Site Information

Soggy Muse

Elysian Fields

Design Portfolio

Art Portfolio

Freebies

Graphics

Layouts

Adoptables

Guides

Neopets

Graphics

HTML/CSS

Neopets

...more

Featured Site

Top Links

... more links

Link Back!

<a href="http://freesong.pandela.net"> <img src="http://i21.tinypic.com/mjmpop.gif" border="0" alt="Soggy Muse" target="_blank"> </a>

...get more

Credit

Neopets Application Guide

DISCLAIMERS

No foster parent should demand money or items in exchange for a pet. This is illegal according to Neopet's rules. If a foster parent does ask you to buy their pet (or even tell you that donating to them will help your chances) then please report them to The Neopets Team.

Adoption Controversy

Hello =D I own an adoption adgency, and i have asked around on the boards if it is against the terms and conditions, and i have gotten a couple yeahs and no's. So i was just hoping you could clear this up for me. Thankz ~ hockeychick101

Hi there! Adoption agencies themselves are fine. Helping abandoned Neopets find caring homes is quite a good thing. :) However, often times people accept tips or payment for this service, which is not allowed. Other times, people are unaware of the fact that a pet transfer is not guaranteed and are quite upset when they put work into an application and do not get the pet. So, as long you don't ask for payment of any sort, and make it quite clear that the winning applicant is not guaranteed to get the pet once it's released into the pound, you can continue your charitable work without fear!

About this Guide

The Basics

What is an application?

What's the difference between a neomail and a petpage application?

What goes in an application?

What's a copy-paste application?

The Essentials

1. Read the rules.
   • If you genuinely don't understand the rules, politely neomail the foster parent asking them to explain them.
   • Rules can usually be found on the pet's lookup, petpage, or a central site such as an adoptee ad thread in TNO's forums.
2. Know the foster parent's name and how to spell it.
3. Know the foster pet's name and how to spell it.
4. Never, ever call the pet "it".
   • Many foster parents view their fosters as much more than "mere pixels". They are characters, beloved pets, even in some cases beloved children. Treat them with respect. ^_~
5. Know where and how to contact the foster parent.
   • Most foster parents have more than one account but only accept neomails at their main. This is usually because they can't always check into the other accounts on a daily basis. Make sure you contact the right account - not just because the foster parent has said so, but because otherwise, it could be days before your application is read and the pet might have been adopted by then!
6. Know the pet's species, colour and gender.
   • If you're applying for a Mutant Draik, don't put "Hi can I have your Mutant Aisha" or "Hi, I'm applying for your Disco Draik" in your application. It tells the foster parent you don't care enough to check your application, or that you're using a copy-and-paste application.
   • If you call the pet "it" or get the gender wrong, it implies you don't care enough about the pet to learn his or her gender, that you think of them as "mere pixels", or that you're using a copy-and-paste application. Always refer to them by their proper gender (his, her, him, she), by name, or at the least "them/their".
7. Know the deadline!
   • If you need more time, neomail the foster parent politely but don't be rude if they deny your request for the extra time.

The Bare Bones

1. Your neopets accounts
   • We realise that many Neopians have far more accounts than they're allowed and that applicants don't always list all of them for fear of being frozen. This is understandable, but you have to realise that foster parents need to check into your pets and accounts to make sure you look after your family the way you say you do.
   • If you have more than one account, try to list at least two of them as well as your main account. It works better if the pets on those accounts are permies but seeing how you treat your fosters could also affect the foster parent's decision.
   • If any of your pets are ill or unhappy, or lack the basics (such as a petpet or personalised lookup) then you could find yourself at the top of the reject pile.
2. Your permies
   • Fosters don't matter in the application process because they're only temporary residents and won't have a long-term effect on the pet you hope to adopt. However, every foster parent wants to know how your family will welcome the pet you're applying for.
   • This is a good time to practise your story-writing and roleplaying skills and you can take this opportunity to give the foster parent examples on how you plan to treat the foster pet if you get him or her.
   • Try to talk about all your permies but if you can't do that, at least make sure you talk about the pets on the account you plan to adopt the foster pet onto.
3. Your plans
   • It's nice to know what's going to happen to our fosters, so if you plan to enter the pet into the Beauty Contest or aim for the Gourmet Club Award, make sure to mention that in your application.
   • However, don't make such claims if you have no intention of doing so. Back it up with art you've drawn, trophies your other pets have earned, or a gallery full of gourmet food intended for the pet you're applying for. That way, the parent will know you mean business. ^_~
4. Real life
   • Some parents will want to know your real age and a little bit about your real life hobbies so they can get an understanding of how much Neopets means to you, and hopefully how long you're likely to keep playing.
   • I'd suggest not going into too much detail however, just a paragraph or so, because the application is meant to be about the pet you're applying for, not about you.

