The Currency of Writing.com
When I first joined Writing.com back in February 2002, I received some gift points in my account. What a feeling it was. I was pleasantly surprised, and I was curious. What did it mean?
Very soon I realised the value of those gift points, and since then, more ways to spend those GP's have arrived.
If you are not sure exactly what a gift point is, refer to this link for a comprehensive explanation: http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/157441/system/1
Raising Gift Points
Gift points are a wonderful way to afford things on Writing.com, and there are numerous ways you can accumulate them. Here are some ideas to boost your GP supply so that you can afford to reward someone else or to help become an upgraded member.
Enter competitions.
Not only do you have the chance to win great prizes but you get exposure for your work also. Some contests require an entry fee, but most do not.
Make sure you read the rules thoroughly before entering to ensure your best shot at winning a prize, then write your best work too.
Participate in Games.
If you're at a loose end, are bored, or just crave some conversation, join in Scroll. Games are randomly sponsored by members, offering Gift Points as a reward. Be the first to get the answer right and you win.
There are many other forums on Writing.com that are contests, but also qualify as games. I believe they deserve special mention. Scavenger Hunts are one popular such activity. Others I have seen are naming babies and suggesting captions for an image.
Complete Surveys.
Sometimes there is a reward offered for completing a survey. They are fun, usually quick to fill in, and they help expose you as an active community member.
Review other's work.
Reviewing provides many opportunities to acquire GPs. Use these benefits wisely, for there are repercussions if you try to cheat the system. Please be respectful and honour the system. Do not write superfluous words just to qualify for the length. This is unhelpful, dishonest and dishonouring.
The person you review may choose to give you points for a review they found helpful and encouraging.
Some authors provide 'Auto-Rewards' on their items. To receive this, you must complete a review of at least 250 characters. Choose the "Auto-Rewards" link to find a listing of these items.
The Review Reward System automatically gives you 50 Gift Points for reviewing someone you have never reviewed before.
The Daily Review Rewards provides GPs for doing reviews over 250 characters in length in any one day. Do more reviews and the higher the Gift Point reward is.
If you write a good review and make it public, others may gift you points to reward you for your work in supporting others.
From time to time there are "specials" whereby you get even more GPs. The generosity of
The StoryMaster 
and
The StoryMistress 
means that in August, 2005 rewards reached a high of five times the normal rate! Keep an eye out for these Reward bonuses.
Become an Entrepeneur.
Do you have a service or ability that is helpful and for which people are willing to pay?
You may be creatively gifted to make beautiful signatures, take wonderful photographs or draw exceptionl pictures that you could turn into C-Notes.
Get Exposure.
Plug your items in review forums; review other's work. This will get you some return reviews, and if people like your work, they may gift you points. A return review is a very minimum courtesy for these kind people.
Utilising Gift Points
There are so many ways you can use these little virtual coins, but first, let's tackle the 'Why?'
Writing.com is a community - a group of people brought together by their common interest and love of writing and reading. Like any community, relationships/friendships are developed, fostered and blossomed. As in the big, wide world, we like to reward members of our community who are doing well; we like to commiserate with members' lows and help celebrate their highs. Just as you may send a greeting card to a friend across town, you can do the same here at Writing.com.
So, it's basically all about building community - helping to be a productive and friendly neighbour, while fostering that which were are ultimately all here for - improvement in our writing (if you are a writer) and some great reads (if you are a reader).
Now, onto the wonderful ways to spread around a little of the cheer that GP's offer:
Benefitting the Community
Sponsor someone's item which you think needs or deserves more exposure
Donate GPs to a contest
Donate to one of the groups which provide upgrades
Donate to one of the other Charity groups
Surprise someone whose upgrade is expiring with a renewal
Gift a costumicon when a subscription period is offered
Send a C-note (Writing.com's version of a virtual card)
Bid in a fundraising auction
Give some to an author whose writing you enjoyed
Give them to a reviewer whose review was helpful, honest and encouraging
Say thank you with gift points
Purchase a merit badge to honour somone
Purchase an awardicon for an item you think deserves special merit
Host a contest
Sponsor a game on Scroll
Purchase tickets in a raffle
Personal Uses
(these benefit the community at large, too )
Purchase an Upgraded or Premium membership
Buy a signature from someone's signature shop
Purchase a costumicon subscription
Pay the entry fee to a competition
Buy Writing.com branded products
Place auto-rewards on your items to encourage reviews and offer a special thank you
Sponsor one of your own items for extra exposure
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