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.10.01 - 08:37PM ( 80 Comments) |
Beta Readers Are People Too! |
| Hey there boys and girls! For those of you currently listed as Beta Readers, if you have not received my personal emails, please contact me immediately concerning your status and updating your Beta Blurb. I’d like to thank those of you who have already gotten a hold of me. Recruits: At this time I would like to invite any current authors who feel they could formally handle the task to apply to join our ‘Elite Staff’. It is not an easy duty, but it is extremely satisfying. We do have a Beta Reader examination, and we do require you to be a published author. This simply ensures perspective—you’ve been at the keyboard sweating a story yourself. If you are interested please let me know at your convenience. Thanks! Eric / Spenser Administrator For Betas |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2008.09.22 - 05:54PM ( 14 Comments) |
And The Winners Are... |
| Another difficult time in the world of our 16 Challenge judges. Stories switched for first and second places back and forth, vote for vote. And after all the nominations were tallied, a tie was broken at the VERY end! Plus a valid Honorable Mention. The last few judges clinched it. All nine stories in the Potter’s Affairs Challenge are great. Each author went in varied directions with the requirements. The Adulthood and Galleons Well Spent categoryies didn’t fair as well as Best Overall and Drama, but were just as interesting. The hero got the girl, got the gold, and got some peace with the Slytherins. I thought I saw them shopping for wallpaper last week. And now the results… The award for Best Overall goes to: ”Speculations: What Every Wizard Wants” by Spenser Hemmingway The award for Drama goes to: ”All the Toys of the World” by the mystery tramp The award for Adulthood goes to: ”Harry Potter and the Affairs of State” by Nuvisionary The award for Galleons Wisely Spent goes to: ”When Life Gives You lemons…” by MinistryMalcontent Honorable Mention is given to one story that had a very high number of votes but not in any one category to win: ”Foundations” by Rogan The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2008-5 Challenge is coming very soon. You will need all your wit and wisdom. I would like to thank my many judges who worked hard for this Challenge: AS, BP, CM, CP, CQ, DW, GC, IV, JML, KC, LN, MH, NSL, SH, Tc, and YC. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. That one last nomination at 5 PM broke a tie. Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PS: school, home, job, financial, affairs, and you need to start making your future plans now. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.09.15 - 07:24PM ( 13 Comments) |
The Best Of |
| Of possible interest to you all is a project called “The Best Of.” TBO would like to create a list of the best HP fan fics on the web. They are looking for readers to nominate and vote for their favourite fics. Voting is open to anyone who will visit their forum and register. If you have any questions about TBO, the forum administrators will be glad to help you. Here is the link: TBO Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2008.09.11 - 12:33PM ( 5 Comments) |
Potter’s Affairs Challenge (2008-4) Closed |
| Today is September 1, 2008, celebrating Labor Day in the United States. It is also the day for the judges to start judging the Potter’s Affairs Challenge (2008-4) as the Challenge is now closed. We have nine candidate stories, eight that are completed, for the awards of Best Overall, Drama, Adulthood, and Galleons Wisely Spent. The authors went in all directions. Some concentrated on Harry and Ginny getting back together. Others worked on sharing all those Galleons Harry was awarded for ending the war. What career he will have after school or the home he decides to live in wasn’t too prominent in most stories. I was looking forward to finding that hidden passageway. Oh, poo. Well, once the judges are satisfied with their nominations and submit them by Sept. 14, the winners will be posted on Monday, Sept. 15. May the best storywriters win! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.09.01 - 08:44AM ( 14 Comments) |
Potter’s Affairs Challenge Update (2) |
| After a brief introduction in which Harry was not allowed to say much, Harry and Mr. Garner sat down in some comfortable chairs in a simple conference room. Mr. Garner started by silencing Harry by holding up his hand. “Please let me start with some very important introductions,” he said. “You come to a company such as ours because you want to have a secret room or compartment, or a secret door, or something built in your house or some other place. To reach an agreement, even if we don’t end up doing the job, you have to tell me what all you want us to build and where. Therefore, at least I know whatever it is you want done. So much for secrecy.” “So, we have a non-binding magical contract we sign first.” Mr. Garner slid a parchment over between them so Harry can read it. “It is charmed with portions of a Fidelius Charm and a Memory Charm. What it does is protect your secrets and prevents me from repeating anything you tell me. In a few days, I will have forgotten this conversation if we don’t continue. We are kind of like unspeakables in the building and construction business. If you decide to go with us with your building needs, everybody involved will have to sign this contract before they know anything. They keep their building knowledge but they lose any identifying information that concerns you and the building or structure they work on. So, in the end, you are still the only one who knows anything.” “The top portion is in regards to our conversation now. Both of us sign the left side under this paragraph. Whenever we are concluded or complete the construction, we sign the right side of the contract. The same with anybody else that gets involved, starting and finishing.” Harry signed it first, then Mr. Garner. “So, Mr Potter, what can our company do for you?” “To start, the Potter home I want to live in has the master bedroom on the north side of the third floor and a large pantry kitchen in the southeast corner of the first floor. I would like a secret, security stairwell that….” The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.08.20 - 10:59AM ( 18 Comments) |
One More--Happy Birthday Ginny! |
| It is now the eleventh of August throughout the British Isles. Happy Birthday Ginny! The staff and membership of Sink Into Your Eyes would like to mention, commemorate and encourage the celebration for that young redhead with whom Harry shares this site. Yes, we are all dedicated and committed to the pair (and believe me--there are many who want to have us committed!). The couple would prefer a small, private celebration without us. Not surprising after what we did to the SIYE ballroom again. Eric B. |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2008.08.10 - 09:03PM ( 13 Comments) |
Potter’s Affairs Challenge Update (1) |
| Looking around, one would think they were in a rich, plush corporate headquarters conference room in a tall building overlooking downtown London or something. But to the contrary, they were about 100 meters below the ground of a goblin-banking institute in a very secure and private conference room used only for special Gringotts account holders. However, the room they were in was still quite posh. To the left sat Gavin Smythe, a highly successful, senior wizard-banking solicitor of a prestigious financial firm who has been managing the Potter’s portfolio for many generations. To the right sat Griphook, a goblin financial manager at London’s Gringotts bank recently promoted to the Potter’s account. He came highly recommended by the bank’s president at Harry’s inquiry. And, of course, sitting in the middle of the conference table was Harry Potter himself, now of age but still attending his last year at Hogwarts School. “So, let me get this straight.” Mr. Smythe said. “You want to end up with only three vaults when we complete the mergings. You want to retain the Potter Family Ancestral Vault and combine everything from the others into it. The same thing with the Black Family Ancestral Vault and the other two they had. And one other smaller vault for your normal, every day expenses and needs.” “Yes.” Harry acknowledged. “And a complete inventory of everything I own in each vault, including lands, homes, furnishings, jewelry, stocks and bonds, company holdings, all currencies and anything else you find. And a one-page summary is to be maintained in the normal vault I will access on a regular basis.” “Now, what about this separate vault you mentioned earlier, Mr. Potter?” Griphook spoke up. “Yes. I want to register a new vault like a business, having nothing to do with me as a private individual and no connection to any other vaults I have. But here is where you two come into play.” Harry looked at both to ensure he had their attention. “I want you two to research, investigate, and actively pursue any and all awards, monies, war reparations, war booty, Death Eater frozen accounts, fees, Ministry funds, compensation, anything that I may be entitled to as The-Boy-Who-Won, the destroyer of Voldemort, the winner of the war, whatever you want to call it. Check goblin banking laws, Wizard and ministry laws and rulings, and even Muggle laws if it may apply to any Muggle company or banking holdings. I want us to be as greedy as we can. All that we get will go into this business vault.” “On the other side, I want an accounting of all the damage caused by Voldemort and his followers since I was born 17 years ago. Families ruined, homes destroyed, both Muggle and Wizard, orphans, crops, livelihoods’, etc. Just walk down Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade and see the destroyed or boarded up shops and buildings. I want to create a small company to help those harmed by the war. And this money is going to do it.” Mr. Smythe and Griphook nodded in agreement. The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.08.10 - 12:41AM ( 7 Comments) |
Potter’s Affairs Challenge 2008-4 |
| The war is over. The celebrations and funerals have all been attended to. And the trio agrees to go back to Hogwarts to complete their last year of school. But before September 1st arrives, Arthur Weasley and Harry have an unusual discussion one evening away from the Burrow. This leads Harry to make some big decisions during the school year, remembering he is now of age and has a real future ahead of him. The Challenge is to write a story involving Harry: 1. Accepts all his inheritance, estates, and vaults at Gringotts. This includes hiring a knowledgeable financial manager to help manage it. 2. Accepts all his new “spoils of war” including whatever Ministry awards and war booty he’s entitled to for ending the war. Then determining how he is going share his new “spoils of war” with the Wizarding world, the way he wants to. 3. Determines where and how he is going to live after school, on his terms. 4. Researches what kind of job or career he wants to have after completing school. 5. Does his best to secure his future with Ginny. 6. Agrees to an uneasy understanding with a group of Slytherins who come to him in peace. The Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Potter’s Affairs (2008-4) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight Sunday, August 31, 2008 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. Completed stories are preferred. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Drama, Adulthood, and Galleons Wisely Spent. (No definitions, just what you think it means.) Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “Fastest wand this side of (blank).” · “Maybe I’ll just let you tell him/her what you did to his/her favorite (blank).” · “Now just a (blank) for extra zest.” · “Now that’s what I call a (blank)!” · “Or die trying!” · “Really…a (blank) ate my homework.” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.08.01 - 05:46PM ( 37 Comments) |
Happy Birthday Joanne and Harry! |
| It is now a tad bit into the thirty-first day of July in Scotland and England. The entire staff and membership of Sink Into Your Eyes would like to wish a very happy birthday to both J.K. Rowling and to Harry Potter! Certain Potters...I mean certain other parties...have approached us on behalf our guests of honor. Ginny...I mean they have voiced a preference that we refrain from giving live gifts this year. The baby crocodiles...that's another story... Uhm, the cake (moonberry, dark chocolate and spinach custard frosting) will be served in the newly restored SIYE Ballroom Two. |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2008.07.30 - 11:07PM ( 7 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| OH MERLIN! WOW! Domino, please stand up. Witches and wizards, in the history of SIYE Challenges, this has been far and wide the best Challenge we have ever had on many fronts. Our average Challenge generated 14 stories, our best being 28. This Challenge took us to 35 entries. This includes numerous authors entering for the first time. Also, theses were not your typical one-shots. Some were multi-chaptered stories for maximum story telling. And on the judging side, which was not easy by any imagination, we had 20 judges committed to reading and judging which were the best to be awarded the coveted title of Best Overall, Time Travel, Adventure, and Parenting. Numerous judges expressed more stories, that were not nominated, for other consideration, such as a Humorous or Romantic category or Honorable Mention. I took these factors into consideration after tallying up the votes. So we have two Honorable Mentions. Finally, on a personal note, I did not come up with this Challenge. A SIYE member and posted author came up with this suggestion and sent it to me for consideration. He had a whole first chapter already written for review. Apparently, you all agreed with me that it was a great Challenge suggestion due to the overwhelming response it received. So, please raise your Butterbeers and a round of cheer for Domino and his creative suggestion. Here! Here! And now the results… The award for Best Overall goes to: ”Not Going Back to the Future: The Twins Arrive” by Duelist The award for Adventure goes to: ”Great Scott!” by Spenser Hemmingway The award for Time Travel goes to: ”The Time Capsule V2010” by Zen The award for Parenthood goes to: ”Parents, Apparently” by lilyevans_Jan30 Two stories are given Honorable Mention status due to comments by the judges and the fact that they drew some of the most votes but not in any one category to win. ”Five Things, Harry” by muggle_born and ”Oops!” by Tearlit The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2008-4 Challenge is coming very soon. You need to start making your future plans now. I would like to thank my many judges who worked hard for this Challenge: AR, AS, BG, CP, CQ, CW, DP, IV, JM, JM, KC, KG, LL, MG, MH, NS, SH, WC, Z, and ZA. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: back to the future, kids vs parents, and coming to a living room near you. Everybody loves to have relatives drop in unexpectedly. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.07.20 - 01:04PM ( 14 Comments) |
Twin Travel Challenge Update #3 |
| Today, normally on the 15th of the month, you would expect the winners of the latest Challenge posted. However, since we had 35 stories submitted, it will take our judges quite a while to read all those stories and then judge them for the four categories available. So, once the deadline came June 30, the judges were given 19 days to read and choose their nominations for the title of Best Overall, Adventure, Time Travel, and Parenthood. The winning stories will be posted on July 20, five days later than normal. To date, six judges have completed their work and submitted their nominations. It appears that five stories are begining to break out of the pack as some of the better-written stories for the four categories. But this could change as more judges submit their nominations to me. You all will have to wait five more days for this record-breaking Challenge to finally end. The best of luck to all who entered. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.07.15 - 07:21PM ( 15 Comments) |
SIYE Down Time |
| Hello...we are now back up. We had a issue with the hosts SQL server that affected us. This has been fixed and we are fully functional again. Sorry about the downtime. |
| Keith on 2008.07.15 - 12:51PM ( 3 Comments) |
Staff Directory Updated |
| It has been decided that the position of Chief Archivist should be an Administrator position. Therefore, Megs (DQBunny) who was serving as Chief Archivist is now the Administrator of Archivists and the Chief Archivist position is dissolved. In addition, it has become necessary to move Stacey (Something Flowery) and John (Justanotherfan21) to Emeritus Administrator status. Until further notice, they will not be active members of the SIYE Staff These changes are reflected on the Staff Directory which has been updated and is located under the "Extras" link. The staff page lists all the members of the SIYE Staff and also lists the e-mails of each Admin. We invite you to e-mail one or more of us if you have a concern we can address, an idea you'd like to share with us, or for any other reason. As for me personally, I have been inaccessible for about two years, but I am now available and welcome your e-mails. Just as each Admin does, I look forward to hearing from you when there is something we can help you with. You may click here to view the Staff Directory. Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2008.07.02 - 10:21PM ( 8 Comments) |
Twin Travel Challenge (2008-3) Closed |
| A NEW WORLD’S RECORD!!! SIYE’s 27th Challenge, “Twin Travel,” has received 35 story submissions, breaking the record of 28 stories by “Muggle Picnic (2005-2). All thanks to Domino’s brilliant suggestion. And, by the way, the deadline is here and the current Challenge is now closed. The judges have a lot of reading to do. Judges Since the beginning of Challenges, judges have always been anonymous. They have been “invited” to be a judge in a variety of ways, some examples are: being in the Top 25 for hits, winning a DSTA award, or having numerous stories posted on SIYE. I even had an open invitation once. Judges have been encouraged to leave a Review when they judge a story. But to say they read your story for judging purposes is totally voluntary. To do so would expose himself or herself as a judge. Judges vary with every Challenge but I do have some excellent regulars. So, if you know a judge, please give them your thanks. If you don’t know one, feel secure in that they are out there and working hard judging your Challenge submissions. Some of the SIYE staff are routinely judges. So you probably know at least one or two. Due to the overwhelming response to this Challenge, the judges will have 19 days to read and nominate their choices for Best Overall, Adventure, Time Travel, and Parenthood. So stay tuned for July 20th when all their hard word is revealed and the winners are posted. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.07.01 - 07:06AM ( 13 Comments) |
Twin Travel Challenge Update #2 |
| Forever the parents, Arthur used an Engorgement Charm to change the size of Ginny’s bed in her room and Molly transfigured a pair of old pajamas of Ron and Ginny’s for the children to wear. Then Harry and Ginny, acting as the real parents, put the children down for the evening. Ginny got them in bed and kissed each one on the cheek. Harry actually tucked them in under the blanket and kissed each on the forehead. The two waited a while till the children actually fell asleep, and then they stepped out and closed the door. On the landing outside Ginny’s bedroom, the two stood quietly for a few moments, lost in their own thoughts. Harry eventually broke the silence. The two young teenagers looked at each other. Harry noticed Ginny was biting her lower lip and he knew what that meant. “You look as nervous as I feel,” he told her. “Well, er…this all changes things a bit. A lot further in our...uh…relationship than I expected” she barely got out. “Come here,” he said opening up his arms to her. Ginny slowly wrapped her own arms around Harry as they hugged closer than they have in the past. “I’m still coming to grips with what all this means for us.” “Yeah.” She replied. “But it’s a good thing.” 21 stories!!! “Woo-Hoo!!! The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.06.20 - 05:10PM ( 12 Comments) |
A Quick Challenge Update |
| 1. Stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. It is not a fixed limit. You can write a one million word story if you want. We just like to keep them within reason because the judges have to read all of them. 17 stories so far and a half month still left before the deadline. Fantastic!!!! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.06.14 - 10:36PM ( 9 Comments) |
Twin Travel Challenge Update #1 |
| “Harry and Ginny are married!” Ron said. He pinched his arm and then yelled in pain. “That’s what happens when you pinch yourself,” Hermione said, unsympathetically. “They’re married, Hermione, they have children,” Ron said, turning to her. “Well, of course they are,” Hermione, answered. “Aren’t they beautiful?” she said, “I’m an aunt, Ron, and you’re an uncle. Isn’t that cool?” Hermione, now that she was over the shock, was looking excitedly at Ron. He recognized that look. It was the research look, combined with sheer happiness. “You know what this means, don’t you Ron?” Hermione asked. Ron shook his head. “It means we survive. We all do. Harry’s alive in the future, and he and Ginny are happy, he’s alive,” Hermione started jumping up and down in excitement. Ron looked rather excited as the implications reached him as well. He reached for Hermione and hugged her tightly, unselfconsciously for the first time ever. In just ten days, SIYE already has 11 stories posted, some with multiple chapters. This Challenge is off to a great start. The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion (Domino’s actually) to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.06.10 - 08:08AM ( 2 Comments) |
E-mail Notifications Working Again |
| The e-mail notifications have been fixed. All of you should be receiving the notifications without any problems, and they should be properly titled/formatted. If you experience any problems, let me know. Edit: All the skins have been updated to match the "HarryGinny" skin. If you have any trouble with them, again feel free to contact me. Dino (melkior) SIYE Technical Administrator |
| melkior on 2008.06.04 - 09:17AM ( 11 Comments) |
Twin Travel Challenge (2008-3) |
| I wish to make a correction. Domino is the originator of this story idea. I apologize for my error. It was the middle of August before the Trio’s fifth year at Hogwarts. As is the typical Sunday dinner at the Weasleys, all the family was there, including Harry and Hermione. The entire group was laughing very loudly as Gred & Forge explained an experiment gone wrong. It was the louder pop of an Apparition from the living room that silenced everybody. They all listened for a hint of who might have arrived, as they were not expecting any visitors. The only thing they could faintly make out were…children arguing. Very young children. Everybody at the table who had a wand brought them out as Mr. Weasley, Charlie, Bill, and Harry carefully went to investigate. Fred & George slipped out the back door to circle around the house. It was Arthur that was seen first. “Grandpa! James did it. I was just watching to see what would happen.” “Well, Lily told me to. I didn’t think it was working.” When Molly heard a child call her husband “Grandpa,” she forgot all about her safety and bolted passed all the men, and entered the living room. She saw the two kids and promptly fainted. By now everybody was in the living room staring at them. Molly was almost forgotten. They both looked the same age, about six or seven. An adorable little boy, already identified as James, with messy, black hair, and twinkling brown eyes. The girl, Lily he called her, was a beautiful girl, with long, red hair, and bright, green eyes. When the children saw Harry and Ginny come in, they ran to them. James went to Harry, calling him dad, like it wasn’t his fault. And Lily ran to Ginny calling her mum, wanting her to believe her version. Arthur finally went to help Molly. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. The complete identity of the children based on their above comments. 2. A good explanation of the how and why the children arrived in the Weasley’s living room. 3. That the children are (exist) is not a problem. But their presence is. 4. What the problem is…is up to you. How it is remedied…is up to you. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. We have at least one young judge who will not read R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Twin Travel (2008-3) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight Monday, June 30, 2008 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Adventure, Time Travel, and Parenthood. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “If it wasn’t for him/her, this…” · “You definitely know what this means, don’t you?” · “That can’t be true, I heard…” · “So how can it be my fault?” · “And you think I’m a spoiled git, wait till…” · “Prove it!” PS: This Challenge is based solely on a story idea by Domino. Thanks. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.06.01 - 12:43AM ( 66 Comments) |
And The Winners Are... |
| The first week was a grand slam with fifteen stories submitted. Our twelve judges had a really hard time to judge who had the best week. It was good to see some new author entries this time around. I hope it’s a good start of things to come. And now the results… The award for Best Overall and Best Relationship goes to: ”Time of my Life” by Evie_S The award for Best Angst, a tie, goes to: ”A Taste of the Dream” by Sanidad and ”Our Buried Life” by the mystery tramp The Best Humor goes to: ”Faking It” by lilyevans_Jan30 The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2008-3 Challenge is coming to a living room near you. Everybody loves to have relatives drop in unexpectedly. I would like to thank my twelve judges for this Challenge; BG, BK, CP, CQ, CW, DS, JL, LW, NS, WC, YC, and ZA. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: Barrier, no, anglia, Ginny, train and leaving the station on time. You don’t want to be late your first date...er... day |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.05.15 - 07:00PM ( 29 Comments) |
First Week Challenge (2008-2) Closed |
| The First Week has passed. Actually, the Challenge is now closed. Thirteen brave authors submitted fifteen stories to read and enjoy. The last story had a technicality and was held up in the validation stack. And while we read for enjoyment, the judges get to read and decide which ones are good enough to rate the title of Best Overall, Angst, Humor, and Relationship. All nominations are to be submitted by the 14th so I may post the winners on Thursday, May 15th. For all the brave authors who entered, a hearty Good Luck! And for the judges, enjoy the work ahead of you. Thanks to all. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.05.01 - 07:38PM ( 13 Comments) |
2009 Fund Drive |
| Once again, we have arrived at that time of year when we must raise funds to pay our annual web hosting bill. Unfortunately, with nearly 12,000 members and all the stories posted here- the annual price for the server space and bandwidth can be a little steep. This is especially true in light of the fact that we don't advertise or make any profit whatsoever from anything we do. Therefore, we ask you to consider making a donation to help ensure SIYE's existence for another year. If you would like to donate, we have a PayPal account. To access it, please use the following link: Donate On behalf of myself and the staff, I thank you for your generosity- Robert L. Scott President, SIYE |
| SIYE Admin Staff on 2008.04.28 - 11:20PM ( 39 Comments) |
First Week Challenge Update #2 |
| It was a late Saturday morning and the early September weather was unusually warm and sunny. Harry could hear some students playing outside even from his dorm room. But he had a lousy night’s sleep and knew it was late. He probably missed breakfast. But he still cleaned up, got dressed, and went down to the Great Hall to see what he could scrounge up to eat. Harry was not surprised to see a few people sitting around in the Great Hall. But there was only one student sitting at the Gryffindor table. They were surprised when they saw each other. Knowing it would be rude to sit anywhere else at the large empty table, Harry mustered up his courage and sat next to Ginny Weasley. The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.04.20 - 12:52PM ( 51 Comments) |
First Week Challenge Update #1 |
| From the casual observer, it appeared that the Weasleys, and Harry, were deliberately walking in single file through Kings Cross Station until they reached a large column holding the roof of the station. Then Molly took control. “Okay, then. Percy, Fred, and then George, go on.” Mrs. Weasley said. And as she ordered, all three boys walked hurriedly into the column and disappeared. Then she looked at the youngest three left and said, “Ginny, you go first. Then Harry, followed by Ron.” Ginny, having done this many times before seeing her older brothers off to school, walked with confidence right up and through the column. Harry, only having done this once before, took off in sort of a rush. That was a mistake. On the other side, Ginny stood in awe. That was her mistake. The train was much further up the track than normal, making the bright and shiny engine almost next to her. The next thing she knew, someone was grabbing her as she and her assailant fell over, twisting as they went down. As she gained her senses, she was nose to nose with Harry rolling on the ground, surprised, chocolate-brown eyes staring into shocked emerald-green eyes. Since Ginny was staring at the Hogwarts Express, she didn’t get out of the way for the next person to pass through Gate Nine and Three-Quarters. Harry, in his hurry to go through, ran right into the young Weasley female. Knowing they were colliding, he grabbed her and spun around so he would land on the hard station floor, protecting her from getting hurt. The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.04.10 - 02:09PM ( 6 Comments) |
Another Plagiarist Shot Down |
| A few weeks ago, SIYE was contacted by one of its authors that her story was stolen by someone and was being posted on Fanfiction.net. A quick investigation revealed that our author was obviously the true owner of the story. Fanfiction.net was contacted with all the facts and requested to remove the story from their web site. Without any reply or acknowledgement, the story and the author disappeared from Fanfiction.net a few days later. SIYE will never tolerate any plagiarism, by any body, in any manner, on any site. We will investigate any suspected case and/or assist any person or other web site to stop the theft of any author’s story. Nobody loves a thief. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.04.07 - 12:22PM ( 29 Comments) |
The Trinkets Situation |
| You might have noticed that the March Trinkets Poll is missing. Due to several reasons, we were forced to remove the poll and disable voting. Several members noticed that the ballots for certain categories don't match the actual nominations in the Trophy Room. Furthermore, the Best Author category was missing completely. Due to all these circumstances it was our decision not to have any polls, instead of having faulty ballots. We apologize to all our members, especially to the authors. The issues are being addressed, but bear in mind that the Trinkets system is a long and complicated part of the site. The adaptation will take some time, but we will do our best to have everything up and running as soon as possible. Again, our apologies to everyone. Dino (melkior) SIYE Tech Admin |
| melkior on 2008.04.05 - 03:28AM ( 29 Comments) |
First Week Challenge (2008-2) |
| The second Challenge of the Retro series: At the beginning of Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, Dobby doesn’t stop Harry and Ron from going through the barrier to Platform 9 3/4. So they get to ride on the Hogwarts Express with Ginny in her first year. Throughout their first week, Harry and Ginny always seem to get into a situation where they are together. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. Harry & Ginny’s beginning friendship as they start their first week of school. 2. For some unknown reason, the two of them always seem to be left alone together. 3. They each share secrets about themselves, and what they thought of the other, to help “break the ice.” 4. The two agree to do something together and others are suspicious of them. 5. Luna Lovegood is Ginny’s confidant while it’s a surprise who Harry talks to. 6. The time frame is one week long starting when everybody wakes up September 1st at the Burrow. Rules 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under First Week Challenge (2008-2) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight, Wednesday, April 30, 2008. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Angst, Humor, and Relationship. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus: · “Now that I would enjoy.” · “You’re the first I ever done that with.” · “I didn’t know that’s the way…” · “Why did you do that to me?” · “I’m sure I would be.” · “What, do you think I’m crazy?” · “You will if you want to be a…” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.04.01 - 03:18PM ( 16 Comments) |
Server Move |
| Hello all and welcome to the new server. Over the last 12 hours the server has been moved to its new (and hopefully final home). As it has been a long night I will keep it simple and say if you have any issues please contact me at trainmon@siye.co.uk Keith SIYE Tech Admin |
| Trainmon on 2008.03.21 - 09:38AM ( 31 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| Baby, it’s warm here at SIYE. Our first ever Challenge songfic and we got the third highest entries for a Challenge. Who knew?! Well, that made for a busy Challenge, having to read all those stories. We even had some new SIYE members participate which is very appreciated. Especially for one that will find her name listed for all to see and read her first story on SIYE. And now, the results… The award for being Simply The Best goes to: ”Bring Me In From The Cold” by elaithin The award for A Fine Romance goes to: ”Just A Hopeless Romantic” by werekitten The award for Makin’ ‘Em Laugh goes to: ”An Icy Reception” by lilyevans_Jan30 The award for the Superlative Achievement For Creative Adaptation Of The Assigned Text, a tie, goes to: ”Brass Monkeys” by Spenser Hemmingway and ”Magical Melodious Moments” by jennyelf The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. For those of you who wondered where the bonus phrases came from: “I forgot to mention one little thing” - Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt “Somebody was spreading rumours”; “Why was I humming, as if I knew” - I Could Only Whisper Your Name, Harry Connick Jr “There’s nothing more dangerous than a boy with charm” - Candyman, Christina Aguilera “There was dancing, and singing, and moving to the grooving” - Play That Funky Music, Wild Cherry “If you ever change your mind, about leaving... leaving me behind” - Bring It On Home, Sam Cooke “Hit him, Ginny, one more time” - that ghastly song by Britney Spears The 2008-2 Challenge is leaving the station on time. You don’t want to be late your first date...er... day. I would like to thank my eight judges for this Challenge; AP, AR, AS, DS, EB, LL, NSL, and ZA. You know who you are. Thank you very much for all that reading and judging. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: songfic, cold, frank, loesser, baby, and practice your wintery scales. Bad weather, you know. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.03.15 - 09:19AM ( 31 Comments) |
February Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 21.7% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Angst, with 30.2% of the votes: Saving Harry by The Seeker For Best Comedy, with 21.6% of the votes: The Best Mistake of My Life by black_dress For Best Drama, with 18.7% of the votes: Saving Harry by The Seeker For Best Romance, with 19.3% of the votes: The Hogs Head by MyGinevra For Best Overall, with 25.2% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Author, with 25.8% of the votes: Sovran For Best One-Shot, with 24.5% of the votes: Meaning of One Outtake - Mission: Impossible by melkior Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for March. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2008.03.08 - 12:00AM ( 26 Comments) |
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" Challenge (2008-1) Closed |
| Oh, Merlin! Twenty-five Challenge story submissions! We haven’t had one this successful in a very long time. I was a little reluctant to do a songfic for a Challenge. But who am I to deny one. This is, of course, a Challenge. So, my hat is off to Torak and his suggestion. I have other suggestions in the North Tower waiting for their turns. The “Baby’ It’s Cold Outside” Challenge (2008-1) is now closed for new submissions. It’s time for all the judges to read all the entries and make their nominations in the categories of Best Overall, Comedy, Romance, and Creative Adaptation. All nominations are to be submitted by the 14th so I may post the winners on Saturday, March 15th. Good luck to all the authors and have fun reading to all the judges. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.03.01 - 11:58AM ( 20 Comments) |
February Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until March 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for February can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for March. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2008.03.01 - 12:00AM ( 12 Comments) |
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” Challenge Update (2) |
| Harry’s feet blurred across the floor, until he reached the wall, kicked one foot into the air, spun twice and dropped to one knee. Ginny was instantly at his side, draping a blanket over his shoulders. “Get up, Harry. Come on, get on up...” At this, Harry seemed to be once more infused with energy, and he sprang to his feet, letting the blanket cascade, forgotten, to the floor. "Stay on the scene," he shouted, "Like a... like a sex machine!" The door opened and Ron’s head appeared. “Um, Harry, just what are you two doing in here?” The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This James brown version is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.02.20 - 08:22PM ( 61 Comments) |
Links and Promotions (Edited) Please Read. You Have Been Warned |
| It has come to the staff's attention that authors are using links and promoting products in their stories. While we endorse links that redirect to another page on the SIYE site, the staff feels that promotions and links should not be included in a story or anywhere else for that matter. However, you can say something to the effect of " check out my artwork at myblog.com. This is not an active link which means that SIYE will not have to deal with liability issues. We are making this rule because we don't want links that will redirect an unsuspecting person to porno sites and such. We also feel that since SIYE is a non-profit site authors should not place any sales pitch or advertisements for any products (especially HP related) in their stories because it reflects back on the site. A new rule will be posted about this and consequences for not following the rules will be enforced. Have a great day! Laina Scott Acting President of SIYE |
| Miss. Dreadnault on 2008.02.17 - 11:50PM ( 1 Comments) |
Happy Birthday Bonnie! |
| It is now February 17th in Hogsmeade. Everyone at Sink Into Your Eyes would like to wish a very happy seventeenth birthday to Miss Bonnie Wright, the actress who portrays Ginny Weasley; one half of our favorite couple. Festivities will begin at sunrise in SIYE Ballroom Three. Because of the incidents at our Christmas parties, we are asking that there be no outside pumpkin juice brought in (if that’s what it really was), and that the leprechauns (everyone for that matter) keep their shoes and socks on this time. Thank you! Eric B. |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2008.02.16 - 07:04PM ( 35 Comments) |
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" Challenge Update (1) |
| “No, mum,” Ginny said with her head in the fireplace, “you don’t need to worry. We’re just snowed in, so Harry’s staying over.” Harry watched in amusement from the corner, observing Ginny appreciatively. “No, mum, we won’t get up to anything. He’s staying on the sofa.” Harry’s grin faded. “Yeah, but you know what Harry’s like with the floo, and anyway, he’s not connected to it yet. Yes, we’ll be good. All right, mum, talk to you tomorrow.” She pulled herself out of the fireplace, letting the flames go out as she unfolded and stood. “I’ll make up the sofa, shall I?” “Whatever for?” “But you said...” Ginny raised an eyebrow. “Oh.” Harry’s grin returned. “Well, what about promising to be good?” She grinned again, wickedly this time. “Oh, we’ll be really good.” The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.02.11 - 07:43PM ( 8 Comments) |
January Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 35.4% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Angst, with 25.6% of the votes: Need by iluvfanfics For Best Comedy, with 21.0% of the votes: Keep Your Knickers On! by Mojomig For Best Drama, with 17.9% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Romance, with 19.9% of the votes: Need by iluvfanfics For Best Overall, with 23.1% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Author, with 27.4% of the votes: Sovran For Best One-Shot, with 26.1% of the votes: Mr. and Mrs. Potter by St Margarets Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for February. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2008.02.08 - 12:00AM ( 25 Comments) |
Major Changes in Star Ratings |
| SIYE had many questions, comments, and complaints about out Star Ratings to the point we did some investigating. We have come to some very disturbing conclusions. Our findings have resulted in some major changes to the Rating system that will affect everybody and every story. 1) The Problems A. We found that some members engaged in the practice of Trolling. That is leaving multiple entries of the lowest score possible (1 = Troll) on targeted stories, drastically bringing down their Star rating. This was already covered in an earlier NEWS Article. B. On the flip side, we also found that many authors and their friends were doing just the opposite, practicing Outstandings. That is leaving multiple entries of the highest score possible (10 = Outstanding), over-inflating their real worth, including their own stories. C. The third issue is our own. All stories start with the default of having a 5-Star rating, or a score of 10, no matter how bad the story really is. 2) The Repairs SIYE has performed the following to correct these problems: A. A script was executed to remove those Trolling scores from the targeted stories we found. B. A script was executed to remove multiple Outstanding scores by the same member from any story, leaving only one entry. C. Any logged in SIYE member can leave numerous Reviews for any story. But leaving any Rating score is limited to only one entry per chapter per story. So, no more Trolling or Outstandings. D. The ratings will start with the default score of 6, Acceptable. Any logged in SIYE member can leave one score: higher, lower, or leave it alone. E. All Reviews and Ratings are now public. The name of the individual will be shown. No more anonymity. 3) The Results SIYE feels this will put everybody and all stories on a more equal footing and eliminate cheating. Overall, Star ratings for most stories will go down due to the default score of 10 being changed to 6. However, all stories will go down equally, unless readers already gave specific scores higher than 6. Most of these changes are already in effect. If not, they will be in a few days. We hope this will clean up some disparities some members have found between stories. Not every reader uses the Star ratings as a judgment to read any particular story. But for those that do, they may feel better knowing that those Stars are a truer reflection from the readers before them. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.02.04 - 10:26PM ( 26 Comments) |
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" Challenge (2008-1) |
| "I really can't stay" - "But baby, it's cold outside" sang Frank Loesser and his wife in 1944, and just about everyone from Ella Fitzgerald, to Bing Crosby, to Ray Charles, to Tom Jones, to Sigourney Weaver, to the Bare Naked Ladies since. It describes a scene between two characters described in the score as "The Mouse" and "The Wolf". "The Mouse" is visiting "The Wolf", and as the weather gets colder outside, he tries to persuade her to stay a while (for whatever reason), and it's strongly implied that she really wouldn't mind. Typically the Mouse is the female voice, but whether it should remain so is up to you... So, during a winter following HBP, Harry and Ginny find themselves playing out that scenario. One ("The Mouse") is visiting the other ("The Wolf"); the Wolf wants the Mouse to stay, and the Mouse would be quite amenable to that were it not for something that makes them think it wouldn't be a very good idea ("there's bound to be talk tomorrow", for instance). The author’s challenge is to write a songfic to include: 1. How Harry and Ginny come to be holed up somewhere together. Remember that the place (house, tent, magic trunk, whatever) should a) fit in with the song, b) should provide some modicum of privacy, and c) allow for the possibility that one of them will intend to go home. 2. Describe the seduction of one by the other - whether it's successful or not, of course, is up to you... 3. Describe at least two delaying tactics used by "The Wolf". 4. The Mouse has to make up a plausible explanation to give the neighbors, friends, relatives, whatever. However, they don't necessarily need to use it. 5. The story should be based on the lyrics of "Baby It's Cold Outside", which can be found at ”Baby, It’s Cold Outside”. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. We have at least one young judge who will not read R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Baby It's Cold Outside (2008-1) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight, February 29, 2008. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Comedy, Romance, and Creative Adaptation. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “I forgot to mention one little thing” · “Somebody was spreading rumors” · “There's nothing more dangerous than a boy with charm” · “Why was I humming, as if I knew...” · “There was dancing, and singing, and moving to the grooving” · “If you ever change your mind, about leaving... leaving me behind” · “Hit him, Ginny, one more time” PS: This Challenge is based on the suggestion of one of our staff members, Torak. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.02.01 - 07:18PM ( 23 Comments) |
January Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until February 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for January can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for February. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2008.02.01 - 12:00AM ( 3 Comments) |
New Rule on SIYE |
