There are tens of thousands of items on Writing.Com with more and more being added every day. We realize that with such a vast amount of reading material, you might need some direction on the best ways to find these items and explore the site.

Click "Reading". This is located in the navigation area directly underneath the Writing.Com logo and your member information. Here you will be given the choice of what "type" of item you might like to read. Each item type listed on this page gives a brief description of the item itself. Find something that interests you and try it out!

Tip: If you right click on a link, you can choose to have it open a new window. This allows you to continue looking for good reading material while the other page loads.

Click "Random Read". Our "Random Read" links are perfect for those who like a surprise! This quick and easy access to reading material will instantly bring up an item for you to read and review. Using the following parameters, the system will randomly choose an item for you to read and review:

This is a wonderful way to find new items and authors that you might not have otherwise been introduced! As an added bonus, only items are shown for authors who are currently online, so they will more than likely respond quicker to your review than someone who isn't. Click the small dice icon in the navigation or the Random Read link under the "Things To Do & Read" button. We highly recommend this fun tool for finding items to read!

Check the "Sponsored Items" and "Sponsored Genre" listings. Items located in the Sponsored Items areas of the site are items advertised by our members (look to your left column and at the top of any item or genre listing page). Some members advertise his or her own work; some advertise the work of others. These authors would all appreciate your attention!

Click "Read a Newbie". This listing contains items by "newbie" Writing.Com authors, members who are 31 days or newer to Writing.Com. This is a wonderful way to welcome these new members into our community through reading and reviewing their work. This area can be found under the "Things To Do & Read" link in the navigation.

Visit our individual genre listings. Writing.Com provides over 90 different genres for you from which to choose your reading. Genres are most easily accessible from within the navigation under "Browse By Genre". Once you have entered into a specific genre listing page, you can narrow your search even further by choosing another genre to partner with your first chosen one.

Visit our The Shameless "Plug" Page . Provided by Writing.Com for the shameless promotion of their own writing or that of another member, this area is constantly changing with new items being posted by authors looking for your attention. You will find this page listed under the "Things to Do & Read" button in the navigation.

Search Writing.Com for an item. If you have something specific you're looking for, you can find it without a problem! Use the power search area located at the top of every page on Writing.Com or visit the "Search All Items" link within the "Things To Do & Read" button within the navigation.

Peruse "Authors". Click on the "Authors" link located in the navigation. Here you will find a listing of all of the Writing.Com authors. There are various methods of resorting the list. Choose an author of interest and explore his or her portfolio!

Subscribe to and read Writing.Com newsletters. Writing.Com's weekly newsletters are tremendous resources for our members. Each issue is full of interesting editorial commentary written by our very own members, five to ten recommended items and answered feedback from the readers. Under "Writing.Com Tools" in the navigation, you will find the link "Newsletters". This centralized area gives you access to the archives, suggestions, feedback and subscription management.

Check out the auto-reward items. Earn Gift Points while reading and reviewing items that have auto-rewards! Visit "Auto-Reward Items" listed under the "Things To Do & Read" button to find a complete listing of these available items. To read more about auto-rewards, please see Auto-Rewards.

Randomly explore the community. Writing.Com has so many nooks and crannies to explore, so don't be afraid to just click things at random to start your adventure! Find an item to read and after you have sent your review, visit his or her portfolio and find another item to read. If you find nothing of interest there, find a message forum in a genre that you like and click an author's portfolio from within there. Perhaps members are recommending items in that forum that you might enjoy. Introduce yourself and ask for recommendations. The point is, everyone is here for one reason or another: to read or be read! So jump right in and have fun while you're doing it!1