What to expect when you become a Dmoz editor. Pt. 1

So, you want to become a Dmoz editor and you have either already applied, or applied and have been rejected for whatever reasons and have applied again. The good thing about Dmoz is that as soon as you've been notified of your rejection you're able to apply again immediately. Sometimes with a more improved application, and other times for a different category. But, what should you expect once you become a Dmoz editor? Is it a complete culture shock from other editing communities? Well, I can't answer the last question because I've never been privileged to work in other virtual communities where volunteers are utilized. There used to be Zeal before it was shut down, but there are a lot of other editing communities that benefit from the hard work of Internet volunteers. Unfortunately, I can't speak on how those communities work, but I can comment on what you should expect once you become a Dmoz volunteer editor.

The first thing you should do once you get the acceptance letter is to visit the links in the e-mail you get. It'll have valuable information that you as an editor must know and go over. If you are like me when I had visions of becoming a Dmoz editor then you will have already read much of the important information when you filled out the editor application. It's important to know not only the Dmoz editor communication guidelines, but also category guidelines. You must know the guidelines for the category in which you were accepted and the guidelines for that branch of the directory, for example the guidelines for the topical Sports/ category. Know those guidelines inside-out because it's with your understanding and interpretation of those guidelines, and the help of more senior editors, that you will decide upon which sites to list or which sites to send to another category. Besides getting acquainted with the category guidelines there will also be other protocol that you'll need to be familiar with regarding the directory, some are presented helpfully on the Internal forum, and others might be in editor protected areas, which means that you can only access them if you are an editor. It's also a good idea to periodically re-review the guidelines because they do change from time-to-time. How often? I have no idea, but it's a good idea to keep up with editor discussion on the Internal forum because that's where they will sometimes discuss changes in the guidelines, and if you are an editor where the changes are being proposed, then you have every right to get your two cents in regarding it; I'd advise you to take advantage of it.

The second thing you need to do once you become an editor is to log in and make an edit within 30 days. If you are accepted as an editor and don't make an edit within 30 days then you will be automatically locked out of your editor account. The keyword in that sentence is "automatically," which means no one can get around it and there isn't some heartless editor who decides to lock certain people out of their account after 30 days - it happens to every new editor who fails to make an edit (don't confuse it with logging-in) within 30 days of acceptance. After you've made your initial edit you will now have a period of four months between edits. What that means is you will now be able to go up to 120 days, or four months, between edits. If you don't make an edit within a four month period then you will again be automatically locked out of your account. Being auto-locked out is something that happens. If you're locked out then you have the chance to apply for reinstatement. It's known and widely accepted in the editor community that editors have real lives. That means that if you go on vacation, have to work more often, decide to spend more time with your family and friends, or simply decide to take some time off from editing that you'll probably end up being automatically locked out of your account, and, if you were doing a decent job as an editor, then they'll welcome you back with open arms once you fill out the reinstatement application. So, if you ever fall into the situation where you find yourself automatically locked out of your account for lack of editing then don't feel to intimidated by the reinstatement form because that is an editor's best friend when real life takes over.

Don't worry about messing up during your first few edits. That's where the senior editors come in. Once you're a new editor you'll be kindly taken care of. If a senior editor sees a mistake you've made while editing, whether it's an inaccurate description or a site that shouldn't be listed, then they'll give you the help you need to help you make those mistakes less often. Editing for the first few times will be difficult and can be intimidating, but most editors know that a new editor will make a lot of mistakes while they learn the ropes. For some editors it might take a while before they catch on, while for other they might catch on pretty quickly. But, don't take offense to someone who's kindly giving you advice and helping you along the way. It doesn't mean you are incompetent as an editor, it just means that you don't fully understand the listing/editing guidelines and need a little help. Plus, it's part of being an editor - helping those editors that need that extra help.

Okay, so now to recap on the very first things you should do when you first become an editor: make sure to log in and make at least one edit within your first 30 days, and read the editing guidelines and internal forum because the forum is where editors will be available to try to help you with your editing problems and answer your questions and give you some great advice. It's also important to read the Internal forum because that's where editors will propose changes to Dmoz or category guidelines, some of which might affect you as an editor, so you'll want to put in your two cents regarding the issues, or even propose your own changes and let other editors weigh-in on them. And, lastly, but certainly not least, don't be intimidated, or get angry at an editor who sees you need help and wants to help you.

Read Pt. 2 for more information about what to expect, yes, I'm getting there!