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It could happen when you least expect it. You're on the boards, and WHAM! You're hit with a board proclaiming one of your ultimate dream pets UFA. For our purposes, let's call this pet Leonard. What Leonard is doesn't matter, the point is that you have never been so excited about a pet before. I'll apply for Leonard, you decide, but when you enter the board you see the words which fill you with dread: Petpage applications preferred. Well, you decide, I can't make petpage applications! I'm out of the running before I even start, right?
Please press F11 to view the layout properly!
Hello there. I'm Stephanie, and I welcome you to my petpage application guide. It's called Bursting the Bubble because all too often I see people who insist I'm terrible at petpage apps! It's too hard! I can't do it! POP! That was me bursting your bubble and telling you right now: Yes you can. A petpage app shouldn't be a scary thing. It's a fun and rewarding process, and hopefully this guide will be of help in you creating a fantastic petpage application which will blow the owner away!
I've made several petpage applications before, and I've rated and critiqued countless others, so don't worry, I do know what I'm talking about. I'm also assuming if you're here, then you're serious about working as hard as possible on your application. I've been as comprehensive and detailed in this guide as I can be, which does mean a lot of reading. I also must stress that following the advice in this guide will not guarantee you as the future owner: it's just meant to help you try to give yourself the best chance possible.
The basic premise of this guide is to take you through the aspects of a petpage application which I believe are essential to its overall success. So, before you do anything:
I cannot stress enough how important this is. Usually, a pet will have rules concerning the application process on their petpage or lookup, but it depends on the discretion of the owner. Either way, if they have a rules page, find it, and read it. Then read it again. Print it out and stick it on the wall. Form a shrine. Conduct worship ceremonies three times a day until you know the rules back to front. They have been put there for a reason, and speaking as a sometime foster parent myself, not following even one rule is pretty much an automatic disqualification. So you hopefully see why they're important. Take note of the deadline, if any. You should only attempt a petpage application if think you have enough time to work to the best of your ability on the app before that date.
It seems obvious, but before you continue to the next steps, you must also know the following about that pet of your dreams:
If you are applying for a Maraquan Gelert and say something like Hi, and welcome to my app for your lovely Maraquan Shoyru, well...suffice to say you'd just be wasting everyone's time.
What sets apart petpage applications from neomail applications is the layout. The layout provides a first impression, and sets the tone for what the reader can expect. I can't code! I hear you protest. That shouldn't stop you from trying. There are countless CSS and HTML help pages which are there to help you figure out how to set out the page you want. A few months ago, I knew nothing about CSS, but by carefully reading a few guides, you can learn as well. The Helpful Links section of this guide has some fantastic CSS/HTML pages if you're stuck.
If you really and truly cannot put together a page yourself, there are some fantastic premade petpage layout pages in the aforementioned section. Please note that there are those who look down upon the use of a premade, so while the essential answer for their use is yes, remember that effort put in to a layout of your own making is greater than a really pretty premade. If you do want to use a premade, you MUST leave credit where credit is due. I'm warning you now, if you try to pass off something which someone else spent time on as your own, you WILL be found out, and frozen. Theft is a crime, on real life and on Neopets. Do NOT steal someone else's layout. This applies to page sources as well. Even if you edit it, it is not yours. Feel free to use page sources as reference material only: utilise a look-but-don't-touch approach.
A layout can look however you want it to. My personal favourite is the image layout, similar to the layout on this guide. Other options include a simple table, a div layout...do some experimenting and see what you can come up with!
It's up to you. I personally like to use photobucket.com, and to my knowledge it's probably your best option, but there are some other image hosting sites out there, like imageshack. Make a choice!
So you've got the layout ready? Good! Time to fill that page with application goodness. Now, the following is a rough guide to sections which I consider essential to any application: keep in mind, though, that the ordering and exact content of these sections is entirely up to you.
Introduction: Greet the viewer, introduce yourself and welcome them to the application. Include a short story excerpt/description to make things more interesting. Saying what browser/resolution the app looks best in is always helpful.
