Tips For Winning An Adopt

[Lady Sif]

Throughout this form, I will use plumies as my topic since this was made orignally for them, however, these tips can be used for pretty much any adopt.

Tips for trying out:

• Learn about your judge. Look at past contests that they've judged and see what they look for in a winner. Do they have a soft spot for some particular kind of personality? Do they like readings lots of writing or do they prefer art for development.
  
• A picture is only worth the number of words you attach to it. Art is good. Art can be key in a form. But all your art should relate to the character you're trying to build. Why did you pick this piece? How does it tell you something about them? Another left facing wolf isn't going to do it for you. Give them a personality and add in little things that really make the scene, like items or pets. Pick a pose that highlights their personality.
  
• When writing, don't be redundant and use line breaks. Once you've said something, you probably don't need to say it again, focus on developing other things first, then maybe revisit the most important concepts. Also use spacing. It's so hard to read things without proper line spacing.
  
• Figure out why you're writing something before you write it. Much like art, every piece of writing should have a point. Does your piece show how they handle stress? Does it show how they handle authority figures? Does it show their concepts of right and wrong? Just talking about someone's interests isn't much to read about, instead, show them enjoying those hobbies and add in some conflict. This brings me to my next point.
  
• When writing, show not tell. Always show what you can about a character through writing and try to avoid just talking about them. Now in some cases you might need to, it might be something your character doesn't ever really talk about or they might not even know about. Or you might need to be keeping it brief. But when you can, try to. Just in case you aren't sure what I mean by this, here's an example:
  

  Dave likes baking, gardening, flowers and playing board games.

  
  

  Dave looked around his apartment, only now notice all the little things he had collected that had changed it from a bleak jail cell where he was to suffer to a place that he actual enjoyed being in sometimes. He could see his collection of cookie cutters from where he was standing, all the fun time he'd had baking with them. His eyes turned to the window sill and he let out something between a laugh and a snort. You could hardly see out the window with how many different flowering plants he had collected over these long two years. Finally his eyes turned to his stack of board games, he remembered playing all those games with the friends he used to have. He'd always beat them and they'd all laugh and bemoan his gaming skills. His smile fell away as he remembered those fun times.

  
  
  Do you see the difference in that? With the first one you probably read over it with little impact on you, with the second one you got all that information in way more depth, while having a nice lead-in to a backstory. What happened to all his friends? Why did his apartment feel like a jail cell to him? What happened in these two years? When you show, you get your audience hooked and you let them ask the questions, and while you want to make it understandable, you also want to make them think, let them try to guess at your character. The more the judges are thinking about your character the better.
  
• Give your character flaws. Nobody is perfect, so make sure your character isn't. Maybe they're sweet but don't think ahead about things. Maybe they're just a jerk unless someone really needs help. Maybe they're a wimp. Whatever flaws you choose, make them deep enough that it gives your character depth. Don't do something like "They're nice but sometimes they can be a little snappy but don't worry they say sorry right after." Or catch alls like "He's a really sweet guy but he has a bad boy side that can easily be swayed and also he's a bodybuilder and eleven feet tall with flawless eyes and skin but also he's very shy." Your flaws should be real ones. Like "She's nice normally, but when she gets worked up over something she'll take it out on anyone around regardless of whether or not they had anything to do with the situation." Or "They are a mean person to other people. Unless someone's really in danger, they just laugh at other's misery. However, they do have a soft spot for animals and secretly will take hurt animals into their home and treat them."
  
• Be realistic about weight/hair/features. Does your character sit around on the couch all day and game, yet somehow they have 'perfect' body weight? (I say perfect and I mean by our ridiculous society's standards. Everyone's body weights are perfect no matter what.) that doesn't make a lot of sense. Try out different body types for your character, there's tons of different natural body types, mess around with them. Same goes for hair or other features. If your girl is rough and tumble kind gal, her hair should be unkept, probably in some easy to manage hair style or short. Teenagers aren't going to have perfect clear skin, noses don't need to be tiny and round. Experiment and keep trying new things.
  