Stocking Up

1. Buy a petpet
   It doesn't have to be an expensive petpet, just someone to keep the pet you're applying for company when you can't be there. If you put thought into it, the parent won't even notice if it only cost you a couple of thousand neopoints. ^_~
2. Buy books
   Any pet wants an education so buying a few cheap books will show your dedication to the pet's future and welfare. If you say in your application that your goal is to achieve the Book or Booktastic awards with this foster pet, then you should probably stock up on plenty of books to show you really mean it.
3. Buy toys
   Pets can get unhappy and playing with them helps; a variety of toys shows the foster parent that you're willing to play.
4. Build a neoroom
   If you have a neohome, and your permies all have their own room, then it's definitely worth making sure the pet you're applying for has one too! Furnish it nicely - it doesn't have to be expensive furniture - and arrange it in a way that you think the pet would like. Theme it in a way that matches the pet's personality (as you see them) and go that extra mile. ^^
5. Dedicate your forum set, userlookups, pet lookups, shops and galleries
   Dedicate as much as you can to the pet you're applying for. If you've taken the time to do this (and it can be quite time-consuming) then it shows just that little bit more determination.

Be creative!

1. Art
   • The art doesn't have to actually be yours if you can't draw to save your life but spacing art through the application can help to break up chunks of text and make it easier for the foster parent to read (always a plus xD).
   • Even if you fill the application with art by other people, including adoptables and makeables, it's always a good idea to attempt at least one piece of art yourself. It doesn't have to be Picasso or Michaelangelo, but it shows you're willing to try new things.
2. Stories
   • If you include stories in your application, they need to be your own work - unlike art. ^_~ You can have friends proof it but the writing and idea really need to be 100% yours because unlike art, which is generally viewed as an aesthetic 'extra', stories are more integral to the application itself.
   • Personal tip: Don't make stories too long. While it does show dedication and lots of creativity centred around the pet you're applying for, it will also deter foster parents from reading it. If you do write longer stories, then put them in scrolling divs so the foster parent can skip them if need be.
3. Roleplay samples
   • Only include RP samples if you actually plan to roleplay the pet you're applying for. It doesn't matter to a foster parent if you're a totally l33t member of a totally l33t roleplay guild if you'll never actually roleplay their foster.
   • Again, don't make the samples too long. ^_~
   • Try to make the samples about the foster you're applying for. The aim is to prove to the foster parent that you'll be doing what you say you'll be doing with their pet, not one you already have.
4. Poetry
   • Poetry is actually a pretty dicey subject. It's incredibly subjective - much more so than art or stories or even roleplay - so you should think long and hard about it before including it.
   • Again, if you incude poetry, it should be your own work.
   • If you really want to include lyrics or poetry not written by yourself, it should be completely relevant to the pet you're trying to adopt and you should give full credit.
   • In addition, I'd suggest only including one or two lines of poetry not written by yourself - a verse or two at most of the most relevant stuff.
   • You can earn brownie points for writing poetry about the foster but as I said, it's incredibly subjective. I'd suggest putting in a scrolling div or separating it from the application so the foster parent doesn't have to read it if they don't want to.
5. Journal
   • With the advent of blogging sites like Livejournal and Xanga, there's a whole generation of surfers who have blogs coming out their ears. A lot of Neopians also have journals for their Neopets and it can be a fun way to get to know your pets by roleplaying them from a first person perspective.
   • Remember if you do create a journal for the pet you're applying for that Neopets makes linking offsite difficult. ^_~
   • I'd also not suggest creating a journal if you can't actually post in it frequently leading up to the foster's deadline. While you could get brownie points for the attempt, it could also backfire.
6. Future petpage
   • Some applications take the form of an actual petpage. This can seem presumptious if you aren't careful and put the foster parent off, but if you do it well it shows serious dedication. You're effectively putting in all the effort you plan to make after successfully adopting the pet... before you have them. :D
   • TIP: The last thing foster parents want to read is "last owner was awful and dumped him/her in the pound". Remember all the effort the foster parent has and is still going to in order to find this pet the perfect, loving home. They've spent thousands - probably hundreds of thousands - of neopoints on this one pet and they don't even intend to keep him/her for themselves. They've painted or zapped the pet, read dozens of books, trained them, fed them, given them toys and possibly a neoroom. They've loved them and then, when it's time and they've found the right owner, said goodbye, trusting that new owner to love the pet and care for them. They don't want to see applicants talk about them being neglectful or abusive. ^_~
   • If the personality of the foster pet (as you see them) requires a neglectful or abusive past, try to leave the foster parent out of it. xD

