Um, the Creeper joins the Secret Society?

The lack of likes should be a bonus! I often get 5-6 likes, but no votes. Kiss of death. 

I used to give any and every entry that appealed to me in some way a like, but I could only vote for 1. My likes had no correlation to how I would vote, but people have made such a big deal about getting likes and no votes, I stopped liking any entry in the contest unless I am the one who chose the topic, in which case I give a like to every entry as an acknowledgement of people participating in the topic I chose.

-M

Yeah, I don't even worry about likes or wins, I just like to contribute a cover here and there, and quite often the topics can be challenging.

I've been trying to figure out the aesthetic criteria of the usual cover contest crowd since I joined CCF last November, and I can say with confidence that there ain't none!
All I can say is that people just seem to vote for whatever cover they like in particular in the moment of their vote, not necessarily at the time of hitting the "like" button. I can certainly say that I have actually flipped a coin at least once afer I had narrowed a decision between two books.

Nevertheless, it's probably a good thing that I don't win more often, because a good look at the previous topics list will certainly challenge most anybody to come up with something that hasn't been done before. Gee, If the winner of the previous week had to actually give away something (other than attitude ) to each weekly contestant, I bet people wouldn't count their likes before they're "hatched."

I agree with you on both points. I try to avoid "obvious classics" as well. Sometimes not possible though.

Part of the joy for me is discovery of covers I hadn't seen before or covers I had forgotten about that had caught my attention once upon a time. I don't think I will ever forget the obvious classics, so when I see them it's just kind of there unless it is one of my absolute favorite covers or creators or so apt for the topic it has to be there. As for what covers I enter, I usually see a topic and have a first impression of a cover that fits and if it's available I will usually go with it, but if I don't feel satisfied with it, I will do a little digging to find something, usually in the "I wonder if any covers from this title or by that creator fits the bill. I go for covers I like or amuse me with the topic, votes and likes aren't really part of the consideration of choice, though if I notice a cover I entered getting a few votes I start brainstorming ideas for a topic and jotting them down. If I win, I am more ready to start the new topic, if I don't I have a list of possibilities for the future. I enjoy the contest, and there are some weeks it's the only thread I take the time to check out on the forums, but its abways been about enjoyment and discovery for me, not validation or winning.

-M