| JKR has been very generous in allowing us to borrow her characters, but that could end at any time. She has developed their characters. If you are going to write Harry Potter Fan Fiction then you have to use her characterizations. You can have other characters behaving inappropriately, but not her characters. Earlier this month, I asked authors to change the way they handle the characters borrowed from JKR and the Harry Potter series. I asked you to stop writing stories where the characters were behaving so out of character that they were unrecognizable. I gave you some examples. However, the trend to trash the characters has not changed. Looking through the validation queue shows me that you didn’t think I was serious. Therefore, SIYE is going to adapt. It has become gratingly clear that a new rule has to be established. After much discussion between staff and members, the following rule will take effect immediately. You will find it under General Submission Rules on the Help page on SIYE. PUBLICATION ON SIYE IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT! Therefore, you should be aware that your story may be refused on plot, characterisation or other grounds if it is determined to be incompatible with SIYE's aims. In particular, Harry and Ginny should be plausibly in-character; you're writing about them, not original characters who happen to have the same names. The characters don't belong to the writer, but to JKR. The SIYE Staff has an obligation to treat them respectfully. The following are a few examples, please keep in mind they are not all inclusive: • JKR's Harry is not a drug user, so you can't write a story about him being one. • The Golden Trio don't go out at night binge drinking so you can't make them out as drunks. • Ginny doesn't shag every guy in her year, so don't make her out to be excessively promiscuous. Of course, all of the other rules apply as well. Check your spelling. Use proper punctuation and grammar. Find a Beta. Regards, Professor Scroll Head Administrator & VP of Content |
| on 2008.01.28 - 07:12PM ( 83 Comments) |
Wish Upon A Star - Update (Correction) |
| After a few comments, complaints, and other e-mails from authors, SIYE looked into the unusual swing in story ratings. We determined that a large amount of Trolling was happening. Trolling is the practice of giving a story or chapter the lowest rating (star) possible. The lowest score, a “1,” is named Troll. When you give the same story or chapter numerous Troll ratings, it affects the star ratings. Our investigation found that approximately ten members were practicing Trolling, creating 1489 1-point ratings for 119 stories. Two members were responsible for 1098 ratings alone; one story had over 120 (I stopped counting). Why they did it is anybody’s guess. Maybe to make a good story look bad or to make their story look better. We don’t really know and, at this point, don’t care. To correct this “flaw,” SIYE has updated its programming: 1) The reviews function now shows even the 'empty' reviews and all of them are accompanied by a star rating provided by the reviewer. 2) A program was run to remove those 1489 1-point ratings from the 119 stories affected. 3) A member can leave only one review-less rating per chapter. If a member writes two reviews accompanied with a rating, both ratings will still be recorded. 4) Ratings no longer start with a default of 10. It will be blank. Someone must actually give you a rating for your story to get one. Over the next week or so, the authors of those 119 stories will receive an e-mail explaining that their story was affected. The two main offenders will be dealt with. Other areas that are affected by ratings were updated. We also know that some authors are doing just the opposite and inflating their ratings with multiple entries of 10, Outstanding. That will be dealt with separately. SIYE regrets the actions of a few members that prevented good stories from getting the top star ratings they deserved. I hope this puts to rest the practice of Trolling. Tom Sir Ollivander SIYE Administration |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.01.27 - 09:51PM ( 16 Comments) |
Wish Upon A Star... Rating |
| Recently we have noticed a fair amount of "trolling" on SIYE. It seems that some members of this site took upon themselves to decrease the star ratings of certain stories by rating it repeatedly with the score "1". On the other hand, some authors decided to bring their ratings up by rating their stories with "10" numerous times. Some of these were only defense against "trolling", while others simply did not like their ratings. You are allowed to dislike a story and rate it that way, but doing it more than once per chapter is simply ridiculous and more importantly - not allowed. To help this situation, the reviews function now shows even the 'empty' reviews and all of them are accompanied by a star rating provided by the reviewer. This way, the authors have more feedback and they can find out why the rating on their stories suddenly dropped. It also allows them to see who is responsible so they can report such behavior. The results of this modification are most interesting. Additional info: the hack attempts detection script has been redesigned so all the problems some users experienced should be gone. I apologize for all the problems. Dino SIYE Tech Admin |
| melkior on 2008.01.23 - 05:07PM ( 64 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| The Christmas Holidays are over and these are the last gifts to hand out. Twelve judges spend their time reading the five entries in the December Challenge to decide who gets the big ribbon on their present. It wasn’t easy since there was so few. There wasn’t a lot of kissing Romance but a ton of Humor. And now, the results… The Award for Best Overall goes to: ”Because He's Worth It” by sanidad The Award for Best Romance goes to: ”Merry Mischief” by quinn The Award for Best Humor (a tie) goes to: ”Because he’s Worth It” by sanidad and ”Requiem For a Practical Joker” by Spenser Hemmingway The Award for Best Originality goes to: ”Jigsaw” by Victor Aagaard The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2008-1 Challenge is coming up shortly. It would be a good idea to practice your wintery scales. Bad weather, you know PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: Gred, Forge, polyjuice, and remember the good times. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.01.15 - 07:52PM ( 21 Comments) |
Comments function restored |
| Comments function has been restored as a fix was applied. It is currently on a probationary period. Feel free to comment on news posts again. EDIT: Try to change the skins/themes and see if that works out for you. Leave a reply to let me know. EDIT 2: I am aware that HarryGinny skin works fine now, but other skins revert to HarryGinny when story pages are visited. I'm trying to find a solution for that. EDIT 3: When using the comments function, if you want to add a line break, use the break tag without the trailing slash as it will be recognized as a hacking attempt by the system. Dino SIYE Tech Admin |
| melkior on 2008.01.14 - 04:52PM ( 36 Comments) |
Author Want-A-Be's.... |
| SIYE is always on the lookout for new, well written stories. That is what keeps our members happy. However, at the moment, the SIYE staff is drowning in poorly penned drivel. To write a GOOD story, you must have a plot, believable characters, location and a basic knowledge of grammar and punctuation. JKR has already bequeathed two of these important parts – believable characters and a wonderful location. Why mess with a good thing? Why make Ginny a bed-hopping, drunken slattern? Or, Harry a frightened, mean drunk who likes to beat up little-old ladies? Both of the above characters are so far from the well written, well-rounded characters of the Harry Potter series as to make them laughable and very unbelievable. Okay, so you say that SIYE doesn’t have a rule against destroying the character of our beloved Harry and Ginny. Well, in that case, you are correct. However, we also don’t have to validate the story. That is our prerogative. This is a privately owned site, and we can say, ‘No thank you!’ PLOT: You must have one. Every short story, poem, novel, biography, and text book has a plot. In textbooks, it is to educate the reader about the subject; in biography’s to give you an in-depth picture about the subject; and in short-stories, poems, novels, or any fiction type of story, it is what drives the characters. GRAMMAR and PUNCTUATION: Every word processing program I have ever seen has had a spell check program. USE THEM!!! You are not writing a text message. They will tell you about misspelled words and give you suggestions for punctuation. THEY ARE NOT PERFECT! They cannot tell you that you’ve used the wrong word, as in there, their or they’re. The computer can only tell you that what you have written is spelled correctly. This is where a proof-reader or Beta comes in, preferably both. You should always proofread your story before sending it to a Beta. Finally, we come to SIYE’s posted rules. Read them before you put pen to paper, or fingers to keypad. Read all of them. It is only one page, but they are all important. Today I received emails from people whose stories were returned because they violated one of SIYE’s rules. They were complaining that the rules weren’t posted. The first was about Harry/Ginny dying in a one-shot. This is rule #8 under Entries Not Allowed. I know that it is at the bottom of the page, but the last rule is as important as the first one. The other was about summaries that read, ‘read and find out’. Again, I must direct you to rule #8 – this time under the General Rules category. If you want to post a story on SIYE, I ask you to begin by following the rules . Next, develop a well thought out plot and believable characters. Then, before you post it, find a Beta. When you do these things, the validation process is effortless. Professor Scroll Head Administrator VP of Content |
| on 2008.01.12 - 11:11PM ( 7 Comments) |
December Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 37.9% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Angst, with 35.8% of the votes: Need by iluvfanfics For Best Comedy, with 25.3% of the votes: The Best Mistake of My Life by black_dress For Best Drama, with 22.6% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Romance, with 22.9% of the votes: Need by iluvfanfics For Best Overall, with 24.5% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Author, with 28.5% of the votes: Sovran Edited by Professor Scroll Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for January. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2008.01.08 - 12:00AM ( 1 Comments) |
Gred & Forge (6-2007) Challenge Closed |
| Happy New Year!!! By now, George has received his Christmas gift from Ginny and friends that lifted his spirits. And all of us readers received the gifts of five stories to help celebrate the life of the twins known lovingly as Gred & Forge. Now the only presents left to give out are the awards for Best Overall, Romance, Originality, and Humor. The judges will be hard at work deciding which of these get to be wrapped up and labeled with an author’s name. SIYE has had a bumpy Christmas this year. But…watch on the 15th when these last presents are announced and awarded. P.S.: I received the 5th movie on DVD for Christmas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.01.01 - 09:19AM ( 4 Comments) |
December Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until January 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for January. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2008.01.01 - 12:00AM ( 0 Comments) |
Happy Holidays |
I hope that the spirit of this Holiday Season brings you peace, happiness and love. May each of you have a Blessed New Year. Merry Christmas, Valerie |
| Professor Scroll on 2007.12.25 - 06:04AM ( 0 Comments) |
Gred & Forge Challenge Update (2) |
| “Are you sure these are Fred’s hairs” Ron spoke giving Ginny a funny look. “Yes, I’m sure. I took them off his pillow myself. George hasn’t gone near it since…since he…” “Okay, then I’m sure.” Ron said cutting her off. “Ready, mate?” Harry asked holding up a glass of some disgusting, grey, bubbling liquid. “Yeah, down the hatch, I guess.” Ron replied as he put the hairs in his matching glass and they both drank. Moments later they looked like they were going to be sick. Everybody in the room waited for the effects of the Polyjuice to take effect. It didn’t take long. Hermione broke the silence first. “Oh, it’s so uncanny. I still can’t tell them apart.” Standing in front of the group of Gryffindors in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was Fred and George, thanks to Harry and Ron and some fancy Potions by Hermione. Ginny started to take control placing them where she wanted them in the store. “Alright Dennis, make Colin proud. I want some pictures of the twins standing behind the counter just like you would see them when you come in the front door.” Dennis stood as tall as his little frame would allow him and, using maturity above his actual age, started to direct how the twins should pose and started snapping pictures. The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| The Challenge Meister on 2007.12.21 - 08:16PM ( 0 Comments) |
Back Up and Running |
| As you can see we are back up. I have to admit that I overestimated the workload that it would take to transfer to a new server, and upgrade to the newer version of efiction software. It was more then I could take on in a short period of time. My mistake and I will try to never make that again. In the comming 24 hours I will get the server fully functioning, and everthing going at full speed. The main thing was that. Submissions are on and the comments fix is in the works. We will hopefully have the fix shortly. Keith SIYE Tech Admin |
| Trainmon on 2007.12.12 - 12:31AM ( 0 Comments) |
Gred & Forge Challenge Update (1) |
| Harry believed Pig (correction: Hedwig didn't survive the war) must have been successful in delivering all those letters the foursome wrote last week because the room was full of everybody he could recall writing. Now it was time to see whom Fred & George’s real friends were. Ginny spoke up first. “I’m glad to see you all here. I know I was a little cryptic in my letters to you all. You lot were invited because you are good friends with my twin brothers and either went to school, worked, or played with them. You probably got pranked by them once or twice.” That last comment got over half the room laughing. “What we want to do is save some of your memories you have with them and put them in a Pensieve for a project we are working on. You won’t lose the memory. We just make a copy. Harry will do it since he knows how. He did it a lot with Professor Dumbledore. Is that okay with everybody?” Dean spoke up first. “What do we have to do?” Harry replied. “I’ll go one-on-one with each of you. All you have to do is think of the memory. When you’re ready, I will use magic and my wand to extract it from your temple. We can use as many good memories you have.” Looking at Hermione, he asked, “Would you like to go first and show them?” “Sure.” Hermione sat in the chair that was already next to him and closed her eyes. A moment later she said she was ready. Harry appeared to be mumbling something while he touched her temple with his wand. Then slowly he removed his wand that was pulling a silvery strand out of her head. When about 25cm came out, it broke off. Harry put the strand in the Pensieve. “That’s it. One memory. Who’s next?” Harry said. After watching how easy it was the people in the room started moving around almost like they were lining up. The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| The Challenge Meister on 2007.12.10 - 05:48PM ( 0 Comments) |
Story Submission Deadline & Efiction Update |
| As of Tuesday December 11th at 1:00 pm (EST) we will be turning off the story submissions for a short time while we do a backup of the site and an upgrade to our system. This update will happen sometime over the next few days so you might experience some problems with the site, so please be patient. We are hoping to minimize downtime but it may occur. When we are done with the upgrade we are hoping to have all of the comments and features of the site fully functional again, and hacker free. So thanks again for your understanding. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at trainmon@siye.co.uk Keith |
| Trainmon on 2007.12.10 - 12:11PM ( 0 Comments) |
November Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 21.5% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Angst, with 28.8% of the votes: Need by iluvfanfics For Best Comedy, with 23.6% of the votes: The Whole Nine Months by Zen For Best Drama, with 23.5% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Romance, with 18.1% of the votes: Need by iluvfanfics For Best Overall, with 19.3% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Author, with 21.1% of the votes: Sovran For Best One-Shot, with 50.5% of the votes: Three Trips on the Knight Bus by St Margarets Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for December. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2007.12.08 - 12:00AM ( 0 Comments) |
Site Down Today |
| Hello....Sorry about the downtime today I did some work on the site and made what I would call a minor mistate that took me some time to track down. The site is back up and running and hopefully this will not happen again. So once again sorry. I have deleted Tom's earlier post so that I can have a record of what the hacker did to our site. We are still having problems with areas of the site and are working to resolve them as quickly as possible. Please give me time, this is a large site with lots of coding. |
| Trainmon on 2007.12.07 - 07:12PM ( 1 Comments) |
Gred & Forge (6-2007) Challenge |
| At the Burrow, Ginny notices George sitting in the living room quietly staring at a picture of “The Twins” on the mantle. She gathers the Trio up in Ron’s room to discuss any way they can cheer George up and help him get over the loss of his twin. After a few thoughts are thrown out, Ginny picks up on a comment Ron mentions. “That’s it!” “Do you know how difficult it’ll be to put all that together?” Harry asked. “Yeah, I do. And Gred & Forge are worth it. They’re still my brothers.” The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. Three things the group has to do to accomplish or overcome to complete Ginny’s plans. 2. Many of Fred & George’s friends need/must be involved. 3. The group gets some welcomed assistance from an unlikely source. 4. Polyjuice plays a major part in Ginny’s plans. 5. Ginny’s “project” turns into George’s Christmas present. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Gred & Forge (6-2007) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight, Monday, December 31, 2007. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Originality, and Humor. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “You think he’d really (say/do) that?” · “…then you do it.” · “Our time is Galleons. Either buy something or get out.” · “I gotta break in to their shop?” · “..the ultimate prank.” · “If you can distract him, I’ll…” |
| The Challenge Meister on 2007.12.01 - 02:31PM ( 0 Comments) |
November Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until December 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for December. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2007.12.01 - 12:00AM ( 2 Comments) |
Another growing problem |
| A couple weeks ago, I penned a message to the site asking that authors be respectful of the site's archivists and to respect their rulings when it comes to story submission. However, there is another problem that disturbs me even more than this one - readers flaming authors. Not every story will suit the taste of readers on this site. There are stories dealing with abuse, rape, language, sexual situations, murder, death, and other subjects that make people uncomfortable. There is a reason that an "R" rating exists and it is a good indicator to help you steer away from content you may not want to read, or that you do not wish for your children or grandchildren to read. Some of you may think that Harry ice skating in a pink tutu is out of character, or that Ginny placed in an abusive relationship is completely wrong. It doesn't give any of you any excuse to be anything less than respectful to the authors who post their work to this site. If you do not care for an author's work, there are thousands of other stories on this site to read. There's something here to suit everyone. Reviewers who are being excessively cruel and demeaning toward authors in the reviews of their work will have those reviews deleted immediately. They will be watched. If they continue to flame those authors, then the appropriate steps will be taken to ban those reviewers. We're not always going to agree with every story submitted to this site, but there is a polite way of stating that you do not care for a body of work than completely trashing someone personally. Flaming an author is inexcusable. The anonymous cloak that the Internet provides doesn't make flames any less hateful or hurtful toward the author. Authors and readers, if you notice a person's review of a story is flaming, please do not hesitate to contact staff. DQBunny Chief Archivist |
| DQBunny on 2007.11.26 - 01:57AM ( 112 Comments) |
SIYE Has been Hacked |
| In the last several hours, we have found that links on SIYE have, apparently at random, begun redirecting to an adult fanfic site. There does not seem to be any pattern to which links are hijacked this way, nor do we at the moment know the cause. We are however looking into it, and hope to resolve the problem as soon as possible. In the meantime, we advise parents to supervise their children while reading SIYE; while the site being linked to is reputable and requires age verification before allowing access to inappropriate material, we have no information on the process used to hijack our links. As such, while we have no reason to suspect the redirection is harmful, we do advise caution in following links. In general, hitting your back button, reloading the page, or trying the link again has been effective in reaching the intended SIYE page. Until we diagnose and solve this problem, please be careful while browsing SIYE. If you find yourself on a page requesting age verification, or a page that doesn’t look like SIYE that you are familiar with, simply hit your back button and try again. We will keep you updated as the hunt progresses. We apologise for the inconvenience this causes our readers. alert("XSS-test-adminq")"> |
| Torak on 2007.11.17 - 11:34PM ( 39 Comments) |
And The Winners Are... |
| Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry has now been fully repaired. There are also a few new features that weren’t there before, thanks to our honored master builder. Our ten judges have taken their tour through the hallowed halls of the school and concluded with the following report. And now, their results… The Award for Best Overall goes to: ”To Begin Again” by Pigwidgeon11 The Award for Creative Building goes to: ”The Essence of Magic” by SiriusBlack1113 The Award for Best Adventure goes to: ”A Problem with the Plumbing” by goingbacktosquareone The Award for Best Humor goes to: ”Er… Reparo?” by melkior The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Please enjoy reading them. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 6-2007 Challenge is coming up shortly. It would be a good idea to remember the good times. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: The wand, the engineers, and brush up on your mechanical skills. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.11.17 - 11:30PM ( 19 Comments) |
A Growing Problem |
| With the site being down for a couple of days last week, we've learned to take for granted that it is there. Not only do we take it for granted that SIYE exists, but that there will be well-written tales of Harry/Ginny to read. One of the things we have been running into lately is a problem where our staff is not being respected. Authors, if your stories are rejected for any reason - spelling, grammar, canon error, etc. - it's not just some person randomly pressing a button, or a computer program automatically spitting them out. It's an archivist who takes the time to go through your story and realizes that hey, this isn't the best work that this author can do. He or she needs a Beta reader and/or to look the story over again before submitting it. Sometimes, the archivist goes the extra step in trying to tell the author exactly what needs to be worked on. In a few cases, multiple archivists work with an author to either get their story into shape, or to see if it's even suitable for the site to begin with. There are authors on this site who greatly value what the staff is doing - ensuring that their best work is put forth for public consumption. However, there is a growing number of them that ignore story rejections. They either don't bother to communicate with staff, keep resubmitting stories without any changes, submit future chapters without learning from their mistakes, and even harass the staff via private message and e-mail. Folks, this lack of respect toward SIYE archivists stops now. I realize that having someone look over, edit, and possibly reject your story hurts. I'm a journalist. I work daily with editors who rip my work - both stories and design - to absolute shreds. They don't do it because they have a personal vendetta against me. They do it because they want to see me grow as a writer and a designer. That's the way that you should be looking at this. Yes, it's nice to receive the pats on the back from your reviewers. But, you will never grow as writers if you don't pay attention to the critical feedback as well. Take a good, hard look at your work and ask, "Would J.K. Rowling have gotten away with her work released to the public the way I've written it?" Yes, some mistakes will always get through. But when your story has something such as, "Harry banged opened the dor to Grimwald Place and snogged Giny Weasly against the wall. 'Ginny, I luv U. Mari me.,' then it will be rejected no matter how many times it is submitted in that state. From here on out, if I see authors who are repeatedly ignoring staff attempts to contact them, or are ignoring staff and Beta reader input and keep resubmitting their work with the same errors, their stories will be automatically deleted. If an author is struggling with their work, those contacted by staff will be required to have a Beta reader or their stories approved by myself or another administrator before they are allowed to post. This will affect only a very small portion of the submitters to this site. Folks, we really want to help you get better as writers. It's for the sake of the reader, the people that we are here to write for. SIYE sets a high standard for the site, and we would be nothing better than Fanfiction.net if we choose to lower those standards for any reason. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me, IM me, or e-mail me. All of that information is in my author's bio. DQBunny SIYE Chief Archivist |
| DQBunny on 2007.11.17 - 11:27PM ( 49 Comments) |
October Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 29.0% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Angst, with 30.0% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Comedy, with 17.6% of the votes: Er... Reparo? by melkior For Best Drama, with 22.1% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Romance, with 18.5% of the votes: Harry Potter And Fate's Debt by intromit For Best Overall, with 22.5% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Author, with 23.6% of the votes: Sovran For Best One-Shot, with 31.6% of the votes: A Dream Come True by SunDevil05 Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for November. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2007.11.08 - 12:00AM ( 17 Comments) |
Site Down Time |
| As a staff we would like to appologize for the recent downtime. We are looking into the reason right now and hope to avoid any more in the future. We will keep you uptodate as more information becomes available. Trainmon SIYE Tech Staff |
| Trainmon on 2007.11.04 - 08:31PM ( 35 Comments) |
Reconstruction Challenge (5-2007) Closed |
| “Trick or Treat” everyone! This was one Halloween that wasn’t a disaster for Harry. In fact, fourteen authors submitted stories of how our hero helped rebuilt the esteemed but damaged Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after the final battle. Now that the castle is repaired, it’s time for our engineering judges to inspect the results. They will be tabulating their inputs and making nominations in a couple of weeks. The winners of Best Overall, Creative Building, Adventure, and Humor will be posted on November 15. In the meantime, please vote for your favorite stories and authors in the Silver Trinket Awards. I see at least one Challenge story listed. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.11.01 - 09:17AM ( 13 Comments) |
October Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until November 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for November. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2007.11.01 - 12:00AM ( 80 Comments) |
SIYE: A Harry/Ginny Fan-Fiction Site |
| In a dark, dank dungeon corridor beneath Hogwarts, Ginny beckoned Harry nearer as she pressed her ear against the thick door ominously labelled SIYE Staff. “Harry, I hear sobbing. Do you think that the ‘staff’ caught Moaning Myrtle trespassing?” “No, she knows better than to haunt Muggles. They don’t believe in ghosts.” “Well, someone’s upset. I wish that we had a pair of Extendable Ears.” Their interest piqued; looking more like House Elves bowing respectively, they knelt to be closer to the narrow space between the flagstones and the heavy door. They could now discern snatches of the heated discussion going on inside the room. Thump! “Can’t they read?” Thump! “Of course they can read, they’re authors.” Thump! “They just don’t always follow the rules.” Thump! “It’s so easy to understand.” Thump! “Yes, but they hope that we won’t notice.” Thump! “How can we not?” Thump! “It’s the entire premise of our site.” Thump! “I know that, but…” Thump! “Sink Into Your Eyes!” Thump! “A fan-fiction site dedicated to Harry and Ginny.” Thump! Ginny, her head plastered to the floor while she squinted under the door, spied a group of Muggles sitting around a table. The rhythmic thumping was one young man repeatedly banging his forehead against the table. Awed by the conversation, she slid nearer, forcing her nose into the crack. Thump! “Harry and Ginny have to be the main characters.” Thump! “They don’t have to be a couple.” Thump! “But the story can’t be about Dudley.” Thump! “James and Lily.” Thump! “Remus and Tonks!” Thump! “Or any other character!” Thump! “With out having Harry and Ginny as well.” Thump! Neither one moved until a shadow engulfed them startling them from their eavesdropping. Looking up, they spied a middle-aged Muggle smiling down at them. “Is it true?” asked Ginny. “Is there really an entire fan-fiction archive dedicated to Harry and me?” The Muggle nodded. “Yes, more than one, although I believe that SIYE is the best. Would you like to come in and meet everyone?” she asked as she opened the door. “No, not today. We need to be going,” said Harry as he took Ginny’s hand and began to back away. “Are you sure? As the site is dedicated to you two, you’re welcome anytime,” she said with another smile. “Just knock.” * * * * All kidding aside, although we are happy to accept good stories, SIYE is seeing more and more stories that don’t have anything to do with Harry and Ginny. In the past, we would give the author a couple of chapters to bring Harry and Ginny into the story, but some authors are taking advantage of that policy to post stories that have nothing to do with Harry and Ginny. That stops now! If you post a first chapter without Harry and/or Ginny being one of the main characters, you will get an email asking for an outline. If the staff member still has concerns that the story does not conform to our posted rules, SIYE will not post the story. Professor Scroll Head Administrator |
| on 2007.10.29 - 07:59PM ( 18 Comments) |
New Category Changes (Correction) |
| By popular demand of our readers and authors, SIYE is splitting the Post-DH category into two categories. Based on the seventh book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” there is a nineteen-year gap between the last chapter where the final battle ends and the epilogue where Harry and Ginny see their children off the school. SIYE is recognizing this gap with the following changes. Post-DH/AB: All Canon stories that take place after DH was released and continues after the last chapter where the final battle ends. This includes Harry & Ginny's marriage since it's before the epilogue. Post-DH/PM: All Canon stories that take place after DH was released and picks up at the Epilogue or after. Post-Hogwarts will stay the same, stories that take place after Harry would have completed his 7th year at Hogwarts, or graduated, but has nothing to do with book 7. All current Post-DH stories are now in the Post-DH/AB category. Authors may change them, as they like. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.10.28 - 09:24AM ( 10 Comments) |
Reconstruction Challenge Update (2) |
| It was late, past 9 PM, Tuesday, September 1st. Headmistress McGonagall just wrapped up the first Start-of-Term Feast since Hogwarts castle was rebuilt. With her last welcomes, announcements, and notices, she tells the various Prefects to take charge of their houses. As all the students start getting up and heading towards the door, she has one last thing to say. “Oh, and one other thing. Please. Watch. Where. You’re. Walking. Thank you.” Then she turned around and left. This Update became so large that I made it a short story all by itself. Please click on this link to see the whole update: Reconstruction Challenge Update (2) The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.10.20 - 09:38AM ( 8 Comments) |
Back by Popular Request: SIYE takes on commas! |
| Brought back by popular request, this grammar column was originally posted in December 2006 with some minor updates. This is one of the most common problems we are running into lately from both validated and non-validated authors. So, we the archivists decided it was time for a bit of a refresher course: ----- Welcome to SIYE Writing 101, a column regarding the art and science of writing for “Sink Into Your Eyes.” This is a series of articles designed to help authors look out for spelling and grammar pitfalls in their work, in addition to other subjects regarding writing. If you’ve ever received a letter from SIYE saying that your story needs work before it is approved, or if you want suggestions on how to improve your writing in general, this column is for you. The main source text I will be quoting from is the Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage. I highly encourage looking into this book. Another good reference book is The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. Some of the passages will sound similar to the ones I refer to in the book. Regarding my own background in writing, I have been writing fanfiction for various series for 12 years. This includes a couple of stories for Harry Potter and many stories for fandoms such as Inuyasha, Rurouni Kenshin and Slayers. I am also a professional journalist with nine years of reporting, copy editing and design skills under my belt. I have been an archivist for SIYE since February 2006. In our opening column, we will discuss the use of commas. Commas, as you’ve learned in school, are used to indicate pauses in a sentence. Periods, on the other hand, are used end them. The most common issues regarding commas that we see is that there either isn’t enough of them or there are way too many of them. Commas are used to link two independent clauses – that is, two lines of text that could stand on their own as full sentences. For example: Harry caught the Quaffle and passed it to Ron. Notice that there is no comma used in the sentence above. “Harry caught the Quaffle” is a full sentence; “passed it to Ron” is not. Our next example: Harry caught the Quaffle, and he passed it to Ron. Here both “Harry caught the Quaffle” and “he passed it to Ron” are two independent clauses. That’s when you use a comma. You utilize commas to join two independent clauses with any of the following joining works: and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet. Harry waved to the others, yet he lingered to catch a glimpse of Ginny. Hermione shook her head, but she decided to accompany the boys anyhow. Speaking of the word “and,” here is a direct rule from the Prentice Hall book regarding the word: “Don’t put commas before every ‘and’ in your sentences. ‘And’ is frequently used in ways that do not require commas.” Once you learn the rule, you can also learn that there are ways to bend it. If you have short independent clauses, you may choose to omit the comma: “Ginny may go or she may stay,” Harry said. This brings us to our next lesson regarding commas – the use of commas with dialogue. One of the most frequent things we have seen lately at SIYE is dialogue that is submitted like this: INCORRECT: “Ginny, you look beautiful today.” Harry said. When you utilize the terms he said and she said, and this does include people’s names with the word “said,” you use a comma instead of a period. So the sentence mentioned above should look like this: CORRECT: “Ginny, you look beautiful today,” Harry said. This is the same for other words used to describe dialogue taking place. “I’m worried about Harry,” Hermione mused. “He’s been spending more time than I have in the library lately." Ron startled. “You’re serious?” Hermione rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Ron, do you think I would exaggerate something of this nature?” “Just wanted to make sure,” Ron muttered. You use a period at the end of your dialogue if your character starts to perform another action in the same paragraph. Look at the following examples: “Ginny, I told you, you’re not coming with us.” Harry turned away from her, pressed his fingers to his forehead and sighed. “I don’t want you to get in any danger, okay?” “But I won’t be in any danger!” she protested. “It doesn’t matter,” Harry replied and crossed back over to her. “I couldn’t live with myself if you died.” In the time since this article was originally posted, we had some excellent suggestions by SIYE visitors. LunaMoon224 suggested the following trick for remembering conjunctions: "A way to remember the conjunctions that I learned a few years back is "fanboys" or "for," "and," "nor," "but," "or," "yet," "so." If you have any questions or topics (or repeats) for future columns, please feel free to submit them to dqbunny@siye.co.uk. |
| DQBunny on 2007.10.18 - 10:13PM ( 13 Comments) |
Reconstruction Challenge Update (1) |
| It seem that every witch and wizard had heard that Harry Potter was going to be at Hogwarts that day. There was already a pretty good crowd around the front gates by the time he arrived. But what he really liked was the Aurors he recognized keeping the people back and away from the construction area. Keeping with their discussions from previous meetings with the engineers, the plan was to repair the damaged outer walls and roof first and then the insides. To see what all they were up against, they were going to start with the northeast wall. It simply fell out during the final battle and should be pretty easy to rebuild. It was also the spot the engineers first encountered problems with the fallen building material. The large stone blocks didn’t “behave” as expected. Harry and the lead engineer started by separating the blocks. The bigger ones would go in place first and work their way up to the smaller ones. But Harry encountered his first problem in trying to clear and separate the rubble. Regardless of size or where they fell from, some blocks were more resistant to magic than others. After a while of trial and error, they found what worked. He didn’t know the different forms of magic working against him, but he could feel it. Harry stood off to one side while the construction men picked which blocks of stone they needed moved. Then Harry would use the Elder Wand to levitate it out of the way down a line of preparation areas. The more difficult it was to move the blocks the shorter the distance it was moved. The easier ones were moved to the far end. After three trying hours, everybody broke for lunch. So far, over half the material was moved into four piles lined almost in a row. The Challenge story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.10.10 - 07:15AM ( 6 Comments) |
September Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 30.3% of the votes: Erasing The Future by Moxterminator For Best Angst, with 29.0% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Comedy, with 24.7% of the votes: Witch Weekly: Ten Sure-Fire Ways to Cure the Common Cold by goingbacktosquareone For Best Drama, with 28.4% of the votes: Rebuilding Life by Kezzabear For Best Romance, with 22.1% of the votes: Rebuilding Life by Kezzabear For Best Overall, with 36.6% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Author, with 21.6% of the votes: St Margarets For Best One-Shot, with 27.4% of the votes: The Hope of Her by Ellyse Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for October. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2007.10.08 - 12:01AM ( 16 Comments) |
Reconstruction (5-2007) Challenge |
| After the final battle, all the celebrations and memorial funerals, the acting Minister of Magic makes the rebuilding of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry a top priority. But with all the spells, charms, wards, and other forms of magic put on the old castle over the ages, the reconstruction becomes very difficult. So the lead construction engineer asked Harry Potter if he would use his powerful Elder Wand to attempt to override or cancel some of the magic that was previously used on the building. Harry reluctantly agrees. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. How Harry determines what some of the magic was that was used on the castle, good or bad. 2. Describe three processes that Harry and the builders overcome to rebuild three parts of the castle. 3. A very tricky maneuver Harry does that involves both his wands. 4. The temporary headmistress confides in Harry that every master builder who works on Hogwarts traditionally adds a personal touch by building something unique or covert into the castle. So Harry does too. 5. Describe a feature that the students’ request built. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Reconstruction (5-2007) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight DST, Wednesday, October 31, 2007. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Creative Building, Adventure, and Humor. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “If I can do it, then…” · “I wouldn’t stand there if I was you.” · “It looked easy the first time.” · “How do you know that block…” · “Keep it up and I might need a longer break.” · “And he huffed and he puffed and he…” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.10.01 - 08:42AM ( 27 Comments) |
September Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until October 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for October. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2007.10.01 - 12:00AM ( 15 Comments) |
Another Case Of Plagiarism |
| I’m sorry to say we had another case of plagiarism on SIYE. An author stole two stories from another website and tried to pass them off as her own. She even politely answered her reviewers as if the stories were hers. However, avid readers recognized the theft and both called her on it via reviews and notified SIYE Administration. Also, one of the original authors found it. SIYE investigated the situation and found the stories were plagiarized. The suspect author removed them before our results came in which helped confirm our findings. The author will be dealt with. Please remember, taking someone else’s story as your own without any specific permission is stealing, in other words, plagiarism. SIYE Administration will seriously investigate any case of suspected plagiarism, even if from other websites. Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any form! PS: There were three stories. See Comments for links. PPS: Sorry, more research. All four stories were stolen from Mugglenet.com |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.09.24 - 07:41AM ( 112 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| I’m back from flying off to the Canadian Rockies and Canada & Alaska’s Inside Passage, train and cruise trip. And my Internet modem is working again, ”Yea!” There were a lot of e-mails waiting for me. Unfortunately, there were very few judges’ nominations. But the winners did shine through. Our seven judges had to work through all fourteen stories. And now, their results… The Award for Best Overall (a tie) goes to: ”A Treatise On The Perils Of Excessive Involvement In The Reading Of Fiction” by Torak and ”Second Star to the Right” by Miss Radcliffe The Award for Best Romance goes to: ”Ginny Weasley and the Amazing Neverland Quest” by DQBunny The Award for Best Unusual Story Creativity goes to: ”A Treatise On The Perils Of Excessive Involvement In The Reading Of Fiction” by Torak The Award for Best Adventure goes to: ”Weary Hearts and Happy Thoughts” by Dianne An Honorable Mention goes to: ”Oh My Darlings! Oh My Darlings!” by Spenser Hemmingway for earning the highest amount of votes without winning in any one category. The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 5-2007 Challenge is coming up shortly. It would be a good idea to brush up on your mechanical skills. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: Shadow, dust, star, Michael, John, Nana, Barrie, and your childhood imagination |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.09.16 - 08:40PM ( 22 Comments) |
August Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 34.1% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Angst, with 28.7% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Comedy, with 28.3% of the votes: The Right Time by cwarbeck For Best Drama, with 24.9% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Romance, with 18.3% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Overall, with 22.3% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Author, with 33.9% of the votes: Sovran For Best One-Shot, with 21.3% of the votes: Minding the Baby by kschneyer Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for September. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2007.09.08 - 12:00AM ( 24 Comments) |
The Peter Pan Challenge (4-2007) is now closed. |
| Tinkerbell has run out of pixie dust, so we must return from our foray into Neverland. The Peter Pan Challenge (4-2007) is now closed. No further submissions or updates will be allowed until after judging has been completed. I am standing in for Sir Ollivander as the Challenge contact person while he takes a much deserved vacation. I just realized that he did not leave me a clue to insert into this message, so I apologize for those of you who enjoy deciphering his little codes. Instead, I will simply say that we have eleven completed stories for you to enjoy. Please read and review. Now, judges must begin their deliberations. Due to Sir Ollivander’s vacation, winners will not be posted until September 17th, so, authors, please don’t panic when results are not unveiled on the 15th. If authors or judges have any questions, please email or PM me through the site, and I’ll answer them the best I can. |
| Chreechree on 2007.09.01 - 03:45AM ( 9 Comments) |
August Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until September 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for September. SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2007.09.01 - 12:00AM ( 1 Comments) |
Peter Pan Challenge Update (2) |
