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Timothy Hicks

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My name is Timothy Hicks, and I've been writing for 5 years now, since I was 13. My main hobbies include writing, playing my piano, origami and bicycling.

I'm a bit OCD about some things and some would refer to me as a nervous pacer. I like to do outdoor activities, but at the same enjoy my alone time where I can sit and write. I'm a very avid reader and enjoy several different genres: horror, science-fiction, fantasy, and mysteries such as Sherlock Holmes.

I've had several different jobs including shakerboarder, pizza-make and cotton candy maker-and-distributor.

I like to think of myself as someone that can fit into almost any crowd and I always try to stay on the bright side of things. I swear very little and hardly ever get mad at people. I believe spreading smiles is a much better practice than sharing negativity...

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Contest Suggestions ...

Blog Posted by Timothy Hicks: 4/16/2016 10:48:00 AM

I'm running my last day on the Yard Sale, so I figured I'd share a quick blog during the lulls of the sale.

Recently Craig Cornish brought up some interesting points about how the contests are run on this site. And I was thinking of a possible suggestion. I've only run a few different contests so far, and typically what I've done is have 40 entries and 15 winners (and however many HM's I wish to give) ... which means that 37.5% of my entries are winners. Now let's say there's another contest that has 50 entries and only 3 winners ... that means there's only a 6% acceptance rate (much more difficult) ... or if there's a much easier one that has 60 entries and 45 winners ... that woud be a 75% acceptance rate.

I don't know if this idea will ever go through (honestly not sure who runs this site?), but what if you made it where when you host a contest you automatically set in stone how many winners there will be (and however many honorable mentions you wish to give is up to you at the end). There'd be an Acceptance Rate right next to your contest that would give a number, like 37.5%, 6%, 75% etc., etc., ... the lower the percentage the more difficult the contest is. The higher the percentage the easier it is.

This way people would automatically know what they are in for, when they enter a contest. "Is this gonna be easy? Difficult? More medium range?" ... they could see the number right next to their contest.

What do you guys think?

I hope this ignites some conversation!

-Tim

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Anthony
Mark

Date: 4/17/2016 2:33:00 AM

Timothy ! contests on the soup are not " poetry real" they are driven in part by the need to be popular, and at the same time " in control" i have said before and will say again,..a contest sponser should put on a contest, then invite an "INDEPENDANT" judge to assist in the marking,.. this should remove biase, and if an agreement can not be reached , it should go to a committee to evaluate the writes, the contest should be passed to the committee to see if it meets a certain level, ( one liners should die, they have no value,and can not be judged by any old herbert)..once the contest gets the go ahead, it will be run professionally, and friends of friends need not apply,..just saying

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/18/2016 12:04:00 AM

Disagree with you about one liners ... why do you say they have no value? They are similar to haiku. They are a great way to provide various insight in seeing the same photo, bringing to life the adage: a picture is worth a thousand words.

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/18/2016 12:02:00 AM

Their are some that probably write to be popular, but I'll take inspiration wherever I can get it ... it's a bit too presumptuous of me to start saying what is and isn't "real poetry". Your suggestion is a good one for an addition to what PS already provides, but as a replacement it removes a lot of the freedom for people to judge a contest in a more informal way.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 4/16/2016 6:32:00 PM

Tim, you have entered the arena of soup's SORE spot. You are never going to see agreement on the issue of contests. I have tons to say on it, but it would take a long blog to do it and would end up in more bickering. All the stuff you are mentioning has been hashed and rehashed. There is a spot at the bottom of our contests where we can say how many placements there will be. Some say it, some don't. I think your way is the fairest of all. (15 winners) Others will argue only one or three winners is fair. it's like asking about politics. we are all too different to ever agree. That is why I stand by Rob's comments to you below. We have to respect each other and our right to disagree on things.

Arthur Vaso
Date: 4/17/2016 9:25:00 PM

So in conclusion fools do not suffer fools, ok then LOL

Anthony Mark
Date: 4/17/2016 2:41:00 AM

and Craig, Cyndi, Charlotte do not suffer fools gladly, either... :) good blog, always gets the heckles up,..

Anthony Mark
Date: 4/17/2016 2:37:00 AM

Julia Ward is the only true judge, whether we like it or not...she can fill a contest with 40 reluctant souls, but she will only reward 1,2,3,.. and trust me her winners are pretty good writes, because she is a big stickler for accuracy... and she cares not for " friends rates"

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/16/2016 8:52:00 PM

People would still be able to have as many or a few winners as they want ... But it's be would be easier for people to gravitate towards the kinda contests that would give them the right amount of challenge ... That was my main point. But I doubt that would happen, unless someone from TPS likes my idea.

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/16/2016 8:50:00 PM

Maybe you're right, Andrea. My suggestion wasn't implying anybody actually change the way they do contests ... Just a hypothetical feature that would be imbedded in the contest page itself: where each contest has a "difficulty percentage" so that people are aware of what they are getting into beforehand ...

Stephen
Pennell

Date: 4/16/2016 5:24:00 PM

as a novice i would say give as many as possible a shout it does not hurt 1,2 ,3 4 you know who won encourages new poets to try something new ,

Rob Carmack
Date: 4/18/2016 8:23:00 AM

Stephen, it is good to see you stand up to PS's bully. He has a long history of this and several other Elitists who rationalize their hatred the same way.

Stephen Pennell
Date: 4/18/2016 2:05:00 AM

Nice craig .you will not need to worry on your latest comp only 4 people have managed to meet your criteria, problem solved. last time I looked poetry was not a winner takes all sport a more of a pleasant pastime to be enjoyed. I salute anyone who takes the time to run a competition thank you

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/17/2016 11:59:00 PM

I appreciate the variety of different difficulty levels on the contests, Stephen ... from easy, to medium, to hard etc., ... my only suggestion was to add a "difficulty meter" next to the contests, but I think everyone is quite divided on the issue.

