Launching My New Website

I put some polishing touches on a new ‘editing related’ website. Its going to eventually be the official home page for me, but most content at this point is just a fraternal mirror of my ODP editing site.

You can check out the new site if you are interested by visiting:

http://shadow575.home.comcast.net

Its got a different design feel to it, but as I said the content while slightly modified is basically the same as what was found at my other editing site.

Best Of The Web

After many months of debating and delays, I have finally taken my friend Rob Jones up on the offer to help out at, and joined the team of the Best of The Web directory. I honestly don’t know how much I will be able to contribute or how quickly for that matter as other personal factors are draining my resources at this time. However, its something that I have been considering for a long time now and finally decided it was worth checking out. Let me be clear though, I did not leave DMOZ for BOTW.  Rather I just added another project to my list of things to pitch in on. It not only compliments my participation at DMOZ, but also my very minimal contributions over at JoeAnt over the last year or two.  I look forward to working with a few old friends who have also joined up over there. If nothing else, it should be a great experience building up some categories of interest basically from scratch.  DMOZ is my first love and I still will be focused on that project, this was something I also wanted to try.

I have only just started playing with the buttons and find it a little challenging being a newbie all over again. My initial impression is that it gives me the opportunity to do what I love to do, which is building categories.  However the differences of style and design have been a bit challenging thus far.  I suppose its because of 4 years being accustomed to DMOZ and Joeants interfaces.   I look forward to being able to dedicate a little more specific time, to playing with things and getting familiar with it.  Its also nice to not have to deal with other pressures, and just focus on editing.  While I enjoy the many other things I have the opportunity to do at DMOZ and wouldn’t change anything, its a nice change of pace to just find and list sites without any other concerns.

I look forward to the challenge and appreciate the opportunity.  Thanks Rob.

Application Denied - Category Already Well Represented

I noticed it again. Someone complaining about receiving an “automated rejection message” for an application to edit, that stated “you have chosen a category that is already well represented” and that they should “apply for a category that is less represented”. Their belief is usually, that the category hasn’t been updated in many months (or years) and the category still had a “Volunteer To Edit” link on it. So it must not be well represented. Unfortunately, these comments are misleading to anyone who hasn’t applied to become an editor. The recipient of this letter has failed to mention what the actual denied application letter said, and chosen to focus on one small part of it that is likely not the real problem.

Firstly, there are NO automated responses to application acceptance or denials. If you apply, the response you receive may be one of the standard messages (or a modified version) but its been generated by a human being and done so because they reviewed your application and determined that this response was the most applicable. The entire section of the above denied application message reads:

Although we would like you to join us as a volunteer editor, you have chosen a category that is already well represented, or is broader than we typically assign to a new editor. We would encourage you to re-apply for a category that has fewer editors or is smaller in scope, in order to increase your chances of being accepted.

The key part of this is almost always “or is broader than we typically assign to a new editor”. In almost all cases of this nature, the category is either too large (typically having more than a hundred listed sites, or large/spammy suggestion pools) or so broad in scope that few sites would be listed there and it would be too much for an editor in training to try and maintain without more experience. The rest of this message is almost always ‘forgotten’ when someone posts a complaint about being denied on an application. Generally speaking, a category of less than a hundred listed sites is a good place to start an editors training.

One of the main reasons for a new editor to start in a smaller category, is because it provides a safer learning environment for them. No matter what the pre-existing state of the category is, a smaller category provides the chance for an editor to learn without too many complications. Also having access in a smaller section of the directory to start out, will help limit the amount of damage that mistakes made by a new editor can do. Remember, even if your application makes a good impression on the reviewer, it can only give a glimmer of insight into your potential skills as an editor. A smaller category makes it much easier and more manageable for a newbie trial run.

Do not be discouraged by a denied application or three. Many (most?) of us failed to get close enough on the first attempt, for a reviewer to take a chance on us. I think it was my third or fourth attempt before I got it in the ball park. Besides being able to identify and take the appropriate steps to rectify problems with your own denied application, helps to demonstrate many of the qualities a good editor possesses. Unless the reviewer left comments suggesting a future application wouldn’t be necessary, please take some time to work out and correct the problems with the denied application and re-apply. There is no set time period for waiting to reapply, once you are ready just go for it.

Recommended reading:

• Become An Editor
• Editing Guidelines