[Reflections & Afterwords Collection] I seriously took on the Creative Awards 2024, so honestly, how was it? Looking back with past entries (*Project proposal included)

The deadline for the Creative Awards is 7/23. It's coming up soon. Just in case, I'll share the deadline and reader support period from the official note page here as well.

↑ Click here for details

How is everyone doing with your submissions? For me, I've finished submitting all my novel-related entries for now.

I suppose I'll check them again when I have some free time, and if I feel something is off, I might fix it... I might submit to the essay and all-category sections if I feel like it.

For those of you who have written many articles, aren't there some who think, 'I want people to read my past articles again' or 'I want to look back on the articles I wrote before in my own way'?

So, I had an idea.

If we all write articles summarizing our past works' afterwords & reflections, and everyone uses the hashtag #CreativeAwards2024AfterwordCollection to get things lively, wouldn't that be fun?

As a reference example, I'll leave Sunou Honda's 'Afterword Collection' here.

Actually, I've been introducing Sunou-san's articles for two days in a row. It's reached the level of 'oshi-katsu' (supporting my favorite creator). I want to support my favorites while I can, so I'm going to keep introducing them!

After reading Honda-san's afterword collection, I couldn't help but follow the links to other articles and read them right away. They were all interesting, so please check them out, everyone.

After reading Honda-san's afterword collection, I thought I'd like to read other people's afterwords too. This is just my impression, or rather, a suggestion.

↑ This is completely unrelated, but I'll leave my favorite noter Hibiki-san's 'Just a Love Consultation' here. I really love this kind of sharp, no-nonsense style...

The line from Hibiki-san's work, 'Worrying about what others think is just a waste of time', is becoming my bible lately. I'm going to keep planning and doing what I can!

I don't know if there's any benefit to writing afterwords or reflections.

But I thought it would be interesting if we could all look back on each other's works smoothly and discuss them, saying this and that.

First, I don't know if this will be an example following Honda-san's... In this article, I introduced my Creative Awards 2024 entries in a 'ranking format' including popularity and my own personal favorites. (A world of complete self-satisfaction)

It was fun to make it myself, so everyone, please try it too. Let's look back on each other's work together!

👑 1st Place: Work-related Novel Category "That Is Not Plagiarism"

　I wrote this piece remembering the time I spat out the coffee I was drinking when I Googled a novel I had written a long time ago and found a manga with almost the exact same title, protagonist's name, and protagonist's age.

　Believe it or not, it had been turned into an erotic manga....

　I'm not trying to sue or anything, and I'm not angry (it's too much of a hassle). It was just a bit complicated to feel, as it had completely veered away from the theme of my work and had simply transformed into an erotic manga.

　In that case, I thought, "Why not sublimate it into a new work and compete with something of even higher quality?"

　Also, I was curious about where the line for plagiarism is drawn, so I researched various lawyer websites.

　Through my research, I learned many things, such as the fact that it's hard to call something plagiarism if it has originality, so it was a good learning experience. However, I still feel uneasy about it.

　After all, even if they are pushing the boundaries, the title, the protagonist's name, and the age are all the same.

　At the very least, I wish there had been some respect or regard for the original work. Unfortunately, it didn't feel like there was any theme at all; it just felt like it had been turned into a generic erotic manga. What a letdown.

　Well, since they were the ones who uploaded it as a commercial product first, I lost the moment I didn't take any action.... Everyone, please think about various measures to protect your own work.

　Also, in recent years, troubles related to the evolution of AI, troubles due to differences in image between the original work and the script, and copyright issues have also become hot topics.

　Recently, there have been more manga adaptations into dramas, and since manga fans have a deep attachment to those works, criticism often arises when the adaptation doesn't match their image.

　City Hunter, Death Note, Gintama, Rurouni Kenshin, and Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan were successful, but I feel like I don't hear many good stories about others. (I apologize if there are any exceptions.)