Pet design/story/profile: See the next section for more information on this.
About: This is where you properly introduce yourself. Ideally, you should divide this into two parts: about you in real life, and about you on Neopets.
About you in real life: Name/nicknames, age, country...whatever basic identifying things that you feel comfortable providing. A short list of hobbies/aspirations also works here. Mentioning any real life pets you have here is not necessary, but if you do, try not to go on about them: always remember your focus is on the pet you are applying for.
About you on Neopets: Name and provide a link to all your accounts. How long have you been playing? What do you like doing on Neopets (Beauty Contest, roleplaying, battledome?) What's your account history? Have you been frozen/suspended/warned before? If so, why? It may seem tempting to skim over unsavoury aspects of your time here, but reality is, dishonesty will get you nowhere. No-one's perfect, and most people will accept that.
Why _____? Explaining why you want the pet so much is important. Why choose it, out of the countless numbers of pets who are UFA in Neopia? Do NOT use the phrase ultimate dream pet unless it honestly IS. Dream pet indicates the two or three, maybe even five pets which exist in Neopia for which you would consider giving your left arm for. Maybe even consider emitting the phrase totally, as it can get tiresome for the owner. You can't avoid discussing colour/species/UC status (if applicable) for why you want them, but keep in mind that there should be a deeper reason for applying for the pet. Is it their name? Are there personal reasons why you love it so much? As Rafiki from the Lion King would say, Look harder...
Why me? I usually use this as a prelude to the future plans section. It can be difficult to talk yourself up, but it's a necessary evil. What makes you a better owner than any other applicant? Have you got mad skillz in writing, drawing, roleplaying? Are you incredibly active? Lots of free time? Dedicated? Whatever is good about you as an owner, say it loud and proud! And then segway into...
Future plans: Your future plans are important. Kay? A pet is put UFA for many reasons, but owners are all looking for the same thing: a happy and eventful future for their pet in its new home. Saying Oh, I'll feed them and play with them every single day and they will be so happy with me lulz isn't enough. Suffice to say that you endeavour to keep your pets in good health/spirits. Backing yourself up here is essential, and by that I mean proving everything you're talking about. What kind of life will the pet have? BCing, RPing, BDing...the list can go on. What matters most here is that everything you say you will do has some kind of proof behind it. Links/screenshots of trophies you've won with other pets in the BC, roleplay samples, a link to a gallery/trade filled with books/codestones/gourmet food/customisation items and maybe even the perfect petpet, whatever your plans are: all of these back yourself up and show the owner without doubt that you mean business.
Here, you might also want to reassure the owner that you will not trade/pound/adopt out the pet when you've received them. Because you won't, right? -glare- If there's even a shadow of a chance you might...well, maybe you shouldn't be applying, ne?
Conclusion: Thank the reader for their time. Maybe come back to the story you had earlier. Try not to brownnose the owner, but it's always nice to wish them luck in choosing an owner for the pet and expressing your hope that they end up with the best person possible.
The following aren't prerequisites for a great application, but they're good for added extras; little bits which can enhance what you've already got.
Meet the family: Briefly profile the pets near and dear to you, and provide links to their lookups to show your love and dedication to the pets you've already got. You can approach this in several ways, even write in first person from each pets' perspective about themselves and how much they're looking forward to meeting the pet.
References: If you've got some good friends on Neo, you can ask them to write recommendations for you. They don't need to be too detailed, just basically a brief discussion of your good points and why they think you're a great choice. Don't go overboard on these!
Ratings: If you've received some positive feedback on the Neoboards about your application, you can take a screenie to show the owner that it's not just you who thinks the app is great: other people do too! Again, don't go overboard with these.
