Challenge December Review Race -- Inspire an Author; Earn Colors -- Congratulations, Reviewers!

Greetings, fellow fan-fictionados!

We've really had it all this year, haven't we? From the Kessel Run to the Summer Olympics, and a slew of ongoing and independent challenges in between – along with the generally fantastic outpouring of stories that the boards usually sees – we have been blessed with some mighty fine storytelling.

So, with that said, we think it's time to celebrate our creative writers-in-arms with . . .

THE DECEMBER REVIEW RACE!


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So, what is a Review Race?

A Review Race is exactly what it says on the tin: for the month of December, we are challenging you to write as many reviews as possible. If you're anything like your mods (or, at least, this mod in particular) we bet that you have a whole list of stories you've been meaning to leave feedback on – or try out entirely. This is your time to do so . . . when colors are on the line.


Ooh, colors, you say?

Why yes, I did say C O L O R S. There will be three prizes for this challenge: 10 days of colors for 1st place, 7 days of colors for 2nd place, and 5 days of colors for 3rd place.


Okay, I'm intrigued. How do I participate?

That's easy! Just sign up here, saying that you want to participate, and then, come December 1st, start reviewing! When you leave a review, please post a link to your review here in this thread, for easy tallying by your mods.

We will be judging the winners based on a point system. You will get ONE POINT for every review you leave, and ANOTHER POINT for every hundred words of your review. The aim of this is to encourage quality as much as quantity.

We will be rounding up and down when it comes to word counts, after the review reaches 100 words, with 50 being our cutoff line. So, for example:

• User A leaves a review of 53 words on “Padawan McGillicuddy Strikes Back,” thus earning 1 point.
  
  
• User B leaves a review of 149 words on “Padawan McGillicuddy Strikes Back,” thus earning 2 points. (1 point for the review, plus 1 point for the word count.)
  
  
• User C leaves a review of 189 words on “Padawan McGillicuddy Strikes Back,” thus earning 3 points. (1 point for the review, plus 2 points for the word count.)

Note the first: quoted excerpts will not be applied towards your word count – only words that YOU write in your review.

Note the second: you may leave more than one review on the same multi-chaptered story throughout the month, and have that count towards your total. However, only points for the word count will be tallied for any subsequent review(s).


Oh, I want to participate, but I don't really want to participate in the race aspect of the challenge.

That's completely fair! For anyone who does not want to race, but still would still like to set a goal for themselves, simply sign up for a number of reviews you'd like to leave in quantities of five. For every five reviews completed, you will receive 24 hours of colors.


I like the sound of this ... but I never know what to say in a review!

Don't worry, your mods have got you covered!

When leaving a review, consider answering the following questions. You can even copy and paste these questions and use them as an outline for your review. We guarantee that you'll make an author's day if you choose to do so!

• How did the story make you feel?
• What is a line of dialogue that stood out to you?
• What is a line of prose that stood out to you?
• What is a character element that you enjoyed?
• What is a descriptive element that you enjoyed?

Just answering those five questions will have you on your way to leaving an awesome review!


Okay, I'm listening. What stories can I review?

ANYTHING. In fact, we encourage you to search out stories you may have missed over time. Go back and review a story that may have updated since your last review. Find an epic and review just the first chapter. Seek out those little gems that were written yesterday, or even yesteryear. We highly encourage you to use this challenge to branch out and try new things. We all have our niches, but, as much as possible, do your best to leave a variety of reviews for different authors and stories.


Because that's what writing is, at its core: writing is a dialogue between an author and a reader. There are few things more valuable to an author than comments. We are a storytelling breed as human beings, and incredibly social creatures. Even though we write for ourselves, first and foremost, it's incredibly gratifying to hear that a story we've told has had an impact on someone – even with just a few words! Heck, an emoji can be enough to convey how much a piece of writing has resonated with you! And here's the best part: the more you encourage an author, the more likely that author is to continue writing! Which means more reading, and the circle goes on and on!

. . . so, in short, we're asking you to help us celebrate our community by spinning that circle! Come the end of the month, this forum is going to look absolutely fabulous with colors, and we can't wait!

