1. What is the Contest feature?
The Contest feature lets admins create time-limited events where authors can submit their manga to compete. During the contest period, the system automatically tracks views and ranks the top-performing entries for awards when the contest ends.
Each manga can only participate in one contest for its entire lifetime. This design ensures fairness and avoids established works dominating multiple competitions.
2. How to participate in a contest
When Author Mode is enabled, the Inkstone dashboard will display a contest selection option if:
- Author Mode is turned on in Theme Settings.
- There is at least one active (ongoing) contest.
- The user has permission to publish manga (author, admin, or editor).
Eligible users can choose a contest when creating a new manga. Once a manga is registered for a contest, it cannot be changed.
3. Contest page layout
Each contest has its own dedicated page that displays:
- Contest banner or cover image.
- Title, start date, and end date.
- Full contest description and rules.
- List of participating manga sorted by real-time views.
After the contest ends, top entries will be marked with visible badges such as #1 Summer Contest on their manga pages.
4. Rankings and awards
Once the contest ends, the system will automatically:
- Close submission for that contest.
- Determine top-ranked manga by total views.
- Display award badges directly under the manga title with customizable contest labels.
5. Admin controls and management
Administrators and editors can:
- Create and manage contests using a custom post type (
contest). - Edit contest title, content, dates, and cover image.
- Remove or change the contest associated with any manga (only one-time allowed).
- Set the maximum number of awards and the label for contest winners.
All management tools are available directly in the standard WordPress admin interface for easy use.
6. Key rules and limitations
- Each manga can only enter one contest ever.
- Once submitted, the contest cannot be changed by the author.
- Contests are only available when Author Mode is enabled.
- Participation is only open if there is at least one ongoing contest.
- Admins can override or remove manga from contests at any time via admin panel.
7. Future improvements
Upcoming updates will further enhance the Contest system with features such as:
- Automated notifications to authors when contests end.
- Dedicated result pages with ranking summaries and highlights.
- Genre-specific or team-specific contest types.
The Contest feature brings structure and excitement to the community, encouraging creativity and fair competition among manga authors.
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