Should I apply to a leaf node cat or one level up?

I am looking at applying to be an editor in http://dmoz.org/Shopping/Jewelry/Handcrafted/Theme, which is a relatively small category without an editor, but it does have a number of subcategories under it. There are about 22 sites in the cat and 56 total in it and all the subcategories. Is this too big of a structure for a new editor? I am interested in a number of the leaf level categories and feel I would make a very good editor, but most only have two to five sites in them. If I did apply to this category, should I just submit sites that are general Theme sites, or ones that would go into the lower, more specific subcategories?

Also would the fact that it is a Shopping category make it an unwise choice? Would it be better to apply under the Art side? I know of many new sites to enter, but most have at least some type of sales vehicle on the site, so they really should be under the Shopping category. Very few artists and craftspeople put up sites without the possibility of sales being a factor.

Thanks,
Paul

Hmmm... Just had a quick look at the category and thought of several tipps for applying:

Special ones:

* Since the relevant size of the category is calculated by "listed entries + unreviewed entries" the category is fairly large for a new editor. Remember that all subcategories are included. Maybe you should go for a subcategory first, do some editing there and apply for the category later, when your edits can be looked at.

In most cases shopping cats are open for new editors, but there may be problems with some branches which make metaeditors decide its not a good place to start, I dont know for this case.

General advice:

* Be honest. Especially when applying for Shopping/Business/... -> State your affiliates, nobody will harm you for doing so. If you start all with lying to the ODP, how can one assume you will do a good work as an editor?
* find good sites (if you own one to the topic it is a good idea to include it)
* The form asks for 2-3 new entries, guess why you can submit 3? /images/icons/smile.gif
* write descriptions complying to the ODP guidelines. Thats one of the most difficult parts to do, especially in shopping. Remember a good description not only contains information about the shop, but about the _site_.

Thanks for the quick reply. I didn't realize that the number also included unreviewed entries. I'll look at applying to one of the subcategories.

Is the number of edits needed to get another category standardized, or subjective depending on the new category you are requesting? There are a couple that I can easily find 20 sites or so to add. If I could just add other subcategories as I got one in order, then that would keep me occupied for a good while before I would need to look up the hierarchy.

I do have a site on jewelry, but it would not really fit in these categories since it is more general. I do some theme based jewelry, and have contact with many other jewelers that would fit in these categories so try to keep up with what is going on in the area. I do have a half done site, that would fit into the category, but I haven’t worked on it in over a year, because the themed products are doing well from my main website and I don’t really need a specialized site for them like I thought before. It is more of an example of a site I wouldn’t include than one I would.

Paul

>>I didn't realize that the number also included unreviewed entries.

There isn't a fixed number (whether or not including unrevieweds.) The "rule of thumb" is more like "not too large for 20 edits to make a real difference, not too difficult, not too complex."

Lots of unrevieweds is a difficulty: most submittals are to the wrong category, and you are immediately faced with the problem of recognizing and handling the misplaced ones. Lots of spam is a difficulty.

Lots of subcategories, or collocutional clash of subcategories, or lots of closely related categories, are complexities. And so on.

>>Is the number of edits needed to get another category standardized, or subjective ...

Subjective. No "brownie points" system. No "editors protecting their own turf" either.

>>...depending on the new category you are requesting?

Depending on your own work and reputation (generally, and in related categories), the difficulty of the new category (size, complexity of taxonomy, abuse potential, etc.)

>>There are a couple that I can easily find 20 sites or so to add. If I could just add other subcategories as I got one in order, then that would keep me occupied for a good while before I would need to look up the hierarchy.

This is a common and acceptable approach. Pick one of the categories you have 20 sites for: adding those sites will certainly be enough of a track record to apply to the other one. (I presume we're still talking about Themed Jewelry subcategories, or perhaps related categories under, e.g., Arts/Crafts or Business/Industries/Wholesale/Jewelry. For unrelated categories, you'd usually begin with another small category.)