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The Reviewers
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The Racers:

• Chyntuck: 336 points | [A:TLA] Vain Feline Photoshoot (269 words), [A:TLA] Vegetables Before Ash Banana Pudding (164 words), [Harry Potter] Godric's Squire (689 words), [A:TLA] Legend of the Pelican Mothers (270 words), and Four Ways to "I Love You" (182 words) by devilinthedetails | Rise of the Rebellion (273 words) and Knightfall I: Sins of the Father (260 words) by JediMaster_Jen | I am a what (175 words), Jedi Ferry (174 words), A Need For Protecting (177 words), Home for me but for him? (115 words), It's Still There (159 words), Meet Kitty-cat (102 words), Cat Clan: Review I (117 words) and Review II (125 words), and Mother Knows Best (113 words) by earlybird-obi-wan | The Road I was Meant to Travel (115 words), Gravball Match With Friends (112 words), Putting Your Best Out There (154 words), The Only Real Answer (116 words), Mission Accomplished (70 words), Refreshing Contrast (129 words), [Tolkien] My Heart is Whole Again (119 words), and When You Least Expect It (117 words) by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | The Walls We Hide Behind (198 words) and Reclamation (482 words) by Gabri_Jade | Unlimited Pow-Wah! (116 words) by RX_Sith | Because Reasons: Review I (209 words), Review II (117 words), and Review III (112 words) by UltramassiveUbersue | "Every star is a sun waiting for you to arrive" (759 words) Heroes (696 words) from Lovely Dark and Deep by Pandora | Especially Jedi (283 words) by Pronker | The Pirate Queen’s Peculiar Treasure Tales (200 words), and [Tolkien] Sauron: The Lord of the Cats: Review I (174 words), Review II (171 words), Review III (175 words), and Review IV (189 words) by gizkaspice | Walks on the Wild Side (260 words) and The Mythologist: Review I (756 words), Review II (418 words), and Review III (651 words) by Seldes_Katne | Closed Borders (210 words) and Fathom (269 words) by Thumper09 | Tides of Darkness: Review I (575 words), Review II (138 words), and Review III (147 words) by Theodore Hawkwood | Inquisitter (138 words) by Starith | How Far We've Come (359 words) by JediMara77 | Interregnum II: Review I (1,251 words), Review II (326 words), Review III (166 words), and Review IV (302 words) by Bel505 & SnubJockey | Hearts of the Children (968 words) by DarthIshtar | Star Wars: Episode I - The Steadfast Wreckage: Review I (919 words) and Review II (428 words) by Happy Sando | Infection (589 words) by Dream-Thinker | The Sith Who Brought Life Day (658 words) by poor yorick | The Archivist's Shadow (761 words) and Snips and Snails and Banthas' Tails: Review I (1,540 words) and Review II (346 words) by Kit' | Moments (153 words) by amidalachick | First Son (259 words) and This is NOT Festivus (272 words) by Tarsier | Those Three Words (336 words) by ViariSkywalker | [Victoria] A Kingdom Where My Love Can Stand: Review I (1,352 words) and Review II (835 words) by Mira_Jade | With This Ring (374 words) by Raissa Baiard | The Emperor's Shadow (484 words) by Mira Grau | [Rings of Power] Table Talk (168 words) by brodiew | The Book of Gand, Part the Fourth (1,293 words) by Findswoman
  
  
• DarthIshtar: 13 points | The Only Real Answer (62 words) and Putting Your Best Out There (68 words) by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | Mother knows best (98 words) by earlybird-obi-wan | Interregnum (111 words) by Bel505 & Snubjockey | She Didn't Begrudge Them...Not Really (149 words) by JediMaster_Jen | This is Not Festivus (118 words) and First Son (111 words) by Tarsier | Because You Loved Me (49 words) and On a Moonlight Path (27 words) by Hopefulwriter
  
