The Silmaril Awards 2024: Nominations Open!

*bounces into the blog*

HELLO WONDERFUL PEOPLES OF THE INTERNET! 

I am here on a Monday in September, and you know what that means?

IT'S SILMARIL TIME!!! 

*dances tiny jig*

I'm so excited to host another Silmaril this year! They're a massive highlight of the blogging year for me (even if they make my dorm room super crowded, and last year's Silmarils resulted in the PDA levels at Newman skyrocketing exponentially ;)). 

In case you've never heard of these illustrious awards, and are wondering what the heck Samantha is freaking out about, the Silmaril awards are the equivalent of the Tonys or Oscars or Golden Globes...but for fantasy characters. Awarded by Tolkien and Lewis's characters in multiple awards ceremonies at the end of the month of September, each Silmaril honors a character in one of ten categories. The best part? You guys are the ones who get to nominate and vote on the characters who you think most qualified for each award! (More on that in a moment.) 

Also, whichever blogger is hosting each character gets to host the nominated characters in their home (or in my case, dorm room) for the duration of the awards. Which last for four weeks, give or take. Last year was crazy--there were so many Devoted Couples to find room for--but wonderful, and I'm hoping this year will be along the same lines! (And not like the year I hosted the Strange Characters...*side-eye at the Cheshire Cat*.) 

In any case, I'd appreciate you not nominating anyone who'll cause massive amounts of difficulties. ;)

By now, though, you're probably wondering who, exactly, I'll be hosting in my dorm room for the next four weeks! And while the exact answer awaits your nominations, the general category is...

Drumroll please...

Wisest Counselor! 

Y'all. I am SO HYPED for this. I LOVE Wise Counselors, and I can't wait to get to meet some of my favorites! (Who y'all better nominate. *clicks pistol*) (um, for legal reasons that was a joke)

It's gonna be great. *tries to ignore the sinking feeling that she's going to have way more advice than she can handle this month* 

Aaaanyway. 

Now that I've announced that Super Important Fact, time for a few more details! 

First of all, if you're still super duper confused, please visit the official Silmaril Awards Website! They can help you out over there, for sure. 

Second of all, here are the rules. 

Rules for nominations:

• Characters must be fantasy characters from books. This means no sci-fi, no contemporary, &c, AND no webcomics, graphic novels, movies, and so on. If the story was a book first, but then got its own webcomic, graphic novel, &c, characters from said story are eligible, but otherwise, sadly, they are not permitted. If there's a book which might be seen as sci-fi, contemporary, or something else non-fantasy but you think has enough fantasy elements to count (for instance, The Lunar Chronicles, for the sake of the Silmaril Awards, count as fantasy, though they are rather sci-fi-y), make your case in the comments, and we will certainly consider it. 
  
  
• Tolkien's and Lewis's characters are not allowed. Given that, in the awards ceremony at the end of the month, one of Tolkien's characters (and potentially a few of Lewis's) will be presenting this award, you really don't want the conflict of interest that might result from the presenting characters being nominated for the award. Especially if they don't win the final vote. It can get ugly, y'all. 
  
  
• An author may not nominate (or second) his or her own characters. It's just undignified and unprofessional, guys. Don't do it. However, you of course may send your hyped-up readers to nominate and/or second your characters. (Winning a Silmaril would be really good publicity, just saying.)
  
  
• Silmarils are a one-time thing, so a character may only win a category once. Here are the characters who have already won this award:
  -Nia (The Wingfeather Saga)
  -Merlin (Arthurian Legends)
  -Puddleglum (The Chronicles of Narnia)
  -Halt (Ranger's Apprentice)
  -Remus Lupin (Harry Potter)
  -Professor Kirke (The Chronicles of Narnia)
  -Professor Hamilton (Dragons in Our Midst)
  -Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)
  
  
• Rule-breakers are sent immediately over to C. O. Bonham, who's hosting the dragons this year, to be eaten. Look, I don't make the rules, I just enforce them. If you don't want to follow these rules, prepare to be a dragon's lunch. And vice versa--if you don't want to be a dragon's lunch, prepare to follow the rules. 

And now, just for the sake of clarity, here's what you do next: 

How to nominate characters:

1. Go to the comments section!
   
2. Do your best to check if the character you're nominating has already been nominated. If so, go second the character (more on that in a mo), instead, please.
3. Say that you're nominating.
4. List the characters you'd like to nominate, along with the book they're from. If you don't put which book they're from, you give everyone (*cough* me *cough cough*) a huge headache, and make yourself eligible to be dragon-lunch. No one wants that.
5. Nominate as many characters as you'd like! The sky's the limit!
   
   

How to second characters:

1. Go to the comments section!
2. Find the nominations of the characters you love.
3. Respond to the comment nominating said character and respond "I second [character's name]" or something along those lines. 
   
4. (You may also write a separate comment listing your seconds, like you would with nominations, if you wish.)
5. Don't second characters you nominated--like nominating your own characters, it's just rude.
6. Second as many characters as you want (but please don't second a character twice!)
   
7. The five characters with the most seconds go on to the voting round!

Before you rush off to nominate and second all the adorable couples to your hearts' content, a few dates and links to note...

Nominations are open September 2 to 6.

Voting on the five characters with the most seconds will commence September 9, and close September 13th.

Awards Ceremonies will take place one per weekday September 16 to 27!

And if you'd like to nominate and second characters in other categories, here are those links! 

Most Magnificent Dragon--C. O. Bonham
Most Nefarious Villain--H. L. Burke
Most Wayward Soul--Kenzie Keene 
Most Silver Tongue--Sarah Pennington
Most Epic Heroine--D. J. Edwardson
Most Faithful Friend--Merie Shen
Most Mischievous Imp--Jenelle L. Schmidt
Most Epic Hero--Grace Taber

Most Devoted Couple--Catherine Hawthorn
Wisest Counselor--Samantha Benedict (you are here!)

Now! Rush off to the comments section, and pour out your whole list of favorite Wise Peeps! Please! Send them all my way, and may the wisest win! :D