Adoptables/Toybox: If you choose, you can make some adoptables of the species of the pet you're applying for! Basic colours are the most common, but you can choose to branch out into other colours as well, and even do customs for people! A toybox, as it's commonly referred to, is where you can put any adoptables you've found around the place. Eg, if you're applying for a Royal Gelert, a toybox consists of Royal Gelert adoptables other people have done. But, again, leave credit where credit is due! Make sure each and every one follows the rules for use set out by their maker, or you could get frozen.
Technically this should be integrated with the basics, but I personally consider it the most important aspect of your application and thus think it should have its own section. I'm talking about the part where you provide a character profile, story writing, poems, roleplay, art, whatever, of the pet. These can all be considered bonuses to an extent but from my experience they are just as important as any of the sections I mentioned previously. Again, what order you address these in and the content of each relies on your discretion.
Profile: A sort of getting-to-know-you of the pet. Deal with the basic characteristics, like name, nickname, gender, personality traits, hobbies. A common aspect of this part is a likes/dislikes of the pet.
Story/poems: If you're into creative writing, this is a perfect way to show off your skills and dedication to the pet. Writing a story or a poem for the pet is a clear indication to the owner of effort on your behalf.
Roleplay sample: Realistically, you should only include this if you actually intend to roleplay the pet in the future: otherwise, let's face it, what's the point? I'm not a roleplayer myself, so I honestly cannot offer any advice on how to approach this. The Helpful Links section has a great roleplaying guide if you need it.
Art: To bring back the bubble analogy, I don't want to hear about how you can't draw and there's obviously no possible way you can provide any art of the pet, because to burst your bubble, art is super-mega-important in an application. No-one wants to just read endless content and not see any pretty pictures. You don't necessarily need a fancy tablet, or Photoshop or what have you to draw well. Using MS Paint, or doing 'traditional' (non computer generated) art is just as good. Owners are not looking for brilliant artists: I want to make it very clear that obvious effort in this area will always matter more than talent, and the owner shouldn't be choosing an applicant based on drawing skills anyway. Even if you still refuse to try it out yourself, there are people on the Neopian Pound/Beauty Contest chat who will do art requests for you, if you ask nicely. Fanart is a great way to beautify an application if you can't do so yourself, but remember to leave credit where credit is due. If someone is kind enough to draw something for you, don't pass it off as your own!
So let's say you're applying for a Faerie Xweetok. Her personality is kind-hearted and sweet, always willing to help out others, and she just loves flying in the clouds of Faerieland...gag. Hold up for a second. While I'm not saying there's anything inherently wrong with that, think about it: there's nothing really unique about that character. I'm about to introduce you to something which can make or break your application: the design.
Now, I'm not saying that for every application, a unique design is necessary, by all means. But the more sought-after a pet UFA is, the more likely a creative design will contribute to your chances. Giving the pet a unique voice and story, different to any other applicant, is a sure-fire way to get your application noticed, for good or bad. If you wish to do without, by all means skip ahead to the next section. But if you want to learn the ins and outs of creative designs, read on!
A design is the appearance/personality/story you create for the pet. It means branching off a bit from the Neopets art and coming up with your own unique take on the pet. Not all designs are character-based, but if you ask me, the best ones are.
Still confused? Don't worry, we can figure this out together. Take a Baby Gelert, like my own Lilisce, for example. She has a 'design'. There's a big difference between a standard Baby Gelert and her design.
Standard Baby Gelert: Cute and mischevious, Lilisce loves playing with her toys and exploring the outside world, but she gets up to so much mischief!
Lilisce's design: Born into an obscure race of angel-saints employed by Queen Fyora, Lilisce is the patron saint and guardian angel of the youth in Neopia. Her duty is to watch over baby Neopets, ensuring their health and wellbeing.
Hopefully, you can see a difference between the two examples, and see why a unique design for a pet is a desirable thing.
No problem! Take inspiration from everything. Look at historical periods, archetypes, areas you're interested in, and go from there. When I'm truly stuck, I choose a world in Neopia and design from there. I'm not here to provide you with brilliant design ideas, only to start you off on the path. Use your imagination! Consider the pet, their name, and imagine what they could be. A small-town baker? A secret agent? A DJ? An ancient princess? An evil king? You don't have to adhere to the colour: Faerie pets don't all necessarily have to live in Faerieland.