　The works mentioned above all seem to faithfully reproduce the original while elevating it to a higher quality.

　It's also powerful when actors truly embody their roles. But what I hear most often is criticism like "it ruins the image of the original."

　Especially recently, there was a tragic incident. I had decided not to touch upon this topic, but the author was someone whose manga I loved. When I heard about that incident, I was in such shock that I couldn't think about anything for a while. Even so, I kept working and moving my hands.

　What can be done to eliminate such problems? I wonder if these issues could be minimized if there were respect and regard for the author. I think about these things a lot.

　With that in mind, I created this work with the hope that people who cherish their work, as well as the thoughts of authors and original creators, will be respected.

This time, I am seriously aiming for the grand prize with this work.

　I wrote this piece with the intention of winning the grand prize, so I checked everything from past grand prize winners to other works thoroughly.

　How can I leave even a little bit of an impact among so many works? How can I get found? How can I keep readers from dropping off?

　Then, I researched what kind of works the participating publishers and note liked... After checking various things and taking countermeasures, I challenged myself with this work. I hope it wins an award.

　Since this is a work that seriously aimed for the grand prize, I was gauging reactions while posting other works until the best timing when it seemed most likely to be read.

　The number of likes on the first episode was also phenomenal to me. I also received many comments. Thank you so much.

　...Having said that, I also have a genuine feeling of happiness if the people I met here win an award.

　In fact, I might feel that the people I met here have more value than the Creative Awards themselves. It's like the crew of One Piece that I met during the great voyage.

　Quote: From the official One Piece website

　When the deadline passes and the season for sharing impressions ends, the festival ends. The surroundings become silent, unbelievably quiet.

　I have experience as a Yosakoi dancer, and I always felt a sense of emptiness at the end of summer.

　Even though I had been dancing and drinking with the friends I practiced with every day, the moment the festival ended, everyone went their separate ways. It's exciting precisely because it's for a limited time. After the festival ends, it's always empty.

　↑Quote: Tokai TV
This is the festival I participated in every year. Nostalgic! I stood on this stage (lol)

　When the Creative Awards are over, everyone might set off on their own paths. I hope I can secretly support the future of the people I met here, raising my left fist. Yeah, that's good. I like that kind of thing...

　I hesitated to say this because I thought people might think it's "heavy." The scene where everyone raises their left fist in One Piece. I really love it.

　Please let me continue to support everyone's future.

[My⭐︎Evaluation Review]
Favorite Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Award Aiming Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Hard to Write Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Research Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

[People who gave feedback (click the link to jump to the feedback page)]
・Hiyoki-san
・Zukki-san
・Honda Snow-san
・PJ-san
・Motsunikomi-san
・Noyagi-san
・Hareruya-san

・Toto-san

2nd Place Manga Original Work Category "A Virgin Becomes an Erotic Novelist"

*Only the episodes in this story are slightly R-rated.

　This work is a significantly revised version of what I wrote about 10 years ago under the names Naruko Hoshi and Hajiki Tara on Shousetsuka ni Narou, Kakuyomu, and Everystar.

Since I went to the trouble, I thought, wouldn't it be nice if this child became a manga too? So I submitted it.

As the title suggests, I was originally going to go all out with an R-rated version (a story I couldn't possibly write on note), but after seeing the works of other note readers, I changed the content significantly to suit the readership.

Personally, I wanted to intentionally exclude erotica, so I cut as much as possible. I suppose this is also a form of resistance against that certain erotic manga.

If you're going to compete with erotica, I want to suppress the erotica and compete with the sheer interest of the work.(Just a one-sided battle)

I guess this is my pride as a writer now. Honestly, there's no point in having pride, but I've lost so much because of my high pride... it's like counting the stars.

Actually, in this work, on sites like Shousetsuka ni Narou, there are quite a few edgy settings.

For example, an editor character in the story might order them, 'Can you really write erotic novels? Then, try starting that (I'll leave it to your imagination) right in front of me!'