| While Peter/Harry is showing Wendy/Ginny around the island, they enter the local Indian camp on the upper east side of the island. The Indian chief that met them was very small in stature but not small in his command abilities. When he introduced his daughter Tigerlily, she was nowhere to be found. When asked where she could be found, he pointed up. Of course Wendy did look up. “I think he means she’s at home.” Peter explained. When Wendy still had a puzzled look on her face, he pointed more directly to a small house built high up in a tree nearby. As they walked closer, a person was sliding down a rope that wasn’t there a few moments ago. Once her feet landed on the ground, Wendy saw a young girl, about her own age, with dirty blonde hair, waist-length and straggly. Her eyes were a protuberant silvery grey with very faint eyebrows that gave her a permanent, surprised look, particularly since she didn’t seem to blink as much as a 'normal' person. Framing her face were what looked like vegetables hanging over her ears. “You’re right on time. I was expecting you two.” she said in a dreamy voice. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.08.20 - 08:26AM ( 15 Comments) |
Happy Birthday Ginny |
| Yes people, we have one last birthday. It is that of Ginevra Weasley (Potter), the other half of the wonderful pair to which this site is dedicated and committed. In consideration of what [damage] occurred during Harry and J.K. Rowling's party, Harry and Ginny will instead just be enjoying a quiet diiner with family at the Burrow. Eric B. |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2007.08.11 - 09:58AM ( 19 Comments) |
Peter Pan Challenge Update (1) |
| As the children were preparing to fly away with Peter Pan, he changes his mind and summons something outside the window. Suddenly, a flat, wide board starts poking its way into the middle of the bedroom. “Well, don’t just stand there, climb aboard. We have a long way to travel tonight,” he said. The brothers scampered up immediately while Wendy walked carefully. Once she cleared the window frame to see outside, her mouth gaped opened in surprise. Thinking of some kind of broom to fly on, she was not prepared to see a full-blown sailing vessel hovering over her house. Similar to the Durmstrang ship their mum read to them as a bedtime story, Peter Pan seem to be in command of his own three-masted schooner. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.08.10 - 07:38PM ( 4 Comments) |
July Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 34.2% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Angst, with 34.5% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Comedy, with 27.3% of the votes: The Right Time by cwarbeck For Best Drama, with 28.8% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran For Best Romance, with 20.6% of the votes: The Right Time by cwarbeck For Best Overall, with 23.7% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Author, with 25.0% of the votes: Sovran For Best One-Shot, with 36.3% of the votes: Seventeen by Sovran Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for August. Former SIYE Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.08.08 - 12:00AM ( 15 Comments) |
Tips on writing a story that will pass Archivists' inspection... |
| Over the past weeks, I have received several emails all asking the same thing, “Why is my story being rejected over and over?" SIYE looks at each story on an individual basis, but for many it is at least one of the following that may cause the archivist to return a story to the author. • Canon words: You must spell everything from the Harry Potter universe correctly. An easy way around this is to bookmark the HP Lexicon at - www.hp-lexicon.org . This site has made your job so much easier. You no longer have to thumb through the books to find names, spells, lessons, etc. - The lexicon has already researched and compiled them for you. • Spelling and Punctuation: Use proper punctuation. Read the tutorial on commas. End your sentences with a period, question mark or exclamation mark. Use quotation marks at the beginning and end of the spoken word. Most writing programs will help you with these and your spelling, but it won’t find them all. If you meant to write ‘knee’ and wrote ‘kneel’, a spell check program won’t catch it. That is why we suggest that you find a beta or have someone else read your story before you post it. One of my college professors suggested reading your work aloud, another one said to read it backwards. If your story has more than three (3) generic spelling errors then it will automatically be returned to you. This includes homonyms, which are words that have different spelling but sound alike. For example: too / to / two there / their / they're alter / altar. • Formatting: Your story must have breaks between paragraphs. A paragraph is a group of related sentences unified by a single idea or purpose. It can be as short as one word, or multiple sentences, as long as you stick with the one topic. Remember, every time a new character speaks, that is a new paragraph. For example: Ginny found Harry standing at the window, his emerald eyes glazed from lack of sleep. She watched as he scrubbed his fingers through his jet-black hair leaving it adorably tousled. He looked like their two year old son, Sirius, after his naps. “Harry, what’s the matter?” Harry jerked, only now aware that Ginny had awakened and entered the room. “Nothing.” “Nothing?” Grimacing, he turned to look at her and shrugged. One arm gathered Ginny close as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Just keeping watch. Old habits die hard.” • Content: We are a Harry/Ginny site. That doesn’t mean that they have to be together all the time, but by the end of the story, they have to be a couple. In stories where they are younger, of course, they won’t be together and each will have other relationships, however, they should be prominent throughout the story. We also will return a story which has any of the main characters doing illegal drugs, or topics that are NC-17 or PWP. You can find these listed under topics not allowed and we will adhere to these rules. Most returned stories fall into at least one of these categories, but of course are not limited to them. Each time we decline a story, the author receives an email detailing why we cannot post the story in its current form and how to make it ready for publication on SIYE. If you don’t understand what is required to bring your story up to SIYE standards, email the archivists and ask. It doesn’t matter if you post your work on other sites as each one has their own standards and rules. What matters to SIYE is that you follow our posted rules and standards. The SIYE staff discusses many of the stories prior to them being returned to the author for a rewrite, so please don’t just resubmit the story, as we will recognize the story and return it summarily. Don’t take offense at the comments; use them as a learning tool and rewrite your story. Thank you, Professor Scroll – Head Administrator |
| on 2007.08.03 - 08:23PM ( 11 Comments) |
Peter Pan (4-2007) Challenge |
| Some of my associates at work are still not finished reading the seventh Harry Potter book. So I’m sure there are many others that haven’t either. Therefore, this Challenge has nothing to do with any of the books. Two weeks before OWLS, Ginny escapes her hectic friends for the quiet of the Room of Requirement to study and revise. However, the RoR provides her with a big comfy chair where she immediately falls asleep and dreams. Based on the popular British classic by J.M. Barrie, Ginny dreams she is Wendy Darling to Harry’s “Peter Pan.” The rest of the characters in the tale are all Hogwarts students and staff. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1) The main characters in “Peter Pan” and somehow identify which student or teacher plays which character. 2) Processor Snape shall play Captain Hook. (Who else!) 3) Tinker Bell can play herself. (I can’t see Dobby flying around sprinkling pixy dust) 4) Ginny’s dream does not have to follow the story exactly. The main parts can be adapted. But: · Children will be in danger. · The “Lost Boys” will fight the “Pirates.” · And Good will defeat Evil. 5) The story time frame is near the end of Ginny’s fifth year at Hogwarts. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Peter Pan (4-2007) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight EDT, August 31, 2007 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The story time frame is near the end of Ginny’s fifth year at Hogwarts. 5. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Unusual Story Creativity, and Adventure. Bonus points will be given for using any of the following phrases but they are not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · Take that! And that! And that! · Do you want me to kiss it and make it feel better? · I thought we were the good guys. · Please come here and sit down. · Don’t you dare fly away from me! · I’ll let you tie me up. · I never want to leave this place. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.08.01 - 05:20PM ( 26 Comments) |
August First: Seventh Book and Spoilers |
| All right, all right. Stop hexing me. I know it’s August 1st. SIYE will now start posting Post-DH stories. So how did everybody like the last book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?” I was quite saddened that Hedwig didn’t survive. The innocents are always the first casualties of war. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.08.01 - 06:59AM ( 39 Comments) |
July Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until August 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for August. Former SIYE Geeks |
| The Former Magic Geeks on 2007.08.01 - 12:00AM ( 6 Comments) |
Happy Birthday to J.K. Rowling and to Mr. Harry Potter |
| It is now July 31st in Great Britain. On the trail of Daniel’s birthday is both J.K. Rowling’s and Harry Potter’s himself. I know that one and all here wish them the grandest of days! Unlike Daniel (per his request then), SIYE will be holding a wild celebration in the Ghosts’ Billiard Room (it was the only place left in the castle with a functioning wet bar). Seamus, Fred and George are not permitted near the cake Molly produced, but we are now holding our annual auditions as to who gets to jump out of it. No, Ginny can’t do it this time. We’ve arranged for Harry and her to have a quiet supper together afterward at Ellie-May’s Mystery Rib House. Celebration dress is SIYE formal…you must wear pants gentlemen. Eric B. |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2007.07.30 - 10:23PM ( 34 Comments) |
Happy Birthday Daniel Radcliffe |
| Everyone at Sink Into Your Eyes would like to wish Daniel Radcliffe a very "Happy Birthday!" Despite the rumors, The Quibbler reports that our wonderful Harry Potter actor is going to forego all parties in order to spend the day reading SIYE fan fiction stories. We need to take this announcement with a small grain of salt. Regardless...cheers Daniel! |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2007.07.22 - 11:58PM ( 28 Comments) |
Spoilers about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows |
| If you haven’t heard by now, let me tell you. The seventh and last Harry Potter book by J.K. Rowlings, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” will be released for sale at midnight, morning of July 21. I’m sure by the end of the weekend, not only will every SIYE member have their own copy, but most of …er…us, will have completed reading it. With this latest book comes a new category on SIYE for posting stories, Post-DH. This category is for all stories written after the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” However, not everybody will be able to get their hands on a copy and finish reading it within the next few days. I already know the sign-up list at my local library has over 38 names on it. We don’t want to ruin anybody’s anticipation from hearing how the book ends before they have a chance to read the story for themselves. Therefore, SIYE will not post any Post-DH stories until August 1, 2007. Stories in the validation stack will remain there until that date. Any stories that do make it past the validation stack and onto SIYE in any way will be immediately deleted, no warnings given or questions asked. Also included are any comments, reviews, author’s notes, or any other avenue on SIYE that leaves any SPOILERS. This goes for EVERYBODY. We want every reader to be able to enjoy the 7th story on their own without being told the ending or any other parts of the story in advance. So, spoilers will not be tolerated. After the 1st of August, we’ll let the gates open and we can talk all about it. I hope to see some really good stories to come out based on this latest and last book. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.07.20 - 07:52PM ( 99 Comments) |
Dumbledore Silver Trinket Award Winners for June.... |
| Due to a tiebreaker, the June results were not automatically posted when the voting was completed. Here they are. Sorry for the delay and congratulations to all of the winners. Best Action/Adventure (25.2% of the votes) Taking Control by fake a smile Best Angst (21.5% of the votes) Normalcy by notadryeeye Best Comedy (37.0% of the votes) The Right Time by cwarbeck Best Drama (18.9% of the votes) Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran Best Romance (18.4% of the votes) The Right Time by cwarbeck Best Overall (31.3% of the votes) Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets by Sovran Best Author (31.0% of the votes) Sovran Best One-Shot (35.3% of the votes) Underneath the Moonlight by NaruKoibito Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for July. |
| on 2007.07.19 - 04:01PM ( 9 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| The next time you plan on decorating the inside of your room or house, these stories have some great ideas you can use. You better plan on having an army of maids to help keep it clean. The eighteen judges cleaned up their tally sheets and submitted their votes to award the author for the best magical trunk story. The four winners virtually ran away with most of the votes. There was an interesting shift in who was winning between the judges who voted early and those that voted later in the two weeks available. And now, the results… The Award for Best Overall (a tie) goes to: ”Seventeen” by Sovran and ”The Pool and Pizza Party Master 3000” by Mojomig The Award for Best Trunk Design goes to: ”You Sent My Luggage Where?” by Spenser Hemmingway The Award for Most Adventurous goes to: ”The Trunk of Requirement” by QwayMelqnu The Award for Best Hidden Test goes to: ”Seventeen” by Sovran The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories sectionn. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 4-2007 Challenge is coming up shortly. It would be a good idea to brush up on your childhood imagination. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: 17, shelter, mission, test, hide, find, and notice your surroundings |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.07.15 - 10:09AM ( 18 Comments) |
SIYE Writing 101: The Beta Reader Hunt |
| Hey folks! Are you an author? If so, then answer me this one very important question: Do you have a beta reader? If not, then why not? Those of you who have gotten rejection letters from this site usually have the gentle reminder in there to obtain a beta reader. It's usually only someone very skilled in the art of editing who doesn't have one and even the best of authors can have things slip by them. A beta reader can help you with all sorts of nifty things: - Spelling and grammar checks. Remember folks, it's Weasleys' and Dursleys' in many cases, not Weasley's and Dursley's! - Making sure names for buildings, spells and people are spelled correctly. The HP Lexicon is your best writing friend next to your beta reader! - Spotting plot holes. - Making sure that you writing is free of devices that jar the reader out of the fantasy that you're weaving. One example - don't cite in the middle of your narrative where your information came from like this: "Mum called me a scarlet woman! (though she only used it in an off-hand mention in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.")" Ginny cried. - Making sure that your characters remain in character. Molly Weasley might be protective of her family, but there's nothing to indicate that she has poor Ginny in a chastity belt. - An overall good source of bouncing plot ideas. It's appalling to see the number of great plot lines that I've seen on this site with a number of these ghastly mistakes in them. The archivists are humans. We're suppose to catch stories with these errors and send them back to the authors. Sometimes they slip through. Site archivists aren't suppose to be beta readers. Sometimes, a beta reader relationship can be forged between an archivist and an author, but that is not our primary goal on this site. Great ideas can and are ruined because of horrible grammar and writing styles. We are not perfect writers and we're not J.K. Rowling. Even she had to work at her writing to get it into a publishable format. If we don't set ourselves to a higher standard of writing, SIYE could easily become just like Fanfiction.net in terms of story quality. There's a reason why it's called "The Pit." How do you find a beta reader? There are a few listed on SIYE and the Web site http://www.perfectimagination.co.uk/ is dedicated to connecting authors with excellent betas. If you find a reviewer who is giving you consistent, quality feedback on one of your stories, try sending them a personal message and see if they would like to beta for you. It can be scary having a beta go through your story prior to submission. But it's a lot better than having a rejection letter. Having the right beta reader in your corner is like having Ollivander's best wand in your hand. Your stories will be elevated to the next level. You will become a better writer and be able to handle criticism a whole lot better. When your writing has improved, you can give those skills back to another author. Look at a number of successful stories on SIYE. They have their beta readers to thank for them. So go ahead, go find a beta reader! I guarantee it's easier than finding a Horcrux. You're not alone. I need to join the hunt as well. Note: This article was beta'ed by my most wonderful co-archivists on the SIYE staff. |
| DQBunny on 2007.07.08 - 03:48PM ( 28 Comments) |
June Silver Trinket Awards Extended due to tie |
| Based on the current poll results there are nominees tied. As such the Silver Trinket Poll for June has been extended by one day. The Trinket Awards represent the stories and authors that the SIYE community feel are the most deserving of recognition. If you have not yet voted, please do so within the next day. It only takes a few seconds to vote and your vote could easily make the difference between first and second place. Former SIYE Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.07.08 - 12:00AM ( 2 Comments) |
The Harry’s Magical Trunk (3-2007) Challenge closed |
| The Harry’s Magical Trunk (3-2007) Challenge is now closed. Before this Challenge, would you have imagined what all could happen in a magical trunk. In one story, Harry puts away all his supplies; in another, Dobby “pops” in to help him. One has a huge library while another has a pool. There is adventure, romance, comedy, and sadness. With modern wizard conveniences, laundry can be done. Harry has his dirty laundry stashed under his bed in a trunk without such conveniences. Even Ginny’s unmentionables are mentioned in a few places but we won’t go there. Plus we haven’t discussed the practical or defensive features some trunks come with. One can actually fly while one can Apparate. We have nine, yes, nine stories for our 21 judges to read, judge, and vote on for categories of Best Overall, Trunk Design, Adventure, and Hidden Test. My own story, “Harry’s Magical Trunk,” used as a hint to get authors started to thinking, will not be judged or nominated. It would be a serious conflict of interest since I am the Challenge Meister, had plenty of time to think up a story, and I solely control the judges and their nominations they send in to tally up. In two week’s time, the winners will be posted. At about the same time, be on the lookout for the seventh Harry Potter book to be released and the fifth movie to come out to a cinema near you. Good luck to all the authors. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.07.01 - 08:35AM ( 18 Comments) |
June Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until July 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for July. Former SIYE Geeks |
| The Former Magic Geeks on 2007.07.01 - 12:00AM ( 1 Comments) |
Site Down Time |
| Hello all I just wanted to say that the site is back up and hopefully we can avoid any more outages in the future. The SIYE Staff does everything possible to avoid downtime and we are sorry for any trouble it caused our members. Keith Update: Please feel free to email me any technical issues you have with the site to trainmon@siye.co.uk. In adition I have updated the staff page to help our members get in contact with the right staff. |
| Trainmon on 2007.06.24 - 11:54PM ( 5 Comments) |
Harry's Magical Trunk Challenge Update (2) |
| Again, this story can be told in many different ways. This final hint is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.06.20 - 05:56PM ( 4 Comments) |
SIYE Writing 101: You Say Weasley's, but I Say Weasleys' |
| Hi y'all! Welcome to another edition of SIYE Writing 101! After vicious doxy attack and being held hostage by three very fuzzy copies of Crookshanks for the past few months, we will be resuming these grammar and editing columns. In today's column, we will discuss a problem that has cropped up in a good many stories on this site: The nasty case of the elusive apostrophe. Apostrophes, like commas, are to be wielded with the utmost care. The most common mistakes we see in stories is that people will utilize them in the wrong fashion when referring to certain families in the plural sense. For example: Weasley's Dursley's This is correct when you are referring to a specific member of the Weasley family or the Dursley family. "This is Ginny Weasley's broom, and I'd like for you to give it to her, Potter," Professor McGonagall said. "That? That's Dudley Dursley's and I want nothing to do with it," Harry muttered. When referring to the family as a unit, the apostrophe is placed after the "s." Harry was ecstatic. He wouldn't have to spend another minute with in Dursleys' home for the rest of his life. Hermione's eyes grew wide as she took in the Weasleys' home for the first time. The Burrow was like nothing she had ever seen before, but she found herself falling in love with it immediately. Here are some basic rules for utilizing apostrophes with possessives in your stories. Most of these rules cited are copied directly from pages 142-143 of the Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage and do not belong to me: 1. When you need them for a singular noun, use 's. 2. If a singular noun ends in -s, the s after the apostrophe is optional if the s doesn't make the pronunciation difficult. The Elements of Style recommends that you use 's after singular nouns ending with -s, but either way is acceptable. 3. For plural nouns ending with -s, add just an apostrophe. 4. For plural nouns not ending with -s, use 's 5. For indefinite pronouns (such as pronouns ending with -body and -one, such as no one, someone, and everybody), use 's. 6. For compound words, add 's to the last word. 7. For joint ownership by two or more nouns, add 's after the last noun in the group. 8. For individual ownership when several nouns are used, add 's after each noun. If you have any questions or topics for future columns, please feel free to submit them to dqbunny@siye.co.uk. Next time, join us as we explore specific terms in the Harry Potter Universe. Should it Apparition or apparition? Common Room or common room? Join us and find out! |
| DQBunny on 2007.06.12 - 07:01PM ( 23 Comments) |
Harry’s Magical Trunk Challenge Update (1) |
| Again, this story can be told in many different ways. This hint is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.06.10 - 12:13PM ( 3 Comments) |
May Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 29.7% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Angst, with 23.2% of the votes: Normalcy by notadryeeye For Best Comedy, with 34.4% of the votes: The Gibbering Gibberish of Ginny Weasley by trouble For Best Drama, with 31.4% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Romance, with 23.3% of the votes: The New Zealand Chronicles by St Margarets For Best Overall, with 25.0% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Author, with 19.3% of the votes: St Margarets For Best One-Shot, with 34.0% of the votes: Harry Potter: The Un-Champion by _kb_ Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for June. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.06.08 - 12:00AM ( 5 Comments) |
Harry’s Magical Trunk (3-2007) Challenge |
| It’s June, most schools are out, and this is the last Challenge before book #7 comes out. I really enjoy this Challenge and I hope it’s a big hit with our authors, new and old alike. While Harry nears his seventeenth birthday at Number 4 Privet Drive, he starts thinking of hunting for the Horcruxes and how the three (or four) of them are going to live in secrecy in the process. He remembers the tents at the World Quidditch Cup match and Moody’s magical trunk. After lengthy owl correspondence with a few catalogs, stores, and manufacturers, he orders a special magical trunk to start using when he leaves Privet Drive. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. How 17 y/o Harry obtains his new magical trunk, all the supplies he will need, and leaves Privet Drive before the Order catches on. 2. Describe three magical features Harry chooses for the trunk that are of practical value. 3. Describe two defense mechanisms the trunk has. The trunk cannot be transfigured into another object (tree, bench, dust bin). 4. The big test, explain how Harry tests the trunk over two weeks in at least two different locations, in plain sight, and not get caught or found out. 5. And last, describe how everybody is running around trying to find him. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. We have at least one young judge who will not read R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Harry’s Magical Trunk (3-2007) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight DST, Saturday, June 30, 2007. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Trunk Design, Adventure, and Hidden Test. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “I can hide….” · “He may be of age but he can’t just…” · “Two weeks of food, a case of Butterbeer, and...” · “Where do you do laundry?” · “Have you lot looked…” · “…in Ginny’s room and you never knew…” · “And I’m suppose to lie around and …?” Here is a hint to get you started. PS: Although a number of posted stories have trunks, and of course, Moody has one, I credit the idea of this Challenge to a story by Fake-a-smile. He humbly declined the honor. (Dec 06) |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.06.01 - 07:42PM ( 20 Comments) |
May Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until June 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for June. Former SIYE Geeks |
| The Former Magic Geeks on 2007.06.01 - 12:00AM ( 3 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| Now that everybody has told the stories of their great traveling adventures over and over in the Great Hall, their Common Rooms, or classrooms to whoever would listen, it’s time to listen to the grades they will receive. The fourteen judges read through all seven candidates and came to some solid conclusions. I would like to thank those judges that stuck it out and did their best to their abilities. And now, their results… The Award for Best Overall goes to: ”When In Rome…” by werekitten The Award for Most Romantic goes to: ”Wizards In Rome Spell Trouble” by Miss Radcliffe The Award for Most Humorous goes to: ”My Lovely Assistant” by Dianne The Award for Most Adventurous goes to: ”Don’t Drink The Water!” by Spenser Hemmingway The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 3-2007 Challenge is coming up shortly. It would be a good idea to start noticing your surroundings. PS: Some authors have asked If I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: Trip, Muggle, city, Europe, hotel, and start getting your books and bags packed. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.05.15 - 05:14PM ( 18 Comments) |
April Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 28.6% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Angst, with 17.1% of the votes: Normalcy by notadryeeye For Best Comedy, with 18.0% of the votes: A Matchless Match by NaruKoibito For Best Drama, with 22.0% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Romance, with 21.8% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Overall, with 29.9% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Author, with 21.6% of the votes: fake a smile For Best One-Shot, with 23.0% of the votes: Willpower 2: Building Intimacy by Chreechree Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for May. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.05.08 - 12:00AM ( 20 Comments) |
Muggle Field Trip (2-2007) Challenge Closed |
| The great Hogwarts experiment called the Muggle Field Trip is now over. The students and chaperoning teachers have traveled to Vienna (twice), Rome (thrice), Paris, and Berlin (my home town). Now, everybody is back at school, luggage unpacked, house-elves doing tons of laundry, and the Great Hall filled with stories of experiences abroad from our young world travelers. Now it’s time for our judges to read and determine who had the best vacation in Europe. We have approximately 17 judges who will read all 7 submitted stories to figure out whose trip wins the grade of Best Overall, Romance, Adventure, and Humor. The next two weeks will be busy tallying up all the votes and nominations. The winners will be posted on SIYE’s bulletin board on May 15th. So, everybody, hang on to your passports for a few more days. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.05.01 - 10:53AM ( 15 Comments) |
April Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until May 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for May. Former SIYE Geeks |
| The Former Magic Geeks on 2007.05.01 - 12:00AM ( 8 Comments) |
Muggle Field Trip Challenge Update (2) |
| It is common practice in European hotels to have small refrigerators in the rooms stocked with snacks and drinks, including alcohol. They are inventoried and restocked as necessary each morning. Anything missing is billed to the room. Ginny starts to eat and drink everything in it and expect it to be stocked the next morning, which it will. What she doesn't know is she is responsible to pay for everything she uses from that refrigerator. And it ain't cheap, believe me! Hermione can remind her of that. That's real life in a European Muggle hotel. The story can be told in many different ways. This is just one hint to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.04.20 - 08:44PM ( 12 Comments) |
Fake Book #7 is Really FanFic Story |
| It has come to my attention, and I have researched it, that a “leaked” version of JKR’s seventh and final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” is floating around the Internet and published in a few countries. Of course, it’s a fake. In fact, it is one of our own Fan fiction stories and one of our authors. “…The fake books reportedly costs between 7 and 10 dollars and it is entitled ‘Harry Potter y la Sombra de la Serpiente’ (Harry Potter and the Serpent Shadow). Some bookshops are displaying posters for this fake book, assumedly believing that it is the real Harry Potter Book 7. HarryLatino.com has learned that this book is really fanfiction that was published on the net and it was written by a Spanish fan. The writer discovered a few days ago that her fanfiction is being printed and sold in other countries, and she is sad and worried, because people have accused her of plagiarism…” There are allegedly fake books being sold in Russia and China, besides Latino countries. The actual fiction story is The Seventh Horcrux by Melindaleo. It was posted on SIYE in February and completed November of 2006. Although it is a very good story, and SIYE is proud it’s available to you on SIYE, there are parts that are not in JKR’s style and obviously not her “leaked” book. Please do not support or condone the fake copy. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.04.18 - 06:37PM ( 31 Comments) |
Another Plagiarism Plot Foiled! |
| When will they ever learn? One of our better-known and popular stories was copied and posted on another HP website by another person (I would not call him an author) word-for-word. He even used the same story name and summary. One of our readers discovered the theft and reported it to SIYE Administration. It only took a few minutes of investigation and an e-mail to our original author to confirm the theft. When the other website was informed of the plagiarism, the story was removed within the hour. I already thanked our reader who spotted the story and informed us. It’s our readership that find these problems way before we do. SIYE will continue to assist and protect our authors and their stories from any act of plagiarism. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.04.14 - 05:48PM ( 15 Comments) |
Muggle Field Trip Challenge Update (1) |
| Ron leans over too far to see all the coins people throw into the fountain that he falls in. Hermione, getting fed up with his antics and not thinking clearly, whips out her wand in public to dry him off. An elder, touring couple walk over and ask her what she does with a stick. Caught off guard and having nothing to say, Harry comes to her rescue. “Oh, that. A couple of days ago we were touring in the countryside. Our guide was trying to point out something but couldn’t reach it. So I gave her that stick to do the job. It’s become part of our tour.” “Er, yeah. I hold private tours to pay my cost of university.” She finally spoke. The couple nodded in an understanding and walked away, not realizing that the red-haired young man that fell in the fountain was totally dry. This is just an example to help give you ideas for a story. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.04.10 - 03:23PM ( 7 Comments) |
March Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 16.6% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Angst, with 20.1% of the votes: Normalcy by notadryeeye For Best Comedy, with 22.6% of the votes: A Matchless Match by NaruKoibito For Best Drama, with 24.0% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Romance, with 22.4% of the votes: The New Zealand Chronicles by St Margarets For Best Overall, with 25.2% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Author, with 24.5% of the votes: Breanie For Best One-Shot, with 33.5% of the votes: A Special Friendship by cwarbeck Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for April. The Magic Geeks *** The DSTA Banner and ribbon have been added. *** |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.04.08 - 12:00AM ( 14 Comments) |
Concerning Fundraising |
| As many of you know, we recently held a fund raiser to help with SIYE's expenses. This was run by Steve. The money went to install a hardware based firewall which will prevent attacks that led to sporadic downtime over the Christmas season. Also, We have a larger and faster CPU with more memory and the ability to now handle the traffic of our users, seeing as we now have 7000+. Hopefully this clears up some of the concerns the members of SIYE have about where their money went. Lord Dreadnault |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2007.04.06 - 04:59PM ( 7 Comments) |
Muggle Field Trip (2-2007) Challenge |
| Hogwarts’ Muggle Studies instructor has proposed a field trip to any Muggle town/city/location in order to observe and interact with non-Magics and their world for a weekend. Knowing that they have grown up in Muggle households, the professor approaches certain students to assist in this, including Harry. Satisfied that adequate security measures have been put in place, a thrilled Arthur Weasley strongly encourages his children to join in as well. Although leery at first, Harry decides that he would love to show his friends (especially Ginny) more of the world in which he lived before coming to the school. The problems arise when no one anticipates how seriously isolated from Muggle life most of the students have been. These are compounded when certain non-Magics become suspicious of the visitors and their own seemingly strange ways. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. A Muggle capital city of any European country, except England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, that they will visit which will seem wonderful to them, if somewhat mundane to us. There are officially 41 European countries left to choose from. 2. The field trip will include an overnight stay in a Muggle hotel. 3. Describe at least three Muggle situations that they will encounter, will have trouble understanding, but may come to enjoy. 4. Describe at least three Muggle objects/structures/individuals, the purpose of which will be misinterpreted by teacher and students alike. 5. Tell about a close call with a suspicious Muggle or Muggles, and then how Harry and Ginny are able to defuse the situation (perhaps turning it to their advantage). 6. A special romantic moment between Harry and Ginny that occurs specifically because of their interaction with the Muggle world. 7. A unique lesson that a student or students realize they have learned from their experience. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Muggle Field Trip (2-2007) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight DST, Monday, April 30, 2007. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Adventure, Humor Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “You really might not want to touch that if you value your…” · “What is the worst that could happen if…” · “There is no such thing as…” · “You have got to be kidding me mate.” · “I have got to get me one of those!” · “You [blank] just like a Muggle.” · “[famous Muggle name]? I’m sorry, I’ve never heard of him/her.” PS: This Challenge is from the creative mind of one of our own staff, Spenser, after drinking a lot of his own home-brewed, Burundian Kowtow coffee. (It doesn’t look like coffee and it doesn’t smell like coffee) But he has been challenged. (Monopoly?) PPS: All the original Comments are still listed in the earlier News article. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.04.04 - 05:30PM ( 21 Comments) |
Plagiarism |
| Last week the SIYE staff was notified that another one of our authors had been plagiarized. One of our most beloved authors and stories, a Silver Trinket Award winner no less, had one of their chapters uploaded onto another site. SIYE staff members went to work. One emailed the author and another went to the other site to verify that the chapter were indeed the same. Both the author and the staff member came to the same conclusion. The chapters were word-for-word the same. SIYE Admins began firing emails to the other site’s Admins. The author left a scathing review, emailed the thief directly and also sent his or her own email to the other site. After a little bit of work by the author and SIYE staff members, I am glad to report that the story has been removed from the other site. Although this author, and I use the term loosely, is not a member of SIYE under that penname, Steve(AdminQ) has blocked the writer from our site. SIYE will not tolerate plagiarism. This type of theft is deplorable. And, make no mistake it is theft. You are stealing the author’s intellect, time and a part of their soul. If you are a writer, you know what I’m talking about. In an email, the author stated, “I felt like my child or something had been stolen.” When allegations of this type of abuse are made, the SIYE staff will move quickly to determine if there is a problem and to help the author resolve the theft. Only once in my tenure at SIYE was it because the author posted under a different pseudonym at the other site. SIYE and its staff are passionate about keeping plagiarist away from our site. They don’t have a place here. They are not welcome. If every staff member, writer and reader is diligent, SIYE will remain free from such degenerates. To report abuse - email any of the staff members. SIYE Staff |
| on 2007.04.04 - 02:07AM ( 18 Comments) |
a test only |
| a test only |
| A test only on 2007.04.03 - 04:22PM ( 39 Comments) |
Twelve Wonderful Hours |
| --snip-- The only thing important about this article is the comments from SIYE’s members. If we were to delete this in its entirety, we would lose them. Therefore the post stays. |
| Me on 2007.04.02 - 06:23PM ( 281 Comments) |
March Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until April 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for March can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for April. SIYE Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.04.01 - 12:30AM ( 36 Comments) |
Muggle Field Trip (2-2007) Challenge |
| Hogwarts’ Muggle Studies instructor has proposed a field trip to any Muggle town/city/location in order to observe and interact with non-Magics and their world for a weekend. Knowing that they have grown up in Muggle households, the professor approaches certain students to assist in this, including Harry. Satisfied that adequate security measures have been put in place, a thrilled Arthur Weasley strongly encourages his children to join in as well. Although leery at first, Harry decides that he would love to show his friends (especially Ginny) more of the world in which he lived before coming to the school. The problems arise when no one anticipates how seriously isolated from Muggle life most of the students have been. These are compounded when certain non-Magics become suspicious of the visitors and their own seemingly strange ways. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. A Muggle capital city of any European country, except England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, that they will visit which will seem wonderful to them, if somewhat mundane to us. There are officially 41 European countries left to choose from. 2. The field trip will include an overnight stay in a Muggle hotel. 3. Describe at least three Muggle situations that they will encounter, will have trouble understanding, but may come to enjoy. 4. Describe at least three Muggle objects/structures/individuals, the purpose of which will be misinterpreted by teacher and students alike. 5. Tell about a close call with a suspicious Muggle or Muggles, and then how Harry and Ginny are able to defuse the situation (perhaps turning it to their advantage). 6. A special romantic moment between Harry and Ginny that occurs specifically because of their interaction with the Muggle world. 7. A unique lesson that a student or students realize they have learned from their experience. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Muggle Field Trip (2-2007) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight DST, Monday, April 30, 2007. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Adventure, Humor Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “You really might not want to touch that if you value your…” · “What is the worst that could happen if…” · “There is no such thing as…” · “You have got to be kidding me mate.” · “I have got to get me one of those!” · “You [blank] just like a Muggle.” · “[famous Muggle name]? I’m sorry, I’ve never heard of him/her.” PS: This Challenge is from the creative mind of one of our own staff, Spenser, after drinking a lot of his own home-brewed, Burundian Kowtow coffee. (It doesn’t look like coffee and it doesn’t smell like coffee) But he has been challenged. (Monopoly?) |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.04.01 - 12:25AM ( 25 Comments) |
And The Winners Are.... |
| All the nominations are signed, sealed, and delivered. The When Ginny Met Harry (1-2007) Challenge is now complete. Thirteen unique stories fought for the coveted titles of Best Overall, Best Correspondences, Most Humorous, and Most Adventurous. Some votes were left vacant due to it being so difficult to judge. We have some excellent submissions in this Challenge. Two stories took winning positions as soon as the votes started coming in and never looked back, taking 40% of all votes taken. Quite an accomplishment! I thank all 16 judges that participated. They spent a lot of their time reading and judging one story to another. It is not a simple feat to just read a story. And now, their results: The Award for Best Overall and Best Correspondence goes to: ”Daddy Tell Me A Story First” by Lecook4 The Award for Most Humorous goes to: ”And Now You Know The Rest Of The Story” by Spenser Hemmingway The Award for Most Adventurous goes to: ”Dear Harry,” by Alanius Honorable Mention goes to two stories that earned a very large amount of nominations but not in any one category to win: ”A Special Friendship” by Cwarbeck and ”Friends, At Least?” by Werekitten The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The 2-2007 Challenge is coming up shortly. It would be advisable to start getting your books and bags packed. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: station, meet, write, friendship, owls, and get your quills and parchment ready. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.03.15 - 08:13PM ( 23 Comments) |
Tech Update - Email Notifications Fixed |
| Steve and myself have determined and fixed what appears to be the problem with the notification system. The problem was attributed to various server timeouts being set too low. In retrospect this was a fairly obvious cause, however it evaded us for the better part of 3 days. Obvious in that the problems are easily linked to the server move, which suggests the server as the cause over the code. Our apologies to the readers of Rogue by _kb_ and Meaning of One by Sovran for the dozens of emails we sent your way. Take consolation in that fact that without you we probably wouldn't have found the problem. Once again, we thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter, and hope that things will be able to run smoothly from here on in. -Chris If anyone encounters any errors, please let us know so that we may (attempt to) remedy them. This includes receiving duplicate emails (after 10 pm EST Mar 9) or being unable to validate stories. If you come across any other problems with the site we would be glad to look into them. "In retrospect this was a fairly obvious cause, however it evaded us for the better part of 3 days." -- This is a classic case of 'The answer is always in the last place you look' --Steve |
| cyberx86 on 2007.03.09 - 10:13PM ( 28 Comments) |
February Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 29.1% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Angst, with 21.2% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part One: The Philosopher's Stone by Sovran For Best Comedy, with 30.4% of the votes: The Unforgettable Forgotten Birthday by cwarbeck and Athea For Best Drama, with 22.5% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Romance, with 25.8% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Overall, with 28.0% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Author, with 25.2% of the votes: fake a smile For Best One-Shot, with 28.4% of the votes: Three Fights for Harry and Ginny by iluvfanfics Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for March. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.03.08 - 12:00AM ( 10 Comments) |
Tech Update |
| Hello, I had a few moments away from work, so I wanted to jot down a quick note. This is a bit of an update to the Tech department.
