  Contests & Activities
This week: Edited by: spidey  
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Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I'm spidey , and I'm your Editor this week. I'd like to discuss Content Ratings. |
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Content Ratings
We all know we need to adhere to Writing.Com's Content Rating System ("Content Rating System (CRS)" [13+]), right? But how do we rate our forums which hold contests & activities?
Which Rating?
As a forum host, you have the choice of rating your forum whichever rating you wish. Here are some thoughts that might influence your rating:
 Your rating must reflect all content shown to viewers, including the forum's title, intro, description and all message posts.
A higher rating may block members from viewing your forum! Members may use their Content Filter to block out items with specific ratings. By using a higher rating, you just might be blocking members from viewing your forum.
E Rating:
As long as any content shown to a viewer of your forum is rated E, then your forum may be rated E, regardless of rating limits on submissions, contest entries, etc..
For instance, "Invalid Item" 's content rating is E and it accepts submissions with ratings of GC and lower.
 Special Note - The title & intro of a linked item must adhere to your forum's rating! If your forum is rated E, links to items with titles & intros rated Non-E will not be allowed!
A Host's Duty:
It is the responsibility of the forum owner to be sure the forum's rating accurately reflects the content of the forum itself. So what should a host do if someone adds text above the rating?
Suspend the message containing the content which exceeds the rating. Either edit the content to fit the rating or email the member, asking them to edit their work. It's a good idea to explain why the message needs to be edited. 
OR
Change your rating to reflect the higher rated content.
Either way, make sure your ratings are accurate. 
Always keep on writing!
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Contests & Activities :
Just a few contests & activities I've come across on the site. Know of some gems that deserve exposure? Submit them in the feedback form or submission form at the end of this Newsletter, and I'll put them in my next one!
These were submitted through the form below:
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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My last newsletter discussed Time-Management.
Very good comments about time commitments...I really enjoyed it. I've learned that myself here on WDC...it can be an exciting place with lots to do and involve yourself in...but I've found that you have to think realistically about how much time you can dedicate. Life goes on outside WDC, things change and comitments suffer if you spread yourself too thin. ~ Helen McNicol 
Great points! This site offers a great deal and it's a temptation to spread ourselves thin by being involved in as much as possible, but it's important to remember that people (online and in real life) depend on us.
Great topic, Spidey. As a new host for a major monthly contest, I submit no amount of planning really prepares you for what you'll encounter along the way. I say that not to be a pessimist. When I was asked to consider this position, I already maintained a healthy presence on WDC, into a lot of things to be sure. I carefully measured my available time with what I thought might be involved ... and for the most part I'm OK wih my decision. Then I had 50% more entries than I anticipated. A couple fewer hours of sleep took care of that, but you get my drift.
I'm self-employed, and am required to prepare estimates for woodworking. Rule of thumb: Add 20 or 25% to your final estimate (of time requirements) to cover little eventualities.
Still, running a contest is one of the more rewarding things I've done here.
Jace ~ JACE 
Thanks for the feedback, and that's a great rule of thumb! I'll definitely use that one.
For me, it all came down to a commitment I made for New Year's 2009. I challenged myself to enter a contest EVERY month in 2009. The decision puts writing at the top of my daily priority list, and now I set three hours a day aside for writing new material, or re-writing/polishing my current entry. Too often I took care of "other business" on WDC to the point that I wasn't writing anymore!
When hosting contests it's best to share the responsibility with other judges. I host a brand new contest sponsored by Rising Stars. It's the first of its kind on WDC because it targets our young writers between the ages of 12 and 18! By enlisting the help of other judges/reviewers, we'll be able to create a unique learning arena providing participants much more feedback than if I shouldered the responsibility on my own -- and my daily writing practice won't suffer! Here's the link:
Thanks!
~Nicki~
~ NickiD89 
Now those are great motivational tools: priorities and goals. Good luck with your '09 challenge! And best of luck with your contest. Dividing up the judging/reviewing is a great idea!
Question to think about: Do you think rating limits on contest entries (i.e., "submissions must be 13+ or below") stifle creativity? Are they there to influence the writer or to keep the host from reading offensive material?
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Contests & Activities: July 15, 2009 Issue [#3157]
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