Once you've got your design idea, start designing! Do some preiliminary sketching/story writing/character building to get a feel for your new design. Write in the first person from their perspective to get inside the head of whomever that character is. Do whatever you can until you've defined their special look/back story/personality to your satisfaction. Once you've done this, unleash that design on your application and let the unique voice of that pet shine through! You can seek feedback on the design on the Help Chat or the Beauty Contest chat: there's usually someone who will critique your ideas and help you improve if need be.
Having covered the essential content of a great application, I present to you a somewhat definitive list of golden rules of app making. Thanks to the members of the Applicant's Chat who offered some great suggestions for the lists.
Thou Shalt
Thou Shalt Not
My content's done, my layout's done, my design is totally epicwin and it's all finished! Can I hand it in?
No!!
Sorry. I had to be dramatic, because there's so much more to a petpage app than the app itself. Consider doing some Dedications to the pet first.
Your dedications are entirely up to you, but they're often used as added extras to go that one step further to show dedication to the pet. Ideas for dedications include:
Another option is to dedicate a room of your Neohome to the pet, kind of like a 'welcome home' gesture. I've never actually seen this done before, so major brownie points if you manage to pull it off!
If you choose not to do any dedications, try and ensure that all your pets' lookups are presentable, and consider putting something other than the default layout on your main account's userlookup, at least. We want to make a favourable impression, don't we?
Your app is now complete, and your accounts padded out with nifty decorations and dedications to make it all look good. Now cometh the rating time! Post on the Neopian Pound boards, or head on over to Neopound.com's forums to get your app rated. There are great, lovely people out there who will critique and give feedback for you with your app. If you are given any advice, listen to it and make any necessary changes, unless you completely disagree with a crit. Always be polite and thank anyone who helps you out.
Before you submit, re-read your application. Now read it again. And again. Do this until you are 100% certain there are no spelling/typing errors, and that everything is the way you want it. Go back to the rules page and make absolutely certain that you adhere to every single one of the rules. Get a few final rates of the finished product. By now, the deadline should be close, so follow any instructions given on the submission process (titles of the neomail etc) and then breathe a sigh of relief after you've submitted it.
After the deadline's passed, all you can realistically do is wait. Check the rules/petlookup of the pet for updates, and whatever you do, don't pester the owner asking if they've made a decision yet. This is just plain irritating. Patience is a great virtue to have.
I got rejected...
Sorry to say, but sometimes it happens. I strongly advise you not to take it personally: if the owner didn't feel you were the kind of person they had in mind, there's nothing to be ashamed of there. Feel proud of your efforts and give yourself a pat on the back for having completed the process of petpage application making. Chin up, and move on.
I got accepted!
Congratulations! For some owners, there may be a semi-finalists round where they ask you to go one step further, and do something extra as a final gesture to help them choose an owner, so keep an eye out for updates where you can.
I GOT CHOSEN AS THE NEW OWNER!
-huggles- Congratulations! Enjoy your new pet, and take pride in the fact that all your hard work paid off.
Here are some helpful links to great sites that can help you with the many and varied aspects of making a petpage application. Enjoy!
| CSS/HTML help sites |
Premade layouts
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Art/drawing tutorials
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Roleplaying
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Adoptables
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Know of any other great guides which should be here? Neomail me! Every guide might be of help! |
So, we reach the end of my guide. I sincerely hope I managed to burst any little bubble you were living in, convinced that petpage applications were beyond you. Petpage applications are not out of anyone's reach. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything, and I hope that's been made clear to you.
If you liked this guide, please consider linking back to it and spreading the word with any of the buttons below. There's a lot of other bubbles out there that need bursting, you know.
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Thanks so much for taking the time to read this, and again, I hope I helped. I wish you luck in all your future endeavours, and may all your petpage applications be successful and rewarding ones!
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