  
• Gabri_Jade: 148 points | Enter the Drabble (853 words), Ruminations of an Alchemist from Fire In Our Bones (697 words), and A Strange and Dazzling Array (2,532 words) by ViariSkywalker | The Fisher Droid (272 words) by GregMcP | Gazing at the Distant Lights (201 words) by Kahara | On the Creation of Monsters (560 words) by vader_incarnate | A Hidden Harmony (75 words) by devilinthedetails | [Anne of Windy Poplars (L.M. Montgomery)] The Other One We Make (517 words) by amidalachick | Fathom (1,002 words) and Cargo Hauler (820 words) by Thumper09 | The Inquisitter (176 words) by Starith | Death and the Maiden (478 words) and Heroes from Lovely Dark and Deep (1,346 words) by Pandora | Your Heart Will Catch Its Breath Again (502 words), [Multi-fandom] Your Reach Into the Far (254 words), [Sense & Sensibility] The Captain and the Commodore (367 words), and From Such Infinite Space (1,216 words) by Mira_Jade | Mending Things; or The Seamstress of Massassi Base (857 words) by Findswoman | Friends (132 words) from Distant Whispers by DLR001
  
  
• UltramassiveUbersue: 2 points | Putting Your Best Out There (62 words) by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | An Uncommon Foe (40 words) by study888
  
  
• ViariSkywalker: 102 points | A Profusion of Palpatines (423 words) and Interregnum: Review I (853 words) and Review II (818 words) by Bel505 & SnubJockey | Lovely Dark and Deep (965 words) by Pandora | Inquisitter (115 words) by Starith | Pull Me Home (1,581 words) and And They Danced (1,152 words) by Gabri_Jade | Rocks and Hard Places (1,096 words) by Thumper09 | [Sense & Sensibility] The Captain and the Commodore (851 words) and [Victoria] A Kingdom Where My Love Can Stand (531words) by Mira_Jade | Friends from Distant Whispers (595 words) by DRL001 | [A:TLA] Zuko's Got A Cold (54 words) by Starith

The Steady-as-you-Goers:

• amidalachick: 35/10 reviews | A Hidden Harmony, [Narnia] Music, Beetles, and Love Necklaces, Four Ways to "I Love You", and [A:TLA] Dances and Disguises by devilinthedetails | [Hornblower] Midnight Command and Good Boi by Kit' | [Victoria] A Kingdom Where My Love Can Stand, [Sense & Sensibility] The Best is Yet to Be: Review I and Review II, [Sense & Sensibility] Love Betters What is Best, and [Sense & Sensibility] "... and Shake the Rising Soul" by Mira_Jade | Cargo Hauler by Thumper09 | [Penguins of Madagascar] Crash and Burn by pronker | On A Moonlight Path and Han Solo's First Meeting With Maz Kanata by Hopefulwriter | Forced Relocation and La Bohème by Chyntuck | Bright Sadness by Findswoman | [Star Trek: Strange New Worlds] The Need to Remember and Denial Deferred by brodiew | She Didn't Begrudge Them...Not Really by JediMaster_Jen | Letters Across Hyperspace by Raissa Baiard | [Star Trek] Making More Great Memories, [LotR] Respite in the Gardens, and The Only, Real Answer by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | [LotR] Sauron: The Lord of the Cats: Review I and Review II by gizkaspice | [Poster Girl] Who are you when nobody is watching you? Review I and Review II by Mira Grau | Old Friends by Mira Grau and Adalia-Durron | What They Grow Beyond and Keeping Score by Kadar Ordo | Personal Files, Thoughts on the loved and Revenge of the syndicate by earlybird-obi-wan
  
  
• devilinthedetails: 13/10 reviews | Dinner at the Hungry Hutt by Findswoman and Chyntuck | When You Least Expect It, Refreshing Contrast, Putting Your Best Out There, Averting Disaster, and The Road I Was Meant to Travel by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | A Quiet Birthday, Personal Files, and Return to Corellia by earlybird-obi-wan | Life Day by Chyntuck | Rise to Rebellion by JediMaster_Jen | Graceful as Water by Findswoman | [Sense & Sensibility] The Best is Yet to Be and [Victoria] A Kingdom Where My Love Can Stand by Mira_Jade | [A:TLA] Zuko's Got a Cold by Starith
  
