This column is the work of the author Methods, statements and opinions expressed are not to be construed as the official policy of or of any person appointed in a position of authority at AP. All actions are at the reader’s risk. All names shown in images are imaginary and bear no intentional resemblance (at the time of writing) to any AP name.
A Practical Guide to Commenting and Gaining Points
runs on points. With points you can promote your work (or others work), hold or co-host contests and award prizes. There are three ways to get points:
A Buy them
B Get given them
C Earn them
D There was a bank error in your favour collect 200 points and proceed to 'GO'
This guide will cover the ‘earn them’ way of getting points, with a brief mention of the others.
Buying Points
You can purchase points at allpoetry.com/Store/points. The rates are published there. At the time of writing, 300 points retailed at $15, discounts for bulk.
Getting Given Points
A straight donation from a friend or benefactor.
Banks errors in your favour
You are on the wrong website, you should be playing Monopoly. Seriously, there are occasional technical hitches, as with any website.
Earning Points
Ways to earn points:
1 Winning, placing or getting an Honourable Mention in a contest.
2 Gaining an applause (7 points) Note: Comments can be applauded too!
3 Commenting
I have had points from all three of the above, but this guide only covers commenting. The rest depends upon you writing for and entering contests or producing work of a quality that attracts attention.
Where can you earn points?
On any poem, column, story or contest page that you have not previously commented upon. Items in the 'Features' box earn extra points for a comment
The only difference between the comment boxes is the line: ‘A critical review is invited’ yet one is a poem and the other a contest.
A 100-word comment will earn you 8 points on a normal item comment and 12 points on a Featured item comment. Less than 100 characters will earn you NOTHING!
Tactics of commenting
1 Stay legal
You must be aware that spamming is forbidden and, whilst likely to return a quick profit, is counter-productive in the long run. Poets hate spammers and will report them. This has two effects, you will be fined and you will also lose one or more potential readers. The more readers, the more chance of an applause and friendship and patronage.
Examples of spamming
Writing or pasting a large number of symbols or smileys.
Pasting in large chunks of the host poem to no purpose.
Pasting in the same comment, time after time on different poems.
In my experience Moderators ALWAYS fine a spammer so that they do not gain from the practice. Repeat offenders get worse punishments.
2 Contest, poems, columns and stories can all be promoted in the Feature box.
Note the more >> link. This will take you to the Feature page where the top bids are detailed. Gold members are highlighted in green
Clicking on the link will reveal all the featured Pieces.
Browse through and you are bound to see a title that draws your interest. This is one of the most emotive areas. The promoter can view a list of who clicked into their poem. Clicking in and wasting their points by refraining from any comment at all is one of the major gripes on AP. Spamming is particulary irksome and is more likely to cause a complaint. Always comment when you click on a Featured piece. Why lose points when you don't have to? The points YOU will gain by commenting do not alter in ratio to the 'points per clicks' rating. In other words, a hundred-word comment will get the same points for you on the top or on the bottom featured piece.
3 (Non-featured pieces) Never comment if you have nothing to say.
You may have something to say later and wasting potential points with a quick ‘Great contest/poem/column’ will do you and them a dis-service.
4 Make your comments meaningful
I will not attempt to show you how to analyse a piece of poetry, writing or commentary. Instead I will merely point out what you already know but doubtless overlook.
Use everything that is there on the page that has to do with the subject
The piece will (normally) be made up of several parts.
A The title
Was it a good title?.
Did it seem to miss what you see as the central point of the poem?
Can you suggest a better or good alternative?
Does it need a title? (Often a poet cannot think of a good title and leaves a work untitled)
B The text (or body ) of the piece.
What did you think?
Was it coherent or did parts mystify you?
Did it flow?
Were there any parts that shone above the rest? Quoting one or two of these is not considered spamming but indicates to the poet lines of particular worth (in your opinion)!
Did any part dissatisfy you and Why?
Good rhyme?
Good grammar?
Good punctuation?
