Contest Section

Would it be a good idea to maybe give hosts points as well for completing a contest, once the system is up? Like, maybe one point or so. Because I think giving points as a prize for contests should be allowed, but I think the host should get some too. Like, five points max per finished contest.

@ ladyschrei

I was thinking more along the lines of a minimum character count, like the comments we have to leave through comment swaps. To me, commenting is a part of judging, and I'd rather know what a person thought of my entry instead of just being given a list of winners and not know why I did or didn't win/where I stood.

@ Kurtni

Honestly, I think a lot more regulation wouldn't be a terrible thing, considering how the section is pretty much useless at this point. It's not something I think anyone necessarily wants, but obviously, that section of the site needs something because right now, it's just a free-for-all. What we have right now as far as contests go isn't working at all.

In my experience, the majority of people do not judge their contests, and with the few that do go through with the judging, they don't give the prizes they've promised. It's pathetic that I can count on one hand the number of contests I've entered that have been carried all the way through, especially considering that I'm been pretty active in the contests for probably around two years.

I kind of feel like people on both ends should have to be held accountable somehow, even if it's just a little thing like deducting a few points.

@ i saw sparks
Oh okay XD That works then, I guess. Lol. I can see where you're coming from with that.

Regarding you saying how some don't give out the prizes they promise, what if each user, when creating a comment, HAD to put down points? They could still give out other prizes if they wish, but that way the winner still gets something if that doesn't happen. There could be a minimum that is automatically put down or something whenever a new contest is created, like 15 points or something like that. Not too much, but you get what I'm saying.

And then my idea to give the host points as well still works

@ ladyschrei

Yeah, I don't think it'd be twisting someone's arm to make them point out like, one thing they liked about each entry and one thing that they didn't like, something like that. I'm not saying it has to be a full-on analysis (though it's something I'm guilty of since my comments on entries usually average around 500 words ), but something more than "this is amazing!" or just a point total so that it would be easier to sort of tell if someone actually read the entries instead of just bullshitting it.

I like the points thing, so that everyone who put effort into finishing an entry gets rewarded while those who drop out don't. I also like the idea of hosts who finish their contests getting rewarded because I am aware that it's a lot of work, especially if a contest is popular.

Maybe there could be an entrance fee of like 2 or 3 points and those points go into a pot and the winner gets them. I know a lot of people are against entrance fees, but what do you guys think?

@ KatieMosing
That's not a bad idea either.

But then that makes me feel like everyone should get something back if they're all putting something down XD Maybe like, put down three points and get back one or something? Not from the host or anything, just automatically get it once the contest is ended.

And if the contest is taken down for any reasons, they should automatically be given their points back.

@ KatieMosing

But most contests have more than one winner, so how would that work? Like divide the pot among three or so people?

I'm just not a huge fan of entrance fees, honestly I also wouldn't want it to be like points are the only prize, just because I would rather have feedback on my stories than have points.

I would rather see points be used towards contests in a way that promotes people to hold up their end of the deal (turning in an entry, judging, handing out prizes) or holds people accountable for not holding up their end of the exchange. I don't want to lose points just because someone happened to like another person's story more than they liked mine

I also don't want to lose points just because someone preferred someone else's story rather than mine. I think that having them as an entry fee but getting them back once you submit an entry is a better idea, since it encourages you to actually write and submit your entry.

@ darkfallenangel

Not gonna lie, I don't like the thought of an entrance fee, period. I think that if I'm entering a contest, I'm already giving up time and energy to write the best possible entry that I can. I shouldn't have to pay points to join something, especially if it's on a for-fun basis only, as someone already said.

@ Takanori Matsumoto.
I personally think it would encourage a more positive vibe in the contest section, which it needs. At the moment it's filled with uncompleted contests, whether that be the host or the entrant's fault. It takes time and energy to participate and to host, but it's no fun when people don't accept their responsibilities and end up not judging or not submitting their entry.

@ Takanori Matsumoto.

Honestly, this is kind of how I've always felt about entrance fees, but at the same time, I wouldn't mind "paying" a couple points if it improves the section/guarantees that the contest will be carried through to completion and as long as I get them back.

I don't want to enter a contest, go through all the work to write an entry I'm satsified with, and be worse off than I was beforehand. At least if I don't win, I'm just breaking even, I'm not really losing anything.

That's true, but as others have said, it's not always people not accepting their responsibilities, and it would be unfair to lose out on points just because of a silly writing contest. And in all honesty, that's what the contests are. They're great for knowing how your writing stands up to someone else's, but we get so few points as it is (the most we can get is 50 at a time for articles) that with all the other things we will be doing with points, having users pay a fee to be in a contest seems a little ridiculous.

