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Wait... Is that LeBeau? I don't remember him being quite so tall.
Q: What is the purpose of the Papa Bear Awards?
Q: What is the purpose of the Papa Bear Awards?
A: The Papa Bear Awards (PBAs) is an annual program that recognizes quality writing and acquaints fellow authors and readers with the best work in the Hogan's Heroes fandom.
A: The Papa Bear Awards (PBAs) is an annual program that recognizes quality writing and acquaints fellow authors and readers with the best work in the Hogan's Heroes fandom.
Q: How does the awards program work?
Q: How does the awards program work?
A: Authors and readers of Hogan's Heroes fanfiction nominate the works completed during 2025 that they consider to be of outstanding quality. In most categories, works that receive multiple nominations go to the Voting Round, in which both authors and readers decide which works are truly the best of the previous year. All nominations in the Story Elements categories advance; a second is not necessary. The Best Story of 2025 is handled a bit differently. More on that later, but the short version is that the standard for getting to the Voting Round with a best story nomination is a little higher, and generally 7-10 stories advance.
A: Authors and readers of Hogan's Heroes fanfiction nominate the works completed during 2025 that they consider to be of outstanding quality. In most categories, works that receive multiple nominations go to the Voting Round, in which both authors and readers decide which works are truly the best of the previous year. All nominations in the Story Elements categories advance; a second is not necessary. The Best Story of 2025 is handled a bit differently. More on that later, but the short version is that the standard for getting to the Voting Round with a best story nomination is a little higher, and generally 7-10 stories advance.
Q: How many stories may I vote for?
Q: How many stories may I vote for?
A: Usually you have three votes per category/sub-category. However, there are some categories that are rather small, and you will only be permitted two votes.
A: Usually you have three votes per category/sub-category. However, there are some categories that are rather small, and you will only be permitted two votes.
You may vote for your own works, but we request you only do so if you truly feel it's the best work in the category.
You may vote for your own works, but we request you only do so if you truly feel it's the best work in the category.
Q. Where can I vote?
Q. Where can I vote?
A. There will be a link to a survey. It's fast and easy to fill out. If you would like to receive an acknowledgment that your vote has been submitted, please include your email address or FFN pen name.
A. There will be a link to a survey. It's fast and easy to fill out. If you would like to receive an acknowledgment that your vote has been submitted, please include your email address or FFN pen name.
Q. What are the award categories?
Q. What are the award categories?
A. This year there are 13 categories in total. Broadly speaking, there are:
A. This year there are 13 categories in total. Broadly speaking, there are:
Story Awards (8 categories, honoring stories in their entirety.)
Best Character Categories (3 categories: Canon, Canon Extra, and Original Character)
Multimedia
Top Award (One category, honoring the story readers select as the Best Story of 2023.)
Within each category, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards may be given. Ties occur occasionally.
Within each category, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards may be given. Ties occur occasionally.
Q. What are the 8 Story Awards categories for the 2024 PBAs?
Q. What are the 8 Story Awards categories for the 2024 PBAs?
A. They are as follows:
A. They are as follows:
Short General/Comedy, Short Drama (up to 1,499 words)
Medium General/Comedy, Medium Drama (1,500-4,999 words)
Long Stories (5,000+ words)
Challenges (including the SSSWC)
Episode
Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards may be given in each of these categories.
Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards may be given in each of these categories.
Stories may be nominated in the categories in which they are listed. In addition, any story may be nominated for the Story Elements Awards. Any story may be nominated for Best Story of 2023 provided it is nominated elsewhere on your ballot.
Stories may be nominated in the categories in which they are listed. In addition, any story may be nominated for the Story Elements Awards. Any story may be nominated for Best Story of 2023 provided it is nominated elsewhere on your ballot.
Q: Where do I nominate a story listed as, let's say, friendship or hurt-comfort? There's no award category!
Q: Where do I nominate a story listed as, let's say, friendship or hurt-comfort? There's no award category!
A: It's up to you to decide if it would fit best as General/Comedy, Drama, Episode, etc.
A: It's up to you to decide if it would fit best as General/Comedy, Drama, Episode, etc.
