Incinermyn

Well, I don't really think you need to worry about it too much. Traditional Haiku is very different from the anglicized version. As such, rating them could be influenced by what version the judge prefers.

Oh ****. I just realised that I posted the wrong type of poetry in that thread. -...-
That's vaguely embarrasing. . .

Good luck with your fics! I'll try to see what I can do about catching up with Feral Twilight, since that was one of my favorites, but as you've already guessed I have a lot on my plate right now. I'll see what I can do.

I think it's going pretty well. A couple people entered that I didn't even know they knew FF&W existed!

Advertisement for the poetry competition has been posted! :D

It seems to be attracting a couple of new people as well.

In my opinion, if you're hosting the contest, you should never participate in it. I just posted my own haiku, so hopefully a couple more people will post.

Fan fiction isn't popular because it takes a lot of time and commitment in order to make it good. A lot of people don't realize just how much work it is to make a story. So, they start and never make it past the second chapter. My hope for the section isn't to have a lot of fics, which we already have a fair amount, but rather to have a lot of people in the writers' lounge discussing various topics and helping new writers out. If that happens, a community will start to form. When a community forms, you have friends, and friends feel more inclined to reading each others' fics and more reviews happen. It's a cycle I'm trying to start up over time.

Competitions will be a key factor in building that community because it almost forces people to interact with one another. I don't want any long-term competitions right now, because that takes time and effort which some people might have in the beginning, but not towards the end. I like your haiku contest because haikus are relatively easy to make (ignoring quality) and it doesn't require long-term commitment. If competitions are going to be successful, they have to be short and sweet.

I also sent the advertisement request and I'll tell you if it's accepted or denied.

I'll think of an entry, it might take me a while, but I'll try to get something up.

I don't mind. FF&W isn't the most active forum, so often times I'm thinking of ways to get activity up and helping you out with the poetry competition actually makes me feel like I'm doing something. I'll see what I can do about getting it advertised.

I think you're overreacting a little bit. Unless you've gotten some harsh feedback via PM or VM, from other people, the only person that would want you to change it was Rococo. It's the first run of the poetry bi-weekly contest, so it's going to hit some snags. Ultimately it's up to you and if you want me to close the thread I will, but I would encourage waiting this one out.

On another note, if you're worried about people participating, I can ask to see if the contest can get a special shout-out on the PC facebook and twitter page.

It's best to just include everything and leave nothing to judgement. I see you added a part specifying which haiku's, so that's good.

I believe we have hit a snag with the poetry competition. I would put in what a haiku is, or what type you're looking for. Rococo put in some pretty good points that I think should at least be considered. I believe you're looking for a 5/7/5 syllable haiku, correct? Either way, I think you should specify what kind of haiku you're looking for. Just to be on the safe side.

I'm not against you hosting it at all. I'm just on the fence on whether or not I should participate. People might be a little scared of the big blue name. Plus, if I win (which would be a long shot :P ) people could count it as bias or something. I guess there would be less bias if we go by likes, so I think that's a good idea. I'll think about it some more.

What's your thought on the emblems?

The only thing that PC has that's similar is emblems. I could try my hand at making an emblem and offer that up. Although, I'm not too familiar with emblems, so I'll have to look that up. That's the closest thing we have that I know of. It could work, but I would need some time to set it up.

What plan did you have for the judges?

I was thinking about the poetry contest some more and I think we need to figure out a prize or something. You know, give the members some sort of incentive to participate. I'm trying to think of a prize myself, but I'm just not quite sure what to give out. Maybe a feature of some of their work among the section, or in my signature. But then again, I want to draw people in that haven't necessarily posted in the section before. I don't know, just thinking as I type really. Any suggestions?

Go for it. It could be a welcomed change, having a competition.

I wasn't here a couple years ago, so I'm afraid I don't know what it was like back in the good old days. All I know is that the section is looking a little bare at the moment.

If you want to give it a shot, go ahead. I don't think it's a bad idea at all.

If we really want to improve the section's activity, we have to start chatting. Right now, the section has a post and go feel to it that I don't like. People state their opinion without bouncing ideas off of eachother. If we started bouncing ideas off of eachother and discussed, then I feel like the section would start to feel like a community.

It will be a while before I get around to it, but I'll get to it eventually. I first have to think of what to put in there.

A poetry contest sounds like it could work. Although, my concern is that not a lot of people work with poetry on here, so it might not be all that popular. I took Ray's idea of the interviewing your character thing and posted it on another forum. It's an incredibly popular thread here, but I didn't get a single response on the other forum. It all depends on the attitude of the particular section.

However, we really won't know until someone tries it.

Yeah, I don't expect people to come running over just because of a few posts.

One thing I was considering doing was editing the top of the page to be a little more inviting rather than just a few words. Like in the Pokemon Clubs page, they use that space very well. Just something like that maybe.

Thanks! I'll do my best to increase activity in the Fan Fiction and Writing section, as that's my biggest concern right now.

Oh, I have a touch-screen phone with apps and features. I think. It has lots of buttons on the menu screen and stuff. I only use its phone, text, and alarm clock features. Internet isn't even activated on it. It used to be my brother's, but he gave it to me (last year?) when something about my old flip phone stopped working.

Convenient demos are great things! I guess they can make demos longer too, since you don't have to go somewhere to try it out, where other people may want to as well.

Ouch, sounds annoying! Heh, smartphones. I'm so out-of-touch with phones; I have no idea what qualifies a phone as "smart." Typing things out? Because of auto-correct? Haha, I've seen quite a few hilarious conversations, just because of auto-correct.

Ah, I see.

Wi-fi is great to have! I think the first demo I downloaded was early this year, with HarmoKnight. Before then, I don't think I even knew about demos/didn't pay much attention to them.