Really, the main reason I see for people dropping out (and the only reason I allow myself to use, otherwise I will stay up and write so that I have something for the deadline) is writer's block, and I know that I would be upset if I lost out on points just because my brain wasn't cooperating with me. I agree that there needs to be more regulation, but that particular kind of entrance fee just doesn't seem fair. Perhaps to be considered for a contest, users write a comment swap-length comment on one of the host's stories - instead of losing out on points we can use on cool things.

I think having to comment on the host's story as an entrance fee is unfair, but I think paying 5 points or whatever and getting them back later is fair. It would help improve the contest section.

@ darkfallenangel
That was just a suggestion I had; it doesn't have to be that, specifically. But like I said. If for some reason, my muse fails me toward the end of the contest and I still can't do it, it seems really unfair to be out points when it's out of my control. Really, I don't think that the contest section has to start out with a payment of any kind. We could have it up and running for a while, see how it works, and might not even need it. I know that it would just turn me off contests completely if I was forced to pay points for feedback that I never get anyway (I write in a fandom literally no one else writes in, so almost no one reads my stuff anymore.)

But it would be such a small amount, so it wouldn't be the end of the world. Besides, isn't the point system going to be expanded at some point? (And hence you can "use the points on cool things"?) I think they'll become a bigger part of the site and be easier to get, so paying 5, 10, whatever, points to enter a contest, and then get it back, won't be such a big deal.

@ Takanori Matsumoto.
I get that writer's block would be a pain to deal with, but I still think it would benefit the contest section for the majority of people.

I've always been against the whole commenting on the host's stories as a form of entrance fee, especially with the way contests are now, because the host hasn't really held up their end of the deal yet, so they're basically getting comments for nothing. I shouldn't have to bribe someone to let me enter their contest

Either way, I do not like entrance fees

I use contests because a.) I was inspired by the prompt b.) I use the deadline to make myself get something written instead of procrastinating and c.) to get feedback for my stories if I win. I don't really care how my writing stacks up against anyone else's because a contest doesn't really show that, it usually just shows one person's taste. If a contest doesn't get judged, I'm not getting any feedback (I only join contests that give comments for every entry and that offer comments as an option for the winners), and that's usually the main reason I'm entering in the first place.

I'm in the mindset that I'm open to anything that will get people to complete their contests, since I feel like that is the biggest problem with contests, but I don't want that to come at the expense of me being cheating by losing points or something of that nature.

@ darkfallenangel
If I get them back, sure. But I think that, for that to work, it would have to be a failsafe. So, if I were to have to drop out of that contest for any reason, I could get those points back. I'm a hoarder, and I won't lie about that, and I get really weirdly OCD about things like that. I just feel like if point payments are implemented, I should be able to get them back if I post my reason and withdraw before the deadline.

But I can tell you're really for the points thing, and I'm really not, so I guess we just have to agree to disagree? I don't know, it just seems like users would have the payment be something enter-and-do-it-or-no-points-back, and eurgh, I cannot tell you how much that just turns me off.

@ Takanori Matsumoto.
If you can get them back for withdrawing, what's the point of having to pay in the first place?

Payment to enter but not getting points back? Definitely against that. I'm not particularly fond of entrance fees, but that being said, I don't see the big deal if you get the fee back at the end of the contest. Of the ideas suggested so far, I think it has potential to work. Is it the best idea? Probably not, but I guess that idea still hasn't been suggested yet.

i saw sparks:

I use contests because a.) I was inspired by the prompt b.) I use the deadline to make myself get something written instead of procrastinating and c.) to get feedback for my stories if I win. I don't really care how my writing stacks up against anyone else's because a contest doesn't really show that, it usually just shows one person's taste. If a contest doesn't get judged, I'm not getting any feedback (I only join contests that give comments for every entry and that offer comments as an option for the winners), and that's usually the main reason I'm entering in the first place.

I'm in the mindset that I'm open to anything that will get people to complete their contests, since I feel like that is the biggest problem with contests, but I don't want that to come at the expense of me being cheating by losing points or something of that nature.

I like what you said about why you enter contests. I think it should be like that for everyone, and that would make it a more positive aspect of the site.

I'm also in that mindset. I think the contest part of the site needs to improve, and it needs to be fair on everyone. I just hope there is a good compromise out there....

@ i saw sparks
You totally said it better than I did. Thank you for being better with words. I was never going to get to that point at the rate I was going.