• Don't use a culture/gender/mental illness or disability/disability/condition/sexuality of any kind unless you know what you're talking about. Do your research and never use any of those things as personality traits. If you actually have/are any of the things above, you're welcome to use your own experiences, but never lie about that to be able to use things harmfully. I've seen people trying to claim that they can use ADD and ADHD as adjectives because they "have both" despite that being impossible. Never use harmful stereotypes to build your character. This is very serious. Don't do it.
  
• Have fun. Why tryout for something if you aren't having fun doing it? Enjoy what you're drawing/writing, and don't force ideas that you don't like. This is all just for fun, so make sure you're enjoying it.
  
• 
  Don't expect to win your first contest. It's a good hope, but odds are likely you'll need time to figure out the judges and practice development. You shouldn't not try, you should try your very best. But don't be down on yourself if you don't win the first few contests. Or even your first twenty contests. Took me near thirty tryouts to get my first. You just gotta keep working at it.
  
• Don't tryout for a plumie just because the contest is easy. Honestly, I will admit to doing this with Ritika. I wasn't super connected to her design but I thought, why not, seems simple to win? And I did win her, and I ended up really forming a strong bond with her. But that won't always be the case. So if you don't love them, leave the contest to someone who will.
  
• Read the rules twice. Always go through and reread the contest rules again. Make sure your form is exactly what the judge was looking for.
  
• Who they are, not where they're from. Focus on building a character, not explaining their history.
  
• Don't start a form if you know you won't have time to finish it.
  
• Get the required parts down before the extras.
  
• Doing art for forms is great, but ALWAYS put effort into your
  work! Sketches, sloppy pieces etc. more than often get skipped
  over by judges, and most judges go off of effort in art. Even though
  your allowed a ton of art, whatever art you do make or order
  make sure it has effort in it (suggested by Tricksters)
  
• Don't be a sore loser
  
• Check your character and make sure they have flaws! Personally, I use this site -> http://www.springhole.net/writing/marysue.htm

If anyone has anything to add, post it below!

[RedFur1322]

I hope it's ok to add these things-

•Be unique. Certain contests will ask your character questions, like "what do they do during the winter?" It's advised not to be cliche and say "They make snow angels." Why not try "They study snowflakes and all the different shapes." Lots of people will put the obvious, and you should deviate from what the judges expect. (In a good way.)

[Tricksters]

here's something

• Try to keep your writing condensed! Though
developing through writing is a great idea, most artist's and
judge's don't like to wade through huge bursts and blocks
of text. Try putting a lot of development into a short amount
of text. And keep your eye on word limits!

• Doing art for forms is great, but ALWAYS put effort into your
work! Sketches, sloppy pieces etc. more than often get skipped
over by judges, and most judges go off of effort in art. Even though
your allowed a ton of art, whatever art you do make or order
make sure it has effort in it

[Lady Sif]

I hope it's ok to add these things-

•Be unique. Certain contests will ask your character questions, like "what do they do during the winter?" It's advised not to be cliche and say "They make snow angels." Why not try "They study snowflakes and all the different shapes." Lots of people will put the obvious, and you should deviate from what the judges expect. (In a good way.)

Well, this tip can go the wrong way.

Yes, you should do your best to come up with something special, but don't stray too far from what the judge is asking.

And sometimes simple answers are best if you can work them into a character or make it interesting. What if they make snow angels in such numbers that they cover fields? What if they're all alone out in the forest and think their the only plumie left alive, so when winter comes around, they love it because they can make snow angels to talk to and pretend are real people? What if they always remember to go back and make a snow angel in a certain spot, because when they do someone else leaves and angel right next to theirs so the angels are holding hands?

You can go lots of different routes and no route is wrong or right, just try to give things a reason. What's more important is that you don't go against what the judge is asking to be special or have a piece that only sort of fits.

For example, if the judge has a winter themed plumie, and asks you to tell them their favorite thing to make out of snow, trying to go the path of them being afraid of snow or hating it isn't the best of ideas. Same goes for something like their favorite thing to do in the snow is knock snow off tree branches and onto people. Sure, that's still snow related, but it's not making something out of snow.

here's something

• Try to keep your writing condensed! Though
developing through writing is a great idea, most artist's and
judge's don't like to wade through huge bursts and blocks
of text. Try putting a lot of development into a short amount
of text. And keep your eye on word limits!

