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Rated: E · Book · Contest · #483915

Questions Answered

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#227812 added January 31, 2026 at 4:24pm
Restrictions: None
What Kind of Rules do I need?
Having a contest is like inviting someone to your home. You may have some very special rules in your house, but unless you tell your guest about them, you can’t really hold them accountable, now can you? Hosting a contest is the same thing; you must tell the entrant what is expected, and then stick to the rules.

Provide them with: A theme or genre: One that is acceptable and that you are willing to read. Remember that you must read each entry.

A contest period: Provide the start date and the finish date. If applicable, the time and time zone. If you expect to have a certain number of entries before the judging begins, state that clearly. Remember that if you hold a contest based on entries, your contest could run a long time, and in turn discourage current entries from entering another contest you may have at a later time.

A gift point prize: Whether it be 100 gift points or 100,000 gift points, be sure to include what the winner will receive. You are free to increase this amount at any time during your contest. It is highly recommended NOT to reduce prize amounts at any time during a contest.

A rating guideline: If you want only ‘G’ entries than say so; if you accept all rating levels, then say so. Be certain to rate your forum appropriately for the rating level that you will allow.

A size guideline: Always state exactly how large or small the entries can be. This is generally done by word count for stories, and by line count for poetry.

An acceptable item: If you want only static items, then tell them. For rating purposes, it is best if you give them the option of a ‘c’ or ‘b’ item tag when posting their entries. If you are accepting entries posted directly to the forum, be sure to state this with the condition that their entry falls into the acceptable rating of the forum.

Judging guidelines: If you plan to take grammar and spelling into consideration, be sure to let them know. Do not post when the winners will be announced unless you are certain that you will do it at that exact time.

Entry fee: Personally, I disagree with this form of contest hosting, but if you must, then make it very clear that an entry will not be accepted without the required gift points included or sent to you directly.

Changes to Contest: Once your contest has started, members expect you to adhere to what they originally read. If you make any changes during the contest period, be sure to document the changes in a formal post to all entrants, or by highlighting/bolding changes in your contest header.

Disqualifying an Entry: As the Host of a Contest, you have the right to disqualify an entry at any time, provided that it is listed in your rules. However, be sure to send the member an email notifying them of such and the reason why.
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