  
• earlybird-obi-wan: 80/30 reviews | A Slight Difference in Leverage, and Ashaa's Memory: Review I, Review II, and Review III by Mechalich | Kylo's Metaphysical Life Day Journey: Review I, Review II, and Review III, [A:TLA] A Cat and a Cucumber, A Willow Cabin in the Naboo Lake Country, and Diary of a Very Sympathetic Padawan by devilinthedetails | When You Least Expect It, Looking Back, Looking Ahead, Putting Your Best Out There, [Star Trek] Making More Great Memories, Averting Disaster: Review I, and Review II, and Refreshing Contrast by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | Dinner at the Hungry Hutt by Findswoman & Chyntuck | New Alliances: The Next Generation 5, and The Spark is Lit: The Next Generation 6: Review I, Review II, Review III, Review IV, Review V, Review VI, Review VII, Review VIII, Review IV, Review X, and Review XI by Mira Grau | Interregnum, and Interregnum II by Bel505 & SnubJockey | Star Wars: Episode I - The Steadfast Wreckage: Review I, Review II, and Review III by Happy Sando | Because Reasons: Review I, and Review II by UltramassiveUbersue | An Uncommon Foe by study888 | Inquisitter, and Zuko's Got a Cold by Starith | The Mythologist by Seldes_Katne | [One Piece] Out of Nowhere, and Table Talkl by brodiew | Finn and Poe Discuss Navy Fleet Planning by JABoomer | Knightfall I: Sins of the Father by JediMaster_Jen | Above a Sea of Clouds by Valiowk | Family Commitment by SabyneAmberle | The Book of Gand, Part the Fourth, "I Saw the Wolf ...", Mending Things; or The Seamstress of Massassi Base, and What She Saw by Findswoman | Tales From the One Canon by Sinrebirth | [LotR] Sauron: The Lord of the Cat: Review I, Review II, and Review III by gizkaspice | A Shattered Minds Eye by ConservativeJedi321 | How Far We've Come by JediMara77 | [Penguins of Madagascar] Crash and Burn, and [Penguins of Madagascar] No Remedy For Memory, by pronker | I Don't Wish Upon a Star by Raissa Baiard | Infection by Dream-Thinker | On a Moonlight Path, Because You Loved Me, Their Last Kiss, Don't Let This Moment End, and Han Solo's First Meeting With Maz Kanata by Hopefulwriter | The Inspector's Pet Theory by rktho | Forced Relocation, and La Boheme by Chyntuck | The Lands of the Dead by ViariSkywalker | Tides of Darkness: Review I, and Review II by Theordore Hawkwood | Good Boi, and Snips and Snails and Bantha's Tails by Kit' | Order 66 Survivor by Taylor Neir | First Son and This is NOT Festivus by Tarsier | Keeping Score by Kadar Ordo | Short Stories by Jordan1Kenobi | Executioners March by Vialco
  
  
• Findswoman: 30/15 reviews | Enantiodromia by arkham618 | Inquisitter by Starith | The Fisher Droid by GregMcP | Freedom in the Streets and Cafés, Hypothermia in Zero Gravity, A Hidden Harmony, and A Willow Cabin in the Naboo Lake Country by devilinthedetails | Ruminations of an Alchemist from Fire in Our Bones by ViariSkywalker | Closed Borders, Color Commentary, and Rocks and Hard Places by Thumper09 | Padawan Mine, The Archivist’s Shadow, and Snips and Snails and Bantha’s Tails by Kit' | Career Exploration (with Gungans) and The Pawful Truth by Seldes_Katne | Old Friends by Mira Grau and Adalia-Durron | Heroes by Pandora | A Shattered Minds Eye by ConservativeJedi321 | The Inspector's Pet Theory and From the Unofficial Alliance Jokebook by rktho | I Don't Wish Upon a Star by Raissa Baiard | Ten Reasons Why Qui-Gon Jinn Is Not on the Jedi Council by UltramassiveUbersue | On a Moonlight Path by Hopefulwriter | If This Is a Man by Chyntuck | Just Another Mission by Gabri_Jade | Personal Files by earlybird-obi-wan | Keeping Score and What They Grow Beyond by Kadar Ordo | Family Commitment by SabyneAmberle
  
