About the Contests (01/31/2002)
by
Robert Betts
(Age: 62)
copyright 11-03-2001
Age Rating: 10 to 127
First, the contests are dynamic. In other words as new mechanisms become available to make them better or more fair, they will be used and I'll update this.
Eligibility: One work may be chosen by the author as his entry for the month. He/she may enter 1 work in stories and 1 work in poetry. You may not resubmit the same work in future contests. There is no age constraint.
Time Periods: The contests are judged at the end of each month. The cut-off date runs about the 25th to allow time for judging. However works entered after that date are considered for the next month's contest.
Prizes: At present there is $10, a certificate, the winner's seal (The jumping dolphin at the top right of this page), prominent placement at the site and an invitation to become a Full-Member.
Judging: Input is considered from the ratings system which helps point out exceptional work. (Realize here that as webmaster, I see ALL ratings, including the comments by the raters. I carefully read and sort this detailed database) The actual final choice is decided by myself. Grammar, punctuation, spelling, content all count. There is no favoritism toward or against any kind of content.
Funding: The funding comes from my personal funds. The Full-Members with their membership dues, at present offset this cost, i.e. They are indirectly funding the contest.
Further notes: There are many excellent writers on the site. Were the contest to be judged solely on merit, The same people would nearly always win. It is wonderful to have these people but we attempt to choose a new person each month.
However, this also seems unfair. I would appreciate any suggestions which anyone might have in this regard. You may make them as comments to this article, or email me if you like.
On the flip-side though, a winner gets an invitation to Full-Membership. Acceptance to Full-Membership gets him/her the status of an excellent writer at MLM and tends to show a sense of 'Community.' Note also that we have Full-Members who haven't won yet. (They were nominated or recognized and invited) Ie. there is lattitude in this system to recognize excellence than would be indicated by prizes alone.
I will update (and date) this as there are changes.
3/2/2002 - I now have many more admin functions in place. With these I can see much more. I now factor in comments and ratings given during the month. I can list works in rating order, highest to lowest. That is a help but usually there are insufficient ratings to be statistically significant... it does cull out a few though. That Admin page also has links to both the author's page and to the work itself, much like the stories or poems main pages. It is far easier to compare now. I can easily skip and read bios or works and comments.
Since winners are invited to full-membership, I feel it fair to look at 'sense of community' which is so important at PnP. The number of ratings and comments an author gives somewhat measures this.
If you got here from the entryform, click this link to get back there:
Help Us Stop Plagiarism -
Nearly all works at PnP are original. However a few people choose to plagiarize.
To check, choose a phrase from the work, then either drag and drop to the search box or copy and paste.
click on search and works at Google will be shown which match. Just to be sure, please do this before
you recommend or rate the work highly...
Gosh.. I like everyone's comments.
1) An intro to a new author spot
2) Not being able to win for a specified # of months
3) Not relying solely on the rating system
... see? It's all good. What a great community we have here!
Hey Bob, I'd just like to take this oppertunity to suck up and say that I think you are the most brilliant man alive! I agree completely with you on everything and I know you're best judgement will be... the best judgement... o.O =) Thanks for everything! -Liza
Bob, Perhaps if their was a system that a winner could not win again for say 6 calendar months or so. That way it would give others a chance. I really love this site. it is fantastic. Peggy
Personally Bob, my vote would be to disband the contests, dump the rating system (that isn't used on a consistent basis) and keep it a non-competitive friendly site where writers are encouraged to share, critique, improve..all the things that you spoke of.
This is my opinion only. I cannot speak for anyone else. Personally I don't require ratings or contests to stay in a site that encourages writers to share their stories and poems. The community spirit that you speak of is enough.
It's enough that one has a site to share, talk, critique, try new forms, test new waters...in writing, without a contest form.
Bev, It is my wholehearted desire to break up 'cliques' such as those that plague(d) other sites. I wish to see new and 'good' writers get exposure and I believe recognizing new talent helps that.
Better? Writing is an artform and as such 'better' is a 'moving target', ie doesn't exactly exist. If a person is consistently good he/she will likely eventually be chosen.
MLM is actually, in many ways, a workshop for posting and improvement. We want excellence and encourage it. We also want to encourage people to try hard and learn. We don't wish to become a site with a handful of 'superstars' who win each month. One of my greatest happinesses is when I get an email telling me how "Jane Doe" has improved sooo much! Community is important here and all members are family and important.
I suspect the majority of people like the contests and understand that they are just an encouragement, not the sole aim. Perhaps we should put this to a vote?
Quickly want to add, that to be truthful Bob, I wouldn't want to be a webmaster of a site of this size. I think you've taken on a large and difficult task. As I said, I sure wouldn't want to be the one doing trying to figure all this out. All the best with it, Bob, however it turns out.
Bob, I really thought this had made it clearer....however, I have many questions now that I've thought more on it all. One of the main ones is after one month of following ratings and seeing that very few are rated, how do the ratings actually factor into all this. Plus, if a new person is chosen regardless if someone else is "better" (and I hate that word) how is it a contest? Isn't it more a "here is a new writer and I hope you read this person" deal instead?
Personally, you know my feelings on the idea of the contest anyhow...I never have liked it. I feel we all hold our own merit in writing as we are diverse, have many styles and many subjects. How can one be chosen over the other.
I used to be a member of a now defunct site where the highest rated articles were entered on a form for the other members to vote on. There was also a blank spot for anyone to fill in a work they thought had been lost in oversight and merited a chance at winning. That way, everyone chooses the winner and no "ONE" person is held responsible for someone winning or losing.
Well, that's just how another site worked it. This is your site and I like things just fine now. :) Some day I'll write something that just knocks everyone's socks off and I'll boast the jumping dolphin myself. :) Hugs.
In my opinion, this is the inherent difficulty in establishing contest guidelines. You're rather "screwed if you do" and "screwed if you don't", so to speak.
I can think of no contest that isn't subjective to some extent. The important thing is, you've established the criteria under which you judge, and everyone understands before they submit that you attempt to publicize superior work of an individual writer based on his/her past performance, thereby rewarding the writer for improving. Whether or not it is the best story/poem written during that calendar period becomes moot at that point, in my opinion.
Welcome !