Also, there's the whole 'last memory-making' thing. The guy the heroine liked would do things like, 'Let's mess around a little before I get married -> I'll marry my true love and best friend'...

No wonder it gets used as fodder for erotic manga. Of course, I can't write that. Not when note has turned a profit!

Although I looked at the works of the note people first, everyone is serious and sincerely facing their work.

Also, since I'm entering a contest, I need to keep up with the times, so I thought things that felt like sexual power harassment or male chauvinism (like a man ordering a woman around) would be tough, so I cut out the dangerous-sounding lines as much as possible.

Or rather, now that I have a child, I can't write those things anymore.

There are works you can write and works you can't depending on your age and situation, right? So everyone, let's write what we can when we want to write!

This work features a former AV actress who developed multiple personalities due to abuse from her parents, and a high school girl who single-mindedly chases after a boy she has a crush on while still a virgin. It's pretty heavy material, so I wonder if it will select its readers...

The story was long and tough, but I'm glad I was able to rewrite it on this occasion.

By the way, I was happy to hear from the respected noter Yamamon-san, who said, 'Oh, that's nice (lol), it's Erotic Bakuman.'

↑ Quote from Netflix
My favorite, Takeru Satoh, is also appearing in it.

I was also happy that Yamamon-san praised me, saying, 'Maybe because you're from a writer background, Miku-san's work is easy to read as a design.'

[My⭐︎Evaluation Review]
Favorite Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Aiming for a Prize Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Hard to Write Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Research Level　⭐︎⭐︎(Mostly wrote based on my own imagination)

[People who gave feedback (click the link to jump to the feedback page)]
・Aoi Soryu-san

Episode 3: Work Novel Category - "And Then, the Birds Forgot How to Fly"

"That's Not Plagiarism" is packed with my ideal family, workplace, and encounters. That's precisely why I decided to write this one with raw, gritty realism.

While "Plagiarism" wins in terms of a refreshing reading experience, I wanted to pack this one with the nasty parts of human nature. So, I used my real parents and myself as models and went all out.

Rather than aiming for an award, I had already gained some readers, so I wrote this with a relaxed attitude, thinking, "I hope you enjoy it," and it was fun.

For the web writer part, I really dug into the dark side of the industry. Sorry to everyone in the industry. Please don't blacklist me.

[My⭐︎Evaluation Review]
Favorite Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Award Aiming Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Difficulty to Write Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Research Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

[People who gave feedback]
・Hareruya-san

Episode 4: Horror Novel Category - "Genius and Mediocrity"

This is the first novel I wrote for the Creative Awards 2024. The reason I decided to apply was because note was promoting horror.

Also, I was familiar with the publishers sponsoring the contest (there were publishers whose magazines I read regularly). That was the reason.

Also, at the time, there were few people posting horror works. But now, there are many works, and professional writers are also taking on the challenge. Conversely, if I had started now, I might have been too scared to apply. I'm glad I applied early.

Since I applied with a vague feeling, it was difficult to finish writing it. I realized that horror is so hard to write.

Since it's hard to write slow-creeping horror, I tried to approach it in the style of Story Land or Moguro Fukuzo.

[My⭐︎Evaluation Review]
Favorite Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Award Aiming Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Difficulty to Write Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Research Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

5th Place: Manga Original Story Category - "I'm 47 and Single, Is There a Problem?"

I revised a work I wrote 10 years ago for the contest.

The characters Toki-chan and Mitani are a pair of friends I encountered at a matchmaking party a long time ago. They are 47 in the work, but I wonder if the models were around 25-27 at the time. (I was young back then, too.)

This might be a shocking episode, but I actually had a brief romantic relationship with the person who was the model for Mitani. We broke up after about a month, though.

He looked a lot like announcer Satoshi Kamishige and was very cool. He was tall, had a sturdy build, and often wore pink shirts well. He was a sales representative in the financial sector, and he was a good talker.

