How to Create an In & Out

So, you're new to Writing.Com and want to make an In & Out, but you're confused and not sure how to go about doing so?

Follow these simple steps and you'll be on your way to participating in what is probably the most fun and interesting activity you can do on the site.

Be warned, however, In & Outs are highly addictive. You may find yourself trapped in them for hours at a time, getting nothing productive done whatsoever. If you still wish to make your own, follow these simple guidelines:

Before you get started, go to the In & Outs page and try some of the already created items there. This will give you an idea of what is already out there and what the different available styles look like.

1. On your Portfolio page, page down to the bottom and you'll see "Create an Item" and some links. Click on "In & Out".

2. Think of an eye-catching title. What is the purpose of your in & out? Once you've thought of a good title, proceed to the next step.

3. Don't forget to fill in a brief description of your item. You want it to be short, but interesting enough to attract attention. After you've entered the description, make sure you rate your intro properly. If there is anything even remotely offensive in it, you need to rate it Non-E.

4. Content rating lets people know what kind of content to expect within your in & out. Is it something that can appeal to everyone, even children? If not, make sure you use an appropriate rating. You can find more information about ratings at:
"Content Rating System (CRS)"  [13+]

5. Next, be sure to choose at least one genre so that it will be listed in the appropriate category/categories. Keywords are also useful, but not necessary.

6. In the item body, explain the rules for your in & out. Be specific, details are important. Let people know exactly what you expect from them. If it's a rolling list, make sure you let them know when an old list has ended and a new topic has begun.

7. The next part is where you pick the style of your list. Be sure to click on the link that shows you examples of the different styles before you choose. Some allow WritingML and some don't. This is another reason it is important to play around with other people's in & outs before starting your own. It will make it easier to choose your own preferred style.

8. Most In & Outs use the Newest Last setting. If you choose to have the newest additions at the top, make sure you let visitors know this in your item body. Otherwise, they will assume that the new posts are at the bottom and the confusion could destroy continuity within your item, especially if it's a rolling story or conversation.

9. You probably won't want to require Item IDs unless you're offering to do reviews or something of that nature.

10. How many entries you wish to show is up to you, however, in cases of rolling stories, people will want to look back at former entries so setting this number high is generally advisable. Otherwise, when the oldest entries fall off the page, this could also cause confusion or uncertainty.

11. Posted by text is not necessary, but can make your in & out more amusing or interesting. If you leave it blank, it will merely state the poster's handle, unless it's a type that doesn't list the handle. Be creative. Simply putting "Poster" might be a tad boring. "Lunatic" can be amusing in the right circumstances. It's up to you! Spend some time thinking about this option as to the other options. Again, view your item after you've changed these settings to be sure it comes out the way you expected it to.

12. Submission text is also something you'll want to consider carefully. Is it a "plug" or simply a "submission"? Maybe "Random observation", etc. Again, view your item to be sure it sounds the way you intended!

13. I would recommend leaving "custom in & out formatting" blank, as you're still new to the site and this is for more advanced users with at least some programming experience.

14. Reviewing and Rating is another setting that is up to your own individual desires. Do you want people to be able to rate and review? Review only or rate only? Or would you prefer not to have them rate or review at all? This is an individual decision and you should think about it before choosing your option.

15. Last but not least, would you like to give people an automatic gift point reward for rating and reviewing your item? If you don't have a good-sized bank of gps, I would recommend leaving this setting alone.

Finally, the most important rule: Have fun!

I hope this step by step guide has been helpful to you.

Write on!