Welcome, Newbie!

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So you found your way to Writing.Com! Wonderful! We're pleased to have you here. Whether you're here to read, write, or both, we hope you find your time here to be fun, insightful and just an all around positive experience!

We understand that in your first few days- or even weeks- you can become overwhelmed. We were too! While you won't see any ["Site News & Announcements" ] to help you get around, you will find many helpful members, and tons of how-to articles.

The first thing you want to do is to head on over to
["Getting Started: Table of Contents" ]. There, you will find all the tools you'll need to well, get started! This extremely helpful link shows you how to create your items, bio-blocks, set your preferences, and much, much more!

Next, you probably will want to make a few friends. Great! Head on over and see where we're ["Noticing Newbies" ]. You can also get to know even more people by posting a message in the ["Writing.Com General Discussion" ]. This forum can also be used for E rated general chit chat and to plug an item of yours!

What? You have no items in your port, you say?

Itching to turn your port from grey to black?

Here's how to become a

Head on over to your portfolio and click the Writing link! if you want to write that long awaited novel or book, pick yourself up an upgraded membership, create your book item and start writing that bestseller!

After you've posted your first, or even 1,000th item, you can use the various offical Writing.Com plug pages to show off your work! For quick, easy access, links to those pages can be found in the drop down menu at the upper left hand side of every page you view, under Item Jumps. You will also find a link to a page that provides member hosted review forums! Just be sure you know each of the ["Writing.Com Official Plug Page Rules" ] Then head on over to any or all of these official plug pages:

["The Shameless "Plug" Page" ]
["Writing Contests @ Writing.Com!" ]
["The Activities Page" ]["The GC+ Shameless "Plug" Page" ]
["Find a Review Forum" ]["The Review Request Page" ]


If you have any questions at all with these pages,
be sure to ask for ["Plug Page Help" ]

You are free to post in these unofficial plug pages as well!

["PLUG-A-PORT!" ]["BOOK/BLOG Plug Page" ]
["Plug A Soldier!" ]["WRITING.COM'S MOST AMAZING KIDS!" ]
["Plug your Book in Print!" ]["Non-Fiction Reviews" ]

You say you are here mainly to read? Great! With an average of 35,000 authors, there's always something to grab and hold your attention! Click the Reading link at the top of every page you view to find Interactives and Non-Interactives to read. You can also click any of the smaller links at the tops of the pages to view items specific to their categories. And at the bottom, you'll find a complete listing of every genre on Writing.Com!

Writing.Com is a huge site! From campfires to webpages, there's always something to read, write, or participate in. Writing.Com provides hours and hours of fun, friendly, and never ending activities for everyone!

If you need any help at all, please don't hesitate to email another member, or to post a question in
["Writing.Com General Discussion" ] or you may ask for help in
["Technical Support Forum" ] if your question is site specific. Someone will be along shortly to help you.

Again, a warm welcome and we hope you love your time here as much as we do!

The most helpful links I know are right here!

Everyone loves reading the most F.A.Q.'s! You can find them at anytime by clicking the link at the top of every page you view.

[http://www.writing.com/main/faq.php]

Don't understand about citem, item, bitem? Find out here! ["The illustrated guide to linking" ]

Show off your new port and your work here:
["NEWBIE WRITING LINKS" ]

We want everyone to feel comfortable at Writing.Com, and we don't want you to run into problems which could easily be avoided, so ["Please Keep It E!" ] Read more here: ["Writing.Com Content Rating System (CRS)" ]

And when you are more comfortable with the site, I offer
["Tips n Tricks- SUMMARY" ] and
["WRITING.COM TIPS n TRICKS: The Journal" ]

Afraid you'll be yelling ["I NEED AN UPGRADE!" ]? You can earn your upgrade! An excellent way is to earn gift points by receiving ["Daily Review Rewards" ]

Confused by all the ["Memberships @ Writing.Com" ]? Writing.Com offers a free month Premium! Find out about that in the ["Free Trial F.A.Q." ]

If you do decide to become a Premium member, you may join the ["Un-Official Writing.Com WebRing!" ]

So you love the site, but you had a great and want to share to possibly help make the site even better? Drop your idea into the ["Suggestion Box" ]

Wow! You have your port filled and are eagerly awaiting reviews, but your inbox remains sadly empty? Find out about ["Gaining Exposure Within Writing.Com" ] and
["What To Do To Not Get Read and Rated" ]

Now, you've written some masterpieces and you want to strut your stuff in a contest or ten? Great! Here are some newbie contests as well as other contests well worth a peek!

["Newbie Writing" ] ["THE DROP-OFF BOX-Will OPEN soon" ]

Of course, don't forget to check out the latest
["Writing Contests @ Writing.Com!" ]!

Whatever you are here to do at Writing.Com, there's one thing that's just about guaranteed: you will never be bored!