Newbie Letter - bitem, static instruct.

Hello 

Almost all contests require that you present your writing in "bitem" form.  Here is how you do it:

First you need to create the item to go into your Portfolio.  This is called a "Static Item"  You need to go to the very top of the screen in the purple and click on "Create"  This will bring to the screen where you need to click on "Static item"  Click on that and the form for writing comes up.  Just fill in the first few blanks and then in the body of the page type in your poem.

When you are finished typing your poem, you will notice there is an ID # at the very top of the page in black.  This number is the ID number for the piece you just wrote. 

Now you are ready to post your poem in the contest forum.

When you come to the contest forum, at the bottom of the page, you will see the words "Post a message".  In this line you can write Contest Entry, or whatever.

Then you go to the Subject Message.  Here is where you will put your "bitem" form.  Here is how you do it:\

First type a left curly bracket {

Then type bitem

Then type a colon :

Then type your ID# for the piece you wrote.

Then type a right curly bracket }

I will show you what it looks like before you click on it, but I cannot type any numbers in because then it will show the final copy.

This is VERY important:  Do not type ANY spaces at all within the bitem.

So it will look like this:  {bitem:      }  Of course in the blank spaces you will type the ID # of the item you wrote.  Remember - do NOT use any spaces from left bracket to right bracket.

Now I will show you what it looks like when there is a number.  I will use something from my portfolio:

ID: 1675015 Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. by Not Available.

Now click on that bitem item and see what happens.  Then use your browser's back button to see end of this message.

That is all there is to it.  Almost every contest will ask you for the bitem form.  It takes less space.  So if you could, just copy the poem that you posted on this form, start a static item like I showed you above, paste your poem, take note of your Item ID # and then come back to forum and post your bitem code.

Okay, well try to do what I asked.  If you have any problems, please feel free to ask me.  I am practically always here!

Have a lovely day!