Q: My favorite story was marked by the author as Drama, but I would like to nominate it in the General category. Can I do that?
Q: My favorite story was marked by the author as Drama, but I would like to nominate it in the General category. Can I do that?
A: Yes, it's your call. If a story receives nominations in any combination of Comedy, Drama and General, the author will be consulted to choose the category the story will be placed in for the Voting Round.
A: Yes, it's your call. If a story receives nominations in any combination of Comedy, Drama and General, the author will be consulted to choose the category the story will be placed in for the Voting Round.
Q: What's the difference between the General and Drama categories?
A: Good question! The difference is fairly subjective. Go with your gut!
Q: One story is listed as Comedy, Challenge and Episode. Can I nominate it in all three categories?
Q: One story is listed as Comedy, Challenge and Episode. Can I nominate it in all three categories?
A: Yes. In a rule change made in 2021, the PBA Committee decided to eliminate restrictions on multiple nominations of the same stories in the Story Awards Categories. If a story is on the eligible list for a category, you can nominate it there. However, in the Short and Medium categories, you do need to choose a subcategory, which are General/Comedy and Drama.
A: Yes. In a rule change made in 2021, the PBA Committee decided to eliminate restrictions on multiple nominations of the same stories in the Story Awards Categories. If a story is on the eligible list for a category, you can nominate it there. However, in the Short and Medium categories, you do need to choose a subcategory, which are General/Comedy and Drama.
Q. That’s a new term—what are the "Story Elements Awards"?
Q. That’s a new term—what are the "Story Elements Awards"?
A. It's a new(ish) label for an old concept. The Story Elements Awards are the long-established awards that honor something other than a complete story: canon characters, canon extras, original characters.
A. It's a new(ish) label for an old concept. The Story Elements Awards are the long-established awards that honor something other than a complete story: canon characters, canon extras, original characters.
Q. Do I have to read all the stories and nominate in every category to participate?
Q. Do I have to read all the stories and nominate in every category to participate?
A: No, you can limit yourself to the categories that you're familiar with. We do encourage you to submit a reasonably well-rounded nomination slate. The committee reserves the right to reject nomination ballots that appear to be tilted toward a single author.
A: No, you can limit yourself to the categories that you're familiar with. We do encourage you to submit a reasonably well-rounded nomination slate. The committee reserves the right to reject nomination ballots that appear to be tilted toward a single author.
Q: How many nominations are needed to advance to the voting round?
Q: How many nominations are needed to advance to the voting round?
A: Continuing with the change made last year, it will take two nominations for a Story, or Multimedia work to advance to the voting round. A Story Element (character categories) can go to the voting round with one vote. The exception to this rule is the category "Best Story of 2023."
A: Continuing with the change made last year, it will take two nominations for a Story, or Multimedia work to advance to the voting round. A Story Element (character categories) can go to the voting round with one vote. The exception to this rule is the category "Best Story of 2023."
Q: How does the nomination for "Best Story of 2023" work?
Q: How does the nomination for "Best Story of 2023" work?
A: You can nominate TWO stories in our most prestigious category, the Best Story of 2023. They must be stories you nominated in another Story Awards category as well. Typically, the seven to 10 stories with the most nominations Best Story of 2023 move to the voting round.
A: You can nominate TWO stories in our most prestigious category, the Best Story of 2023. They must be stories you nominated in another Story Awards category as well. Typically, the seven to 10 stories with the most nominations Best Story of 2023 move to the voting round.
Q: Some stories that I thought were completed this year aren't on the eligible stories list. Why?
Q: Some stories that I thought were completed this year aren't on the eligible stories list. Why?
A: Some possible reasons.
A: Some possible reasons.
To simplify the work for the all-volunteer committee, only stories published on Fanfiction.net were automatically entered. We reached out to all authors we could identify to invite them to enter, but they may not have submitted their work.
The story has been edited and reposted but has already participated in a previous edition of the PBAs.
The author withdrew a story from participation in the PBAs.
A group of related stories may have been compiled into a collection.
If the story has only been published outside fanfiction.net, we simply may have missed it. Eligible stories can be entered if they are brought to our attention by February 28, 2024
Now You Know!
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