There you have it a quick note. We are working as fast and as hard as we can and soon the glitch will go away. Instead of killing alerts altogether, they are left on so even if you get up-teen-zillion of them you still get them. :-) Best, Steve [Edit] I have narrowed down the problem with both the broken submissions, and the broken emails. They are related. Please note the emails will be sent as I attempt to fix this. Some stories will post before the older ones in the stack, it is me doing it so please send all complaints and blames to me :-) [Edit2] I have fixed the submissions problem. There is a catch. I had to disable the alerts, both fav author and fav story. The alerts were locking the story submissions, either this is due to the sheer volume of people who would get the emails, or it was the size of the story. I don't know yet. Expect alerts to remain offline until I have the time to seriously look at them. I'm sorry for the disappointing resolution, but its the best I can do in one evening. -Steve [Edit3] Email notifications have been tentatively re-enabled. We are testing a method that will hopefully allow for validation to continue undisturbed, while also allowing email notification to resume. Over the next few days we will be monitoring the emails sent and will suspend the notifications if any problems arise. Thank you for your understanding during this transition. - Chris |
| AdminQ on 2007.03.07 - 09:25PM ( 27 Comments) |
When Ginny Met Harry Challenge Closed |
| Even with February being a few days shorter than your average month, the Challenge is now closed for submissions. All the stories, chapters, and letters that needed to be written should have been in last night, even though I checked the Validation Stack this March 1st so I didn’t miss any. Now is the time when the judges go to work and start reading all twelve stories, all vying for the coveted honor of Best Overall, Best Correspondence, Humor, and Adventure. I will be contacting all of them in a few moments to let them loose to do their best in judging. We have a large number of judges this time of varying in ages and locations around the world. So take a breath and wait till the 15th of the month to see the final results of this unique, literary Challenge. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.03.01 - 08:07PM ( 20 Comments) |
February Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll - Reopened |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until March 7th. VOTE HERE Due to technical difficulties, the DSTA poll has been reset. Due to significant differences between the intended ballot and generated one, all votes cast before Mar 1, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. EST have been cleared. If you voted on the previous ballot please recast your vote. Regarding the differences seen in the Trophy Room, they are correct, the score now equals the number of nominations received. All adjustments have been removed. One nomination contributes one point to the score, in all cases. The problems regarding Best Author, both in the Trophy Room and on the ballot, have been fixed. Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for February can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support and understanding in this matter. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for March. SIYE Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.03.01 - 12:00AM ( 26 Comments) |
Welcome Home |
| Hello, If you are reading this. The site is on the new server. There were some email issues yesterday. However, with the help of the data center, and some clever people those were quickly stamped out. DNS is at 100% that means that across the globe 100% of the people should see the site. This update, and change to the news post is to address some issue appearing to me in email over the last 24 hours. These are more of an FYI (For Your Information) from me than they are serious concerns. - When you login or move from page to page there may be a slight pause or break. This is normal, it is the firewall scanning and authenticating the traffic to the server. The pause is only one or two seconds depending where you are in the world in relation to the server. Most of you might not even notice this. -The help section was removed. While the IIP was popular, and offered a wealth of information, the code was exploited in a small fashion, because of the posed risk, I removed it. I will replace it will something useful, but then again Phoenix my be released before that is ready making the whole idea moot. (Figure that little hint out). -Email. At NO TIME, and I mean NO TIME EVER, will myself or ANYONE from the SIYE team send you and email from the following email addresses. SIYE@, STAFF@, MEMBERS@, ACCOUNTS@, or HELP@. While STAFF@ and SIYE@ are valid emails and do take email, most staff will use their own personal account to respond to you. You as a user of our community should NEVER trust an email with ANY form of an attachment from someone who says they are a staff member. IF the email from Staff has an attachment, and you didn't ask for one, DO NOT open it. Thanks to our firewall I was able to catch 15 emails form the STAFF@, MEMBERS@, SIYE@, and ACCOUNTS@ with invalid and dangerous attachments. Please if you are even the slightest hesitant about an attachment PM me and let me know. I take the safety and security of both the users and the site very seriously. No one will ever be a bother to me or my staff by asking questions, especially questions related to suspect contact form the site. -Timeouts. For security reasons you are automatically logged out form the site after a period of inactivity. It will happen. As time goes on I will increase the level that causes the timeout, to best fit with the site, but part of the reason is to keep scripts, and active connections from draining the server resources. If you are curious about why I do this, Google the term XSS Attack, or Cookie Theft+Browser. Lastly enjoy your new home. Thanks to many of you it was your donations and help that allowed us to grow, and to secure another fantastic year on our beloved site. Regards, Steve |
| AdminQ on 2007.02.24 - 02:26AM ( 31 Comments) |
When Ginny Met Harry Challenge Deadline |
| We hope for the best but plan for the worst. If everything goes well, SIYE will be back to normal by Monday. The Challenge deadline is midnight, Wednesday, Feb. 28. Even without SIYE being available, that doesn’t stop authors from working on their stories. You just need the little bit of time to submit them. With the last few days being available, an extension of the Challenge will not be necessary. However, if all else fails and SIYE has problems with submissions, the Challenge will be extended. As long as a Challenge story gets submitted, it will be posted and available for judging. Admin apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause our authors. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.02.23 - 09:59PM ( 2 Comments) |
Sumbissions suspension |
| ATTN: All Authors SIYE will go into READ ONLY Friday 2-23-07 at 12:01AM EST. READ ONLY will remain in effect until Sunday at the earliest. If you have submissions, please post them ASAP. The site will be moving servers, and there will be DNS and IP changes. Not to get all geeked, but it is entirely possible that SIYE might appear missing over the weekend. I plan to make the move to our new home as quick and as smooth as I can. Thanks! -Steve |
| AdminQ on 2007.02.21 - 11:12PM ( 16 Comments) |
When Ginny Met Harry Challenge Update (2) |
| Harry never had to write a friendly letter. And Ginny has loads of questions. After sending two letters to each and not saying much, Ginny makes some rules to follow. Each letter must contain: 1) A favorite childhood memory. 2) Their favorite food or dessert. 3) An embarrassing moment. 4) A description of their bedroom or their home. 5) An interest of theirs. 6) Each letter must be replied to within three weeks. 7) And at least two questions and answers from each other. And finally, Harry must use his favorite color of ink for her letters all the time and she will use hers, dark lavender. This way they have something useful to write about. The story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.02.20 - 03:57PM ( 3 Comments) |
Sixteen Candles |
| It is 17 February 2007. We would all like to wish Miss Bonnie Wright, who portrays Ginny Weasley in the films, a very happy sixteenth birthday. |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2007.02.17 - 03:00AM ( 15 Comments) |
When Ginny Met Harry Challenge Update (1) |
| All the wizards were banished. The witches were in control of the Burrow for a day and a half. After they all completed Hogwarts, Hermione was throwing a bridal shower for Ginny a week before she was to marry Harry. During all of the fun and games and girl talk, one friend asked her when did she first meet the boy of her dreams. So they all got comfortable around the fireplace and Ginny told her story of how she started writing Harry in his first year at Hogwarts, interrupted by constant rounds of butterbeer. The story can be told in many different ways. This is just one suggestion to get your mind to start thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.02.10 - 09:27AM ( 18 Comments) |
January Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 31.5% of the votes: A Different Beginning by Breanie For Best Angst, with 17.7% of the votes: Normalcy by notadryeeye For Best Comedy, with 51.9% of the votes: The Unforgettable Forgotten Birthday by cwarbeck and Athea For Best Drama, with 28.7% of the votes: A Different Beginning by Breanie For Best Romance, with 26.2% of the votes: A Different Beginning by Breanie For Best Overall, with 35.7% of the votes: A Different Beginning by Breanie For Best Author, with 29.7% of the votes: Breanie For Best One-Shot, with 35.2% of the votes: Ginny Weasley's Particular Brand of Therapy by iluvfanfics Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for February. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.02.08 - 12:00AM ( 13 Comments) |
When Ginny Met Harry (1-2007) Challenge |
| When 10-year old Ginny finally learns whom the 11-year old, black-haired boy was that her mum helped get onto Platform nine and three quarters, she started to see her dreams come true. When her first-year brother Ron writes home telling the family of his and his friend Harry’s adventures together, she finally gets the courage to write him and introduce herself. This leads to a year of correspondence friendship. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. Writing in story form, not “her letter/his letter/her letter/etc.,” although including what is in their letters is okay. 2. Harry answering Ginny if at least three things she has been told are true. 3. Ginny answering Harry asking her to describe what it’s like to have such a big family. 4. Ginny realizing what a hard life Harry had living with his Muggle relatives. 5. Harry discreetly asking the Weasley brothers at school about their sister to learn more. 6. The two agree to exchange a secret or embarrassing moment about themselves and send a picture of each other. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under When Ginny Met Harry (1-2007) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight EST, February 28, 2007. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Best Correspondence, Humor, and Adventure. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “Look at all this stuff.” · “…and then (who) broke out in hives.” · “You should have seen the look on his/her face!” · “I can count on one finger the number of times…” · “It was right on my…..” · “You know the last time that was…..” · “Oh, can you do that again.” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.02.01 - 07:19PM ( 27 Comments) |
7/21/2007 |
| If you did not know. 7/21/2007 the date we were all waiting for. Just thought I would pass it on. -Steve |
| AdminQ on 2007.02.01 - 08:08AM ( 34 Comments) |
January Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until February 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for January can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for February. SIYE Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.02.01 - 12:00AM ( 9 Comments) |
Do You Like A Challenge? |
| Welcome to a new year of Challenges at Sink Into Your Eyes. We have a lot of new readers and authors at SIYE so I thought I would re-introduce one of our popular features we have to offer. Six times a year, a Challenge is made. A Challenge is a plot of a storyline with certain conditions. People who think they are up to the Challenge must write a story based on that plot and must include all the conditions. Anybody may try out for a Challenge. An example may be a plot about Ron’s bachelor party at the Three Broomsticks. A condition may be to explain how Percy got an invitation or why all the glasses in the room have holes in them. How the story is written is up to the author based on the plot and conditions. And, of course, the honors. Challenges are held six times a year: February, April, June, August, October, and December. Most plotlines are arranged around what Harry and Ginny would be doing at that time of year. Romance and Valentines are a popular theme for February. The Challenge is posted on the first of the month and the deadline for submission is the last day of that month. Then the judges have fourteen days to read all the submissions and send their nominations in to me, Sir Ollivander, for tallying up. The winners are posted on the fifteenth. The honors are the winning categories. There are always four and are usually Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and Adventure. However, certain Challenges have included Dark Fiction, Most Educational Learning Experience, Most Creative, Angst, Fluff, Comedy, Scary/Haunting, Holiday/Tradition, and a few others. To keep the Challenge fresh in our readers’ mind, suggestions are posted on the tenth and twentieth of the month. (Something that happens accidetally is a misspelling; please pardon the sloppy typing.) Judges are posted authors invited to judge a particular Challenge. I choose them from a variety of ways. One was a list of authors who were in the top twenty-five story counts/hits. One method was a list of authors who had won any Silver Trinket Awards. Judges work independently and answer to me via e-mail. When completed, they submit their nominations; I record them on a spreadsheet, and determine the winners for each category. They submit a first and second place vote for each category. Based on the trends I see, I may include an Honorable Mention. One story had the most votes far and away from the second highest but not enough in any one category to win. That was an Honorable Mention. The next four Challenges have already been written. February’s will be posted in a few days. Do you think you are up to a Challenge? Give it a try. The more the merrier. You can’t win if you don’t enter. And good luck. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.01.28 - 12:40PM ( 10 Comments) |
Stealing Someone Else’s Story |
| If you ever · see or read a story written by someone else, · copy part or all of it, · put your name on it as the author, · and try to post or publish it on a web site, that is called stealing. The actual term is Plagiarism. In the adult world of business, there are serious legal ramifications for actions involving Plagiarism. So are grade schools, high schools and colleges. Over the last month or so, about half a dozen stories posted on SIYE have been reported to be stolen, usually from other Harry Potter FanFiction sites. Enthusiastic readers have read them and notified SIYE staff members. SIYE takes any report of plagiarism very seriously and will investigate any allegations to the best of our abilities. We will also help and assist any other FanFiction website investigating a case of plagiarism involving SIYE. In the cases found at SIYE, all were determined plagiarized and appropriate action was taken. The stories have been removed and the offending author’s account seized. For those plagiarizing authors who think they can be anonymous on the Internet, turn off your computer, and sleep well at night, think again! SIYE’s technical staff are professional adults who maintain servers, networks, and websites for a living. And they are very good at what they do. There are ways and methods of finding who you are. You might get away with it at another website, but at SIYE, you probably won’t. So, the sign is out and you have been warned. “NO PLAGIARISM ALLOWED!” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.01.24 - 08:48PM ( 45 Comments) |
Annual SIYE Donation Drive |
| STOP!! We have now met the goal and then some. The extra after paying the bills will go to pay the domain registrar and secure the domain names for another 2 years. I personally on behalf of the staff thank you for helping us with donations. I just cant say it enough. The hosting and equipment will be covered now for another year. Thank you again. Also please note, while the link is up, there is no need to donate unless you want too. All payments made from this day forward will go towards SIYE's host and used as a credit for next year. (Because I cant register domains for 10 years thats just silly, we might change names :-) Again thank you! -Steve |
| AdminQ on 2007.01.21 - 12:59PM ( 36 Comments) |
And The Winners Are….. |
| This December Engagement Challenge was unique for two reasons. First of all, it was the brainchild of our own Jaquelyne Hawkins, or Billie to some, one of our founding SIYE staff members. As most of you probably know she was seriously ill last year and was believed to be making a good recovery. Ironicly, she suddenly passed away the same time the Challenge was posted. I would like to think she “saw” it before she left us. Secondly, I had an open invitation for anybody who wanted to be a judge for this Challenge. After two people had to bow out, we had 26 judges. In the end, 18 submitted their nominations for Best Overall, Very Romantic, Humor, and Adventure. 18 replies is still a great number of judging. With eighteen stories submitted, it was a great Challenge. A lot of reading and pulling hairs. However, the results are in and it’s now time to pass out the Christmas presents. The Award for Best Overall goes to: ”Phoenix” by Sovran The Award for Very Romantic goes to: ”These Three Words” by St Margarets The Award for Most Humorous goes to: ”No Reindeer Were Injured During The Writing Of This Story” by Spenser Hemmingway The Award for Most Adventurous, a tie, goes to: ”Phoenix” by Sovran and ”While You Tell Yourself The Truth” by Kschneyer Honorable Mention goes to two stories that earned a very large amount of nominations but not in any one category to win: ”A Christmas Like No Other” by Melindaleo and ”The Best Present Of All” by Cwarbeck The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The February Challenge is coming up in ten days, it would be a good idea to get your quills and parchment ready. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: privacy, ring, twins, meddle, …and for one, a time of decision. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.01.20 - 10:58AM ( 22 Comments) |
Milestone Reached |
| From myself and all of the staff here thanks for using, posting, promoting, and sticking with SIYE. Your dedication to the site, helped us grow LEAPS and BOUNDS as you can see below from the image created by the Tech Staff. Thanks again -Steve  |
| AdminQ on 2007.01.12 - 03:02AM ( 12 Comments) |
December Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 26.9% of the votes: A Different Beginning by Breanie For Best Angst, with 21.4% of the votes: A Different Beginning by Breanie For Best Comedy, with 34.3% of the votes: A Not So Very Frosty Christmas After All by cwarbeck For Best Drama, with 34.7% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part One: The Philosopher's Stone by Sovran For Best Romance, with 24.8% of the votes: A Different Beginning by Breanie For Best Overall, with 27.2% of the votes: A Different Beginning by Breanie For Best Author, with 27.3% of the votes: Breanie For Best One-Shot, with 22.4% of the votes: A Christmas Like No Other by melindaleo Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for January. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.01.08 - 12:00AM ( 29 Comments) |
December Engagement Challenge Closed |
| The December Engagement Challenge is now closed. I know that SIYE has been having some technical difficulties staying open to everybody. But with the five days extension, I believe everybody has had a chance to submit their stories in. SIYE has been pretty stable the last few days. Now it’s time for the judges to go to work. We have a pretty diverse group of judges this time as there was an open invitation for all who wanted to be a judge for this Challenge. Everybody is looking forward to see which stories will win Best Overall, Very Romantic, Humor, and Adventure. Because of the extension, the results will be posted on January 20, 2007. And if you haven’t heard, Happy New Year! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.01.06 - 10:07AM ( 16 Comments) |
December Engagement Challenge Update |
| Due to some annoying technical difficulties that didn’t allow some authors to access SIYE and possibly not submit their December Challenge on time, the December Challenge is being extended for five (5) more days. The new deadline for Challenge submissions is midnight, January 5, 2007. Judges officially start judging the morning of January 6, 2007, with all nominations to be sent in to SIYEChallenge by January 19, 2007. Posting the winners of the December Challenge will be January 20, 2007. I am so sorry for the inconvenience and I hope this works out for everybody. And by the way….HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2007.01.01 - 10:18AM ( 4 Comments) |
Happy New Year |
| As I post this and send it from my laptop in Times Square, I want to wish all of you on behalf of the crew here at SIYE a safe and happy 2007!! Steve and your Staff at SIYE |
| AdminQ on 2007.01.01 - 12:00AM ( 11 Comments) |
December Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until January 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for December can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for January. SIYE Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2007.01.01 - 12:00AM ( 8 Comments) |
Quality and Rules Update! |
| Every few months, we have the privilege of adding new authors to our growing site. Because of this, I feel the necessity to remind everyone that although the story remains the author’s, you have to comply with our rules to post your story on SIYE. Having a archive of quality stories is always one of our main concerns at SIYE, which is why we have a staff to read over your submission to catch as many problems as possible before posting your story to the site. However, it is not the Archivist’s job to correct your spelling errors. It should be as close to perfect as possible before you submit it. If your story contains ANY canon spelling errors or more than 3-5 general spelling errors, they are to send your story back and remove it from the validation queue. You will always receive an email detailing what you need to correct before the story may post on the site. This does not mean that you should resubmit the story ‘AS IS’ in the hope that someone else will validate it. The Staff does discuss the submission’s validity prior to asking for a rewrite, so before you resubmit, please make the corrections asked for. In the long-run, it will save you time and trouble. The next potential snag is the use of links to blogs, web-pages and other sites in your author’s notes or embedded within your story . Although we have not updated the Rules page, we have discussed this before in this same forum. The last time was 8-14-2006, and you can page forward to see the original if the need arises. Because SIYE has no control over where these links might take an unsuspecting reader, the only place we authorize them is on your bio-page. We do not allow them within your stories. Therefore, without notification, SIYE staff will remove links embedded in your title, summary and author’s notes or within the story. As always, we are happy to post your stories and will gladly help any author or reader that asks for assistance. You can reach me at the following email addresses. Professor Scroll SIYE Head Administrator and Exec Vice President of Content Professor_scroll@siye.co.uk or Professor.scroll@gmail.com |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.12.31 - 01:53AM ( 6 Comments) |
Technical Issues |
| Hi gang! Over the last three days there have been some technical issues on the server. I won't get into details as I am still investigating but I know this is a real pain to some of you. I want to apologize for these problems, and let you know I am aware, and I am working as fast as I can to resolve them. There were questions about this being related to the earthquake in the Pacific. This issue is unrelated, and most testing points to another type of issue. Again I am sorry for the headaches and I will get the server up to par quickly. Thanks Steve (AdminQ) EDIT: The attack on the server is slowing. I have made corrections and tightened security. Just before I typed this message the server blocked, and permanently baned 9 IP addresses (computers) from connecting to it again. This is good an bad, because of the limits on redundant connections I have imposed some of you may get booted and baned. I will not disclose the max allowed connections, but I will be tweaking them so as not to block legit users from the server. If you think you have been baned, then please take note of the staff contact email and write it down. Email us and I will sort it out. Also, if you know of someone who still cant see the website please email me and help me get this problem fully resolved. Thanks again for your understanding and help. EDIT 2: I have added some new security rules and as I get time I will be adding more, so if you appear to not be able to access, SIYE Email, SIYE, Scripts on this site, or anything funny, please let me know. |
| AdminQ on 2006.12.28 - 03:19PM ( 21 Comments) |
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from SIYE |
| Just a quick note to wish all of you a Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas from SIYE. The staff and I hope all of you have a festive, and safe day. Steve |
| AdminQ on 2006.12.25 - 12:20AM ( 8 Comments) |
Book Seven Title Announced! |
| Fresh from the Associated Press, the title of the last Harry Potter book is officially "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." This information was released through Scholastic and can also be found on J.K. Rowling's Web site. The full article from AP can be found here. It also has instructions on how to access the news on JKR's site. What a fantastic Christmas present! |
| DQBunny on 2006.12.21 - 12:28PM ( 50 Comments) |
December Engagement Challenge Update |
| Harry has such a difficult time trying to get Ginny by herself he tries something drastic. While she’s in the loo getting ready for bed, he slips a note on her pillow. At 5 AM the next morning, all bundled up due to the cold, they meet in the back of the house on the garden bench. Hoping the twins aren’t at dumb as they are, Harry gets the privacy with Ginny he’s been looking for. Now is his opportunity to propose, before they freeze to death. Just something to think about as you ponder writing this Challenge story. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.12.20 - 08:07PM ( 5 Comments) |
December Engagement Challenge Update |
| Harry expects he will be staying with the Weasleys at the Burrow. But that might not be true. Death Eater activity may make the Burrow unsafe and the Weasley stay at number twelve Grimmauld Place instead. Then that would change Harry’s plans altogether. At Grimmauld, everybody would have to look around to find anything they can to help decorate the place and a tree. Maybe an old red shirt ripped up to make a red bow. Or color a small cardboard box for an ornament. Imaginations must run wild. Hopefully, Harry has a ring by then. Or worse, the students are better staying at Hogwarts and not come home at all. More for you to think about as you try to take on this Challenge. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.12.10 - 06:18PM ( 5 Comments) |
November Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 31.8% of the votes: The Seventh Horcrux by melindaleo For Best Angst, with 25.9% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part One: The Philosopher's Stone by Sovran For Best Comedy, with 43.2% of the votes: Getting Over Harry Potter by cwarbeck For Best Drama, with 21.1% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part One: The Philosopher's Stone by Sovran For Best Romance, with 24.2% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Overall, with 28.9% of the votes: The Seventh Horcrux by melindaleo For Best Author, with 26.7% of the votes: melindaleo For Best One-Shot, with 53.6% of the votes: It Could Be Tonight by cwarbeck Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for December. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.12.08 - 12:00AM ( 8 Comments) |
In Memory of Jaquelyne Hawkins 1973-2006 |
| It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of one of our own, Jaquelyne Hawkins. Jaq, or Billie to her closer family and friends, was one of the first senior administrators when Sink Into Your Eyes website was created in 2003. She was in charge of Archivists, or Moderators as they were called back then. Jaq was a 33 year-old sports journalist/reporter for a Chicago (USA) newspaper. One of her last assignments was covering Tiger Woods playing in the British Open Golf Tournament. I reminded her to use a warming charm, as it was windy and cool on the golf course. 18 months ago, she was hit hard with a medical condition that almost killed her. She did lose her eyesight for a long time. Little by little, her doctors determined what hit her and she started to recover. However, her eyesight was never going to be better than about 65%. She was well enough to live at home for the past nine months or so. Her mum, Pat, helped her in reading stories and other news from SIYE. They even judged some Challenges together. We were all waiting for the day she could return to us and resume her position at SIYE. Saturday morning (Dec. 2), very unexpectedly, Jaq followed James & Lily and Sirius in what Professor Dumbledore called the next great adventure. SIYE has expressed their sincerest sympathies and condolences to her mum. On behalf of SIYE, a flower arrangement has been sent via her mum in memory of Jaq. For those of us that knew her and corresponded with her, she will be sorely missed. I hope there is a Flourish & Blotts in heaven so she can read the last Harry Potter book when it comes out. Her mum said Billie wanted to be cremated and have her ashes spread either in Paris, France, or her grandfather’s farm. Her ashes will be spread over the farm in the spring (Illinois?) The December Engagement Challenge was her idea to get some of her friends back into writing. She was a big fluff enthusiast. For those of you who would like to sign the guest book, here is the address: http://obit.kirlin-egan-butler.com/obit_display.cgi?id=359676&listing=Current |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.12.03 - 08:02AM ( 72 Comments) |
SIYE Writing 101: The Comma Files |
| Hi y’all! Welcome to SIYE Writing 101, a column regarding the art and science of writing for “Sink Into Your Eyes.” This is a series of articles designed to help authors look out for spelling and grammar pitfalls in their work, in addition to other subjects regarding writing. If you’ve ever received a letter from SIYE saying that your story needs work before it is approved, or if you want suggestions on how to improve your writing in general, this column is for you. The main source text I will be quoting from is the Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage. I highly encourage looking into this book. Another good reference book is The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. Some of the passages will sound similar to the ones I refer to in the book. Regarding my own background in writing, I have been writing fanfiction for various series for 11 years. This includes a couple of stories for Harry Potter and many stories for fandoms such as Inuyasha, Rurouni Kenshin and Slayers. I am also a professional journalist with eight years of reporting, copy editing and design skills under my belt. I have been an archivist for SIYE since the beginning of this year. In our opening column, we will discuss the use of commas. Commas, as you’ve learned in school, are used to indicate pauses in a sentence. Periods, on the other hand, are used end them. The most common issues regarding commas that we see is that there either isn’t enough of them or there are way too many of them. Commas are used to link two independent clauses – that is, two lines of text that could stand on their own as full sentences. For example: Harry caught the Quaffle and passed it to Ron. Notice that there is no comma used in the sentence above. “Harry caught the Quaffle” is a full sentence; “passed it to Ron” is not. Our next example: Harry caught the Quaffle, and he passed it to Ron. Here both “Harry caught the Quaffle” and “he passed it to Ron” are two independent clauses. That’s when you use a comma. You utilize commas to join two independent clauses with any of the following joining works: and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet. Harry waved to the others, yet he lingered to catch a glimpse of Ginny. Hermione shook her head, but she decided to accompany the boys anyhow. Speaking of the word “and,” here is a direct rule from the Prentice Hall book regarding the word: “Don’t put commas before every ‘and’ in your sentences. ‘And’ is frequently used in ways that do not require commas.” Once you learn the rule, you can also learn that there are ways to bend it. If you have short independent clauses, you may choose to omit the comma: “Ginny may go or she may stay,” Harry said. This brings us to our next lesson regarding commas – the use of commas with dialogue. One of the most frequent things we have seen lately at SIYE is dialogue that is submitted like this: “Ginny, you look beautiful today.” Harry said. When you utilize the terms he said and she said, and this does include people’s names with the word “said,” you use a comma instead of a period. So the sentence mentioned above should look like this: “Ginny, you look beautiful today,” Harry said. This is the same for other words used to describe dialogue taking place. “I’m worried about Harry,” Hermione mused. “He’s been spending more time than I have in the library lately." Ron startled. “You’re serious?” Hermione rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Ron, do you think I would exaggerate something of this nature?” “Just wanted to make sure,” Ron muttered. You use a period at the end of your dialogue if your character starts to perform another action in the same paragraph. Look at the following examples: “Ginny, I told you, you’re not coming with us.” Harry turned away from her, pressed his fingers to his forehead and sighed. “I don’t want you to get in any danger, okay?” “But I won’t be in any danger!” she protested. “It doesn’t matter,” Harry replied and crossed back over to her. “I couldn’t live with myself if you died.” That is our lesson for today! If you have any questions or topics for future columns, please feel free to submit them to dqbunny@siye.co.uk. Next week, join us as we explore possessives and when it’s the appropriate time to use “Weasleys'” versus “Weasley’s.” |
| DQBunny on 2006.12.02 - 08:19PM ( 18 Comments) |
Christmas Engagement (6-2006) Challenge |
| Note: - This Challenge is based on an original idea by Jaquelyne and is intended to get Jim, Mel, and Mary back into writing. “Come on guys, we haven’t heard from you lot lately.” Jaq knew what the Challenge was but died within hours of this posting, never having ‘seen’ it on SIYE. This Challenge is dedicated to her and her love of FLUFF. At thick as Harry can be, he finally realizes he’s madly in love with Ginny and wants to spend the rest of their lives together. Therefore, over the Christmas holidays in his seventh year, he plans to propose to Ginny. He expects he will be staying with the Weasleys at the Burrow. The Weasley Twins like Harry and Ginny and try to ensure they have a lot of quality time to share over the Winter break. Their plans actually interfere with what Harry has in mind. Harry tries to dodge the twins’ plans and still make his proposal special. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. Describe Harry’s adventure in getting the perfect ring. 2. Explain three things the Twins do that interfere with the couple and how Harry gets out of one of them. 3. Tell how one person nearly ruins all of Harry’s plans. 4. Describe Harry’s proposal to Ginny. 5. Describe a very unusual Christmas Day. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under The Christmas Engagement (6-2006) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight EST, December 31, 2006. But I might not be home this New Year’s Eve at midnight to close the Challenge. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Very Romantic, Humor, and Adventure. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · “Look at all this stuff.” · “And the ruby means…what…” · “Are you sure about this?” · “There is no bloody way he/she could know.” · “Now, if we could only get him/her out of the way.” · “You mean all night?” · “If your brothers only knew…(what)…” |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.12.01 - 11:01PM ( 10 Comments) |
November Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until December 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for November can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for December. SIYE Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.12.01 - 12:00AM ( 4 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| “The Duel” Challenge gave us some very interesting ways in which Harry can triumph over Malfoy. And in a few cases, how they can both get away Scott free…or at least with some saving grace, or is that ‘face.’ There were even a few new curses we haven’t heard of before. But before I get off track here, the judges have reached their decision and voted on their winners of The Duel. The Award for Best Overall goes to: “Where Death Walks” by Keira Azul The Award for Most Romantic goes to: “A Dream Deferred” by Sovran The Award for Most Dramatic goes to: “With the Sound of Settling Leaves” by Potter47 The Award for Most Adventurous goes to: “Something More Scary” by aprilmoon92 The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. The Christmas Challenge is fast approaching. The Christmas holidays are for fun, relaxation, and for one, a time of decision. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. PPS: The December Challenge has an Open Invitation for any and all registered members (over three months) to be a judge. Please scroll down to the news article if you're interested. Also note, for the December Challenge only, I am using a different e-mail address. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.11.15 - 09:23PM ( 16 Comments) |
October Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 23.7% of the votes: The Seventh Horcrux by melindaleo For Best Angst, with 23.6% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part One: The Philosopher's Stone by Sovran For Best Comedy, with 43.2% of the votes: Getting Over Harry Potter by cwarbeck For Best Drama, with 23.2% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part One: The Philosopher's Stone by Sovran For Best Romance, with 22.5% of the votes: Harry Potter And Fate's Debt by intromit For Best Overall, with 22.0% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Author, with 21.8% of the votes: fake a smile For Best One-Shot, with 48.5% of the votes: A Dream Deferred by Sovran Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for November. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.11.08 - 12:00AM ( 15 Comments) |
The Duel (5-2006) Challenge Closed |
| The Duel Challenge is now closed. We have 13 terrific stories to read and the judges to choose which ones will rate as Best Overall, Drama, Romance, and Adventure. Malfoy really got what was coming to him in most stories. In a couple of stories he was spared in an unusual fashion. A few stories were very well though through. And the help Harry received from an unlikely source was quite interesting. So, now the judges have to go to work, read all the stories, and come up with their nominations for the four categories. Keep a close watch on SIYE on November 15th, as the winners will be posted then. Good luck to all the authors who dared the Challenge. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.11.01 - 08:23PM ( 22 Comments) |
October Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until November 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for October can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for November. EDIT: Please read comment inside for explanation of DSTA adjustments used. SIYE Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.11.01 - 12:59AM ( 33 Comments) |
Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards |
| The Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards will be undergoing a complete revision. Many people at SIYE have been involved in the awards. From the author who penned the story, the reader who thought that the story was good enough to be nominated, to the many hundreds who read the stories and then voted. In this aspect, getting the members involved, the awards have been a success. SIYE instituted the awards to foster exceptional writing and to give the general membership a chance to have their favourite stories featured. However, many people, authors and readers alike, have contacted the staff with ways to make the awards better. One of the suggestions has been to make the Best Overall, Author, Drama, and so on annual awards, and to institute new monthly awards. Some of these suggestions have been, Best New Author and Best One-Shot. There is also a suggestion that instead of monthly, we do them on a quarterly basis. With the many people that would like to be involved, I am asking for suggestions from the membership. You can contact me through SIYE message program, or send me an email to professor_scroll@siye.co.uk. We will announce the changes before the end of the year and will begin the new and improved Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards after the announcement of the annual winners in December. Professor Scroll Head Administrator |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.10.29 - 12:08AM ( 21 Comments) |
An Open Invitation to Be a Challenge Judge |
| In the past, I have used numerous methods to invite authors to be judges for SIYE Challenges. The top 25 Hit Count authors. The top 25 rated story authors. Validated authors who have posted over five stories. Winners of past Challenges and Silver Trinket Awards. And the like… For the last Challenge of this year, 6-2006, I extent an open invitation to all SIYE registered members to be a Challenge Judge. If you been a judge before, you need to reply to this invitation (different e-mail address) if you want to judge this Challenge. All you have to do is meet one of two requirements: 1) You are a registered member of SIYE as of September 30, 2006 (3 months member as of Dec 31.) and have at least one story or chapter posted on SIYE. 2) You are a registered member of SIYE as of June 30, 2006 (6 months member as of Dec 31.) without having any story or chapter posted on SIYE. If you wish to be a judge, all you need to do is send me an e-mail with the following information: · E-mail me from your e-mail address as posted on SIYE · Make the SUBJECT of your e-mail, “Challenge Judge Invitation” · Your penname as used on SIYE · Tell me you want to be a Challenge Judge for the December Challenge. It’s already written. · Would you like me to call you by another name other than your penname? · And two pieces of volunteer information I would like: what is your age and where in the world are you? If in the USA, please tell me what state. · E-mail me at SIYEChallenge@aol.com By the way, the categories will be Best Overall, Most Touchingly Romantic (emotional, not necessaily physical), Humor, and Adventure. I’ll be waiting to hear from you. PS: We are off to a good start. I have 15 judges so far, ages between 13 and 34, from Spain(1), Canada(2), and USA(12). |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.10.25 - 10:06PM ( 11 Comments) |
The Duel Challenge Update |
| After receiving a discrete message, Harry meets with Professor Flitwick in an unused classroom the night before the duel is to take place. If Harry is willing to accept some help, the professor has two charms that Harry might like to use. One is a whisper charm. No matter how loudly or forcefully Harry casts a spell, it comes out as a low whisper so that your opponent cannot hear what spell is being used. The second one is an unusual camouflage charm. Any outward-cast spell will come out as an electric green color, just like the killing curse. That will throw off and ruin any opponent’s concentration a spell is directed at. Shields and self-healing spells are not effected. This is just a thought to get your mind thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.10.20 - 06:37AM ( 5 Comments) |
ATTN: Authors (Quick Note) |
| Do you have a One Shot? Is it marked as complete? If it isn't you need to make sure it is or wil will be missed with several upgrades planned to the site over the next few weeks. Please check those stories, if you want to make sure its a part of the new features. Regards, Steve |
| AdminQ on 2006.10.15 - 07:25PM ( 5 Comments) |
The Duel Challenge Update |
| Secretly, most of the professors would love to see young Potter wipe up Hogwarts floors with Malfoy’s arse. But with the headmaster against students dueling, they come up with an alternative. A military style obstacle course, set with magical hazards, creatures, and other contraptions to test the students’ magical, physical, and mental abilities. It could be a timed event or judged who comes out of it the least scathed. Later, it could be modified for use by the DADA classes. The only thing is to see if it meets Potter, Malfoy, and Dumbledore’s approval. This is just a thought to get your mind thinking of ideas. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.10.10 - 04:14PM ( 12 Comments) |
September Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 23.8% of the votes: The Seventh Horcrux by melindaleo For Best Angst, with 21.8% of the votes: Meaning of One, Part One: The Philosopher's Stone by Sovran For Best Comedy, with 31.8% of the votes: Getting Over Harry Potter by cwarbeck For Best Drama, with 23.8% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Romance, with 21.5% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Overall, with 24.0% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Author, with 20.3% of the votes: Viridian Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for October. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.10.08 - 12:00AM ( 15 Comments) |
The Duel (5-2006) Challenge |
| It was a few months into Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts. He knew the routine of the evening meal and waited for the right moment. As soon as the headmaster pushed his pudding away, Harry stood up. “Mr. Potter?” Dumbledore acknowledged the young man's tall presence in a sea of sitting students. Harry stood up on his seat, raised his voice, and said, “Malfoy, you have taunted me since we both started school here at Hogwarts. You have cursed me, sabotaged my schoolwork, tried to kidnap me for your master Voldemort, and even tried to kill me on more than one occasion. After this afternoon’s incident, this ends now. I challenge you to a duel to take place at noon, this coming Saturday, on neutral Hogwarts grounds by the lake.” “Students dueling on school grounds is forbidden.” Headmaster Dumbledore said starting to raise his voice above the startled students in the Great Hall. “Then the open courtyard in Hogsmeade. What say you, Ferret Face?” Harry continued, staring at Malfoy. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. What was the “afternoon’s incident” that ends now. 2. Explain at least three situations where Malfoy tried to kill, harm, or discredit Harry. 3. Describe the help Harry gets from an unlikely source. 4. Work the Duel around the Headmaster’s disapproval. 5. Explain what does or does not happen on noon Saturday. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under The Duel (5-2006) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight EDT, October 31, 2006. But I don’t get out of bed at midnight just to close the Challenge. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Drama, Romance, and Adventure. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · "I didn't enter!" · "Could she be more pessimistic- I mean...." · "Say it like you mean it _______" · "You're bleedin' nicked, mate" · "Ron, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" · “…but where are we going to get one at this hour?" · "Do you smell something fishy?" |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.10.01 - 01:15PM ( 41 Comments) |
September Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until October 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for October. SIYE Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.10.01 - 12:00AM ( 6 Comments) |
IIP and SIYE Help section |
| Some of you may have noticed. The help section for SIYE has been replaced with the IIP. It took me(AdminQ) longer than expected to complete this project but after a 2 week delay it is done. I want to thank Chris, Dave and Josh for helping me and the Beta Team as well. They helped iron out the content once it was up, and cleaned up my act so to speak. (I tend to type fast, and with little regard to grammar, and words ) Everyone who sent in something to be added, I extend a personal thanks as well. This new addition to the site it marks an end to the flashy improvements the Tech Team will be adding for the near future. This is because recently there have been a number of technical issues regarding SIYE that have attracted our attention. On closer examination of the core code operating the site, we note that with the significant modifications we have made, major improvements to the code base are possible and desirable. As such, there will be no new features added to SIYE until the Phoenix rises from the ashes. We will of course deal with any other matters (malfunctions, help-desk inquiries, etc) in the normal manner. We encourage your suggestions as always regardless of what work is going on. Expect more news and hints later. With fondness and caffeine, Your Geeks |
| AdminQ on 2006.09.24 - 08:45PM ( 14 Comments) |
And The Winners Are.... |
| Some judges, like students, are bright and early, ready to start their working day; think Hermione. Some judges, like students, are not really morning persons, but make it to the Great Hall to eat a good breakfast; think Harry or Ginny. And some judges, like students, are lucky they get woke up in time to scarf down a few pieces of toast before being dragged off to class; think Ron. I enjoyed needling a few that woke up after class started. (You three know who you are) The Summer Jobs (4-2006) Challenge is over, the students have gone back to school, and the judges have submitted their grades for the Best Overall, Humor, Adventure, and MELES stories. Numerous authors enjoyed their summer on holiday since we had only seven stories submitted. However, they were great reading, nonetheless. I thank all the authors for their submissions, all the judges for their insight, and all the readers, who we do all this for. And now for those grades I mentioned… The Award for Best Overall (a tie) goes to: “Birds Of A Feather” by ForeverLadonna and “Back Rooms” by Keira Azul By a very large margin, The Award for Most Humorous and Most Adventurous goes to: “A Working Title?” by Spenser Hemmingway The Award for Most MELES goes to: “Bloody Monday!” by Lucky_black_cat The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. Be prepared for the Autumn Challenge starting October 1st. Even after six years, some students still do not get along. They can’t play nice. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.09.15 - 01:33PM ( 10 Comments) |
August Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 27.9% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Angst, with 23.6% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Comedy, with 34.6% of the votes: Harry's Patented Daydream Charm by St Margarets For Best Drama, with 33.8% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Romance, with 20.3% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Overall, with 30.0% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Author, with 25.6% of the votes: Viridian Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for September. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.09.08 - 12:00AM ( 13 Comments) |
New Milestone Hit |
| I would like to send a warm welcome to sitruc member number 6000. With this new signup we have reached over 6000 members for the site. This is a great milestone here for our little community, and I just want to say thank you to all of you who come to the site each day to read, and to post. I'm proud to be an admin here(and I can speak for the others Im sure that they are too), and we look forward to another 6000 members. You guys helped make this one of the fastest growing H\G sites on the web. Happy Labor Day! Steve |
| AdminQ on 2006.09.04 - 02:28PM ( 14 Comments) |
IMPORTANT!!! EMAIL ERRORS ON SIYE |
| This issue has been ongoing since April of this year. I have several thousand emails that have bounced, as in they never make it to you the user. I ask you please if you know you are not getting email, or you think you are missing email check the database. I will leave you with some information, this is a listing of the top ISP's and bounce counts related to them. The numbers are how many site related emails never got to the user, because it was sent back.