Aesthetics

Good	Not so Good

Checklist

1. Week One
   • Check the deadline. Write it down! Memorise it! Eat it, drink it, use it to braid your sister's hair. Remember it!
   • Set your own deadline two weeks before the real one. This is so you have emergency time - time to have the application evaluated, or for your brother to kill your computer, or for your eyes to blow up from hayfever.
   • Start saving your neopoints for those little extras such as books, toys and a petpet.
   • Read the rules. And again. And twice more, just to be safe. Know them. Understand them. If you don't understand them, get a friend to check them and explain them to you. If that doesn't help, neomail the foster parent (this alone could take up most of your time, us foster parents being such busy bees). If they haven't replied after a week, make sure they don't have any "Hiatus!" signs up and politely nudge them. Check that you've contacted the correct account.
   • Check you know the spellings of the parent and pet's names, their gender, and the pet's species and colour.
   • Start collecting adoptables for your application (in case you don't get enough fanart, or just because you want to include them).
   • Start asking for fanart or art trades. This usually takes a few weeks. I was incredibly lucky with Puff in that I had about twenty pieces in a matter of days but that's extremely rare. Do not leave this until the last minute!
2. Week Two
   • Start your layout, especially if you need to learn how to code. If you're requesting a layout from someone else, they need time to make and code it. If you're going to use a premade, you'll need time to find one.
   • Start writings (poetry, short stories, etc).
   • Start a journal now, if you plan to have one for the pet. You can create a free account at livejournal, blogger, or xanga. Daily entries will be a great way to get to know the pet you're applying for, and will show the parent that you mean business.
3. Week Three
   • How is your adoption fund coming along?
   • Start thinking about which petpet you'll be buying, especially if you want to include it in your artwork and stories.
   • Finish up the first drafts of your art and writings.
   • How will you send the application? Obviously in a neomail, but will it be a simple "Hi, I'm applying for xxx and this is my application [link]" or something in keeping with your application itself? (Something like "Noelaniii walks up to you and peers at you from under thick black eyelashes. Apparently satisfied that you're the person she was sent to find, she hands you a scroll of ribbon-tied paper with a flourish, grinning broadly" could be fun and is much more personal than "Hi, my application is here [link]". But don't just copy my example - use your imagination. :D)
   • Plan your artwork. Doesn't sound very creative, does it? But what pose(s) are you going to use? Will you be hand-drawing and scanning, sculpting from clay, cutting shapes out of toast?
4. Week Four
   • Finish your second drafts.
   • Your art should be coming along nicely now.
   • How will you introduce yourself and your application? Will you jump straight into a story, or welcome the foster parent and pet to your page first?
5. Week Five
   • Ask a friend to proof-read your application.
   • Add the finishing touches to your artwork.
   • Your art requests should be done by now. If not, politely nudge the artists in question. Don't panic, though, you still have three weeks. ^_^
   • Your layout should be ready, fully coded and uploaded onto the page you're using.
   • Time for a spending spree! Don't forget to put the items you buy into your gallery, that way they're safe and you can link to them so the foster parent can see them for him/herself.
6. Week Six
   • Furnish your neohome with the furniture you bought.
   • Put the shout-outs and dedications into your userlookups, pet lookups, shops, galleries and so on.
   • Get organised! See that empty layout? Time to fill it. ^_~ Check that everything works - this way if something doesn't, you have time to figure out what the problem is, or ask someone else to do it for you.
7. Week Seven
   • Put all the bits together, and double check that everything works, including the links and images.
   • Hire a Request Evaluator.
8. Week Eight
   • Make any changes the Request Evaluator suggested.
   • Submit your application at least two days before the deadline in case there are problems.
9. DEADLINE
   • It's over and you can chew your nails while you wait for the foster parent to make their decision.
   • Don't pester, but keep an eye on the pet's lookup for updates. If you've heard nothing within two weeks and the pet hasn't been transferred to a new owner, politely contact the parent and ask if the new owner has been chosen yet.
   • If after a month the pet still hasn't moved and you haven't heard anything, assume that you haven't been chosen and that something went wrong. You could contact the parent again if you wish, asking for them to re-evaluate your application, but that's your choice.

Case Studies

• My application for muffinPuff
  I made this application in four days - that's four days of virtually no sleep, and constant work. Every time someone made a new piece of art for me, it triggered off another idea. Every time I drew something, Puff evolved. But, it really wasn't my imagination that did this - it was Puff herself. The moment I saw her, she was alive. And the application reflects that - not just according to me, but to my request evaluator, and a lot of other people who saw it too. In fact, the reviews were subliminal, and the only problem was that I couldn't quite figure out how to code it so it worked in Firefox as well as Internet Explorer. However, I'd already checked with Puff's foster parent to make sure she was using Internet Explorer, so I didn't worry too much about the Firefox issue.
• Jen's Application for Gilagen
  Now this is an absolutely awesome application! It's obvious that Jen put a lot of time and effort into this, and a lot of thought into the personality of the foster she was requesting. The combination of story, bio descriptions, fan art, recommendations and even the layout themed to match the story, adds real heart. You can tell after reading this that Gilagen is a beloved pet not just a way to get avatars or painted pets.
• Spoon's Application for Xiili
  Spoon has a wonderful sense of humour and quirkiness that shines through in this application. The application was more than enough to sell me, but when I inspected her accounts, I noticed that almost all of her pets have their own, custom lookups (in fact, Spoon loves to play with them) and they all have individual personalities. Even though she only really has lupes and kougras, I didn't feel that it negated her love for any of them because every one is special to her, and you can see that.

Links

Application Guides

Application Resources

Link to this guide

Contributors & Credit

• Jazzie
• Aira
• Ily
• Jen
• Spoon
• Jenn

Afterword