1. Nominated stories must have been updated 2006-present day. This includes completed stories as well as works-in-progress.

2. Only one story and author can be nominated per ballot. You may submit more than one ballot in order to accommodate your nominations.

3. You may only vote once.

4. We reserve the right to throw out nomination or voting ballots submitted as a mockery to the awards. Be honest, use your real name and email address and this shouldn’t be a problem.

5. There is a maximum of five spots in each category open for the final voting ballot. The first five nominations in each category will be selected for the final ballot. The only exception to this rule is the Best Overall Characterization award, but only one nomination will be allowed per IP address! Do not nominate more than one person for this award.

6. No Hancest stories are eligible.

7. A story or author can only be nominated once per category. The first nomination we get for a story or author in a category will be the one posted on the list of nominees. This is done to avoid a monopoly of one story or author in any category, except for the Best Overall Characterization category.