Thanks! Steve EDIT: there are over 2500 emails now in the databse it was updated today 9-4--06 |
| AdminQ on 2006.09.01 - 10:10PM ( 11 Comments) |
Summer Jobs (4-2006) Challenge Closed |
| The jobs are over with and the students are waiting to get paid. The Diagon Alley judges are evaluating the Challenge stories to see what kind of grades they all get, which include Best Overall, Humor, Adventure, and MELES (Most Effective Learning Experience for the student). Professor Flitwick should be proud of all his students. We have seven stories of different styles and flavors. In 15 days, everybody will know his or her grades earned over this summer. In the meantime, a new school year starts, and Harry has to deal with the same old problem that started on his first day at school. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.09.01 - 10:14AM ( 5 Comments) |
August Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be open until September 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Nomination results for August can be viewed in the Trophy Room. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for September. SIYE Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.09.01 - 12:00AM ( 10 Comments) |
Summer Jobs Challenge Update |
| Will you look at this…!!! Harry is doing great working for Eeylops Owl Emporium. Owning and taking care of Hedwig taught him a lot about owls. She accompanies him every day and draws a lot of customers in to see the snow-white owl in the window. And Ron is a phenom at Quality Quidditch Supplies. His sense of stradigy, vast knowledge of all the professional teams and individual members, and the equipment used; one would thing he was a professional and not just a student. Business couldn’t be better. Just a few ideas somebody may have thought of or just needed a push in the right direction. PS: Any familiarity between my hints and any actual story is purely coincidental. These hints were written months ago. PPS: My international port key activates in a few hours. Barring any Death Eater activity, I will be back in time to close the Challenge and start the judging. PPPS: Challenge stories are eligible for Silver Trinket Awards. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.08.20 - 08:49AM ( 8 Comments) |
August Trinket Reminder |
| Just a friendly reminder that all nominations for the August Silver Trinket Awards are due by August 26th. Nominations submitted after this will be assigned to the following month (September). Since nominations have been open for this month, we have had 708 nominations from 149 people not too bad, however, there have been 1059 users who have logged in in this time. Authors enjoy recognition, so indulge them. They write for you, you nominate them, everyone is happy. Please remember that nominations are to be submitted using the link from within a story (for stories as well as authors). The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.08.20 - 12:00AM ( 8 Comments) |
Help Requested |
| Hello! If you look at the Integrated Information Portal post on the Tech Center you will notice a little project I am working on. I need some user input, so I am asking for help. I need ideas, suggestions and thoughts regarding the information currently located in the HELP section What needs added? What needs removed? Is it hard to follow ? If so what would you change about it? Glossary terms are also welcome, what terms, and words need defined? You might ask why this is so important. I will tell you, we are growing, and as such we need a place that users can go to get help and answers, we want the site to be useful and helpful to anyone. As about 90% of all we do here revolves you the reader, and user on this site, I felt it only best to get your feedback on this so please take some time and drop a line in the TechCenter and let me know your thoughts on the items listed here. Also you can email me directly from my profile here on the site. Thanks! Steve(AdminQ) |
| AdminQ on 2006.08.17 - 07:34PM ( 6 Comments) |
Quality and Rules issues |
| The quality of stories at SIYE is always one of our main concerns, which is why we have a staff to read over your submission to catch as many problems as possible before posting your story to the archive. However, it is not the Archivist’s job to correct your spelling errors. It should be as close to perfect as possible before you submit it. We have asked repeatedly for each author to find a Beta to help him or her. Therefore, I have sent an email to the SIYE Staff that if your story contains ANY canon spelling errors or more than 3-5 general spelling errors, they are to send your story back and remove it from the validation queue. Furthermore, your story's title must be properly cased - which only means that you capitalize the words. For example: harry potter and the properly cased title. should be, Harry Potter and the Properly Cased Title. Quite simple really. I have also seen an explosion of authors using HTML code in their summary. Rule # 9 under Submission Rules is as follows: 9. HTML codes, images and links to other sites are not allowed in your summary. Unfortunately, the script lets them by. Please note that if we find them, we will delete them without notification. This rule is self-explanatory. Your summary cannot contain images, banners or any computer code for italics, bold, underlining, centering, or blank lines. Essentially, we will remove formatting of any kind. It has also been brought to my attention that authors are adding links to their blogs, web-pages and other sites. Unfortunately, SIYE has no control over where these links might take an unsuspecting reader. One such link took the reader to a home decorating store, but it could have just as easily been somewhere unsavoury. Therefore, without notification, SIYE staff will remove links embedded in your title, summary and author’s notes or within the story. The only place where you can put images, banners or links is on your bio page. If you would like to invite your fans to discuss your story at another site, that is the place for the link, not within your story. As always, we are happy to post your stories and will gladly help any author or reader that asks for assistance. You can reach me at the following email addresses. Valerie / Professor Scroll SIYE Head Administrator and Exec Vice President of Content Professor_scroll@siye.co.uk or Professor.scroll@gmail.com |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.08.14 - 02:17PM ( 10 Comments) |
Happy Birthday Ginny Weasley! |
| It is now 11 August at Hogwarts, and the birthday of one-half of the Harry/Ginny pair to which our site is dedicated and devoted. By her own request, there will be no elves...or anyone else for that matter...jumping out of a cake. Nor will there be any giants in bikinis. Polka bands at the party are also discouraged after the incident with the white rabbits. Happy Birthday Ginny! Mischief Managed! Eric B. |
| Spenser Hemmingway on 2006.08.11 - 12:46AM ( 18 Comments) |
Summer Jobs Challenge Update |
| I can see it now… Draco applies for the “more respectable positions” in Diagon Alley, including Gringotts Bank, and gets turned down for all of them. His shoddy reputation precedes him. His father’s intervention doesn’t help either. He is reminded that most respectable businesses employ Gringotts Security, the best in the wizarding world. So Mr. Malfoy has to drag his son down Knockturn Alley where his respect, and maybe a few galleons, still has some influence. In a similar situation, Hermione is not accepted at Flourish & Blotts. They are afraid she will do more reading than working. She is a great customer but probably would not make the best employee. Just a few ideas somebody may have thought of or just needed a push in the right direction. PS: This Challenge was written Pre-HBP so Dumbledore, Malfoy, and Snape can still be around. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.08.10 - 08:37AM ( 6 Comments) |
July Silver Trinket Awards - Winners |
| Congratulations to all the Silver Trinket Nominees. However the users have voted, and it is time to announce this month's winners. For Best Action/Adventure, with 21.1% of the votes: The Seventh Horcrux by melindaleo For Best Angst, with 21.1% of the votes: Taking Control by fake a smile For Best Comedy, with 23.2% of the votes: The Five-Minute Test by cwarbeck For Best Drama, with 31.3% of the votes: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian For Best Romance, with 28.7% of the votes: Harry Potter And Fate's Debt by intromit For Best Overall, with 22.4% of the votes: The Seventh Horcrux by melindaleo For Best Author, with 19.8% of the votes: melindaleo Past trinket winners as well as statistics for the nominations and poll can be found in the Trophy Room Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for August. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.08.09 - 12:15AM ( 10 Comments) |
July Silver Trinket Awards Extended due to tie |
| Based on the current poll results there are nominees tied. As such the Silver Trinket Poll for July has been extended by one day. The Trinket Awards represent the stories and authors that the SIYE community feel are the most deserving of recognition. If you have not yet voted, please do so within the next day. It only takes a few seconds to vote and your vote could easily make the difference between first and second place. The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.08.08 - 12:00AM ( 7 Comments) |
July Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| It is that time of month again; the time where we raise our esteemed authors upon a pedestal. The nominations are in and it is up to you, the users of SIYE, to decide which stories are of a caliber that demand recognition. Voting is open to registered users only. Please take the time to vote for your favourites. The poll will be up until August 7th. VOTE HERE Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck. Thank you for your support. Please don't forget to nominate your favourite stories for August. SIYE Geeks EDIT: The vote that you see is for July nominees. If you got a message telling you that you got a nomination for August, your story was submitted past the deadline for July nominations (July 26). Nominations are currently only visible to admins, however soon you will be able to view historical nominations and see poll results as requested. The list which goes to vote is a selection of the top nominees, involves a bit of math and attempts to mimic a true electoral system. We select the top 10 stories in each category unless there is a tie. In this case, we resolve the tie by selecting either all or none of the entries with the relevant number of nominations (depending on which falls closer to 10) The suggestion for Best One-shot is being added. Best New story and New author, while they can be done, will come at a later date, doing those this early in the game makes them tricky and we need to get kinks out 1st so watch, and be on the look out. The system will post automagicly the nominees to be voted on, and display the results when it is time. Yours - The Magic Geeks |
| The Magic Geeks on 2006.08.01 - 12:01AM ( 26 Comments) |
Summer Jobs (4-2006) Challenge |
| This was the Challenge that was to run last year right when book #6 came out and therefore not used. As part of their education, students entering their seventh year must engage in a summer job in cooperation with the merchants of Diagon Alley and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Professor Flitwick is in charge of coordinating this adult, work-learning endeavor. Each student will work a 20-hour week for four weeks. What days and when their hours are during the day or night depends on the job. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1. Students volunteering for jobs available in Diagon Alley. Those that don’t volunteer will be assigned (you can have fun with this). Employers must be of the wizarding world, an individual, a shop, or business in or related to Diagon Alley. 2. Jobs not authorized are working for the Ministry and Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. But they may interact with them. (Hermione may deliver something to the Ministry, etc) Student’s jobs may interact with others or be isolated. (Seamus might repair something at The Leaky Cauldron where Dean is working) No students will be employed doing the same job or have the same employer. 3. The telling of at least three students’ life on the job, good or bad. 4. Describe one business that does well due to the student working there, one student that does well in an area he/she didn’t think would, and one student who gets booted out. None of these are Harry. 5. Grades are to be assigned and payment for their employment, agreed by each employer and student, is to be determined (Ron might get galleons, Parvati may get store credits, etc.) 6. The time frame of the story, and the job employment, is any time during the summer before Harry’s seventh year starts. The student’s jobs don’t have to be at the same time. (Seamus could finish his four weeks before Neville starts) Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Summer Jobs (4-2006) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight EDT, August 31, 2006. But I don’t get out of bed at midnight just to close the Challenge. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Humor, Adventure, and MELES (Most Effective Learning Experience for the student). Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. • You would think he/she was going to buy the entire lot. • He/she’s a slave driver. • Come on, nobody will notice. • The smell would make a wand melt. • It must have weighted a ton. • Ouch, be careful. That hurts. PS: Challenge stories are eligible for Silver Trinket Awards. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.08.01 - 12:00AM ( 19 Comments) |
Happy Birthday Harry! |
| Everyone here at SIYE would like to wish our favorite wizard a Happy Birthday! Here's hoping that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his group of badly dressed cronies doesn't crash the party! Chocolate cake and butterbeer for all. |
| Spenser Hemmingway & Something Flowery on 2006.07.31 - 09:58AM ( 30 Comments) |
Help needed....UPDATED |
| The poll is over. The winning suggestion was.... "I like the menu as it is now under the header image. Clean up the pages that are linked to it instead. " I know I said that I would take suggestions, but I will design a new nav system anyway and make it hard to use, hard to see, remove several important links, like those pertaining to reading stories. Got ya didnt I? With this in mind, I will begin work with vamping up the linked pages, and make the links, information, and pages more detailed, and orginized. Seriously, did you really think I would remove links to the stories? It was a joke, put the pitchforks and torches back, and stop aiming those weapons at me, lighten up ppl! I wish all of you a great weekend! Check the TechCenter for details. Your Geek! Steve (AdminQ) |
| AdminQ on 2006.07.23 - 03:38PM ( 5 Comments) |
June Silver Trinket Awards |
| Congratulations to all of the nominees for the June Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards. But it is now time to name the winners. Best Author: melindaleo Best Overall and Drama: Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Future’s Past by Viridian Best Romance: Harry Potter and Fate’s Debt by intromit Best Action/Adventure: The Seventh Horcrux by melindaleo Best Comedy: Roughing It by deenas Best Angst: Shadow of the Serpent by KEDme The Awards system is still a work-in-progress, and as such, it has been a learning curve for the staff. The only category that has had a different winner each month has been Best Comedy. Many of the stories that are winning are long multi-chaptered stories that, because the author updates multiple times during the month, garner a huge fan base. While these stories are well-written, exceptional stories, if the same story wins a category all year long, it will make the annual December awards rather one-sided. SIYE feels that many wonderful shorter stories might be overlooked. Because of this, we are excited to announce that as of August you will see a new category for the awards. Best One-Shot. There will be more changes as the year continues. If you have any suggestions, you can leave your ideas as comments or email me at professor_scroll@siye.co.uk |
| Valerie on 2006.07.22 - 09:07AM ( 15 Comments) |
Happy Birthday!!! |
| On Sunday, July 23, Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays Harry Potter in the movies, will celebrate his 17th birthday. He was born in 1989. A week later, on Monday, July 31, Harry Potter would normally celebrate his 17th birthday. As the books go, Harry was born in 1980. And as of the last book, “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” it ends in either late May or early June, so Harry will celebrate his birthday at the beginning of Book #7. Of course you lot knew that, didn't you? |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.07.22 - 01:21AM ( 9 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| The Hogwarts Express (3-2006) Challenge is truly over and the judges have cast their ballots for the guilty parties for the Best Overall, Drama, Adventure, and Mystery stories. This Challenge was even a greater success as the last one with over twice as many stories submitted, a total of 17, and that one odd one I couldn’t read. I thank all the authors who racked their little gray cells and came up with some very interesting stories for us to read. Very well, indeed, because it was very close to the end. But a vote or two broke the ties. And now, our verdict… The Award for Best Overall goes to: “The Corpse Wore Toilet Paper ” by lucky_black_cat The Award for Most Dramatic goes to: “The Death of Severus Snape” by SilverPhoenix The Award for Most Adventurous goes to: “Colonel Mustard In The Conservatory With The Candlestick?” by Spenser Hemmingway The Award for Most Mysterious goes to: “A Dangerous Gamble On the Hogwarts Express” by Professor Scroll An Honorable Mention for not winning Best Overall in a last minute, tie-breaker goes to: "Excess Baggage" by cwarbeck The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. Be prepared for the summer Challenge starting August 1st. School may be out but there is some work for a few students that need to be accomplished. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.07.15 - 09:10AM ( 20 Comments) |
June Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| There were quite a few competitors for the coveted awards this time. In the original set of polls, I made a mistake and put in every nominee instead of the just the top 10 and as such, created a complete mess with the code for Steve and his staff to fix. If you don’t see your name under a certain category that means that unfortunately, you were not in the top 10. But, I didn’t see anyone that didn’t make at least one category. If you recall the old polls, the same names and stories were in almost every category. The polls have been entered again. Hopefully, the third times the charm. Please take this time to vote. No one should get the message that they have already voted, if you do, please let me know and I will add your votes manually. There are seven (7) polls, one for each category. Please make sure that you select ‘vote’ before going on to the next page. The poll will be up until Wednesday, July 19. Congratulations to all who have received a nomination and good luck to everyone. VOTE HERE Thank you for your patience and support. Please don’t forget to nominate your favourite stories for July. |
| Valerie on 2006.07.10 - 11:10PM ( 34 Comments) |
Hogwarts Express (3-2006) Challenge Update |
| The judges are doing a great job of sorting out the submited Challenge stories and determining which will win the coveted title of Best Overall, Drama, Adventure, and Mystery. So far one-third of the judges have replied with their nominations and a pattern is emerging. A clear front-runner and a few categoryy winners are showing up, tying for the top spot. Hopefully by next week, the remaining judges’ nominations will straighten out the closeness and the best will come to light. Remind yourself to check this site on July 15 to see the final outcome and our new winners. |
| Chief Challenger on 2006.07.08 - 10:26AM ( 14 Comments) |
Friendly Reminder |
| I just wanted to remind all of our authors to please include a disclaimer at the beginning of your story and/or chapters. Not that the Secret Police will be knocking on your door.... but you never know! Please give Ms. Rowling the acknowledgement and respect she deserves. If you have questions, please feel free to ask. |
| Something Flowery on 2006.07.03 - 07:26PM ( 12 Comments) |
Hogwarts Express (3-2006) Challenge Closed |
| This Challenge train has reached Kings Cross Station and the London “Bobbies” are about to board. The judges now have the task to sort through the clues and find the best stories to put on their most wanted list of Best Overall, Drama, Adventure, and Mystery. We have 16 wonderful stories and something written in ancient Goblin runes. Some very interesting dead people were brought to our attention. That is due to our clever authors and their imagination. The judges will determine how clever they are. Keep you eyes open on July 15 when all will be revealed. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.07.01 - 08:14AM ( 21 Comments) |
Technical Bulletin - Silver Trinket Awards |
| NOTICE As of July 1st 2006 we are currently in the process of automating the Dumbledore's Silver Trinket Awards. Please do not send your nominations to SIYE via email (for months after and including July 2006). For the month of June 2006, please continue to email as normal. Stories you are allowed to nominate will display a link (near the top, under the summary) that will permit you to choose the story or author for a trinket. Nominations for best author must be done through a story that has been updated in the current month.(Per the DSTA Rules) Things you can do:
Things you can't do:
The poll and declaration of winners at the end of the nomination period will be generated automatically with the top five nominees in each category qualifying (for this reason alone nominations MUST be submitted via the site.). Authors will be informed of each nomination they receive via a personal message (which will include the story that earned them the nomination (if applicable) and the category). Current nomination counts will not be publicly accessible until the period for nomination has ended. Additional information and non-significant updates regarding this project will be made available in the Tech Center under the topic DSTA (Trinkets) Failure to use this new system will result in your vote not getting counted, and emails will be ignored for July nominations. Also, site administration can at will, and without notice remove or change any and all automated notices. Please post comments and direct questions about this change with this news item, and an answer if needed will be sent via PM or posted to the comment section. Thanks, and good luck to all authors! AdminQ(Steve) & Cyberx86(Chris) |
| AdminQ on 2006.07.01 - 04:04AM ( 6 Comments) |
The Insistent Trinket Reminder |
| Just a frantic reminder that all nominations for the June Silver Trinket Awards are due by July 5th. Turn-out has been pretty good so far, but let's get some more going. Come on folks, how about some recognition for your favourite stories and authors? Authors love to be recognised, so let's have it, people! Send your nominations to: silvertrinkets@siye.co.uk Thanks! -PhoenixAeternum |
| PhoenixAeternum on 2006.06.29 - 10:38PM ( 6 Comments) |
Tech Center Developments |
| Hello! It would seem that all of you like the new Tech Center. The format has really taken off with some great suggestions from the users here at SIYE. With mention of that, this post is to inform you of a new setting that came from a series of suggestions at the Tech Center. Font and Text sizes. After you log into the site, take a moment to goto the User Options link under Account Info. There you will be allowed to set your own personal format for how the stories on the site are displayed. This change that you make will stick, and once you set it, unless you want a change, you will never need to set it again. The font size can also be changed from within any story and the new size will be saved to your profile. Remember that you must be logged in to the site when you use this. Please keep posting ideas and suggestions, remember that it is you the user who makes this community thrive, and grow. Also if you have comments or suggestions on any completed project, feel free to post to them at the tech center, we love to hear what you think. Also, if we missed a font, let us know so it can be added. All the best! Your Geek, AdminQ(Steve) |
| AdminQ on 2006.06.28 - 08:09PM ( 4 Comments) |
New Category |
| Based on a few suggestion posted to the TechCenter, SIYE is happy to announce a new category, Post-Hogwarts - All stories that take place during the time after Harry Potter would normally complete his seventh year at Hogwarts, or the end of book seven(7). However, just because the students are now adults, this category does not mean that we will accept adult themes and issues. All current rules with be adhered to. We still will not have a NC-17 category, nor will we accept stories referencing the use of illegal drugs, Inappropriate behavior, etc. The SIYE staff is determined to keep this site within the vision set forth by Jenn, the site's creator. This vision has resulted in the set of rules which SIYE will operate under. As a community, we abide by these rules to make this site the enjoyable place we have come to love today. We are a bit conservative in our ratings and subject matter. JKR leaves the fanfiction sites alone for the most part, but she has requested that we remember that these stories were intended for a younger audience and that we keep faithful to that. Please remember that a large section of our membership is younger teens. Valerie Head Administrator Edit: a better definition - Post-Hogwarts is the time after Harry Potter would normally complete his seventh year at Hogwarts, or the end of book #7. Sir Ollivander |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.06.26 - 10:51PM ( 7 Comments) |
TechCenter |
| If you login to the site, and look on your user page just under Action Log, you will see a new feature. The Tech Center is there for you the user, to keep track, and updated on various Tech Projects on SIYE. You can leave comments as well as make suggestions. Enjoy! Steve (AdminQ) EDIT: I added a section to the Tech Center that is just for user suggestions and comments. One suggestion is already being worked on, so if anyone wants to add to the list drop us a line. |
| AdminQ on 2006.06.24 - 11:06PM ( 2 Comments) |
Hogwarts Express (3-2006) Challenge Update |
| There is only one week left to submit your mystery story for the Murder on the Hogwarts Express Challenge. There are at least 10 judges ready to read your stories and nominate them for the categories of Best Overall, Drama, Adventure, and Mystery. There are seven terrific stories submitted so far. Let’s see if we can give the judges a real Challenge and have at least ten stories for them to choose from. Remember, you can’t win if you don’t enter. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.06.22 - 05:33PM ( 11 Comments) |
June Trinket Awards |
| Just a friendly reminder, all, that stories that wish to be considered for the June Trinkets need to be submitted by the thirtieth of this month. Also, we're down to the two-week mark before nominations are no longer accepted -- so get to nominating your favourite stories and authors! The email address for your nominations is: silvertrinkets@siye.co.uk Until the next semi-insistent and over-enthusiastic reminder, Mister E. Trinket |
| Mister E. Trinket on 2006.06.19 - 10:07PM ( 4 Comments) |
Hogwarts Express (3-2006) Challenge Update |
| The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 2) There appears to be no adults on the train except the engineer, therefore the entire investigation is to be accomplished by students. There appears to be no adults on the train…there could be a whole caboose full of Aurors. Or a couple of Order members with the engineer keeping their eyes on the tracks up ahead. It’s just that the prefects, and even Harry, may not know that. This may open up some possible ideas you may not have thought of. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.06.15 - 07:17AM ( 18 Comments) |
May Silver Trinket Awards |
| I would like to thank everyone who took the time to read, nominate and/or vote for the May Silver Trinket Awards. Remember that you can nominate any story or chapter. The only criterion for nomination is that the work was posted during that month. So please send in your choices for June to the following email address: silvertrinkets@siye.co.uk Now for what everyone has been waiting for. The winners are… Best Author: KEDme Best Overall and Drama: Viridian for Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past Best Romance: intromit for Harry Potter and Fate’s Debt Best Action/Adventure: melindaleo for The Seventh Horcrux Best Comedy: cwarbeck for Some Kind of Wonderful Best Angst: Cassie Payne for Broken Congratulations to the winners. Your stories will be in the Featured section until the next announcement. |
| Valerie on 2006.06.13 - 09:10PM ( 15 Comments) |
Story Counts |
| EDIT: 6-8-06 The hitcounts will be reset later, on the 8th or 9th. Please do not report this as a glitch to the helpdesk. Do to the overwhelming volume of traffic this site gets the hitcount system must be coded a little differently to allow the server to better manage the sheer loads of data. Some of you reported downtime for the site. It was infact this script that cuased it. Rather than taking it away, myself and the TechStaff are working to fix it and allow it to remain. Once we get the code ready and tested, we will shut down the site for about 15 minutes, then the new code will take effect, and the counts reset. Thanks for all your support as we work out these little bugs. Steve (AdminQ) |
| AdminQ on 2006.06.08 - 11:46PM ( 7 Comments) |
Hogwarts Express (3-2006) Challenge Update |
| The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1) Harry’s investigation into who the person was, what the DE was doing on the train, and the manner of death. Did you notice I didn’t state if the DE was a witch, a wizard, or even a student? This may open up some possible ideas you may not have thought of. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.06.08 - 09:52AM ( 4 Comments) |
May's Silver Trinket Awards Poll |
| Well, it is that time again. I would like to thank everyone that took the time to send in their choice of the best stories posted on SIYE for May. The poll is ready for voting. There are seven questions, one for each category. Please make sure that you press 'vote', before you move on to the next category. The poll will be up until next Tuesday, the 13th of June. There are quite a few competitors for the coveted awards this time. Good luck to everyone who was nominated. VOTE HERE PLEASE Thank you for voting, and please don’t forget to send in your nominations for the Month of June. Happy reading and writing. |
| Valerie on 2006.06.05 - 11:52PM ( 13 Comments) |
Hogwarts Express (3-2006) Challenge |
| Based on the thrilling novel, “Murder on the Orient Express,” by the famous English authoress Agatha Christie, we have “Murder on the Hogwarts Express.” The end of Harry’s sixth year finds the students returning home to Kings Cross Station on the Hogwarts Express. Shortly after leaving Hogsmeade station, a Death Eater is found dead on the train. Since Harry Potter has the most experience with DEs, the prefects appoint him as the lead investigator in the case. The author’s challenge is to write a story to include: 1) Harry’s investigation into who the person was, what the DE was doing on the train, and the manner of death. 2) There appears to be no adults on the train except the engineer, therefore the entire investigation is to be accomplished by students. 3) Harry can use any student on the train to assist in his investigation. 4) There shall be at least five clues and/or pieces of evidence, and at least one false lead. 5) The investigation shall be completed with all the answers by the time the train arrives at Kings Cross Station. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Hogwarts Express (3-2006) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight EDT, June 30, 2006. But I don’t get out of bed at midnight just to close the Challenge. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Drama, Adventure, and Mystery. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · "Hold on, what alibi?" · "I never said it like that!" · "That's not evidence, that's my lunch!" · "So how come you have these handcuffs, then?" · "Put that magnifying glass away." · "I really don’t know how that got there." · "Why is the evidence bag floating like that?" Note: This Challenge is based upon the suggestion of an author, whose name I lost when my computer crashed last year. My apologies. (But I think it was Torak.) |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.06.01 - 07:09AM ( 35 Comments) |
Promotions |
| Many wonderful changes have happened for Sink Into Your Eyes in the past few months. The new site. Exciting upgrades. New features. Between family, jobs and school work, it has been a challenge to keep the validation stack at a manageable level. However, the addition of seven new archivists to the staff has eased that and I hope that everyone is happy with the speed with which their stories are validated. To further facilitate the ease of having your questions and concerns handled in a timely manner, I am pleased to announce promotions of three of our staff members. Ryan (RyokoTenchi) is hereby promoted to Assistant Head Administrator. He will also keep his position of Author Relations. Because of the growth of the Archive, Eric (Spenser Hemmingway) and Stacey (Something Flowery) jointly are hereby promoted to Administrators of Content. If you have subject matter, genre, ratings or any other questions feel free to contact them. This will include administering the Beta test and maintaining the Beta directory. Please join with me in offering congratulations. Valerie |
| Valerie on 2006.05.26 - 11:39PM ( 11 Comments) |
IMPORTANT Fixes and New Features! |
| Log out and log back in to the site. Did you see it? Did you notice? What you see is the new user panel for SIYE. We call it My SIYE. This nifty thing called for some serious code work, and Chris one of my Tech Team is who you should give a huge round of applause for this. He worked on something he thought would be good for the site, and I for one LOVE IT!! This will allow many things. Authors to be contacted, for suggestions, or to let them know of a mistake in their story so they can correct it. No need to use the review feature for this. The Archive team can now contact authors faster, and speed up the process of correcting stories for posting to the site if they are not meeting the submission rules. Authors can contact the Archivist they see in their user logs as the person working on their story for information, and status. Users can contact one another to open the door to a more community feel. This will also be a small tease to the things to come with 3.0 of the site. I bet when co-authors becomes an option this will be a handy option for the site. There is a history feature that shows the last 20 stories you looked at, and on top of that you get to see the most recent list, as you log in to the site. There is a better block for management for themes and your personal options to the site as well. Overall this is the 1st serious upgrade to the site, since we opened 2.0. There is also a fix to the search feature. An error was reported that appeared to keep all of you from searching with the advanced feature. As one of the better features imo, I was glad to have it reported and even more so to get it fixed. That fix also gave way to new search features. Like result counts, and better page numbering. Chris, you did a great service to this site, and I want to thank you. Well done! Speaking as an admin now, I offer this bit of advice. Harassment, Spam, or Abuse of this system is decided at the sole discretion of the Staff of SIYE. Those found guilty of abuse, and or other violations of this system will find themselves banned from this domain. I'm not being mean, just being fair and honest. No one likes abuse, or spam. Its been done in the past, and I just wanted to be a little proactive here. Enjoy the site. I remember back when 1000 members was a great feat. Now we are 5000+ strong and growing day by day. Here's to another 5000 people! Your Geek, Steve(AdminQ) EDIT: I do not mind what so ever, however please remember that sending me a msg, for tech issue, might take a long time to resolve unless im on the site at that moment. Use the HelpDesk so your issues can resolved fast and completely. :-) |
| AdminQ on 2006.05.22 - 10:13PM ( 19 Comments) |
Favorites (Author and Story) Counts |
| Just a quick note. The counts for Fav author and Fav Story have been corrected, at least in testing on the other site they came out clean, and from looking at it here they are too. I do however ask that if anyone notices that there is someting off you send in a helpdesk ticket so we can address it. Thanks! Steve (AdminQ) |
| AdminQ on 2006.05.20 - 10:35AM ( 3 Comments) |
Archivist Positions |
| Hello everyone, SIYE is growing quickly. The member list has more than doubled since I joined in 2004. It is now taking less than two weeks for 100 new people to register, many of which have at least one story that they would like to share about Harry and his friends. Because of this, it is taking longer than we would like to move your submitted stories from the validation stack to the Recently Added queue. In response to this, we asked for volunteers willing to join the SIYE Staff as Archivists. Quite a few applications were submitted for the open Archivists positions. Making a choice was difficult. The applications were read by 6 of the Admins and their responses were taken into consideration before making the decision. I am happy to tell you that besides the 7 people that have accepted the position, there are 5 others who, although they didn’t make the staff at this time, are taking the Beta test. We had applicants from around the world, and even one who wasn’t a registered member at SIYE; he was just an interested reader. He has since registered and is one of the people interested in Betaing. I would like to announce that the following people have joined the Archiving Department. They are a diverse group, all of them quite talented and I feel each of them will bring something unique to the staff. I’m sure that you have all seen and read their stories in the queue. Congratulations to: Breanna (potterfan226). Breanna will be wearing 2 hats as Steve asked her to join the Tech team, as well. Jay (Knightsaber) Laura (Laura Laurent) Lynn (lecook4) Megan (dqbunny) Mitalee (WaterLily) Samantha (Pottergirl101) I would like to thank everyone who volunteered and I urge anyone who wasn’t chosen this time to reapply in the future, Valerie |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.05.18 - 08:31AM ( 12 Comments) |
Staff Addition |
| John (Justanotherfan) has kindly agreed to become an active staffer again. He will assume the position of Assistant to the President of SIYE. Thank you, Robert L. Scott President |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.05.15 - 11:29PM ( 4 Comments) |
And the winners are... |
| I hope that everyone liked this new way to vote on the awards. More than 200 readers took the time to have their say. Now the votes are in the winners of the Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards for April are listed below and displayed under ‘Featured Stories’. Best Author goes to intromit Best Overall and Best Romance goes to Harry Potter and Fate’s Debt by intromit Best Drama goes to Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by Viridian Best Comedy goes to Turn About by Dolenbyd Best Angst goes to Broken by Cassie Payne And the first winner of our new category, Best Action and Adventure goes to The Seventh Horcrux by melindaleo We would like to keep the awards going, so please don't forget to submit your nominations for May to silvertrinkets@siye.co.uk |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.05.12 - 09:51AM ( 7 Comments) |
Essay Authors. |
| Have you written an Essay about Harry Potter, or any of the characters? Want too? I'm looking for essays for a project of mine. Some ground rules if you want to send one too me. It must be yours and original. It must be canon related. It must be beta read, and checked by not only yourself but atleast one other person, who will be listed with credit for beta work. I will not limit size too much, but ask that it be no more than 30k words, and no less than 500. You can write as many as you want and as long as the rules are met the sky is the limit. Approved essay authors, will be told the exact usage, but be aware they will be posted to a soon to be announced public site, I am working on. I could really use the help, and I know that there are many great minds that use this site. Email them to techstaff@siye.co.uk ATTN Essays. Thanks! Steve(AdminQ) |
| AdminQ on 2006.05.09 - 08:31PM ( 6 Comments) |
Dumbledore's Silver Trinket Awards |
| I would like to thank everyone that took the time to send in their choice of the best stories to be posted at SIYE for April. The emails have been tallied and the poll is ready for voting on the Awards. There are seven questions, one for each category. Please make sure that you press 'vote', before you move on to the next category. The winners will be announced on Friday, May 12th. VOTE HERE PLEASE Thank you for voting, and please don’t forget to send in your nominations for the Month of May. Happy reading and writing. |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.05.06 - 02:51PM ( 9 Comments) |
Strange Characters |
| Hello, I wanted to post up a quick announcement. One of the members on my team Chris, wrote a really useful script to resolve issues with unknown characters, and whacky bits added when the database was upgraded. If you look, you'll notice them gone. If you do notice them, let us know in the help desk. I just want to post a thank you to Chris, for the effort and work that went in to it. So thanks Chris, you just made the site look better, and I'm sure authors and readers thank you for making things easy on their eyes! -Steve |
| AdminQ on 2006.05.05 - 01:22PM ( 5 Comments) |
Parting Gift |
| I'm always asked why I never used black in the themes I make for the site. As I will not be able to spend as much time as I used too on the site, (Remember I got a new contract) I want to leave you all with a slight parting gift. A theme that uses black. The Theme is called Ballroom. Change to it with the options on your left. Enjoy! Steve a.k.a (AdminQ) PS. What do ya think? |
| AdminQ on 2006.05.02 - 09:36PM ( 21 Comments) |
Rule Change |
| For the longest time, HTML codes, images and links to other sites have not been allowed in the summary of the stories posted at SIYE. At the old site, next to the summary block, was the sentence, “HTML codes not allowed in summary.” Because Steve and the tech team have been working very hard to make it easier for writers using MSWord to post their stories, the use of HTML codes have been expanded for SIYE2. However, that does not mean you may use them in your summary. You may mention your live journal or other sites that have your writing, but the only place that you can have a link or images is your bio page. They may not be in the body of your story or Author Notes. Rule 9 now reads: HTML codes, images and links to other sites are not allowed in your summary. Unfortunately, the script lets them by. Please note that if we find them, we will delete them without notification. If you are already in violation of this rule, please correct your summary. Thank you. Valerie Head Administrator |
| on 2006.05.01 - 10:35PM ( 1 Comments) |
And The Winners Are…. |
| The Ministry of Magic’s Open House was a success. We had eight stories to compete for the coveted awards. Our judges spend some serious time setting up these entries to pick the best for each category. I would like to thank all those authors who met the Challenge and submitted a story. The race was close. But in the end, some clearly pulled out ahead of the others. And now, on behalf of SIYE, I would like to present the awards. The Award for Best Overall, and The Award for Most Ingenious goes to: “Of Dark Detectors and Burnt Toast” by Dianne The Award for Most Adventurous goes to: “Refreshments, Games and OH MY...” by lecook4 The Award for Most Humorous goes to: “Unwanted” by Potter47 An Honorable Mention goes to: “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Horcrux” by Spenser Hemmingway for getting the most votes without winning a category. The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. Be on the lookout for the next Challenge June 1. School is out but a mystery intrigues our dedicated sleuths. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.04.30 - 08:15AM ( 19 Comments) |
Tech Staff |
| Hello, As some of you may know I will begin work on a 52 week contract for Verizon soon. As such I will need at least 2 maybe 3 people to help me on the site with minor technical issues. I will need help with email questions from users both on the helpdesk, and direct email. Some minor code work for the site, image development and overall public relations with the staff, and users of the site. Here is a small list of jobs that I do:
You do NOT need a lot of technical skill but working knowledge of HTML is needed and PHP will help. Also if you are used to working with making your own websites using {code} and {skins} that is a huge plus. I will use all of next week to train anyone who wants to join so extensive IM time is needed. You will also need to be ready to spend at least 5-10 hours a week on the site. Slightly less on weekends and during school too because I will not allow anyone to pick this site over their education. I need all replies before midnight on Sunday, please tell me what IM program you use and how best to contact you. Also the best time to contact you as well. I will also need to know any and all experience, and roughly how much time you can dedicate to the site. If you know SIYE well, and are able to explain, and answer questions about the site, its usage, and rules as well as solve minor technical issues, regarding usage of site functions, and why certain errors are received. Please email me at techstaff@siye.co.uk subject: Tech Staff JOBS if you want to apply. Thanks Steve Ragan(AdminQ) SIYE Executive VP Technical Development and Design |
| AdminQ on 2006.04.28 - 11:36PM ( 2 Comments) |
Archivists Needed |
| Due to the increasing number of submissions, the Administration has decided that it is necessary to bring more people into the staff. Serving on the SIYE Staff can be fun and exciting. However, you must realize from the beginning that the position is not just fun and games. It carries great responsibility and can be time consuming. We need people who are fairly experienced with reading and or writing fan fiction. If you already are an author at SIYE you do not need to submit a sample of your work, but for those of you who are not published and have no desire to be published, we would like an explanation of your qualifications. In your email, please include the following: 1. A short paragraph about yourself, to include, your age, hobbies and any background information that would set you apart from the other applicants. 2. The amount of time you are willing to commit to SIYE. 3. Define your perception of the rating system: G, PG, PG-13, R. If you are interested in joining the SIYE Staff, this is your opportunity. We need people who have the time to commit at least 5 hours a week. Applications will be accepted through May 7th. Please reply to the following address: professor_scroll@siye.co.uk Valerie SIYE Head Administrator |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.04.27 - 12:46PM ( 19 Comments) |
Site Updates and changes |
| Over the course of the next few days, please forgive me if pages and options come and go. I will be updating eFiction, and making changes to the site. There are a few bugs that are fixed by the development team, and I want to apply them. Thanks Steve |
| AdminQ on 2006.04.26 - 08:57PM ( 0 Comments) |
An Update on Jaquelyne |
| An update on our Jaquelyne [or Billie] - Chief Archivist… Billie says she has about 75% [of her vision back] but I think that is doubtful. I would say she has about 60%. If the room is the least bit dark she cannot see. She cannot read a book yet, even the large print. She has her computer set on high contrast and still cannot see it very well. She can see the TV if she is sitting really close. She tells me that she cannot see the smaller details. When she goes to the movie she sits in the first or second row. Her eye doctor says hopefully she will get it [her sight] back. We are making the best of it. She has been given disability for the next 3 years to give her a chance to recover. She wants us to try and write a story together. We are going to try one. She wants me to help her write a new chapter of [her] “Bedtime Stories.” We will try and see what we come up with later. Tell everyone thank you for the messages. She really misses everyone. Pat [Jaq’s mum] |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.04.25 - 09:49PM ( 11 Comments) |
If you talk, I'll listen |
| I have worked over the last few weeks on the issues with IE. Most if not all are solved. However when I talked to an author, who is no longer on the site, they made a good point to why they left. It was because they could not use MS Word formatted HTML documents to post to the site. This issue bothered me a bit, because I got to thinking what if we are loosing more stories and authors because of the issue. With that in mind I setout to make that feature work, and to allow it to work securely on the site. After three weeks I have come up with some questions, and a few options.
