O.V.O.S. Awards 2018 [CLOSED]

Questions to Consider

When deciding which book to nominate, you must also consider which category you want to nominate the book for. We have included a list of questions and statement to ask yourself during the nomination and voting process to help you decide which category best fits a story. Any genre can be nominated for any category. If you fill as if a story fits, nominate it!

We are using literary greats in this year's awards to set the tone. Every year the award categories will be different. Don't think we are expecting you to only nominate the next "The Color Purple." Books do not have to be serious or heavy to be considered. We want the stories selected to be what we (as Wattpad readers who hunger for more Black stories) want to read more of. We just want to find entertaining stories! They can be funny, serious, erotic, light, heavy, heart-pounding, informational filled with suspense, random, etc. we just want to read good stories.

⚠️Don't be intimidated by the award titles/categories. (We know those are big shoes to fill, but we also know that we might be among the greats of our generation and don't even know it! We named the awards as such to show respect to those who paved the way for us to be able to write our stories.⚠️

"The Phillis Wheatley Award" (Undiscovered Gem)

1. Does this story have less than 5,000 views?
2. Is this a story that I think should be more popular on Wattpad?
3. What makes this story unique from every other story? Does it stand out?

"The Alice Walker Award" (Memorable Characters)

1. While reading this story, did I find myself invested in this character's journey?
2. When characters experienced an emotion, did I find myself experiencing it with them?
3. Long after I finished reading this story, did the characters remain in my memory?
4. What made these character so special? Did I identify with them? Why was I rooting for them?
5. Do I find myself wishing I could learn more about the characters through another story?
6. Do I feel as if the characters took on a life of their own?
7. Do I find myself returning to re-read a book just because I just can't get enough of following this character?
8. Do I believe that the author created a character filled with many layers? Or are the characters one-dimensional?
9. Do the author's characters feel like real people? In this story, were the characters written so well that they stand out from the characters in any other stories?

"The James Baldwin Award" (Most Realistic)

1. When I finished reading this story, did I feel as if I just finished reading something that really happened?
2. Was this story was so raw that it made me reflect on my own life and evaluate myself and those around me?
3. Could I envision things in this story happening in real life?
4. Do I feel as if this story depicts our world? Our society?
5. While reading this story, was it sometimes so close to reality that I had to remind myself that it was a fictional story?

"The Tony Morrison Award" (Unpredictable Storyline)

1. Did this story keep me guessing until the end?
2. Did something happen in this story that long after finishing, I still can't believe it happened?
3. Was I able to predict the ending?
4. Did the writer take an overused plot line or conflict and inject new life into it?
5. Did this story stay away from cliches? Or find unique ways to make them feel new?
6. What complications/surprises/differences makes this story stand out from other books that follow similar plot lines?

"The Ntozake Shange Award" (Inspirational)

1. Does the writer tackle a tough subject and leave you feeling inspired?
2. Did the writer tap into your emotions so strongly that you felt a connection with them (the writer)?
3. In the story, did the writer give you a feeling of hope in a desperate situation?
4. Did the writer make you believe that in spite of all of the character's struggles, that change can happen and that hope does exist?
5. Do you feel as if the writer was continually tugging on your heart? Do you feel as if they made you want to strive for more in life?
6. Did you have an "aha" moment while reading this story?