Column: Help organize contests - add a category! by Kevin at All poetry

As of last week, anyone can add categories to a contests, rather than just the owner.

Is a contest invite-only? Look for 'add' in the category list on the contest page, and add 'invite only' and it'll be hidden from the contest overview.

Is it requesting critically written poetry? Add 'critical'.

You add categories by clicking on the contest link, then on the upper right side of the screen, clicking 'add' under the "Categories:" list.

A list of links and a box should drop down. Clicking the words (commonly used contest categories) adds them to the list, then choose 'Go'.

Our hope is that this will help everyone find contests that they are interested in faster. With over 700 contests running at one time, that's gotten harder and harder! It's great to see contests are being so well appreciated, and this is a new feature to help deal with that popularity.

Happy poetry writing and contest entering!

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Duana
July 13
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I think somebody should add a category called "prewrites allowed'.
Cat
October 3, 2007
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Non- end line rhyme. If it appears as a choice on the categories then perhaps it will become more acceptable among posters who chew us out for having non- end line rhyming contests.

How nice it would be also to find those contests easily for those of us who do not wish to rhyme or be pitted against rhyming poetry.

thanks
ea
October 3, 2007
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I've hosted two "Big Points" contests in the past week and they didn't show up in that category. Now I'm out of points.
Poppin Poppy
October 2, 2007
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organize contests
This sounds very confusing..... I go thru the contests, bookmarking (usually) the ones I am interested in to enter. My one complaint is that I ususally remember the contest name if I don't bookmark it, but I have a hard time finding it again in the 700 contests running.... Can you not 1) have an alphabetical list of the contests? 2) have contests listed under the catagories that the contest runner has chosen? This seems to be alot simpler way of dealing with things. Then there is no messing with a persons personal contest. I would take great offence in someone messing up my time in a contest, adding their own catagories. The time it takes to deal with a mess like this on dial-up would drive anyone to not bother being here. An alphabetical listing would be most appreciated.
Frodofan
October 2, 2007
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I see the good and bad. But as has already been said, I know some jerks will start adding things like "invite only" to contests just to screw it up for the owner.
Matt Holck
September 30, 2007
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automark contest that include uploaded pictures

I like picture
pozo
September 24, 2007
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I can see this going wrong. For example, with the 'pickles' thing, but also with the possibility that if someone dislikes someone else on the site they can add things such as 'rubbish contest' to their contests (or just do it to wind people up). Surely the contest host is the person who knows their contest well enough to categorise it correctly?
Matt Holck
September 22, 2007
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structure

rhyming and other word games
Yvette Champ
September 20, 2007
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I appreciate that you are taking an active part in overseeing allpoetry to facilitate the smooth running of contests and such like.
However,surely enabling any poet to add a category to a contest is a form of editing? Most contest holders are seeking specific entries and spend their points to encourage writes in the categories they seek,leaving poets the freedom of choice to seek another contest if they are uninspired by the categories in that contest.
Whilst it may have been deemed humorous to add "pickles" to the contest holders contest without her knowledge and is not exactly offensive it means that contest holders that are unable to log in for a few days may return to find umpteen entries in categories that they have no wish to read.
Also,whilst this is a column and not a contest,you are seeking feedback on the mandate of contests/categories;if poets randomly left comments re pickles,kites,hydraulic fluid etcetera ad infinitum and you could not log in for a few days and returned to such random thoughts then you would probably feel frustrated.
I didn't know the cost of points for contests was being increased.I only ran one and there was so much work that I have since only donated points to others to run them,but I critique a fair amount and offer constructive critiques to earn the points and cannot find time to read more so if the cost goes up I shall have to sponser less contests,which reduces creativity a round.
It seems rather back to front to suggest it will be easier to find a category by adding our own category,for if the contest holder does not wish for those type of entries they will simply DQ them.
Perhaps I am mistaken ( as I am often! ) and this change may work,but after discussing this with other poets they are reluctant to run a contest if anyone may add a category.
As usual,time will tell whether this works,I hope it does for it is a change introduced in an attempt to simplify and motivation to help is admirable,fingers crossed this is the way,though the mind boggles as to the random categories the creative minds may add,we may even find a contest specifically for such ideas.
End of rambling
dustookie2
September 20, 2007
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I shall reserve my opinion for now see how it pans out. It has merit that is for sure but a lot depends on how users apply the new system.....One thing I do know and all users must see this management trying to keep the site alive and improving options making this a better site for all. Change never comes easy
Matt Holck
September 20, 2007
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is the contest holder informed of added categories?

if I add invite only to a contest
I can take off the contest overview.
Miss Faerie
September 19, 2007
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This is a good idea. That way we're able to classify things into correct categories.

I find it disappointing that people choose to spoil the fun by acting like idiots. Basically.

However I disagree with the minimum of 300 points being increased, as many of the newer users take a while to get there. As a greeter, I know this.

Nice work Kevin
Raazi
September 18, 2007
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With the rates for featuring a poem going up drastically, and users getting more and more points for comments, I feel that contests too should cost more than a minimum of 300 points.
StormGoddess
September 18, 2007
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While to the person/s who seriously would like to help organize contests into perhaps some more useful categories, I can also see where this is going to turn out to be one of this community's largest jokes.

Why? For example, I started a contest today, and some other being from this site thought that "pickles" would be a fitting topic to add to my contest. Now, had the contest pertained to pickles, perhaps, but it was done in sheer stupidity.
I hope this turns out to be better in the future, and the novelty of some people being just outright dumb or rude wears off in time.
- Kevin
  September 19, 2007
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  What damage really does 'pickles' do though? It's fairly easy for you to remove inappropriate categories as well...
  
  But agreed, I think people will stop playing around after a bit too We'll see!
astralshepherd
September 18, 2007
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thanks Kevin, good work!
Perdu
September 18, 2007
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very nice, Master Kevin
Nat
September 18, 2007
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First to comment yipee! This will def. help! Thanks kev! It has been getting hard lately to sort contests.