  
• gizkaspice: 10/10 reviews | [LotR] My Heart is Whole Again by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | [A:TLA] A Cat and a Cucumber by devilinthedetails | Cat Clan by earlybird-obi-wan | [Tolkien] A Legacy of Choices by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | Kylo's Metaphysical Life Day Journey by devilinthedetails | [LotR] Meanderings in Middle Earth by brodiew | “I saw the wolf…” by Findswoman | [The Silmarillion] This Taste of Shadow by Mira_Jade | [Supernatural] Cat-22 by Force of Light | Soul mates by earlybird-obi-wan
  
  
• Kahara: 30/30 reviews | [Star Trek] Making More Great Memories and When You Least Expect It by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | Because Reasons, Allies, and The Talk by UltramassiveUbersue | The Book of Gand, Part the Fourth by Findswoman | A Willow Cabin in the Naboo Lake Country, The Fair and the First Flame, and A Hidden Harmony by devilinthedetails | Walks on the Wild Side by Seldes_Katne | Reunion on Corellia and Personal files by earlybird-obi-wan | The Lands of the Dead by ViariSkywalker | The Inspector's Pet Theory by rktho | The Conquest of the Catlaxy by Chyntuck | An Uncertainty in the Force by Oddly_Salacious | And They Danced by Gabri_Jade | The Kammris Falcon by Kit' | The Art of Diplomacy: The Next Generation Part 4 by Mira Grau | Old Friend by Mira Grau and Adalia-Durron I Don't Wish Upon a Star by Raissa Baiard | The Pirate Queen's Peculiar Treasure Tales by gizkaspice | Star Wars: Tides of Darkness by Theodore Hawkwood | [Final Fantasy] The Collapsible Hairbrush by Tarsier | Keeping Score by Kadar Ordo | Their Last Kiss and On a Moonlight Path by Hopefulwriter | The Song of Experience by Pandora | Closed Borders by Thumper09 | A Lovely Night by DarthIshtar
  
  
• Mira Grau: 10/10 reviews | [Star Trek] Making More Great Memories and When You Least Expect It by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | Tales from the One Canon by Sinrebirth | I Don't Wish Upon a Star by Raissa Baiard | A Hidden Harmony by devilinthedetails | Personal files by earlybird-obi-wan | Order 66 Survivor by Taylor Neir | [My Little Pony] Me Like Pony by Lazy K | [Rings of Power] Table Talk by brodiew | Keeping Score by Kadar Ordo
  
  
• Mira_Jade: 43/15 reviews | Dinner at the Hungry Hutt by Chyntuck & Findswoman | Your Best Shot, I Don't Wish Upon a Star, Meet the Aliit, and The Word for Kiss is “Mureyca” by Raissa Baiard | The Way Out is Through, All These Broken Pieces: Review I and Review II, Ruminations of an Alchemist from Fire in Our Bones, We Make Our Own Luck, and Lover, Hunter, Friend, and Enemy by ViariSkywalker | The Story So Far, Fractured, Reclamation: Review I and Review II, and Just Another Mission by Gabri_Jade | Rose Garden, Evergreen Forest, What She Saw, and The Book of Gand, Parts One through Three: Review I and Review II by Findswoman | Certain Dark Things and Black Pawn by vader_incarnate | [Multi-fandom] Odds and Ends, Diary of a Very Sympathetic Padawan, and A Hidden Harmony by devilinthedetails | [Stranger Things] With Sky to Spare and [Stranger Things] Let the Night Come and Do What it May by amidalachick | [One Piece] Out of Nowhere and [One Piece] Drabbles of the One Piece by brodiew | [Penguins of Madagascar] No Remedy For Memory by pronker | Song of Fate: Review I and Review II, La Bohème, and In the Shade of the Wroshyr - Tales of the People of the Trees by Chyntuck | [A:TLA] Zuko's Got a Cold by Starith | Echoes of the Old Republic by DLR001 | Intersections and Color Commentary by Thumper09 | [Star Trek] Making More Great Memories and When You Least Expect It by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha | Palace, Forests, Stars: The Journal of Queen Breha by divapilot | The Universe Through Seaglass from Zoochberry Cobbler by Kahara | Lovely Dark and Deep by Pandora
  