At first, I didn't think much of it. But after hanging out a few times, my feelings strangely shifted, I suppose.

Wearing a sharp suit and picking me up in a big car—it was like a drama, a real youth experience. Looking back now, it's a fond memory.

The way the two of them interacted is exactly how it was. Back then, the three of us used to hang out together, you see.

They were truly a duo that seemed to have stepped right out of a manga. I remember writing this piece a few years later, recalling those days.

It's just a story about a 47-year-old guy trying his best at marriage hunting, only to get dragged into things by his strange friends. I was very happy to receive various feedback after submitting it to the Creative Awards this time.

I'm actually quite fond of it, and I secretly hope it gets adapted into a drama someday starring Yo Oizumi, Kosuke Suzuki, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hideaki Ito, or Konomi (Hiroshi Tamaki's wife) (lol).

[My⭐︎Evaluation Review]
Favorite Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Award Aiming Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Difficulty to Write Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Research Level　⭐︎(There is a real-life model)

[People who gave feedback]
・Aoi Soryu
・Hareruya

6th Place Essay Category: "I Write as I Breathe. Because I Had No Choice But to Write, I Chose This Path"

This piece was inspired by Sunou Honda's work on the theme of "Why I Write," and I wrote it all in one go.

↑ The attitude Honda-san showed in her enthusiasm on note, her letter to Hana-san... I wonder if this straightforwardness is what captivates so many people (I'm one of them).

↑ Nozomi Natsuki's "Why I Write" was also wonderful. The episode where she wrote a thesis titled "Toward a World Without Discrimination" is truly excellent.

Humans try to maintain superiority by ranking others, but reading this work made me want to be someone who can act for others, even if it means taking a loss, rather than maintaining my own superiority. I want to reread it again and again.

My work only took about 30 minutes to write, but it feels like my life is packed into it.

I also talk about a middle school classmate who became a writer, but there's actually a reason why I can't make my relationship with her public (perhaps only the roundtable members know this story).

I'd be in trouble if people thought it was a made-up episode. That is a genuine story. The fact that she and I used to ride our bikes home together every day back then might be a dark history for her now, so I'll zip my lips. (Wait, I just wrote it down!)

I've also submitted this to Hana Fujiwara's "Why I Write," so if you're interested, please give it a try.

[My⭐︎Evaluation Review]
Favorite Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Award Aiming Level　⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Difficulty to Write Level　⭐︎
Research Level　⭐︎

7th Place Mystery Novel Category: "Linna and Kanna"

I revised my 2023 entry and submitted it again this year. Honestly, I wondered what it would be like to resubmit something that didn't win last year.

This year, it was a work that led to people writing impressions of the Creative Awards and served as a catalyst for interaction, so I really think it was good that I resubmitted it.

I replaced the first-person "I" that I used last year with each person's name, and I think it became easier to read... I made the revisions while hoping that was the case.

Compared to this year's work, there are points where people might say it moves too fast, but I feel like I was able to write it in a fun and rhythmic way... There are people who say they have been fans of this work for a long time, so it is a work I am very attached to.

[My⭐︎Evaluation Review]
Favorite Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Aiming for an Award Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Difficulty of Writing Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Research Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

[People who gave impressions]
・Yunguu-san

8th Place All-Category Division Creative Awards Roundtable Report

This year, we also held a roundtable discussion through the Creative Awards. I have participated in roundtables and written articles for work, but come to think of it, I realized there were no "Creative Awards Roundtable Reports".

If that's the case, wouldn't it be exciting if we all wrote one? I wrote it with that kind of vibe (laughs).

This roundtable was realized through the introduction of noter Hibiki-san.

Actually,Hibiki-san also wrote impressions for "It's Not Plagiarism," and I wrote the 4th episode based on those impressions.

There was an opinion there, "Is it normal to be this devoted upon first meeting?", so I significantly revised the 4th episode.

Thanks to that, the episode became richer. I thought that using impressions to change a work is one way to do things.