Rob Carmack
Date: 4/16/2016 6:54:00 PM

As Judge Smails implies below, unless a contest has a strict single 1-10 placement, the judge is weak & incompetent, the contests is meaningless, and the multiple winners are really baseless losers.

Carol
Eastman

Date: 4/16/2016 1:01:00 PM

My contests have numerous winners and are entered by EVERY level of poet on this site. When you start to try to tell others how to run their contests. Then others will have the right to tell you how to run yours. Mine are for fun, To showcase something you loved, and to get notice for beginners. Before these occassional EASY contests... This site was a click only (closed society). I add a bit more variety... And added a different type of poem... such as story poems, fables, and fun... Try it... You'll like it... Every level of poet here has happily entered my contests... I applaude them for welcoming the newbies and fun lovers. There are a lot of great people here that are not close minded.

Stephen Pennell
Date: 4/18/2016 2:14:00 AM

Well said this is what the competitions should be about fun

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/17/2016 1:20:00 PM

My comment got cut off ... finishing what I said. "Poetry is a way to express, enlighten, educate and/or entertain ... and if it seizes to become that then what's the point? "ripping into people without mercy" ... hmmm ... why not try to raise people up and encourage them to be the best they can be?

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/17/2016 1:12:00 PM

Mark ... It's true that sometimes you give constructive criticism, but a lot of the times it can come off as mean and/or abrasive. There's a difference between telling someone a way that a poem can be improved and just leaving remarks that beat a person down. Poetry is a way to express, enl

Arthur Vaso
Date: 4/17/2016 10:51:00 AM

You have said that so well Carol, I applaud you, and thank you for encouraging all poets here. That's how it should be!

Jan Allison
Date: 4/17/2016 4:50:00 AM

I've seen the way you 'rip into people without mercy' no wonder people leave!

Anthony Mark
Date: 4/17/2016 2:51:00 AM

Bev Smith ? remember her , well she did a little experiment regarding contests, and ran just 3 where the entrant had to be new to the soup, ie) since 2016, ..it was very good and allowed me as co-judge to rip into budding poets, without mercy, ..at all times being constructive..these are initiatives that can be developed to break up the boring contest formula..

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/16/2016 3:11:00 PM

I'm not a very uptight person and join the contests because I like the inspiration opportunities ... If I win then it's a bonus, but it doesn't super affect me either way. Writing is just fun for me.

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/16/2016 3:09:00 PM

Hey Carol. Thanks for giving me your input. But I think you might have misunderstood. I wasn't suggesting anybody change how they wish to set up contests. Rather I was suggesting that the contest page itself has a "difficulty meter" next to each of the contests, while still allowing people to have however many winners they wish on their own contest.

Carol Eastman
Date: 4/16/2016 2:21:00 PM

Thank you.

Rob Carmack
Date: 4/16/2016 1:13:00 PM

Carol, several months ago, when this was an issue in the blogs, a few started to place their contests as directed by the hostiles. I was glad to see that you didn't change and I hope you never do. Give my regards to Dragon.

Carol Eastman
Date: 4/16/2016 1:04:00 PM

I believe the main problem with multiple winner contests is that some don't like others gaining a few points that might be in competetion with theirs. I'm afraid It's an ego thing. Many of the sites best are happy with these contests I represent. And I thank them.

Rob
Carmack

Date: 4/16/2016 12:08:00 PM

The contests are open the masses, so there will be a variety of judges who’s methods some will not like. Once you start making rules for contests, when do you stop making them? Judges with whom I don’t agree with concerning their judgement, I don’t enter their contests. What I don’t do, is try to eliminate or restrict their liberty or their right to hold contests. I also don’t insult them, I save that for the oppressors and predators that think having some paradigm gives them the right to belittle others. There is no ‘contest’ issue.

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/17/2016 11:55:00 PM

I disagree with you there, Mark, as I've enjoyed myself quite a bit doing the contests ... whether I win or whether I lose, it really doesn't matter. Why? Because it's an excuse to write. I hope you enjoy writing yourself, Mark. Is not expressing yourself "fun" ....??

Anthony Mark
Date: 4/17/2016 3:03:00 AM

Rob! contests DO need rules and regulation, otherwise its not a contest,its a " thing'..no more no less,..lol.. Judges should have to meet a standard, or at least put a note on the contest to warn of dumbing down, and already " pre-selected" winners... contests should not " be fun" ..but devices , you want fun,..go the park!

Rob Carmack
Date: 4/16/2016 1:57:00 PM

Tommy, yes, the sky can be blue and most of the time it is. I didn't know you were trying to quit blogs, but you came back to them, just like you came back to the site. I am glad you did & I think you are too. Careful with the water, that too is not always blue. :)

Rob Carmack
Date: 4/16/2016 12:46:00 PM

Tommy - but the sky can be both green or blue, or neither especially concerning Auroras & Existentialism. Contests can be with multiple placements or single placements, it does not have to be one or the other, just like the sky.

Rob Carmack
Date: 4/16/2016 12:41:00 PM

Tim, I know you don't insult or belittle others, my comments about that was for 'The Beautiful People'. What I am saying is, the more rules imposed concerning the contest, the less it becomes ours. Your suggestion is good, and some are doing it, but I don't think it should be forced.

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/16/2016 12:22:00 PM

Hey Rob. I wasn't suggesting any rule changes ... Just a notifier in the contest page, letting people know the difficulty of the challenge, so people know what they are in for. Also I wasn't belittling or insulting anyone ... So I'm assuming you weren't referring to me?

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