  
• Pandora: 6/5 reviews | Because Reasons by UltramassiveUbersue | The Book of Gand, Part the Fourth: Review I and Review II by Findswoman | Break the Silence from Lover, Hunter, Friend, and Enemy by ViariSkywalker | Your Heart Will Catch Its Breath Again by Mira_Jade | Me Like Pony by Lazy K
  
  
• Tarsier: 5/10 reviews | [Ghosts (US)] Ghost Stories by Thumper09 | [Sense & Sensibility] "... and Shake the Rising Soul" by Mira_Jade | Personal files by earlybird-obi-wan | Talisman by DarthIshtar
  | Zoochberry Cobbler by Kahara
  
  
• Theodore Hawkwood: 10/5 reviews | Diary of a Very Sympathetic Padawan by devilinthedetails | Reclamation: Review I, Review II, Review III, and Review IV by Gabri_Jade | The Mythologist: Review I and Review II, and Career Exploration with Gungans by Seldes_Katne | Tales from the One Canon by Sinrebirth | A Shattered Minds Eye by ConservativeJedi321
  
  
• WarmNyota_SweetAyesha: 15/15 reviews | Fisher Droid by GregMcP | Dinner at the Hungry Hutt by Findswoman & Chyntuck | Kylo's Metaphysical Life Day Journey: Review I and Review II by devilinthedetails | Jedi Ferry, Mother Knows Best, and A quiet birthday by earlybird-obi-wan | An Uncommon Foe by study888 | The Walls We Hide Behind, and Just Another Mission by Gabri_Jade | [Victoria] A Kingdom Where My Love Can Stand by Mira_Jade | [One Piece] Out of Nowhere by brodiew | Old Friends by Mira Grau and Adalia-Durron | The Book of Gand, Part the Fourth by Findswoman | Above a Sea of Clouds by Valiowk

 

The Champions​

The Racers:

FIRST PLACE: Chyntuck, with 336 points

SECOND PLACE: Gabri_Jade, with 148 points

THIRD PLACE: ViariSkywalker, with 102 points

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The Steady-as-you-Goers:

amidalachick: 35/10 reviews

devilinthedetails: 13/10 reviews

earlybird-obi-wan: 80/30 reviews

Findswoman: 30/15 reviews

gizkaspice: 10/10 reviews

Kahara: 30/30 reviews

Mira Grau: 10/10 reviews

Mira_Jade: 43/15 reviews

Pandora: 6/5 reviews

Theodore Hawkwood: 10/5 reviews

WarmNyota_SweetAyesha: 15/15 reviews ​

 

Can’t wait to see the excellent reading and reviewing this event will inspire!

What a perfectly reflective note to end the year on!

And Fanfic will be a wonderfully festive and colorful place to help ring in the new year 2024

 

The index has been updated!

Aw yeah, but that's what we're talking about! This is shaping up to be a wonderful December already!

As for me, I am going to enter out-of-competition with a goal of 15 reviews - but I am going to try and race myself and beat even that if at all possible.

 

I'll shoot for an out-of-competition goal of 10 reviews

 

I would like to do the exact same thing!

Thanks for coming up with this challenge—besides being great motivation for catching up on comments, it’s going to just be plain fun!

 

The index has been updated!

It's great to see so much interest already!

Aw, it's my pleasure! And I too can't wait for all of the fun that I'm sure is just around the corner.

 

Yay, more reviewers! I have added you to the index, @gizkaspice!

I can definitely put you down for a fixed number of reviews, if you'd like - but that would take you out of the racing aspect of the challenge. Would you still like to do so, or remain listed as a racer?

 

Yay! It's awesome to have you aboard.

You got it!

 

I think I’d like to increase my goal to 15 reviews, if that’s all right!

Also, a quick question about the noncompetitive component, just to check: do multiple reviews on the same multichapter work count toward that, too?

 

Yay! The more the merrier!

And I would say that multiple reviews on the same multichapter count for the noncompetitive goals, just as they do for the racing goals.

 

That's the spirit! You got it.


Do we have any other takers? There are TWO DAYS left to sign up!