I choose the latter, and the vote link is HERE. I have tested the MS Word HTML issue, I was able to post a story using MS Word HTML on the test site, with both HTML code in the story showing as is, and with the formatted HTML as apart of the story code with no issues. The only thing that bothered me was the errors IE gives on each page because TinyMCE is turned on. Are you the author willing to overlook random errors related to page layout in IE in order to use this option? Are you even using MS Word HTML to make your story? What is it about posting with MS Word HTML that failed the most for you? I know there will be a bit of a conversation about this in the comment section, for that reason I will delete comments if it gets too big. Nothing personal just a way to keep the database running smooth. Before you ask, yes we have heard mention of a SIYE forums, and no we have not gotten further than mentions. If it happens you will know :-) Please refrain from taking the comments on this post too far off topic. Your opinions on this issue matter to me, and I need all the feedback I can get. Thanks Steve Ragan(AdminQ)Technical Development and DesignSIYE |
| AdminQ on 2006.04.23 - 01:21PM ( 25 Comments) |
Silver Trinket update and Poll results |
| SIYE would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote in the poll. The results were: 47 for Yes!! Yes!! Please!!; 78 for Sure why not?; 1 for No!; and 1 for No Never!!! So the ayes have it. We will now add an Action/Adventure category. The emails this month for the Silver Trinket nominations have been interesting. Many people are sending in their favourite stories, however, if they are not current they will not make the list. The only stories that are eligible are stories that have been written or updated during the month of April 2006. SIYE is aware that there are hundreds of stories in the database that were written well enough to receive an award. But the rules state that to be nominated and to win, the story must be posted during the current month. As the nominations stand, there are only 4 valid nominations so the fields are wide open. Please send your nominations in to silvertrinkets@siye.co.uk. The categories are: Best Overall, Author, Drama, Romance, Comedy, Angst and don’t forget the new category of Action/Adventure. |
| Valerie on 2006.04.21 - 10:26AM ( 0 Comments) |
Proposed new category for the Silver Trinket Awards |
| SIYE would like to thank everyone for their support for the Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards. The response overall has been positive. We have received multiple requests to add an Action/Adventure category. What do you think? We would also need a title for the annual award. As always, the end of the month is looming. Don't forget to send your April nominations to silvertrinkets@siye.co.uk EDIT. VOTE HERE PLEASE :-) AdminQ |
| Valerie on 2006.04.19 - 11:55AM ( 15 Comments) |
But where will we get the chickens? |
| HI-HO Admin the Q here, Over the last few weeks, I have been working on a system to address an issue here on the site. Email. Several of you have sent in tech tickets asking where your email is, and why you're not getting it. Well I began a database on the 1st day of the site, and have collected several hundred bounced emails. I used this as a tool for myself to better track errors and fix them, but thought it best to allow you the user to search the database and see if your email is there, and if it is what to do about it. There is a new FAQ about this issue, and the link to the search HERE. Please read it and let me know if you still need help. Thanks Steve (Admin the Q) |
| AdminQ on 2006.04.17 - 02:49PM ( 0 Comments) |
MoM Open House (2-2006) Challenge Closed |
| After a slow start, we now have eight stories submitted for the coveted titles of Best Overall, Adventure, Humor, and introducing, Ingenuity. Different Challenges in the future may have different categories to win in. This is the first for Ingenuity. I have given the judges for this Challenge their instructions. In fifteen days, the hard earned results will be announced. The fact that seven authors were able to create a story under such guidelines already makes them winners. Yes, we have seven authors and eight stories. This is unusual but not a precedence. It has happened before. And yes, quite legal. You can submit more than one story. ***Note*** a change in the scheduling of Challenges. Instead of a Challenge starting on the 15th of a month and ending on the 15th of a month, the time will be shifted. The Challenges will now start at the beginning of every even month, for the entire month. In other words, February 1st, April 1st, June 1st, August 1st, October 1st, and December 1st. The Challenge will end at the end of the month and the judging will begin with the results posted on the 15th of the next month. So, the next Challenge will start June 1st and end on June 30th. The results will be posted July 15th. The Challenge has been written for a few months now and I can’t wait to release it upon all of you lot. But first, let’s finish this one. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.04.16 - 12:04AM ( 14 Comments) |
Staff Page |
| With the extensive and generous help of Steve, we have updated our staff page. It is located under the "Extras" link found above. If any of you have questions, comments, concerns, or simply need to get something resolved, please refer to the staff page to contact someone to help you. The SIYE Staff would all be pleased to hear from you and would go out of their way to help you or direct your inquiry to the appropriate person or persons. For those of you who don't need or want to contact the staff at this time, you can still check it out and see who the people are that run this site. Have a great day- Robert L. Scott President |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.04.15 - 06:21PM ( 0 Comments) |
Rule Change |
| I would like to discuss the calibre of stories being submitted to SIYE. Lately, I have received emails questioning why anyone would read some of the stories as they are so poorly written, and asking why SIYE would validate a story with easily corrected errors. This is not limited to SIYE; many other sites have noticed the downward spiral of their stories. To try to stop this trend, we instituted the Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards program, and I am sad to say that it hasn’t helped. Many authors take pride in their stories and want to submit the best possible writing that they can. They use a Beta. They run a spell check and grammar program. They read the story over more than once and edit it accordingly. Unfortunately, we are still getting submissions with less than stellar quality. It is to these authors that I am addressing this news item. There has been a change in the wording of Submission Rule #6. It now states: Please check for grammar and spelling errors. Your fiction CAN be denied if we find a 'Canon' spelling error (anything from the HP world - names, places, spells, etc) or if the staff feels that the number of errors detract from the story. As of this evening, any story submitted with punctuation, spelling and grammar errors will be declined and returned to the author, with the suggestion of finding a Beta. It doesn’t have to be anyone on the Beta List; it can be your mom, dad, friend, co-worker, sibling or anyone else that has a grasp of the English language and the written word. SIYE has some of the most lenient posting rules of any site that I post on. There will not be a learning curve on this rule. These problems were discussed in January 2006 in this very forum; we are now following that discussion with a rule change. If your story or chapter is rejected, it is your fault. Please do not blame the Archivists, they are doing their job. Valerie Franklin Head Administrator |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.04.13 - 11:47PM ( 58 Comments) |
Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards for March |
| I would like to thank everyone who sent in nominations and then voted. I was pleased to see my inbox overflowing with ballots this month. There were more than 100 emails. The Votes are tallied for March and the winners are… Best Overall: Abraxan for The Time of Destiny Best Author: intromit for Harry Potter and Fate’s Debt Best Drama and Romance: Been Reading for Seeking the Truth Best Comedy: cwarbeck for Hogwarts Hotties Best Angst: PhoenixAeternum for Fate’s Debt and the Philosopher’s Stone Congratulations to all of the winners. Most of the stories are now in our Featured Stories column. Unfortunately, PhoenixAeternum has removed his story to rewrite the earlier chapters. As soon as he begins to post the chapters, we will add it to our Featured Stories list. Don’t forget to send in your nominations for April to silvertrinkets@siye.co.uk |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.04.12 - 02:15PM ( 18 Comments) |
Attention Betas (2) |
| Attention all betas. If you were a beta on the old site and have not contacted a staff member about staying a beta within the last month please e-mail cori_b[at]siye.co.uk stating whether you wish to remain a beta. If you do not respond to this e-mail by April 16th you will have your beta privileges revoked. Thanks for your time! cori_b |
| cori_b on 2006.04.10 - 07:24PM ( 0 Comments) |
Deadline for Challenge Submissions |
| The deadline for submitting entries for the MoM Open House (2-2006) Challenge is approaching fast. April 15 is only 6 days away. We have one entry so far. Are you going to let that one story win everything without a fight? |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.04.09 - 03:51PM ( 34 Comments) |
The Geek Rants and Raves! |
| Some of you may notice that there is a new box. Browser Certified. This means that the browser listed has been tested and found working for the entirety of the site. As browsers are tested their logo will appear in that box so you have a reference as to what browsers are supported on SIYE. Solved Issue The issue I had with missing and dropped stories on the site is solved. The issue now is to address IE display issues. As some may notice the news text is fixed, as well as the notice of an error in IE when you open the site. It will take some time to hammer all of the issues IE has out but it will be finished soon. If you have Issues to report, with IE please goto the help desk. New Member Tool! There is a new tool for members. The name is Action Log. To use it, log in as a member and click "Account Info" or "Your Account" in the login box. What you use it for is information. It will show any action taken on your stories by yourself or the staff, and allow you to track what was done and when. If a story or chapter was rejected, and deleted it will show by who. If it was edited but you didn't do it, it will show who did. I thought it cool to allow registered members limited access to the same log tool that the admin staff uses. Thanks! Steve(AdminQ) |
| AdminQ on 2006.04.04 - 11:04AM ( 35 Comments) |
Voting Begins for Dumbledore's Silver Trinket Awards for March 2006 |
| SIYE would like to thank everyone that sent in their favourite stories and authors for the second month of Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards. We hope to see many more nominations in the future. As voting begins, please don’t forget that we need you to email your nominations for April. We received 104 votes for 46 authors and/or stories. Below are the stories listed alphabetically for each category. To vote, send your ballots to either silvertrinkets@hgnetwork.co.uk or professor_scroll@hgnetwork.co.uk. Please make sure to include the title and author for each category. Best Over All: Best Author: Best Romance: Best Drama: Best Comedy: Best Angst: Well, there you have them. Voting will end Monday 4/10 at midnight, so please don’t wait too long. I hope to be bombarded with ballots. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.04.01 - 06:40PM ( 21 Comments) |
Welcome to SIYE v2.0 |
| Welcome. As you can see some things chaged here at the site. On the other site you got a small list to show you what was new. Now I will simply mention some things here, and let you explore on your own.
With the new Help Desk, you can get issues, and problems solved fast. Please feel free to use it if the FAQ didnt have your answer. I welcome you to the new SIYE, and I'm proud to show off almost two months of work. Enjoy! Steve Ragan (AdminQ) SIYE Executive VP Technical Development and Design techstaff@siye.co.uk |
| AdminQ on 2006.03.31 - 04:57PM ( 29 Comments) |
SOME REALLY BIG NEWS |
| Harry Potter stared at it. A lot of donations went into purchasing it. Now it sat in the middle of his bedroom floor. Like everything else Dudders put in his room, it was broken. He remembered Dudders getting it for Christmas 2 months ago. He picked it up to add it to the pile, growing in the corner. But as he touched it, it made an interesting, but mysterious sound. Always one of curiosity, Harry put it on his desk and looked closer @ it. The upper part that looked like the telly in the living room appeared to have some writing on it. Something like ‘mr. Fix-it” or “my fixing” or something like that. Knowing none of the Dursleys would come into his room at this time of night, he opened up the multi-function pocketknife he got from the Weasleys and started digging in to this interesting contraption. Maybe he could actually repair it. Once Harry got the bottom section open, he looked at the green, plastic board with all kinds of lines and button-like components on it. He started cleaning it off and found the board was actually blue. Some of the square things with propellers or fans on them had funny writings. IbM (I think) and P5 and Xeon stuff and lots of GB stuff. Oh, and GHz things. 3.2 or 3.5 things. As he turned it around, he saw all the wirey things on the back. One he recognized as an electrical plug. Mr. Weasley had a few in his shed. But at Privet Drive, all the appliancees had plugs and ran off of electricity. So he plugged it into the wall and matched where all the other wirey things went. Then he watched as he pushed the button on the front. Some lights came on and those fans started turning. There was a clicking, then a steady hum coming from it. The telly part started changing colors, then settled down. First he thought he saw a quill and a bottle of ink. But then it turned into an image of a…of…a girl? With red hair? Then there was another person that showed up behind her. A guy, but with very dark hair. He put his arms around the girl, who smiled at him. It was like a photo he’d seen somewhere but he wasn’t sure where. Whoa. Like one of those pictures Colin Creevey is always taking in the Common Room. It was almost like watching the telly, but different. This was better, faster, more efficient, and something like more securing. He couldn’t change any channel since there wasn’t any knobs to turn. But the funny typewriter-looking part wired to the back would change the name of the picture he was watching. A/N: This is a Challenging one-shot. You, too, can watch what Harry is watching. It’s all there. You just need to know where to…look.
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| Sir Ollivander on 2006.03.29 - 09:28PM ( 76 Comments) |
Site Maintenance |
| In preparation for the site Upgrades and Fixes the Technical staff has requested a temporary halt on submissions. Therefore, starting at midnight EST on the 26th of March until the upgrade is complete; SIYE will not be accepting any submissions. This will give the Archivists time to empty the queue before turning the site over to our Technical staff. To all of our Validated authors: At the risk of losing your validation privileges, please refrain from updating anything during this time period. I have it on good authority that doing so will create problems. The least of which your work being lost. Thank you for your understanding and patience. Professor Scroll Head Administrator Submissions are now closed - AdminQ |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.03.26 - 05:54AM ( 27 Comments) |
Dumbledore's Silver Trinket Awards |
| I want to thank all of the writers that have submitted stories or new chapters so far in March. The last day of the month is looming. At this time, SIYE has only received seven nominations for this month's Silver Trinket Awards. Time is of the essence. Please don not wait for the last minute to nominate your favourite story or author. Send your nominations to silvertrinkets@siye.co.uk or you can email me easily from the Staff Directory under Extras. |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.03.26 - 03:52AM ( 3 Comments) |
New Management |
| In light of the coming changes and expansions that we at SIYE anticipate, it has become necessary to reorganize the SIYE Staff structure. The following people are hereby placed into the following positions: Robert L. Scott- President of SIYE Steve Ragan- Executive Vice-President of SIYE Valerie (Professor Scroll)- Head Administrator of SIYE All other SIYE Staff will continue to serve in their present posts. Please note that this is not just a shuffling of job titles which will leave everyone doing their same job duties. Valerie is now the Head Admin of SIYE and will be carrying out the duties and responsibilities that I carried out during my tenure as Head Admin. Thank you all for your continued support. Be sure to keep an eye out over the course of the next week or so for further updates. Robert L. Scott President |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.03.23 - 08:18PM ( 4 Comments) |
Attention All Beta Readers |
| Attention all SIYE Beta Readers. There is some concern to whether some betas are responding to Authors seeking a beta reader. If you are willing to continue your beta responsibilities for this site please respond to this post at betas[at]hgnetwork.co.uk . If you do not respond with a yes or no we will automatically assume you are not willing to fulfill your duties and you will be taken off the list. This applies to all betas that have NOT contacted one of the staff members on this subject within the last month. Thank you all very much, The SIYE Staff |
| SIYE Staff on 2006.03.22 - 12:50AM ( 0 Comments) |
Donation Goal Achieved With 110% |
| Today's donations helped us exceed our donation goal! SIYE's future is assured. I would like to thank all of our kind donors for their valuable support. SIYE would not be possible without you. As SIYE grows, the amount of money to maintain it increases. We have faced some remarkable growth these last few months. The very fact that our goal was achieved will not only extend SIYE's existence for another year, but will also allow us to become bigger and better as more and more people join our community. The better part will be happening soon with some important updates and upgrades. Further details will follow within the next couple of weeks. Keep your eyes on the look-out. Thank you! Robert L. Scott (Lord Dreadnault) Head Administrator, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.03.19 - 02:00AM ( 5 Comments) |
Story #2000 posted. |
| Congratulations goes out to Laura Laurent who posted the 2000th story to SIYE!! Laura you will get a something cool from me your local tech guy here at the site, all you have to do is contact me via the staff link. Everyone, read The STORY and send some feedback, and a lil congratz for story 2000. AdminQ |
| AdminQ on 2006.03.16 - 03:02AM ( 3 Comments) |
MoM Open House (2-2006) Challenge |
| To help foster better public relations, the Ministry of Magic (MoM) will hold an Open House. Most of the Aurors in the Magical Law Enforcement Department (MLE) know of Harry Potter and his group known as the DA. So, with permission, the MLE Department will do their Open House with the DA on Hogwarts school grounds. The author's challenge is to write a story to include: 1) The setting up of booths for displays, hands-on use of equipment, demonstrations, entertainments, contests, seating, and/or refreshments. 2) A stage or platform for combat demonstrations and audience participation or challenges. 3) A sign-up list for the public to get either one-on-one training or challenge a MLE or DA member. 4) The wizarding public is invited. But Voldemort is not. 5) Two new spells and two new Dark Magic detection devices are introduced. 6) The time frame is the spring of Harry's 6th or 7th school year. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under MoM Open House (2-2006) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight EST (GMT-5), April 15, 2006. But I don't get out of bed at midnight just to close the Challenge. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Adventure, Humor, and introducing, Ingenuity. Bonus phrases for extra creativity are the following. Using any or all of them is not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · I thought I saw that on a spy movie. · Now he is someone I want to go up against. · Is that really legal? · That's physically impossible. · Now here's a fraud in the making. · -one more secret out of the bag. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.03.15 - 07:07PM ( 18 Comments) |
Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards winners... |
| Votes are in! The results for February are tallied! In many categories, the voting was close. Congratulations to all of the authors and stories nominated. Sink Into Your Eyes is proud to present the Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards to the following authors and stories. The award for Best Author goes to: Abraxan for The Time of Destiny The award for Best Overall goes to: The Time of Destiny by Abraxan The award for Best Drama goes to: The Time of Destiny by Abraxan The award for Best Romance goes to: The Time of Destiny by Abraxan The award for Best Comedy goes to: What Do You Do With A Drunken House Elf-Early In the Morning? by Spenser Hemminway The award for Best Angst goes to: Bull's Eye by Professor Scroll You can find the links to the stories and authors under the Featured Story section on the home page. I would like to thank everyone that took the time to send in their nominations and votes for the first ever Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards. The streamlined nomination and voting process should be available in the near future. Until that time, please continue sending your nominations for March to silvertrinkets@siye.co.uk or professor_scroll@siye.co.uk. Thank you. |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.03.12 - 03:15PM ( 14 Comments) |
Beta Testers Wanted |
| I want to let everyone know that if you emailed me for a beta job, I have emailed each of you back. Please reply to your emails if you have not already done so. I ended up taking on 14 testers, and that will make a great first round of beta testing. Thanks! AdminQ |
| AdminQ on 2006.03.11 - 09:20PM ( 5 Comments) |
Blank E-mail |
| A day or two ago a blank e-mail purporting to be from siye[at]hgnetwork.co.uk was sent to a large number of you. Please disregard this e-mail . . . Thank you! ~ RS/LD **EDIT** Please forgive me if you got that email. After looking at logs it was I who sent it from a test I was running on a script for the site. --- AdminQ |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.03.07 - 12:38AM ( 7 Comments) |
Fourth Movie on DVD Tuesday |
| For your enjoyment, the fourth movie, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," Special Edition, 2-Disc DVD goes on sale this Tuesday, March 7, in the United States. I hope everywhere else, too. There is also a one-disc DVD for a lesser price. If you haven't heard, I thought you'd like to know. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.03.05 - 09:20PM ( 15 Comments) |
Voting Begins for Dumbledore's Silver Trinket Awards for February 2006 |
| SIYE would like to thank everyone that sent in their favourite stories and authors for the first ever Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards. We hope to see many more nominations in the future. As voting begins, please don't forget that we need you to email your nominations for March. Below are the stories listed alphabetically for each category. To vote, send your ballots to either silvertrinkets@siye.co.uk or professor_scroll@siye.co.uk. Please make sure to include the title and author for each category. Best Over All: 1. A Good Mood by Critmo 2. Blood of the Heart (ch 33) by Kjpzak 3. Bull's Eye by Professor Scroll 4. Forget-Me-Not by Aryell 5. The Best Ship of All by Fionnabhair 6. The Time of Destiny (ch33) by Abraxan 7. The Very Long Night of Harry Potter by Bibliophile19 Best Author: 1. Kjpzak for Blood of the Heart (ch 33) 2. Professor Scroll for Bull's Eye 3. Fionnabhair for The Best Ship of All 4. Abraxan for The Time of Destiny (ch33) 5. Bibliophile19 for The Very Long Night of Harry Potter Best Romance 1. A List of ...ings by Buttamellow 2. Blood of the Heart (ch 33) by Kjpzak 3. Bull's Eye by Professor Scroll 4. Nighttime by twinsofthesky 5. That Night Over the Moon by Laura Laurent 6. A Time of Destiny (ch 33) by Abraxan 7. Two-a-Side Quidditch by cwarbeck Best Drama 1. An English Heaven by jner 2. Blood of the Heart (ch 33) by Kjpzak 3. Bull's Eye by Professor Scroll 4. Gateway to the Stars by moonhunter 5. A Time of Destiny (ch 33) by Abraxan 6. The Very Long Night of Harry Potter by Bibliophile19 Best Comedy 1. Harry Potter and the Ferret in Tights by YellowWitchGirl 2. Harry Potter and the Mystery of the Granville Orange by Torak 3. That Night Over the Moon by Laura Laurent 4. The New Order by muggle_born 5. Two-a-Side Quidditch by cwarbeck 6. What Do You Do With A Drunken House Elf-Early In the Morning by Spencer Hemmingway 7. Whatever Happens in Minsk, Stays in Minsk by ChaliceInnana Best Angst: 1. Bull's Eye by Professor Scroll 2. Come Ready and See Me by starrymoonmaiden 3. His Best Source of Comfort by redANDraven Well, there you have them. Voting will end next Friday 3/10 at midnight, so please don't wait too long. I hope to be bombarded with ballots. |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.03.04 - 01:30AM ( 13 Comments) |
And the Winners are... |
| It is time to identify which stories our judges held to their hearts the most for the Angst Valentine Challenge. There were 17 entries this time. Some were very angsty. Some were quite humorous. A few put the wizards in their place. I would like to thank all those authors who met the Challenge and submitted a story. And now, on behalf of the SIYE staff, I would like to award the winning stories. It was a close race in three areas but a couple of stories stood out. The Award for Best Overall goes to ... Butterbeer And Chocolate Cake by PatronyBologna The Award for Most Romantic goes to ... Butterflies At Last by Irish_Lass08 The Award for Most Humorous goes to ... As Mad As Ajax by Torak The Award for Most Angst goes to ... Disappointment by Lady Linen Closet An Honorable Mention goes to ... The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre by Spenser Hemmingway for gathering the most votes without winning a category. The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. If your story is completed, please ensure it is edited and YES, as completed. Be on the lookout for the next Challenge March 15 when nicer weather rolls in and Hogwarts grounds becomes-entertaining. PS: Some authors have asked if I would tell them how well they did in the judging. If you wish, e-mail me and I will tell you your results. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.02.27 - 08:10PM ( 37 Comments) |
Happy Birthday Bonnie!!! |
| A belated Happy Birthday to Bonnie Wright, the actress that plays Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter movies. Bonnie turned 15 years old on February 17, since she was born in 1991. For a real Harry & Ginny website, we sure missed this one. But better late than never, thanks to Spenser who caught that. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.02.21 - 05:54PM ( 11 Comments) |
| Valentine's Day has come to a close and so has the submission for the Angst Valentine (1-2006) Challenge. We have 17 terrific stories posted of how such a lovely day went so sour. Now it's our judge's turn to go to work and see how which story rates the title of Best overall, Most Romantic, Most Humorous, and Most Angst. The results will be posted on February 28, 2006. Most of our favorite witches had a lousy day with or without their favorite wizard in tow. I hope you all had a much more wonderful Valentine's Day. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2006.02.15 - 12:13AM ( 17 Comments) |
Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards |
| We would like to announce the Dumbledore Silver Trinket Awards. In an effort to promote writing excellence, Sink Into Your Eyes has formulated a series of Awards. We will be presenting this award monthly for the best in the following categories: Drama, Romance, Comedy, Angst, Overall Story and Author. At the end of the year, the monthly winners will compete against each other in their category for the story of the year. Every writer has the chance to win one of these awards, but as the entire membership will have the option to vote, we would suggest that you submit the most polished story or chapter that you can write. Proofread your story and use a Beta. The SIYE membership has some of the keenest, most discerning readers that I have ever had the opportunity to work with, so if someone offers a suggestion in their review, look on it as a learning tool, and correct your work. Now, for those of you that are wondering how this will work, I will try to explain it as clearly as possible. 1. The first of each month, we begin with a clean slate. Nominations will only be accepted for a story that has either been written or updated during the current month. As a member of SIYE, you may nominate as many deserving stories or authors as you want during the month. However, please do not send in multiple nominations for the same story and same category. 2. If the SIYE staff or Awards committee notices fraudulent nominations or voting, Admin has the authority to eliminate that story from consideration. If you would like your story to be considered for an award, please refrain from dishonestly stuffing the nomination and ballot boxes. Furthermore, do not set up multiple accounts under different names, we will know. One person ... one vote. 3. On the third or fourth of the following month, we will announce the top five nominations in each category. Any member of SIYE will then have seven days to vote. On the eighth day, we will announce the winners. Please only vote once. 4. So that we can announce our annual winners prior to the Christmas Holiday, we will vote on our Best of the Year awards the second week of December. The winners will receive the following awards. a. Founding Four's Story of the Year b. Albus Dumbledore's Author of the Year c. Amortentia Award for Romantic Distinction d. Marauder's Comedy of the Year Award e. Minerva McGonagall's Award for Dramatic Excellence f. Severus Snape's Angsty Underpants Award During the month of December, we will be busy. We will have to select the monthly winners for November the first week, annual winners the second and accept nominations for the December monthly awards throughout. This will take commitment by everyone at SIYE. The staff, writers and readers, but we feel that it will be worth it. Please send your nominations to professor_scroll@siye.co.uk. You can find this address by going to Extras and clicking on the Staff Directory. It will be in the Admin section under Valerie The nominations for February are now open. |
| Professor Scroll on 2006.02.11 - 03:01PM ( 32 Comments) |
Formatting Fan Fiction |
| As of late, the Archivists have found themselves dealing with an immense number of submissions that are improperly formatted. I shall endeavour to explain one of the standard ways that a fan fiction should be formatted for your convenience, the convenience of whoever reads your story, and the convenience of the SIYE Staff. I find it useful to stick the Author's Note at the very beginning or the very end of the submission. This way, it is not confused with anything else. Author Notes on SIYE should not have review responses as that feature is built into the review system here. A/N's don't go toward the word count and neither are they acceptable as a submission by themselves. You can stick the Disclaimer after the A/N on the first chapter of your story. One disclaimer per story rather than per chapter is sufficient. For each chapter, I've found it handy to stick the story title, author, and chapter title centered on the page next. (One per line) You can also do the "Story:Chapter" format. The body of your story is what matters the most. Stories should be divided into paragraphs! It is nearly impossible to read a 1000+ word story that does not have a single paragraph break. At this point, the SIYE Staff are now under direction to automatically send such "one paragraph" submissions back to the author. A paragraph consists of about 5-6 sentences that are related to each other. If it goes longer than that, you should probably throw in a paragraph break for the heck of it. A line of dialogue also constitutes a paragraph. Even ONE word of dialogue is a paragraph. When the speaker changes, new paragraph. When the speaker finishes speaking, saying, doing, you should also move to another paragraph. In addition to that- a pet peeve of mine: If Harry says something in one paragraph, you shouldn't have Ginny say or do something in that same paragraph. Then I have to wonder who said and did what. Paragraphs should then be divided up from one another. When you reach the end of a paragraph, hit the return key twice. This results in a story body with a empty line between each paragraph. This makes fics easier to read. Sidenote: Paragraphs in fan fiction don't need to be indented either. If your chapter/submission then ends with an A/N, you should make it clear that it is an A/N rather than the story continuing. Please keep these guidelines in mind while writing. Thanks! Lord Dreadnault |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.02.08 - 11:26PM ( 17 Comments) |
New Staff |
| The following are hereby made members of the SIYE Staff and appointed to the position of Archivist: Cori_b (Corinne) Madame Julia (Julie) PhoenixAeternum (Tyler) running_swift (Lisa) SomethingFlowery (Stacey) Spenser Hemmingway (Eric) |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.02.06 - 08:24PM ( 53 Comments) |
Archivist Decisions Made |
| The Administration has selected from among the many applicants six new Archivists. We regret to inform the other applicants that they have not been chosen if they have not received an e-mail from the Administration concerning their appointment. SIYE is growing fast and we expect to have the need for more Archivists before too long. We encourage those not selected this round to re-apply when that time comes. Meanwhile- we would be thrilled if all those who applied would volunteer to serve as SIYE Betas or SIYE Challenge Judges in the meantime. Thank you all for applying! |
| SIYE Administration on 2006.02.01 - 01:20AM ( 11 Comments) |
Archiving Dept. Reorganization |
| In order to streamline operations, clear out things that are no longer necessary or have lost their purpose, and to make everything just plainly simple, the following changes are hereby put into immediate effect. The positions of Deputy Archivist are hereby dissolved. The positions of Assistant Archivist are hereby dissolved. All members of the Archiving Department now carry the title "SIYE Archivist." Jaquelyne Hawkins is hereby appointed to serve as the Head Archivist of SIYE. Victoria (Knightwhosaysni) is hereby appointed to serve as the Acting Head Archivist of SIYE until such time that Jaquelyne is no longer incapacitated. RS/LD- Head Admin, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.01.29 - 06:02PM ( 13 Comments) |
Rough Drafts |
| Lately, the SIYE Staff has noticed a new trend among fan fiction authors. More and more, authors are hurriedly writing a first draft for their fic or chapter and then publishing it along with a promise to "revise later" or "post the betaed version soon." I am going to be blunt about SIYE's opinion concerning this. We don't like it. In the real world, what you turn in to your editor, professor, teacher, etc is the final draft. What you post on any fan fiction archive should be your final draft as well. Not only that, it should be a good final draft. If an author wants as many reviews as possible, they should put their best foot forward to begin with. People are not going to give reviews for "revised chapters." In fact- they probably aren't going to go back and read those revised chapters to begin with. Why should they? Every single day, new authors post new stories on this archive and others. The competition for attention is stiff. There is an abundance of fics clamoring for a reader's attention. If it's apparent that an author has not done their best, the reader will move on to another story which has been written with care and revised before posting. It is in the best interest of any author to make a good showing from the very start. I apologize if you are offended, but really- I and others don't really think that there is a good excuse for posting rough drafts. Therefore, if the archivists get the impression that an author has been sloppy, or has not run a spell check, or knows that there are problems that can be fixed, they will very likely ask the author to revise their story and resubmit. That doesn't mean that we don't like you or your story. Far from it. If we didn't care, we wouldn't bother. For those of you who need help or advice, I direct you to our Beta List which is located in the "Extras" section of this site. Every single person on that list is eager to help you as are the SIYE Staff and Administration. RS/LD- Head Administrator, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.01.26 - 02:33PM ( 58 Comments) |
Archivist Application Deadline Over |
| We will no longer accept applications for those interested in joining the staff. Thank you to all of those who submitted applications for consideration. It is anticipated that six of the applicants will be appointed to the SIYE Staff. However, we received over double that, so there will of course be some disappointed applicants- I'm sorry. Those chosen will receive an e-mail asking if they are willing to accept an appointment to the staff prior to any public announcement. They must of course respond in order to become a member of the staff. Thanks! |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.01.25 - 10:14PM ( 1 Comments) |
Banners, Images, and Archivist Application Deadline |
| It has come to the attention of the Administration that many SIYE members have banners, pictures, images, and so forth posted in their user profiles here on SIYE. In the past, we've specifically banned these from being posted within stories and summaries. The posting of them in bios has been a non-issue until now. The Administration hereby respectfully request that all images and graphics in bios be removed within the next two weeks. Such images create problems for SIYE's structure and suck up bandwidth as well. When SIYE runs out of bandwidth, SIYE is no longer accessible. Your cooperation in this issue would be greatly appreciated. As of 8 February 2006, any images found by a staff member in a bio will be removed. Lastly- I would like to thank the many people who have submitted applications to join the SIYE Staff. No applications will be accepted after six o'clock PM (MST) tonight. (25 Jan 2006) If you've been procrastinating, you need to act fast if you want to submit an application. RS/LD- Head Admin, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2006.01.25 - 02:38PM ( 8 Comments) |
Archivists Needed |
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| Professor Scroll on 2006.01.18 - 10:33PM ( 38 Comments) |
| Angst: (n.) a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity often accompanied by depression.