A handsome man from Fukuoka appears among the characters, and before writing, I was thinking, "I want to make him from a place with a local dialect, but where should he be from..."

Suddenly, I saw Hibiki-san's essay on "Fukuoka" and just made him from Fukuoka as it was (laughs).

In that sense too,I think that without Hibiki-san's existence, that work would not have been read by so many people.

If I win an award with this, I won't be able to turn my back on Hibiki-san anymore. What should I do, Hibiki-san?

Also, without Hibiki-san, the roundtable would not have been realized.

Regarding the plagiarism article,Zukki-san also checked it... (Actually, I have had 5 or 6 people point out typos and omissions since then, haha).

↑ I am grateful that someone who can proofread was able to check it! That was a big help back then...!

And to my surprise! Through this roundtable, I also met and talked with the legend of the note world,Yamado-san!

　↑Everyone, they are amazing, so seriously, read them!!!! You'll get hooked on the Yamamon world right away!!!!

　His attitude of seriously aiming for the grand prize is sincere and truly cool. Looking at his Twitter, he might seem sharp at first glance, though.

　When talking to him, I realized he is someone who can calmly look at himself objectively while facing writing with humility. Is this what they call a 'gap moe'?

　I thought this while talking and exchanging messages with him. Even though he is 15 years younger than me, I want to call him 'big brother.' Yamamon-san might reject me, though. (lol)

　I really have nothing but gratitude for the members I met at the Creative Awards. Thank you so much, really!

[My⭐︎Evaluation Review]
Favorite Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Prize Aiming Level ⭐︎⭐︎
Writing Difficulty Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Hibiki Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

9th Place Essay Category: I Headed to Kyoto to Win the Note Creative Awards

　Before challenging the Creative Awards, I went to a 'break-up' shrine in Kyoto to get myself pumped up.

　Honestly, I went with the vibe that it would be funny to make it into content, but when you write your wish to win the contest on paper and pray, your spine straightens up.

　At that shrine, you pass by Ema (votive tablets) before you pray. Since you pass by places where countless wishes like 'I hope I break up with that person' are written, it's a bit scary.

　If you make a bad wish, it feels like you'll get a worse backlash, and it leaves me with complicated feelings (then why did you go lol)

　Regarding the shrine, I introduce recommended shrines on Mynavi Woman, so if you have some free time, please check it out.

[My⭐︎Evaluation Review]
Favorite Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Prize Aiming Level ⭐︎
Writing Difficulty Level ⭐︎⭐︎
Spontaneity Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

10th Place Essay Category: An Essay Where I Told Coach Anzai 'I Want to Get Better at Writing' While Making Harsh Remarks to a Pro

　In applying for the Creative Awards, I read many works. Gradually, I started to be able to tell which works were interesting just from the beginning.

　Even if there were few 'likes,' when I thought 'this is amazing' and looked at the profile, they were mostly winners of other contests. My aesthetic sense is dangerous (lol).

　While looking through many wonderful works, my eyes became discerning. Conversely, I was able to look at my own level objectively, which is both good and bad...

　At this rate, I might be a judge somewhere 30 years from now. I have to live a long life.

In this work, I wrote about myself making a remark to a certain book, asking 'Is this interesting?' Anyway, I'm being cheeky, so I think I'll go stand under a waterfall soon to cool my head.

[My⭐︎Evaluation Review]
Favorite Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Prize Aiming Level ⭐︎⭐︎
Writing Difficulty Level ⭐︎
Cheekiness Level ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

That concludes the total review of my submitted works. Everyone, please feel free to join in by using the hashtag.

Let's all look back on various things, like that person's work or your own. Please have a lively discussion in the comments and such.

If you make some close friends, feel free to go out for drinks. If a romance blossoms from that, I'd be happy for you.

There's only a little bit of time left until the deadline.

↑ A past grand prize winner talks candidly about what they persisted with right before the deadline. Be sure to check it out.

Let's all sprint to the finish line together!