Any typos? (A considerate commenter will IM typos to avoid seeming to be fussy and dogmatic)
Note that none of the above are particularly addressing the poetic worth of the piece. Most comments do not pretend to come from experts. Most of us are not. An author wants feedback, good relevant feedback. His primary concern is if the poem was any good. If YOU liked it, say so and forget artistic, grammatical and technical considerations, he got to you and succeeded! Ultimately, isn’t the task or the poet/poem to speak to you at whatever level?
Let’s do a quick comment based on the above two headings:
I read the title and thought it fitted the poem well.
I would have called the poem ‘xxx xxx xxx’, but yours was a great one too.
I really liked this poem.
It made sense and seemed to flow nicely for me.
I particularly liked the line ‘His flatulence defeated reason’.
It seemed almost to trip off the tongue!
The part about buttocks was really really funny.
I have yet to recover.
I thought the swearing was a bit too much although it fitted OK
The rhyme/line flow was great and I saw no errors although I can’t spell for toffee (sigh)
That is 102 words already and we haven’t finished yet! How many poems have you seen that this comment would fit? Think wider and say what you see, not just what you feel.
The only thing worse than a quick ‘great poem’ is no comment at all.
C The background
Like the background?
Was it a good choice?
D The graphic
Is there one?
If so does it enhance the poem or distract from it?
E The authors comment
Does the author say anything?
Do you agree with it?
Can you add on thoughts/observations of your own?
This 'Author's Questions/Comments' elicited the following response:
'I think the second one is better....cause I am ready for what is coming. hmmmm' 64 characters (78 including spaces) a few words short of earning points! (There was more)
F The colours used
Do the colours clash/contrast well?
That’s six possible areas of comment. A good composer will have chosen each for maximum effect and enhancement of the piece, why not compliment/state your feelings on some or even all of them?
Still here? If you can’t make a 100-word comment now, you haven’t read the above. Doubtless some will disagree with much of the above. The point is that all commenters must start somewhere and each of the above points are legitimate areas where you can comment and still be relevant to the piece the poet has produced. As you progress and practise your skills will increase, along with your points and your comments will become even more relevant and welcome.
Final points to ponder
Be constructive where possible. Good comments tend to get repaid.
Do not swear unless you already know them and it is considered OK. Even then, an excess of profanity will cause offence to someone, even a casual browser.
Be wary of passing moral judgements and stating your opinions on the subject matter unless it is a column. Ever heard of 'playing the devil's advocate'? The slant of the piece may not be the actual opinion of the author. Besides, the poet wants a comment, not a moral debate.The exception is a response to the Authors Comments
Even if you disagree with all of what the poet has to say, do not get personal. If you are personal, what stops him returning the favour? If you get personal you cannot, with fairness, then go and complain to a Moderator.
Make each comment different. If you form a standard comment and paste it in it is considered spamming as you are contributing nothing to the actual piece, just restating general comments.
Commenting is not about brevity. It is about providing feedback to the Author. Better to be understood and long-winded than brief and mis-construed
Commenting on a poem in a contest (particularly if you are also a contestant) is a tricky business. Try and be as positive as possible in order not to bias the judge. Remember it is their contest, not yours! 'Tactical' is not always appreciated in these circumstances and may bias the judge against you!
Entering a contest? Why not put a comment on the contest page telling the judge what attracted you to the contest, how good you think it is and wishing all the others good luck? Not only will you earn points but a good comment will put you in a good light with the judge
Press the refresh button on your browser BEFORE selecting a Featured poem. If your page is old, the poem you select may have ceased being a Featured poem before you get to it! Don't lose points unecessarily!
Still here? Well good luck. Now go forth comment in style
Points Tip!
Poet MagicLady places pictures of birds on her author's page and invites people to guess the bird for points! Press the Swan to go there! 
Barbara has a great piece on Points too!
Press the girl to go there
Adding your comment:
That's adorable! I totally agree with this commenting bit. I've started given out constructive criticism and it helps the readers out a lot. I always tell them something positive I like as well, so they don't think I just disliked the piece because 9 times out of 10, that is not the case.
[429 now!]
as always a very useful guide and I will direct people that want AP advice to your page 
now there are thirty eight words! Oh, will this torture never end!!! Okay....to the column....interesting, and very well done and easily laid out so that it is virtually idiot proof.(seventy words so far 