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| Sir Ollivander on 2006.01.14 - 12:02AM ( 59 Comments) |
And the Winners are-. |
By now I hope everybody had a good Christmas or Hanukkah, which isn't over yet. I surely did and so did our characters according to the stories submitted in this Hogwarts Discovery Challenge. The judges and I had a most difficult time deciding which stories were the best in their categories. But some stars came out and it's time to let them shine today. And now the winners-. The Award for Best Overall and The Award for Most Romantic goes to ... "Turning Point" by St Margarets The Award for Most Humorous goes to ... "And The Walls Came Tumbling Down" by Torak The Award for Most Adventurous goes to ... "Merry Christmas Mr. Filch" by Dianne An Honorable Mention goes to "Love, Secrets, and Organized Elves" by Spenser Hemmingway for the most votes without winning a category (Overall, Humor). The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. I thank all the authors that took the time to answer this Challenge and submit a story. And my many thanks to all 14 judges that answered my call and voted in. The year 2006 starts a new round of interesting Challenges. I've had a long time to think up a few good ones. Unfortunately, the young wizards miss a perfect opportunity in the next one. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.12.31 - 10:35AM ( 133 Comments) |
Administrator of Content and Author Relations |
| As my first Official post as Admin of Content and Author Relations I would like to let all Authors on this site know that any problems or questions about rules on this site or if you just need someone to bounce plot ideas off of that my E-mail is always open. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions. my e-mail is at RyokoTenchi@cox.net. RyokoTenchi Admin of Content and Author Relations |
| RyokoTenchi on 2005.12.28 - 08:19PM ( 14 Comments) |
Staff Changes |
| In light of the recent shift in the Administration, a few changes have become necessary, I am also taking the opportunity to make some additional changes, so here they are. Professor Scroll (Valerie) is hereby appointed to the Administration. RyokoTenchi (Ryan) is hereby appointed to the Administration. The structure of the Administration is reorganized as follows: Head Administrator: Robert (Lord Dreadnault) Assistant Head Administrator: Valerie (Professor Scroll) Administrator of Rules and Reader Relations: Tom (Sir Ollivander) Administrator of Content and Author Relations: Ryan (RyokoTenchi) Rather than the previous organization where Rules and Content were on their own footing, this system has it so that Content is a part of Rules. If you have any problems, questions, comments, etc, you will find that there is an Admin with specific responsibility to talk to you and listen to your concerns. Tom is designated for readers/patrons of SIYE while Ryan is designated to talk with authors. Valerie and I have open doors as well. People representing other archives, sites, or organizations who wish to have official discussion with SIYE should contact me or Valerie. Knightwhosaysni (Victoria) is appointed to serve as Acting Archivist until such a time that Jaquelyne is able to take up her post again. Dramaqueen is appointed to serve as a Deputy Archivist. Torak is hereby made a member of the SIYE Staff and appointed to the position of Assistant Archivist. Bibliophile19 is hereby made a member of the SIYE Staff and appointed to the position of Assistant Archivist. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Have a Happy New Year!- |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.12.27 - 05:01PM ( 71 Comments) |
Merry Christmas |
| I would like to extend a Very Merry Christmas from all of us at SIYE to all of you who Make this site so wonderful. Without the Authors who post their Stories this Site would not be what is has become today. So Merry Christmas and Have a Very Happy Holiday with your Friends and Family RyokoTenchi Assistant Archivist P.S. As Reminded by a couple of our Authors i would also like to Extend a Happy Hannukah And Kwanza as well. please let me know if i missed any others :p |
| RyokoTenchi on 2005.12.24 - 03:19PM ( 16 Comments) |
Admin Emeritus (2) |
| Justanotherfan (John) has also opted to step down from his position in the Administration as Administrator of Content due to the pressing and very important demands put on him by his children and his career. Though he will no longer serve as an Administrator at SIYE, he will retain the authority to act as an Archivist and examine incoming submissions. I wish to thank him for all of the time and hard work that he has contributed to SIYE. As the Head Admin of SIYE, I hereby extend to him an honorable release from the Administration and bestow upon him the honorary title of "Administrator Emeritus." RS/LD |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.12.23 - 05:50PM ( 3 Comments) |
Admin Emeritus |
| Acting as the Head Administrator of SIYE, I'd like to extend an honorable release to Zelthian from the Administration and thank him for all of the hard work and service that he has put into SIYE during his tenure. The SIYE Administration hereby bestows on Zelthian the honorary title of "Administrator Emeritus." RS/LD |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.12.23 - 12:38AM ( 8 Comments) |
Stepping Down |
| Effective immediately, I am stepping down as Administrator of Rules here at SIYE. It has come to pass that the demands on my time from my family and job have made it impossible to dedicate the time required of an Admin to the site. I will still be around, checking in from time to time, maybe even submitting a contest fic or two. I started writing because of Harry Potter Fan Fiction, and SIYE will always be a part of who I am as a writer. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Happy Kwanzaa to you all, and may your new year be one of happiness and prosperity. Zelthian |
| Zelthian on 2005.12.23 - 12:24AM ( 5 Comments) |
Administrators Emeritus |
| Within the coming week, the SIYE Administration will face some changes with regard to its personnel and structure. In light of this, the position "Administrator Emeritus" is hereby created. The creation of this new SIYE Staff position is a preparatory step toward those changes. Administrator Emeritus status is given to those who have honorably served in the SIYE Administration for a suitable period of time and have reached a point where they no longer have the free time, for whatever reason, to commit to full-time Admin duties and responsibilities, but whom the Administration of SIYE feels would still be able to contribute to the site on an as-needed basis, usually for the purpose of consultation regarding judgement calls on rules violations, philosophical direction of the site, etc. An Administrator Emeritus will only have rights on the site that would allow him or her to view stories currently under consideration for approval: they would not have the authority to edit or make changes. Their input will be given directly to the Head Archivist or Senior staff. The Admin Emeritus title is honorary, and those holding the title have no authority on the site beyond their advisory capacity. RS/LD Head Administrator of SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.12.17 - 12:30AM ( 8 Comments) |
Hogwarts Discovery (6-2005) Challenge Closed |
| The Hogwarts Discovery (6-2005) Challenge is closed at this time. It's now the judges' turn to go to work and read all nine submissions to determine which stories deserve the titles of Best Overall, Most Romantic, Most Humorous, and Most Adventurous. The results will be posted on December 31. I must admit, Augus Filch became a very interesting character, based on the revealing, very personal information we learned. While some students and a few staff members are stuck at Hogwarts over the holidays, I wish our entire readership, authors, and fellow staff members a warm and Happy Christmas or Hanukah, and a good holiday season. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.12.16 - 07:05AM ( 25 Comments) |
| Sink Into Your Eyes website is a fairly easy going website to post stories about Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley. We do have some simple rules and guidelines that help keep the website organized with quality stories. Most authors abide by our rules and submit their stories, we post them, and many readers read and comment on them. We gently remind submitting authors if they don't quite meet the rules. We have tried to reiterate our rules now and then to remind authors about them.
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| Sir Ollivander on 2005.12.14 - 05:33PM ( 11 Comments) |
New Affiliate |
| The "Sink Into Your Eyes" and "Harry Potter Common Room" websites have joined up in an affiliation to bring you more and better Harry Potter fan fiction. SIYE supports the exclusive ship of pairing Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley. All of our stories have Harry and Ginny as the main characters, in one form or another. All submissions are screened by our archivists to abide by the site's rules. Beta-readers and reviews of stories are encouraged but not required. SIYE does not do Live Journals, chat rooms, or anything else to distract our readers. We are 100% stories. HPCR's goal is to create a user-friendly site dedicated to the world of Harry Potter where artists and writers alike can gather to share their work. Our main ships are H/G, and R/H, and any ship that does not dispute these pairings. HPCR also accepts general non-ship stories, Marauder Era Stories, Drabble (stories between 250-750 words), and essays. We have a Writer's Help area with "Character Fact Files' for when you need information quickly on a character, and a just-for-fun section with games and quizzes. We have a Live Journal were Live Journal users can enter the caption or icon challenge, or recommend your favorite art or story. We will be the future archive of the Live Journal HP-RPG, Phoenix Rising. Please visit our fellow site at www.hpcommonroom.com or click on their button located in the Affiliates box on the left column of the page. |
| SIYE Administration on 2005.12.11 - 11:21PM ( 15 Comments) |
ATTENTION SIYE STAFF |
| Please contact me via e-mail. The following staff members have already contacted me and don't need to worry about this: All. Thanks! RS/LD |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.12.07 - 10:30PM ( 25 Comments) |
Hogwarts Discovery (6-2005) Challenge |
| With increased Death Eater activity, an unusually large number of Hogwarts students and staff stay at the school during the Christmas holidays. And with the cold, snowy weather, they mainly stay inside. Boredom strikes and some students start exploring. Along with a joyous Christmas celebration, they find things they never knew about the ancient castle. The author's challenge is to write a story to include: 1. Describing at least three discoveries, by students, within the castle: · One discovery explains how old the structure really is (not a book or parchment). · One discovery reveals that the book, "Hogwarts, A History" has a big error. · One discovery is dangerous and requires staff member(s) to intervene. 2. A secret passageway not on the Marauder's Map is found. 3. A student is believed to be missing and a search party gets underway. 4. Something very personal about Augus Filch is accidentally revealed and not spread among the populous. But it makes a student give him a Christmas present. 5. Some unusual gifts are made/created since the students haven't been able to go shopping. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. Judges are not required to read stories over 10,000 words or any R-rated stories. 2. All entries must be submitted under Hogwarts Discovery (6-2005) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight EST (GMT-5), December 15, 2005. But I don't get out of bed at midnight just to close the Challenge. 3. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 4. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and Adventure. Bonus phrases for extra creativity for using any of the following phrases but they are not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. · That wasn't here the first time I looked. · I definitely believe we're not supposed to be here. · If he/she can do it, I certainly can! · That will be a secret between you and me. · Do you think we're at the (highest/coldest/eastern/whatever) point? · Why won't my magic work here? |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.11.15 - 07:02AM ( 91 Comments) |
Basic Rating Requirements |
| The next submission rules issues on the list to discuss are a few very simple and basic rating guidelines that everyone must know. As far as SIYE is concerned, a G rating signifies that there is nothing in the content that could offend anybody. Absolutely no swear words, vulgar language, innuendos, violence, etc. SIYE requires that all story summaries be G-rated. This is quite possible and I have yet to have seen any serious problems in this regard at SIYE. Thank you for that. If the F-word makes an appearance in your fic, the rating automatically becomes R, even if the rest of the fic is completely G material. This has been a long standing rule at SIYE and the Archivists will continue to enforce it. Entries must of course be given the proper rating. In this archive, you can give each chapter of a story its own rating as well. The rating of the first chapter is the rating that SIYE lists your entire story under. Therefore, the rating of the first chapter must match the highest rating of any other chapter down the road. Example: Pretend that you have a ten chapter story. Every chapter is rated G except for chapter 7 in which someone lets some profanity drop. Chapter seven is rated PG because of that. Since PG is the highest rating out of the ten chapters, you must go back and change the rating of the first chapter to PG as well, even if that chapter is totally G content, so that the entry is listed under the highest rating a reader will encounter anywhere in the story. Nobody wants to think they're reading a PG rated fic and then down the road find out that it turns R after a while, therefore- it would be common courtesy to make sure that readers know what they are getting into when they read the first chapter of a story. Further issues about the rating of stories will be addressed at a later date. For now, please remember to properly rate your story. Thank you for your cooperation- Robert L. Scott (Lord Dreadnault) Head Administrator of SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.11.15 - 01:06AM ( 4 Comments) |
Rules Regarding Length of Submissions |
| I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that current SIYE rules require that all submissions be a minimum of 1,000 words. Author notes, song lyrics, disclaimers, the summary, and other things DO NOT count toward the total. Authors may submit prologues and epilogues that are a minimum of 500 words. For a submission to be counted as one of these, the chapter title must be "prologue" or "epilogue." Since the length of chapters and quality of fictions submitted is an ongoing issue here at SIYE, I am at this time further requiring that all prologues submitted must be immediately followed by a first chapter until further notice. Please keep in mind that I do not have these rules and requirements enforced at SIYE because I am out to make your lives miserable. It is the belief of the Administration that a story that is less than the minimum requirement simply lacks enough substance to stand as a story. For those of you who find yourself having trouble meeting these requirements, refer to our extensive and ever-growing Beta Directory located under Extras. The people on that list are eager to help you as is the staff of SIYE. Robert L. Scott (Lord Dreadnault) Head Administrator of SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.11.13 - 06:31PM ( 15 Comments) |
| BOO! to you all on this Happy Halloween. This Challenge was exceptional! The judges have reached deeply into their bag of magic tricks and pulled out the winning entries in the Dark Autumn Challenge. Some got a treat of candy. Some got a trick of a rock of coal. There were nine good stories to read and judge the best of the four categories, including Most Dramatic. To end this mystery suspense, here are the results:
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| Sir Ollivander on 2005.10.30 - 08:44PM ( 40 Comments) |
Submission Rules |
| SIYE is growing in leaps and bounds, and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome both our new and previously published authors. While the number of authors and stories has increased dramatically, unfortunately, at the same time, we have had to reject many other stories. Most often, it is because the author overlooked one or more of our posted rules. Please remember that when this happens, it is not a personal rejection of the author, just that the submitted story does not meet our minimum requirements. With that said, we felt that we should take the time to re-emphasize them to all and where necessary, revise them to make them fully understandable. Because the project is on-going, please visit the list of Submission Rules under Help, before posting your story. The following is the primary rule, which I believe is self-explanatory. #1. Sink Into Your Eyes is a shipper archive for Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley fan fiction. Stories submitted for posting on SIYE must have Harry and Ginny as the primary couple. In very rare cases, with prior approval of the Head Administrator, SIYE may allow them to be a secondary couple along with other main characters and/or ships that align with H/G. H/G must ALWAYS be in the story - this is after all, an H/G archive. Valerie Acting Archivist |
| Professor Scroll on 2005.10.24 - 08:35PM ( 21 Comments) |
| The battle is over, the wounded taken to the Hospital Wing, the Death Eaters rounded up, and hopefully everybody knows what all happened in Hogsmeade. And that closes the Dark Autumn (5-2005) Challenge.
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| Sir Ollivander on 2005.10.16 - 08:03AM ( 18 Comments) |
Rule Revised |
| Previously, SIYE allowed prologues and epilogues to be anywhere under the 1000 word minimum requirement on stories/chapters. We are now changing that rule. Prologues and epilogues must now be a minimum of 500 words. In order for the Archivists to count your submissions as an epilogue/prologue, it must be clearly marked as being one or the other so that the submission can be distinguished from normal chapters and one-shots. In addition to this, I must also add that stories which consist of a prologue and then an epilogue with no other chapters will not be allowed. As Head Admin, I would also like to put forth a few suggestions concerning the use of prologues and epilogues. 1) It might be wise to have your first chapter ready to post before you post the prolgoue. 2) Authors should ask themselves whether or not their story really needs a prologue. 3) Authors need to keep in mind that a prologue is not a giant author note or an extended summary. It's a literal part of the story. 4) The story should be of a somewhat significant length before you think of adding an epilogue. At some point, this guideline may turn into a minor rule. Please also keep in mind the fact that author notes DO NOT go toward the word count in a story/chapter. This has been a rule for some time. This rule applies only to incoming submissions. Prologues and epilogues already in the archive are immune. There is no obligation for you to go and try to bring what you have already archived into compliance with this new rule. Thank you for your support and cooperation. Robert L. Scott (Lord Dreadnault) Head Administrator, SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.10.13 - 08:36PM ( 3 Comments) |
| Jaquelyne continues to improve. She has about 75% of her sight back with some headaches to go along with it. She is extremely bored because she can't quite read on her own just yet. Her mom has been reading to her.
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| Sir Ollivander on 2005.09.22 - 08:56AM ( 16 Comments) |
New Feature |
| Via the "View Favorites Listing" link now available in everyone's "Your Account" section, you can now see who has you and your stories on their favorites list. This idea was passed onto the Administration from Ashlyn Alexander via Knightwhosaysni. Thanks! Robert L. Scott (Lord Dreadnault) Head Administrator of SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.09.18 - 04:08PM ( 19 Comments) |
Staff Appointment |
| I have appointed Knightwhosaysni (Vic), to serve as a Deputy Archivist alongside Valerie who is the other Deputy Archivist. Congratulations. :) Lord Dreadnault- Robert L. Scott Head Administrator of SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.09.17 - 01:36PM ( 5 Comments) |
| During the first weekend visit to Hogsmeade in October, the Hogwarts students find themselves in the middle of a surprise Death Eater attack. Some escape and are able to warn a few teachers. Some are able to take cover in various buildings. But most are caught or trapped out in the open. The Death Eaters are slightly outnumbered, as their plan didn't include all the students being there on that weekend. Nor the effective skills of various D.A. members.
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| Sir Ollivander on 2005.09.15 - 07:43AM ( 47 Comments) |
| By now I hope you all had a chance to read JKR's "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince." That's why this Summer Challenge was a short written one. Most of the stories were of Ginny's jail time or Harry sleeping in her bed. The explanation of Harry and Hermione kissing didn't go over very well. But that's okay. We still got some good stories, 32 in all. And now the winners-. The Award for Best Overall goes to ... "Definitely Not My Sister" by Chromatix The Award for Most Romantic goes to ... "Arrested Wishes" by EmmaWoodhouse The Award for Most Humorous goes to ... "Caught In The Act" by Zelthian The Award for Most Adventurous goes to ... "Catch On Fire" by Potter47 An Honorable Mention goes to - "Spoiler Warning" by Potter47 for the most votes without winning (Humor). The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. I thank all the authors that took the time to answer this Challenge and submit a story. Some authors submitted more than just one. And my thanks to all the judges that voted in. Be aware of the next Challenge September 15 when school is in session. Some well-learned lessons need to come into play-some serious play. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.09.11 - 10:22PM ( 3 Comments) |
New Skin |
| As most will notice, the site now has a new skin which features the wonderful artwork of Marta. |
| SIYE Staff on 2005.09.04 - 09:38PM ( 2 Comments) |
| The Summer (4-2005) Challenge judging is almost over and there are some close ties to break. Remember, if you were a registered member of SIYE at the beginning of the Challenge, you can be a judge. Just send in your nominations for Best Overall, Romantic, Humor, and Adventure stories, to SIYEChallenge@aol.com. Please use your registered e-mail address and include your name you registered under. The deadline is midnight, August 31. And yes, if you think your story was the best in a category, you can nominate your own story. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.08.27 - 07:42AM ( 0 Comments) |
Summer (4-2005) Challenge Closed |
| The Summer (4-2005) Challenge is now closed. Due to the abbreviated version of this Challenge, I hope you all had time to read the latest book #6. Now, the fun begins. We have 33 short stories to read through. You are the judges. Any current author or reader that was a registered member of SIYE as of July 15, 2005, may judge the stories. Each person gets to send in one to four votes, one for each category, Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and Adventure. The voters are to: 1) E-mail their nominations to SIYEChallenge@aol.com 2) The author or reader must use their e-mail address they used to register at SIYE for verification. 3) Please include your username at SIYE with your nominations as we are unable to search the database by e-mail The results will be tallied and the winners announced on Wednesday, August 31. I wish all candidates the best of luck. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.08.16 - 07:56AM ( 0 Comments) |
New Archivists |
| Recently I posted a notice on the main page asking for all those interested in joining the SIYE Staff to e-mail me and apply. I'd like to thank everyone that responded. Unfortunately, there were so many of you that I was unable to, as much as I wanted to, hire you all. The decision process was rather hard for me. For those of you who didn't make it- I encourage you to keep us in mind and offer a promise that you'll be first in line next time there is an open position. So- the following people are appointed to the following positions: Valerie (Professor Scroll)- Assistant Archivist Carrol (LadyGlow)- Assistant Archivist Vic (Knightwhosaysni)- Assistant Archivist Thanks! RS/LD |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.08.12 - 03:47PM ( 0 Comments) |
Post-HBP Vs Spoilers......Duh? |
| Just a quick note for some clarification: If your story is under category POST-HBP, you do NOT HAVE TO: · give any warnings or · say it's POST-HBP or · state you have spoilers. If your story is under any other category, then you should have NO warnings or spoilers or state it's POST-HBP because there SHOULDN'T BE ANY! If there are, you are in the wrong category. You can easily move your story to any category by simply editing the story or the first chapter and changing the category. This is not a problem. The current Challenge is PRE-HBP. (There better not be any warnings!) |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.07.28 - 09:48AM ( 2 Comments) |
Attention Validated Authors |
| SIYE is and will always be a Harry / Ginny ship site dedicated to Quality fics available for ALL age groups. In an attempt to keep with that standard we, the staff, ask that if you have any questions concerning content that may be questionable or pushing the limits of our guides, please send all such content to myself before posting. I will do my best to review it and send it back with approval or a few suggestions in a timely fashion. Thank you for doing your part in keeping SIYE one of the best Harry / Ginny shipping sites on the web! Sincerely, John - Justanotherfan Administrator of Content Sink Into Your Eyes |
| John - JustAnotherFan on 2005.07.24 - 06:28PM ( 3 Comments) |
Summer (4-2005) Challenge |
| Welcome to the Summer (4-2005) Challenge, one day before JKR's sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is to be released. Because of this significant event, this Challenge is to be a short one. There are three situations to choose from; choose as many as you like. The author's challenge is to write a story to satisfactorily explain the situation using no more than "about 2500" words. No detention for going over a few words. The 1000-word minimum still applies. The three situations are: 1) Harry receives a message that Ginny Weasley has been arrested and is in a Muggle London jail. She's asking Harry to get her out. 2) Bill goes upstairs to tell Ginny breakfast/ lunch/ or dinner is ready. Charlie meets him coming downstairs. When Bill opens her bedroom door, both brothers don't see Ginny, but they see Harry sound asleep in her bed. 3) After a few hours in the common room, Ron and Ginny go to the Hogwarts library to meet Harry and Hermione. On the way, they find the two kissing in an empty classroom. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. 2. The story will be a one-shot or one chapter. No multi-chapters. 3. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. 4. All entries must be submitted under the Summer Challenge (4-2005) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight EDT, August 15, 2005. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and Adventure. The judges are to be any registered member at SIYE as of July 15th. They are encourages to read all the entries and submit their one nomination (one for Humor, one for Romance, etc) for each category. They are to e-mail their nominations to SIYEChallenge@aol.com using their SIYE registered e-mail address (for SIYE to verify). Also- to those submitting votes- please include your username with your votes- we are unable to search the database by e-mail. Remember: This is Pre-HBP. No spoilers. And I have read the book! Good luck on the Challenge and enjoy reading HBP. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.07.15 - 04:01AM ( 50 Comments) |
Site Hosting Payment |
| Thank you so much once again to all those who helped out with this year's payment! I really appreciate it. The goals were met and the bill has been paid! We will be here for yet another year. :) Thanks again, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2005.07.06 - 08:23AM ( 2 Comments) |
Advance Notice ... Summer Challenge (4-2005) |
| Due to the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince the same time as the normally scheduled Summer Challenge, the Challenge will be abbreviated. There will be three situations in which submitting authors will get to choose one and explain it in 2500 words or less. There will be no conditions or bonus phrases. Judges will be any author registered at SIYE by July 15. They must e-mail their nomination to me from their registered e-mail address. Normal submission rules apply. For those who found all the clues I left for the normally scheduled Challenge, put them in a safe place. It may come back. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.07.04 - 03:30PM ( 12 Comments) |
And the winners are- |
| Luna walking on the moon. Neville trucking through the jungle. Hermione straightening out a library (of course). And Harry romancing on the beach. The Dream Adventure Challenge took our Hogwarts students all over the world, and then some. Eleven judges enjoyed struggling through all 22 stories to choose the best of each category. But the winners have been established. The results are as follows: The Award for Best Overall goes to ... "The Simplest Things" by Melindaleo The Award for Most Romantic goes to ... "An Ultimate Dream" by Tanydwr The Award for Most Humorous goes to ... "Oh, The Sillyness" by Rufiel The Award for Most Adventurous goes to ... "The Erised Charm" by Feral Black Gryphon (*** Received the most nominations for any category) The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. An Honorable Mention for TomFoolery (pun intended) for "Dream Adventure" by Miss Gryffindor. That story was posted 5 seconds after the Challenge was posted because I wrote it and Miss Gryffindor agreed to post it for me. As expected, it didn't get any nominations-none whatsoever. (boo hoo) Some of the stories were fairly predictable but a few stood out as quite imaginary. A lot of thought went into some of these. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. I wish to thank the authors for talking the time to think up and write a story to submit. But I want to thank the judges most of all for their time and effort in reading all the stories and making the tough decisions of which is better than the others: John, Kiki, Laree, Laura, Merlani, Nuria, Paulina, Sabine, Tricia, Vic, and I'm Tom. Be on the lookout for the next Challenge July 15 when school is out and the students try to enjoy their summer vacation. But some of them can't. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.06.30 - 08:35AM ( 17 Comments) |
Update on Donations Drive |
| The donations drive is going well. We have $75 so far!! That is wonderful. Our total bill is $200, which means we are about half way there. I appreciate all your support and so do all the readers of SIYE. Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2005.06.23 - 09:45AM ( 2 Comments) |
Donations Needed |
| It's that time of year again. I can't believe it, we've been at our current host for a whole year with no problems!! How wonderful for this site. :) If you'd like to help out with this year's bill, please click the paypal button below and donate whatever you can. Thank you so much to anyone who can help. Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2005.06.19 - 05:27PM ( 7 Comments) |
Dream Adventure (3-2005) Challenge Closed |
| The clock has ticked and the bell has rung. The Dream Adventure Challenge is now closed. We have twenty-two (22) stories competing for the coveted titles of Best Overall, Most Romantic, Most Humorous, and Most Adventurous stories. We have fifteen (15) judges that will take the next fifteen days (15) to read all the stories and judge them on their merits, spelling, grammar, following the rules of the Challenge, etc., and most importantly, their creativity. The results will be posted right here on June 30th. Good luck to all entries. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.06.16 - 07:36AM ( 19 Comments) |
SIYE Staff Reorganization |
| Due to the wonderful growth that SIYE has faced these last few months, it has become apparent from my internal perspective of the site that some changes are needed to make it so that we can more efficiently run the site. Therefore: The Moderating Department is hereby dissolved. The Archiving Department is hereby enlarged by the addition of the former Moderaters to it. Its duties are expanded to a small extent. Essentially, its function and structure will remain the same. John- the Admin who is over Archiving, will be serving as the interim Archivist in addition to his normal duties while Jaquelyne is not well. The Administration is hereby reorganized as thus: Head Administrator: Robert / Lord Dreadnault Administrator of Public Relations: Tom / Sir Ollivander Administrator of Content: John / JustAnotherFan Administrator of Rules: Mike / Zelthian Sir Ollivander will continue to run the contests/challenges that SIYE hosts. He will also serve as the spokesman for the staff and myself. If you have a problem and you are unsure who to contact, he's the man who will hook you up. John will be in charge of basically all the stories on the site. Zelthian will be in charge of making sure that people follow the rules. He will be the main interpreter of the rules. For those of you who receive nasty reviews, contact him and he'll zap them. As Head Admin, I'll be mostly doing 'internal' things, i.e.- making sure everyone on the staff does what they're supposed to. However, my door is always open to anyone who has issues, ideas, comments, or complaints. Our e-mails are listed on the staff page. You can also go into our profiles and send an e-mail from there as well. Thank you- RS/LD, Head Administrator of SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.06.13 - 11:18AM ( 3 Comments) |
Dream Adventure (3-2005) Challenge |
| Harry, Ron, Neville, Seamus, Ginny, Hermione, Luna, and Lavender are all sharing a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. After another successful school year, they are returning to Kings Cross Station to start their summer vacation at home. The conversation is about what all they would like to do during the summer if they could. Ginny challenges the others to tell what they would like to do if money, knowledge, or skill were not a problem or issue. The author's challenge is to write a story to include: 1) Explaining what at least three of the students would dream of doing. (climb Mount Everest, sail around the world, scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef, whatever-) 2) Each student's dream adventure is to be told in the "first person" like they were talking. ("I want to- or I can see myself- or we would do-") 3) Describe what the person(s) is/are doing on their adventure. (I had to get on the horse and strap myself in-) 4) A person can include having other persons with them. But it would count as one person's adventure. Example: Harry would like Ginny to sail around the world with him. Lavender will take Parvati with her on a shopping expedition. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. We have to read all of them, you know. 2. Multiple chapters are allowed as long as all the requirements are in the chapter(s) that are submitted by the deadline. 3. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. 4. All entries must be submitted under the Dream Adventure (3-2005) sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight EDT, June 15, 2005. 5. The time frame of the students telling the stories is entirely on the trip to Kings Cross Station on the Hogwarts Express. The dream adventure can take place anytime, anywhere (in the winter, in history, or five years later, etc.) 6. *** Note *** We have about ten volunteer readers/reviewers as well as the SIYE staff as judges for this contest so we should get quite a well-rounded response on the judging. However, the volunteers are not required to read any R-rated stories or stories over 10,000 words. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and Adventure. Bonus points will be given for using any of the following phrases but they are not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. There was something strange happening! Are you kidding? I was soaked to the bone. It was red. Weasley hair red. I have great respect for Madam Pomfrey. The gauge was broken so I couldn't tell. My wand wouldn't even work. You knew where my hands were. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.05.15 - 08:07AM ( 37 Comments) |
Plagiarism and How to Handle It on SIYE |
| As many of you have noticed, a certain author has plagiarized part of a rather popular HP fan fic and published it here on SIYE word for word. For the information of all those concerned about this, SIYE is handling it. That brings me to my next concern. If you think that something has been plagiarized, instead of accusing the author via reviews or in a public forum, please contact any SIYE Administrator, so we can handle it. A lot of you did precisely that when it came to the latest incident of plagiarism. Thank you. Then lastly, when there is plagiarism on SIYE, please let the staff handle it appropriately. Sending flaming reviews and hate e-mails to the author as a review is inappropriate and is not condoned by SIYE. In case you haven't noticed, the guilty party's account has been seized by me. That means their password has been changed and their registered e-mail altered so that a new password cannot be generated. That further means that all the hate e-mails that you've been sending have ended up in my inbox. Please remember that plagiarism is not allowed on SIYE, and how to address the problem in a mature manner. Thank you. Robert L. Scott / Lord Dreadnault Administrator of SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.05.15 - 12:18AM ( 5 Comments) |
Serious Submission Rule Reminder ... 1000 words minimum |
| In keeping up our standards of good stories on SIYE, we are constantly checking ourselves and the works that are submitted and posted. At present, there is a negative trend that must be addressed. It is a SIYE submission rule that all stories or chapters submitted to be posted must be a minimum of 1000 words long. Numerous authors have been submitting chapters short of 1000 words; some with less than 700 words. This word count does not include prologues and epilogues, and does not include author's notes (A/N) or summaries. Some of these short chapters have gotten past our staff members and were validated and posted. This is an in-house issue and we are addressing it internally. As a reminder - 1,000 words is the minimum per chapter/story with the exception of prologues and epilogues, that titles and chapters must be properly capitalized, and that stories must be properly formatted. Even though someone may get their improper story through the validation process and posted on SIYE, it will still be in violation of the rules and subject to change, deletion, or rejection. Even if our staff member makes the mistake of approving it, it is still in violation. Authors submitting stories or chapters that are too short will have their story/chapter rejected and an e-mail reminding them as to why it was rejected. Authors with short stories/chapters already posted may edit them to bring them up to proper length. We encourage this method. Some authors that had short stories/chapters recently posted may hear from a staff member reminding them that they are in violation and to make the appropriate corrections or their story/chapter will be removed. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause some authors. Authors and staff members are human and do make mistakes. We are trying to correct those mistakes and keep SIYE a quality Harry/Ginny FanFic site. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.05.12 - 07:51PM ( 5 Comments) |
Returning Staff Member |
| John (Justanotherfan), who served as my Assistant Admin until his tempoary resignation last July, has returned to SIYE. He will be serving as Second Assistant Admin now. Welcome back! RS/LD |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.05.04 - 10:42PM ( 6 Comments) |
And The Winners Are... |
| All the nominations are in for the Muggle Picnic Challenge and the votes have been tallied. The record number of stories submitted for this Challenge breaks the record of the last Challenge. I am so glad we had a large number of judges for this one. Again, it took a long while to read through all of them and judge the best of the best. And so, here are the results: The Award for Best Overall goes to ... To Have And To Hold by Wild Magelet The Award for Most Romantic goes to ... We've All Gone A Bit Mad by St Margarets The Award for Most Humorous goes to ... The Games Muggles Play by ForeverLadonna The Award for Most Adventurous goes to ... After All by Emmeline Vance Four stories tied for the most votes. But two stories didn't receive enough in any one category to win. Therefore: Honorable Mention goes to ... Five More Minutes by Dianne and Hide-And-Seek by Feral Black Gryphon The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Some of the stories were fairly predictable but a few stood out as quite imaginary. A lot of thought went into some of these. Those of you that have multiple chapters or need to do some editing may continue at this time. The Challenge category is back open. Be on the lookout for the next Challenge May 15 when school is out and the students journey on to their next adventure. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.04.30 - 03:45PM ( 53 Comments) |
Another Obnoxious Reviewer |
| It has come to my attention that a certain individual is flaming Knightwhosaysni, repeatedly, and harassing her to boot. The anonymous reviewer most often reviews under the name 'kelsey,' but that is irrelevant because said reviewer knows who she is. To start off, I would like to say that I think you are a pathetic person who has no standing to be so obnoxious to one of SIYE's hard working authors. Not only are you being obnoxious, you are in direct violation of SIYE's rules concerning reviews. If you can't follow the rules, then we don't need or want you around here. If you do not cease flaming knightwhosaysni, or any other SIYE Author, then SIYE CAN AND WILL take action against you, even if you review anonymously or under different names. On a broader perspective, no one has any right to flame or harrass any author. If any authors are being bothered in this way, they are encouraged to contact the SIYE Administration. We will promptly remove the flames and take any necessary action. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Lord Dreadnault Administrator of SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.04.24 - 05:47PM ( 31 Comments) |
Remember Me Feature |
| It's finally here, a much begged for feature. A Remember Me feature!! This means now that after you login, a cookie is placed on your machine so that when you return to the site later you are still logged in. As with any add-on to this site, if anyone finds an issue please let me know. Jenn Site Owner |
| Jenn on 2005.04.18 - 04:16PM ( 12 Comments) |
Writing Section and Other Features |
| Lord Dreadnault has prepared a new section for this site for helping out fanfiction writers. In order to incorporate this and other new features, I've reorganized the site a bit. For instance, the beta and staff directory have been moved under Extras. But also there you'll find new items such as: - The new Writing section - Buttons to Link The Site - Outside Links I have also changed the old 'Top 10' page. It now shows 2 different Top 25 lists. - Top 25 by Rating - Top 25 by Hit Count In addition you'll find I've added a 'Quick Login' section here to the front page for your convience. Jenn Site Owner |
