Rules and useful Notes which you should read before making a Contest

Rules for Contests
1. Use proper spelling and grammar. A few mistakes here or there is fine, but you shouldn't have your post full of them. You want the readers to know what the contest is about, no?
2. Once a contest is over, add 'CONTEST OVER' at the end of its title to prevent further entries after the end date. Once you have given all the prizes to winners, you should delete the thread or PM me to do so.
3. You should NOT do a contest where users have to pay to enter. *EDIT* Well, if it is some kind of a contest where all the 'payments' are given to the winner/s at the end then you can.
4. When you judge the winners of the contest, keep in mind - you are judging the quality of their work and not your friendship to them. This means you should not make somebody a winner just because they are your best friend or family member or whatever. You should also not make somebody who did very well to loose just because you don't like their personality or whatever among these lines.
5. When it is over, you should give users their prizes in ONE WEEK from the date when you announced the winners.
6. Only staff members can make new topics in Official Contests forum. However, just because a contest was made by a staff member does NOT mean it is official.
7. You should always let the users know at least approximately what the prizes will be. Why would people enter if they don't know what they can get?

Useful notes
-You recognize an official contest by two things - first, it is ALWAYS made by a staff member, and second, it includes prizes which only staff members can give you, such as a special adoptable that cannot be given to you by a normal user. The contest is only official if it meets BOTH conditions. Please PM me if you find a contest in the wrong forum so I can move it.
-since most or all of members are from PF, this means you CAN put PF stuff such as events or boxes or whatever.