• Doing art for forms is great, but ALWAYS put effort into your
work! Sketches, sloppy pieces etc. more than often get skipped
over by judges, and most judges go off of effort in art. Even though
your allowed a ton of art, whatever art you do make or order
make sure it has effort in it

I'll add the second one, as I've found that can be very important and often it's better to not have any artwork at all then have LQ stuff.

But the first one can be tricky, sometimes you need to stretch things out, and just chucking character development bit after character development bit at them is going to be far to hard for a judge to take in. Let them get a sense of your character first, then give them development mixed up with little things that aren't as important. Just be sure to space it out and keep it light.

[RedFur1322]

I hope it's ok to add these things-

•Be unique. Certain contests will ask your character questions, like "what do they do during the winter?" It's advised not to be cliche and say "They make snow angels." Why not try "They study snowflakes and all the different shapes." Lots of people will put the obvious, and you should deviate from what the judges expect. (In a good way.)

Well, this tip can go the wrong way.

Yes, you should do your best to come up with something special, but don't stray too far from what the judge is asking.

And sometimes simple answers are best if you can work them into a character or make it interesting. What if they make snow angels in such numbers that they cover fields? What if they're all alone out in the forest and think their the only plumie left alive, so when winter comes around, they love it because they can make snow angels to talk to and pretend are real people? What if they always remember to go back and make a snow angel in a certain spot, because when they do someone else leaves and angel right next to theirs so the angels are holding hands?

You can go lots of different routes and no route is wrong or right, just try to give things a reason. What's more important is that you don't go against what the judge is asking to be special or have a piece that only sort of fits.

For example, if the judge has a winter themed plumie, and asks you to tell them their favorite thing to make out of snow, trying to go the path of them being afraid of snow or hating it isn't the best of ideas. Same goes for something like their favorite thing to do in the snow is knock snow off tree branches and onto people. Sure, that's still snow related, but it's not making something out of snow.


True. Thanks for pointing that out. It explains what I was going for a lot better. I know that it can go the wrong way, but It did work for me. I guess that when I said "deviate" people would suggest to not do what the judge says, I just meant what you said above. ^^

[GREML0RD]

Just ignore this right now. I have to go out and I don't have time to quickly sum up my long winded rambling but I don't want to loose what I've already written so far XD I'll be back in a bit to edit this post and finish up what I wanted to say.


This isn't exactly hard fact, it's just something I've figured out that works and thought it would be help those that have a hard time with their form. I can't guarentee this is sure bound for you to win but these might help your chances better with some competitions.

Have you ever noticed that when you read a book, some draw your attention into them through the first few pages and some books don't hold your attention and you put the book down? That concept can be applied to forms. You can create the most amazing form ever with this cool character and everything but if you don't draw the reader into your form they'll get bored and their attention will wane from your information so no matter how amazing all your information is you've already lost your reader whom is most likely the judge.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, at the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the average attention span of a human being has dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds in 2013. Now whether this is actually true or not as in down to that exact second it is a known fact that we do have a short attention span, me being a great example of that XD So, in the first 8-12 seconds of your form, you need to be able to draw your reader into your form. But, you don't want to be overly flashy either. That off puts the reader. Imagine if you had a hundred fireworks shot up right in your face, it's overwhelming and would probably make you dizzy and/or sick. That's the same concept with an overly flashy form. You want to stand out but don't make it so flashy it makes the reader overwhelmed XD

There are many ways you can draw your reader in and one way I've found to be pretty affective and interesting is if you're doing a contest that allows you to write story, start with some of the story first. Like in books, sometimes there's a prologue at the beginning of a book that draws you in before you've actually gotten to the story. The prologue is there to catch your interest before the story has begun so that you'll continue with the book. If you have the ability, do this with your form as well. It draws the reader in and keeps them there because they want to find out what happens next. Anticipation and curiosity....