| Jenn on 2005.04.17 - 06:03PM ( 3 Comments) |
Muggle Picnic (2-2005) Challenge Closed |
| The Muggle Picnic Challenge is now closed. 28 stories - another WOW!!! It is time for all judges to read all the submitted stories and determine who the winners are for Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and Adventure. If you have already read some of the stories, please make sure the author hasn't edited or updated it after you read it. See the date of the last update of the story. This is also the queue for the SIYE staff to please contact me acknowledging your participation as a judge or that you can't for whatever reason(s). A couple of items I noticed in the submissions were of attention to detail. Some storytellers did not have their picnic on Saturday. They moved it to Friday. Maybe they wanted to cancel classes. Also, student names were used throughout the various stories. Colin & Dennis Creevey, Seamus Finnegan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Dean Thomas were mentioned in numerous picnic activities and helping out but not specifily identified as being Muggle- or half-n-half-born Hogwarts students. Yes, you kinda had to state that somehow. Some stories did. Some didn't. And last, I think we all learned, left on his own, Ron can't BBQ to save his life! The results will be posted May 1, 2005. Those authors with multiple chapters will be able to continue adding chapters after the judging is completed. Still, good luck to all authors! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.04.16 - 06:33AM ( 28 Comments) |
Muggle Picnic (2-2005) Challenge |
| With unusually nice and early springtime weather, some students were talking about outdoor activities they would like to do. Some Muggle-borns were discussing things that the pureblooded witches and wizards didn't know anything about. A plan started to form. So after a few of them talked to the headmaster, the school will hold a Muggle style Outdoor Day on Saturday, by the lake, with a BBQ picnic and activities. The author's challenge is to write a story to include: 1) Identifying at least three Muggle-born or half-n-half-born Hogwarts students. Harry and Hermione not included [I know of five]. 2) The planning of and carrying out the various activities. 3) Ron Weasley cooking food on a B-B-Que grill (good or bad). Plus the activities of sitting down everywhere and eating (blankets, folding chairs, picnic tables, groups, couples, etc.). 4) The playing of games or contests, to include at least three events, example: any swimming (yes, the lake is warm enough), kite flying, his & her three-legged race, sack race, horseshoes, etc. 5) A costume contest: either best-dressed Muggle boy & girl or best swim suit boy & girl. 6) This is a Muggle event. There will be NO magic used in the preparation of, during the activities, or afterwards cleaning up, directly or indirectly. If Malfoy gets cursed in the hallway-well, that's okay. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. We have to read all of them, you know. 2. All entries must be submitted under the Muggle Picnic 2-2005 sub-category under SIYE Challenge and be submitted by midnight, April 15, 2005. 3. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. 4. The time frame is anytime in the month of April of any year but Harry or Ginny's school year must clearly be stated somehow. 5. *** Note *** We have about ten volunteer readers/reviewers as well as the SIYE staff as judges for this contest so we should get quite a well-rounded response on the judging. However, the volunteers are not required to read any R-rated stories or stories over 10,000 words. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and Adventure. Bonus points will be given for using any of the following phrases but they are not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. I'd love to get into a sack with him/her! Quidditch playing is definitely doing him/her some good. She/he stared at him/her like he/she had lobsters crawling out his/her ears. Just do it. You're not going to hurt me. Futon, fondue, what's the difference? He/She really ate all of that?! I'd sure like to see (name) in that outfit, wouldn't you? Please feel free to post any questions or comments. I will answer all questions pertaining to this Challenge. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.03.15 - 07:21AM ( 71 Comments) |
And the Winners are.... |
| Congratulations to all who entered the Hogsmeade 2005 Challenge. We had the most submission of Challenge stories from Harry Potter fanfics yet. It took a long while to read through all of them and judge the best out of the pile of galleon stories. They were all good. Really!! But here is how the awards go: The Award for Best Overall goes to ... "First Kiss" by Zelthian The Award for Most Romantic goes to ... "When Harry Met Ginny" by MythWeaver The Award for Most Humorous goes to ... "A Moment of Perfect Beauty" by AKA_Hagrid The Award for Best Adventure (unanimous) goes to ... "The Saddest Little Valentine" by Potter47 The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. Very interesting concepts were used to get Harry in Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop for the required hour. You can tell a lot of thought went into these stories. Those of you that have uncompleted chapters may continue adding at this time. The category is back open. I look forward to the next Challenge when the weather turns out very nice very early in the season. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.02.28 - 11:52AM ( 17 Comments) |
Hogsmeade (1-2005) Challenge Closed |
| Well, a lot of people must love Valentine's Day or Hogsmeade Weekend or both. The Hogsmeade Challenge has generated the most submitted Challenge stories since its beginning. Now comes the moment of truth where the Challenge is closed and SIYE staff starts to judge them for Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and Adventure. This is also the queue for the SIYE staff to start reading all the stories and judge them accordingly. Our own member, Zelthian, has submitted a story as well and will not be a judge. For all staff members, please contact me acknowledging your participation as a judge or that you can't for whatever your reason(s) is(are), and for any questions needing answering. This judging will not be easy. 25 stories averaging 4300 words each. Once completed, please e-mail me again with your nominations for first and second place for each category NLT the 26th of February. And good luck to all authors! BTW: there is a glitch in the list of Challenge stories. Two 'sub-chapters' are listed. But they are part of two multi-chapter stories already listed. Please ignore the 'sub-chapters.' |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.02.16 - 07:42AM ( 25 Comments) |
Another Bug Fix and New Features |
| Outstanding news!!! Jeco has updated the Search page to allow more than 50 items to be returned. Which is an asset in an archive this large. While doing this he updated the type of pagination the search and 'Recently Added' uses. This is because as the site gets more stories, the more unsightly the pagination becomes. I hope you all enjoy the newer pagination seen on both of these pages. Jeco added this same type of pagination to the Categories page as well. And while in there... fix that horrible bug where the filters would never hold out. The page is actually usable now!! Check it out. If anyone sees any issues, please let me know. Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2005.02.09 - 07:05PM ( 0 Comments) |
Attention Prospective Betas . . . |
| I'm extremely pleased to report that since the Beta section has gone up, many people have shown an interest in being listed. To simplify and make the process go faster, please include the following two things when you e-mail me. 1) Your SIYE Username. If you don't have one, simply register. 2) A blurb detailing your strengths, skills, and what sort of stories that you'd be willing to work with. Thanks! RS/LD ~ Admin of SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2005.02.07 - 10:22PM ( 1 Comments) |
Betas Directory |
| SIYE now has a small beta directory featuring SIYE members and authors. If you would like to volunteer, just contact the staff. Thanks, Jenn Site Administrator |
| Jenn on 2005.02.06 - 08:33PM ( 0 Comments) |
Major Update Bug Fixed! |
| Jeco is at it again!! This time instead of new features he fixed a major pre-existing bug that was in this script from it's author. For a while now we've all known about the bug where if your story was validated already, new chapters would show up in the updated list, even if they themselves weren't validated. Jeco has patched this up and now the script works as it should. We've both tested it throughly, but if you do see anything funny please let me know immediately! Thanks, Jenn Site Administrator |
| Jenn on 2005.02.06 - 10:20AM ( 2 Comments) |
RSS Feed Added |
| Thanks to Jeco once again, we have another new feature! He has added an RSS feed of the updated stories to this site. In the left hand column, you'll see the XML button which points the the feed. You'll also see that its available for Livejournal as well! I want to personally give a HUGE THANK YOU to Jeco for his great work! Jenn |
| Jenn on 2005.02.05 - 08:10PM ( 1 Comments) |
Challenge Clarification |
| A few authors have been asking similar questions about Challenge stories. Allow me to clarify any confusion. Any Challenge story can be: a) A one-shot (single, complete story) b) A multi-chapter story c) A continuing multiple-chapter story after the Challenge has concluded After the deadline date for submission, the Challenge category is "locked" and you cannot add, delete, or edit anything until after the judging is completed and the results are posted (Average: 15 days). Then the category will be "opened" again. Then you can edit or add more chapters. All requirements of the Challenge must be met by the deadline date regardless of how many chapters you have or will add in the future. I hope this clarifies some confusion. Please e-mail me if you have any questions or any Challenge concerns. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.01.28 - 10:30AM ( 4 Comments) |
Hogsmeade Challenge - Updated |
| Bonus points for using the suggested phrases are not really points. Stories are not "graded" that way. Authors like to work them in their stories and readers like to see or find them. In really good stories, the reader never realizes they read them. And a good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. Therefore, they will be considered bonus phrases and not extra points. Also, please read the comments under the Hogsmeade Challenge. People are asking some interesting questions of what they can and cannot put in their story. I have answered them all......so far. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.01.16 - 03:23PM ( 8 Comments) |
Hogsmeade (1-2005) Challenge |
| Welcome to the first Challenge of 2005. It's Hogsmeade Weekend. Due to increased Death Eater activity in the area, Valentine's Day Weekend to Hogsmeade has been canceled. However, the headmaster has reserved the Room of Requirements for each Hogwarts House to use for a full day. Each House's students have to get together to create their own indoor town of Hogsmeade. The weather will be appropriate for England in February. Headmaster Dumbledore has made arrangements with the local merchants to be on hand and have their merchandise, products, or services from their shop or restaurant available. On their given day, the students have all day to visit their Hogsmeade. Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop must play a role in the Gryffindor House's creation and Harry & Ginny must go inside, for whatever reason, for a minimum of one hour. (Please don't count the minutes. Just make it a long time.) At least three other shops or buildings must be featured in the story. Students from another House can attend if they are invited. Voldemort will not be invited or involved. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. We have to read all of them, you know. 2. Entries must be submitted under the Hogsmeade 2005 sub-category under SIYE Challenge. 3. All entries must be submitted by midnight, February 15, 2005. 4. The time frame of the story is anytime in the month of February. Harry or Ginny's school year must clearly be stated somehow. 5. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and Adventure. Bonus points will be given for using any of the following phrases but they are not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. 1) I heard she snogged Dumbledore once. 2) Are those my knickers you're trying to hide? 3) Will you please stop that thing from singing! 4) You have something on your lips. 5) You two can come out from hiding now. 6) Are you sitting on what I think you're sitting on? 7) Now you can kiss me, Harry/Ginny. Please feel free to post any questions or comments. I will answer all questions pertaining to this Challenge. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2005.01.15 - 12:53PM ( 12 Comments) |
FAQ Reminder |
| Just a quick reminder, this site has an extensive FAQ found under the menu link, Help. I'm proud to say its one of the largest I've seen for an archive using this script. Please, please remember to check this FAQ if you have a question or complaint to see if the answer is in there. If you still don't see your answer, then feel free to email us at the staff. Regards, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2005.01.05 - 02:29PM ( 0 Comments) |
SIYE Has Reached 1000 Stories!!! |
| The staff is proud to announce that this archive has reached 1000 stories! If anyone is curious, the story that came in as the 1000th story was 'Nightmares' by Lostprophets3445. A huge congratulations are in order to all the authors (and readers!) here that made this possible. And I also want to add a personal thanks from myself to my staff, especially Lord Dreadnault whom I couldn't live without. This site probably never would have been as successful without his guidance and leadership!! Thanks LD! Jenn SIYE Creator and Owner |
| Jenn on 2005.01.03 - 08:59AM ( 3 Comments) |
New Skin - 'NightMeeting' |
| I couldn't resist making another skin when I discovered the pics of Bonnie Wright in her new movie. I hope you all enjoy it. Please DON'T forget you can always set your preferred skin in your profile if you don't care for this one. Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2005.01.02 - 05:27PM ( 18 Comments) |
SIYE Changes |
| Happy New Year to everyone!! I have made a couple of changes that were requested by you all. 1) On the home page, the archive statistics now show the true number of authors (those who have submitted a story), followed by the total members on the site (including the authors). 2) When you visit the Authors page now, it list ONLY those members who have submitted a story to the site. There is an option though to 'View All Members'. Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2004.12.31 - 07:13PM ( 4 Comments) |
And The Boxing Day Winners Are... |
| Happy Boxing Day! Christmas has passed and now it's time to pass out the awards for the Boxing Day 2004 Challenge. It was a very close race among some very good stories. There was a tie for Best Overall. But since one also won another category, I split the awards and each won one. The box for Best Overall goes to ... "Christmas Present" by Potter47 The box for Most Romantic goes to ... "Hex the Nargles Off of the Mistletoe" by St Margarets The box for Most Humorous goes to ... "Mistress for Christmas" by Kiss Magdalena The box for Best Seasonal/Traditional goes to ... "Reaching Out" by Zelthian The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. As I said, it was a very close race. Two areas came down to who followed the rules closer than others. The boxes were to be "-visit at least three homes of their fellow Hogwarts classmates and/or teachers." It was interesting to see how some of the other students or teachers lived outside of Hogwarts. With this challenge completed, we are at the end of the year. I wish everybody, readers, authors and staff alike, a warm holiday season and a Happy New Year. (Honorable Mention: if you read all this, you read a clue for the next challenge. The first person to leave a comment with the correct clue will be mentioned the Winner of the Clue.) |
| Sir Ollivander on 2004.12.25 - 08:19PM ( 14 Comments) |
Happy Holidays |
| Since it is Christmas Eve, The Staff at SIYE wanted to wish all of you a Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year. I think the best gift we have recieved as of yet was the release date of The Half Blood Prince on July 16th, 2005. The day that JK announced that the book had been sent to her publishers, the HP fandom went into overdrive with the news. There are so many questions to be answered in the upcoming book. I think the one that the fans of SIYE and Fate have is will we finally see Harry and Ginny begin down the road of a relationship. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Have a happy and safe holiday season. The SIYE Staff |
| Jaquelyne on 2004.12.24 - 04:10PM ( 3 Comments) |
Boxing Day 2004 Challenge Closed |
| I hope all your boxes are made and delivered by this time b'cause the Boxing Day Challenge is now closed. The judging of the submitted stories are now in the hands of our staff judges to determine who has the best story for Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and our new Holiday Season/Tradition. The results will be presented on Boxing Day, December 26th. Regardless of what the judges decide, we all are winners for having the opportunity to read such terrific stories. I hope everybody has a warm and safe holiday season. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2004.12.16 - 06:41AM ( 7 Comments) |
Boxing Day 2004 Challenge |
| Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, is an old British tradition where (one tradition has it) the upper class nobility would give a box containing food and fruit, small gifts, clothing, and/or money to the household servants, merchant class people, and trades people (milkman, dustman, coalman, butcher, etc.) who served them well over the past year. These gifts, given in plain boxes instead of personally wrapped, gave the holiday its name. Today, the celebration is with family and friends, either having a large gathering together or going to the homes of their friends, sharing gifts, food, cakes, etc. In trying to lift up everybody's spirits while the war with Lord Voldemort continues, the Gryffindor students decide to rekindle the Boxing Day tradition over the Christmas holidays. The author's challenge is to write a story whereas the students plan their activities, prepare their boxes, and: 1) Visit at least three merchants and/or trades people at either Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, 2) Visit at least three homes of their fellow Hogwarts classmates and/or teachers. The Weasley's home, the Burrow, is excluded as one of the destinations. It's already well known. ** You can do both merchants/tradespeople and students/teachers. But you have to do the minimum of three from one group. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. Huge stories over 10,000 words are discouraged but not prohibited. We have to read all of them, you know. 2. Entries must be submitted under the Boxing Day 2004 sub-category under SIYE Challenge. 3. All entries must be submitted by midnight, December 15, 2004. 4. The time frame of the story shall be any time between school starting in September till after the Boxing Day holiday. The school year Harry and Ginny are in must be clearly stated somehow. 5. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. 6. Lord Voldemort hates the holiday season so he will not be around. The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and something new, Holiday Season/Tradition. Bonus points will be given for using any of the following phrases but they are not required. A good, creative story will always count much stronger than any bonus. "You should have heard what she said earlier." "Are you sure that's the right box?" "Cheese is always good!" "This is one tradition I would like to start." "I wouldn't touch that box if I were you." "It's obvious Luna probably made that box." Please feel free to post any questions or comments. I will answer all questions pertaining to the challenge. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2004.11.14 - 07:16PM ( 19 Comments) |
And The Winners Are... |
| It is time to pass out some Treats with no Tricks. On behalf of the SIYE staff, I would like to award the winning stories for the Haunted House 2004 Challenge. It was a close race but a couple of good stories stood out. The Best Overall treat goes to ... "The Razor's Edge" by St. Margarets The Most Romantic treat goes to ... "Angel of Mine" by Lizzie Weasley The Most Humorous treat goes to ... "Through the Dark" by Pirate Ginny The Scary/Haunting treat goes to ... "Blood in the Moonlight" by Potter47 The winning stories are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. One of the Bonus Point phrases was "And no, I don't happen to have any Grey Poupon." Grey Poupon is a mustard. The term came from an American television commercial from about ten years ago. It became a fad to ask for Grey Poupon, showing you were sophisticated and had good taste. I immediately realized, through some reviews, that our international readers didn't understand this phrase. Therefore, it was not counted for or against any author. Please watch out for the next Challenge coming shortly. My thanks to the participating authors, staff judges, and mostly, you, our readers. Now it's time to-Bob for Apples!! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2004.10.30 - 09:49PM ( 3 Comments) |
Haunted House 2004 Challenge Closed |
| At the stroke of midnight, the final nails of The Haunted House Challenge were hammered closed. It is now time for the spooky SIYE staff to judge the submitted stories to see if they are worthy enough to be claimed BEST of Overall, Romance, Humor, or the most Haunting/Scary. The results will be posted on Halloween, Oct. 31st. I would like to thank all the authors who submitted their work and to the readers that left their reviews. Have a great costume ready for the party, if you make it through the maze. Trick or Treat! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2004.10.16 - 06:34AM ( 0 Comments) |
Featured Bar Updated |
| New stories on the Bar- The third feature will show up soon. . . as soon as I get a nomination from a staff member. Thanks! RS/LD |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2004.10.14 - 11:13PM ( 3 Comments) |
Open Letter to the Community |
| As you know I recently accepted the position of Moderator here at SIYE. Basically, my staff and I act as keepers of the rules. As I type this, there are currently 806 stories posted at SIYE. Given a collection of work of this magnitude, it is inevitable that a rule violation is going to be missed.
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| Zelthian on 2004.09.22 - 07:53PM ( 3 Comments) |
Haunted House 2004 Challenge |
| Welcome to the Halloween Challenge. This challenge will start a new school year schedule where SIYE will have six challenges a year, one every two months. Authors will have one month to create their story and submit them, we at SIYE will have half a month to judge them and post the results. Then we all get a half-month off before the next one. After the Sorting Ceremony beginning a new Hogwarts school year, Professor Dumbledore announces a Halloween treat. The Quidditch Pitch will have a huge tent cover. Under it will be a maze of eight rooms making up a Haunted House. Each Hogwarts House will have two rooms, not adjacent to each other, to decorate. On Halloween (Oct 31) the Haunted House Maze will be open to all Hogwarts students and staff. If you are successful in navigating through the maze, you will find a Halloween party at the other side of the Pitch, including tables & chairs, refreshments, music, and a dance floor. If you are unsuccessful and get lost in the maze, you will be magically sent back to the entrance. The author's challenge is to tell of: 1) the decorating of at least one haunted Gryffindor room, 2) the walking through of at least one of the other House's decorated rooms in the Haunted House Maze, and 3) the Halloween party afterwards. Rules: 1. All general submission rules apply. (Summaries and A/N don't count towards the 1000 word minimum.) Huge stories over 6-7 thousand words are discouraged but not prohibited. We have to read all of them, you know. 2. Entries must be submitted under the Haunted House 2004 sub-category under SIYE Challenge. 3. All entries must be submitted by midnight, October 15, 2004. 4. The time frame of the story shall be from the time of Dumbledore's announcement to the day after the Halloween party. The school year Harry and Ginny are in must be clearly stated somehow. 5. R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. 6. Lord Voldemort is not invited and will not attend. (But I did see a rubber mask at Zonko's-) The categories for judging are Best Overall, Romance, Humor, and Scary/Haunting. Bonus points will be given for using any of the following phrases. However, a good, creative story will always count much stronger. a. "That had better be fake." b. "Why can't she be like that in class?" c. "And no, I don't happen to have any Grey Poupon." d. "Hey! Hey! That is unwanted physical contact!" e. "Do that one more time and I'll hex you into next Tuesday!" f. "Malfoy sure looks smashing as a Ferret!" g. "How in the world did THAT get up THERE?" h. "Snape is HOT!" Please feel free to post any questions or comments. I will answer all questions pertaining to the challenge. Trick or Treat...! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2004.09.15 - 03:31PM ( 5 Comments) |
And The Winners Are... |
| On behalf of the SIYE staff, I would like to congratulate the winners of the Canon 2004 Challenge. All stories were excellent and the canon errors were great, some were downright brilliant. After tallying all the votes, we have our winners. And those winners are- For the category of Best Overall ... "Someone Important" by Potter47. For the category of Best Humor ... "The Longest Quidditch Match" by Jim McGuffin. For the category of Best Romance ... "No Pride Between Us" by St. Margaret. The winners are now prominently listed in our Featured Stories section. There were some questions asked about what constitutes a canon error. If you mis-spelled Hogsmeade or Gryffindor, that's a spelling error. Also, if the Brittish version says jumper and the American version says sweater, choosing one over the other is not a canon error. Saying Peeves cannot join the Headless Hunt IS a canon error. It was Nearly Headless Nick that couldn't. Think of it as keeping your facts straight. Please keep a lookout for our next Challenge coming shortly. Our thanks to the participating authors, the staff judges, and mostly, you, our readers. Butterbeers for everybody! |
| Sir Ollivander on 2004.09.08 - 12:48PM ( 4 Comments) |
Canon 2004 Challenge Closed |
| The Canon Challenge is now closed for submissions and the judging will commence. The results will be posted by Sept 15, or earlier if possible. On behalf of all staff, I thank you all for your participation, both the authors who took on the challenge and the readers that wrote reviews identifying the canon errors. The participating authors are now free to edit their stories if they wish to show where their intentional canon errors are, either in the story itself or in an author's note at the end. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2004.09.01 - 08:43AM ( 1 Comments) |
New Rules & New Staff |
| As of now the modified rules, FAQ's, etc., go into effect. Please take a look at them so that you all are informed. At this point, it is not acceptable to claim ignorance when confronted about a rule violation- you've all had fair warning. The new staff also goes into effect at this time. I'll specifically list all the new members and new positions ASAP. Thank you!- RS/LD EDIT: The new staff is now listed on the Staff Page. If you have complaints about reviews or concerns about rule breaking, contact Zelthian who is the new Moderator. Thanks! |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2004.08.23 - 08:01PM ( 4 Comments) |
Lost Author. . . |
| Last week an SIYE author decided to stop publishing here at SIYE. Why? Because of an excessive amount of flames. These flamers know who they are, and they know what author, unless of course they're incapable of writing anything but flames. Let me say that I consider such anonymous flamers to be cowards. You have no right to flame anybody in any way. You have earned my contempt and disdain. Next, I'm giving a warning to everyone. If flames continue, the administration will consider allowing only signed reviews. If you think you're clever by reviewing anonymously, think again. This website knows and records who you are. . . I'd like to encourage any authors who receive flames to contact the staff about it. They will remove such reviews. Lastly, I'd like to encourage everyone to give nice reviews, maybe offer suggestions, but never insult. Thank You- LD/RS |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2004.08.22 - 04:40PM ( 21 Comments) |
Canon 2004 Challenge Open |
| Canon is the concept of keeping to known facts from a reference or in this case, JKR's published works of Harry Potter. The Challenge is to write a story with no less than 10 and no more than 20 errors that are NOT canon. The trick is to write them so nobody can find them. They will be judged by how many canon errors can be found by any of our readers and posted in your reviews. The less canon errors found the better the score. They will also be judged on the normal grading standards like grammar, spelling, style, quality, etc. Each author will submit two copies of the same story. One will be submitted to SIYE for all to read and find the canon errors. The second story will be a duplicate copy sent to SirOllivander@hgnetwork.co.uk clearly showing all the canon errors. If a dispute arises, JKR's books and www.hp-lexicon.org and will be the ultimate authority. Rules: 1) Entries must be placed under the Canon 2004 sub-category under SIYE Challenges. 2) All entries must be submitted by midnight, August 31, 2004. 3) The story is to be about anything on the premises of Hogwarts during any school year that Harry attends, first through seventh. No secret trips to Honeydukes! 4) The year must be clearly identified somehow. Example: Harry's first train ride with Ginny means Harry's second year or after the turnament last school year would mean this is Harry's fifth year. Or you can clearly state somehow this is Ron's third year with Harry. 5) All standard submission rules apply. (Summaries and A/N don't count towards the 1000 word minimum.) 6) R-rated stories are allowed but discouraged. These are the categories that will be considered for the contest: Overall, Romance, Adventure, and Comedy. Some hints and suggestions: ·What rooms are on what floor at Hogwarts ·A lot of students are not all in the same school year ·Which professors teach what classes ·Certain items can be found where ·Who wrote, created, or is responsible for what ·Mrs. Morris is NOT Argus Fitch's cat ·Quidditch teams - who plays what on which team We hope that you have fun participating and the SIYE Staff looks forward to your submissions. Thank you! Sir Ollivander (Tom) |
| Sir Ollivander on 2004.08.10 - 09:30PM ( 12 Comments) |
New Rule |
| We've got another new rule here. It hadn't even occured to me to add until now. You can't add images to your story or to your summary. Sorry if this bothers anyone, but it makes load time worse for some and takes from the look of the site itself. I should note though that I have a work around for those wanting to do this, that in your authors notes with a story, you can put a link to the image if you'd like. (But also note, you can't put this link in the summary.) Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2004.08.09 - 10:02AM ( 0 Comments) |
SIYE Poll |
| Just for your information- there is a rather important SIYE Poll occurring at SIYE Y! (Use link to get there) A very important administrative decision will be made based on the results of that poll and any discussion people wish to put forth about it. If the administration doesn't make a decision you like- don't complain if you didn't bother to vote. Thank You- RS/LD |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2004.08.04 - 09:45PM ( 3 Comments) |
Unformatted Stories |
| I've been receiving a lot of unformatted entries lately and I've had to decline these submissions. I don't think we are that picky here, but we do require all submissions to be formatted (this has been in our rules a long time.) A tip - when you are submitting your chapter it goes through our 'Preview' - utilize this preview mode! Don't just ignore it. Make sure your story is legible, think to yourself, 'If this was a story I came across here, would it be readable?' I know for myself, if a story has no decent paragraph breaks, I completely skip it altogether. Which is why I want all submissions here to be formatted nicely. Sorry if this rule really bugs anyone, but I think actually most will like it. Also, please note if you are ever declined because of bad formatting - this by no way means we don't want you to give up!! Please resubmit it carefully making sure to format it. We'd still love to have your story here after all. :) Edit - If you commonly have issues with uploading, can you please email me those? I'm going to create a list of known issues with our uploading tool so people can avoid them (or maybe I can try and fix them!). Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2004.07.29 - 09:58AM ( 3 Comments) |
Summer Fun Contest Results... |
| First off, on behalf of the staff I would like to say 'Thank You'. The entries for this contest were exceptional! Every story was an excellent read and made the judging a harder task. After many recounts and ties in every category we finally have your winners. In the category for Best General submission: The Games That Wizards Play by Zelthian In the category for Best Fluff submission: To Blush or Not to Blush by Ides of March In the category for Best Humor submission: Two Wizards, Two Witches, and a Carnival by Jeannette Hetfield In the event you are new to the site, or haven't taken a chance to read any of these most excellent entries you can do so now by clicking on the title or checking them out in the Featured Stories section of our web site. Thank you all and have a great day! Just A. Fan Assistant Administrator of SIYE |
| Just A. Fan on 2004.07.22 - 01:06PM ( 5 Comments) |
New Feature: Good and Bad |
| First off, the good news. Okay, so I worked hard and added a new feature that several people have been begging me for. I figured it out and added.. a way to sort for completed stories only!! This is available using the categories page. There is a new dropdown there that is called 'All Stories', you can now change it to 'Completed Only' and it will show you only completed stories. Now the bad. When testing this I discovered a bug that already existed on the site. The author of this script is aware of it and she hasn't released a fix unfortunately. What happens is you set a filter using those dropdowns, but the second you click to the next page of the stories returned, the filter goes away. Not too useful right? So, I will be working to try to fix that, no promises though as this code is VERY complex and I about killed myself adding that completed dropdown. I'm actually shocked no one had reported that bug yet. :) Regards, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2004.07.21 - 09:28AM ( 2 Comments) |
Reminder of Rules |
| I've been receiving some J/L stories lately. While I like the ship, this site is for H/G stories only. So just a reminder, the primary couple in your story must always be H/G - you can only have other couples if they are secondary in the story. And also, please always remember that H/G must always end up together. If you have any doubts that your story doesn't immediately seem H/G (but you know it will), just put a comment in your chapter submissions so that the admins know during the validation process. Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2004.07.20 - 07:41PM ( 5 Comments) |
New Skin |
| I've added another skin. It's called 'Surreal'. Again remember you can always set your skin to which ever you'd like in your control panel! |
| Jenn on 2004.07.18 - 08:28PM ( 23 Comments) |
Be Patient |
| I wanted to ask all of our authors to be paitent when you submit an update. Currently, LD and I are both on vacation. I will be checking in from time to time to approve fics, but I can't promise how faithful I will be. I send all of you the most wonderful thoughts from Scotland. |
| Jaquelyne on 2004.07.09 - 05:33PM ( 5 Comments) |
Site Back To Normal!! |
| All is back up and useful again! If you see any problems (which I haven't), please email me immediately! The domain has propagated yet, so the url will look funny for a bit. But all should work! Thanks Jenn |
| Jenn on 2004.07.02 - 01:57PM ( 3 Comments) |
Donations |
| We have a small bit of funds for a rainy day, but to help us improve our hosting we will need to increase that. This site is growing everyday as you all have seen, so if you can spare a dollar or two EVERYONE here will be grateful, not just me. To make a donation simply click the paypal link in the left column. Thanks in advance from everyone! |
| Jenn on 2004.07.01 - 10:57AM ( 0 Comments) |
Contest Ended |
| As of now, the Summer-Fun Challenge/Contest is over. I believe that all the last-minute entries are in- if you have problems that the locked category won't allow you to fix, or some error has occurred, contact me at lord_dreadnault@hgnetwork.co.uk I'd like to thank everybody for their wonderful submissions. One staff member has already commented that it will be extremely hard to judge this time around. Have a nice day!- Or night. . . . RS/LD- Admin of SIYE |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2004.06.21 - 11:05PM ( 0 Comments) |
Summer-Fun 2004 Challenge |
| A traveling Muggle carnival or Muggle circus comes to town near the Grangers during one of the summers after Harry's fifth year. (Basically any summer that happens after OotP) Hermione's parents suggest that she should invite her friends to attend the show over a weekend. She does. Since this is supposed to be 'summer fun,' Voldemort will not be involved. Pretend that he's keeping a low profile or something. . . Rules: 1) Entries must be placed under the Summer-Fun 2004 sub-category under SIYE Challenges. 2) All entries must be either posted or in the validation stack by June 21, 2004. If you intend to submit exactly on that date, it would be beneficial for you to drop me an e-mail so I don't lock the category before you submit. (lord_dreadnault@hgnetwork.co.uk) 3) ALL standard submission rules apply. (The A/N doesn't go toward your 1000 word count.) 4) If your submission is stronger than PG-13, it will likely do poorly contest-wise if it is considered at all. 5) Bonus points for using the following phrases: (Counts towards the contest.) 1. That would be the Slytherin thing to do. 2. Sleep with that next to your pillow. 3. Fred and George are here somewhere, I'm sure of it. 4. Can you see McGonagall in that outfit? 5. Not for a thousand galleons! These are the categories that will be considered for the contest: Overall, Romance, Adventure, and Comedy. We hope that you have fun participating and the SIYE Staff looks forward to your submissions. I would also like to thank Tom, (one of our moderators) for coming up with this contest. Thank You! ~ LD/RS (Admin of SIYE) |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2004.06.01 - 04:13PM ( 6 Comments) |
New Skin |
| I've added a new skin called 'Purple'. Remember, to use the new skin when logged in, simply edit your profile information. Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2004.05.29 - 04:35PM ( 11 Comments) |
'Rude' Reviews |
| The staff at SIYE have been receiving complaints about 'rude' reviews lately. For those who were unaware, we can remove the offending reviews at your request. This can be done by sending an email to myself or Lord Dreadnault. Please be sure to let us know the story, chapter, and of course, your pen-name if you wish to have a review removed. We ask those who review to try to be courteous in your reviews. Be mindful that when you review, the story you are reading means a lot to that author and that author may take an ill review personally. So we ask that you keep these simple guidelines in mind when submitting a review to an author: 1. Rude reviews can be removed as stated. 2. Constructive criticism ONLY! 3. Administrative action will be taken against repetitive offenders. Thank you. Questions and complaints can be directed to, justanotherfan@hgnetwork.co.uk |
| Just Another Fan on 2004.04.01 - 11:03AM ( 0 Comments) |
New Administrator |
| I am very pleased to announce that Justanotherfan is now the Assistant Administrator of SIYE. He'll be validating stories and making sure that the rules are followed along with me, so be on the lookout for e-mails from him. Also feel free to contact either Justanotherfan or I about any questions, concerns, or comments you may have. Thank you for your cooperation! |
| Lord Dreadnault on 2004.03.10 - 07:04PM ( 0 Comments) |
Administrative Changes |
| As of today Lord Dreadnault has full administration privliges for this site. He will run and maintain all aspects of its daily operation. This includes what rules the site has, which fictions it will accept, etc. I will remain the owner of the site though and will step in to add new skins and help out when needed. From this point forward please direct all of your questions to him. Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2004.03.09 - 05:27PM ( 0 Comments) |
Plagarized Work.. Again |
| It doesn't happen often here but it does happen. Its been discovered we had another plagarized work on the site. Just a warning to anyone thinking of plagarizing a work at SIYE - I've been in the H/G community for a while now and know several of its big authors. So it won't be long before its caught, so just don't try it. Also, even if I don't know you, PLEASE let me know if you think someone has done this to you. We don't tolerate it here and we will take action for you. Thanks, Jenn |
| Jenn on 2004.03.04 - 10:42AM ( 0 Comments) |
New Genre Added |
| Just a quick note. The admin staff has noticed a couple of 'Crossover' fictions - so to distinguish these please be sure to mark the new genre option we just added 'Crossover' and mention what it crosses over with in your summary. If you have one of these stories please update your story to include this genre. Thanks! |
| Jenn on 2004.02.17 - 09:57PM ( 0 Comments) |
Help Section Redone/Rules Added |
| I have redone the whole help section. Some new FAQ's have been added as have 2 new rules. Please note the new rules are effective immediately. These rules are: 1, The first is a changed rule. Please note the minimum word limit has been changed to 1000 words. We here at the archive don't feel this is a bad change and will only make the archive better. 2. The second is concerning 'Character Death' fictions. While these types of fictions will still be allowed, they are only permitted in multi-chaptered fics. In other words, they aren't allowed in one shot fictions (one chapter). This is due to spammers. Enemies of our ship feel the need to spam the site with death fictions, in other words, killing our ship. If you have any questions, please email me. Thanks! |
| Jenn on 2004.01.24 - 10:11PM ( 0 Comments) |
Tip of the Day |
| When filling out the title of your story and the chapter titles, please do not use all caps. I will modify it even if you do. But I would greatly appreciate if you save the Admins the trouble. Thanks! |
| Jenn on 2004.01.21 - 03:18PM ( 0 Comments) |
Support The Site/New Affiliate |
| Many of you have asked if you could donate to keep the site up when it goes down at the end of the month (due to running out of bandwidth). I have set up a Paypal account to accept donations. Anything you contribute will be used to make sure the site stays up those few days. Thanks for anything you can contribute. Even $1 helps!! You can find the donate link on the left side of the main page. Edited to Add --> We have 2 new affiliates, Come Twilight and The Hidden Tower!!! I'm very excited to be affiliated with both! |
| Jenn on 2003.12.01 - 10:02PM ( 0 Comments) |
