Writing.Com 101

New Members: Our Newbies

New members are an especially important part of the creative writing environment at Writing.Com. Newbies, as they are lovingly called, bring both fresh ideas and raw talent to our writing table.

Together with our existing members—who are some of the most welcoming, encouraging, tolerant, and understanding people we know—Writing.Com becomes one of the most supportive writing environments you will find online.

Some of our newer members have already been published in magazines and other literary venues and may have much to offer even our seasoned authors. In turn, our longtime members remember what it was like when they first joined the site and are happy to offer advice and assistance to those who need it.

Our community was founded on creativity, friendliness, and support, and it has grown into a wonderful place to spend time writing online.

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Quick Summary

If you are new to Writing.Com:

• Explore the site and try different tools and activities
• Post some of your writing in your portfolio
• Introduce yourself on the message forums
• Read and review other members’ work
• Join groups or discussions that interest you

The more you interact with other members, the more connected you will become within the community.

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Getting Started in the Community

We recommend jumping right in and exploring Writing.Com.

Just like moving to a big city, it takes a little time to learn your surroundings and discover where everything is. Start with the areas that interest you most and branch out from there.

Writing.Com offers a wide variety of writing tools and activities, which means there are always new things to try.

Most documentation can be found in Writing.Com 101, in pages linked from the left-hand navigation menu, and in help pages located throughout the site.

Take some time to explore the links and tools available. Before long, you'll be navigating the site just like our most experienced members.

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Interacting With Other Members

One of the best ways to become active on Writing.Com is simply to interact with other writers.

Post some of your work in your portfolio, then introduce yourself on message forums such as:

Noticing Newbies  [13+] #126963 A warm welcome to our newbies; come meet new and not-so-new members of Writing.Com! by The StoryMistress

Writing.Com General Discussion  [13+] #100931 A message forum for general discussion. Please come and chat with others! by Writing.Com Support

You can also explore other forums, browse groups that interest you, or look through the Authors listing to find something to read.

After reading an item, consider leaving feedback for the author. Reviewing other members’ work is one of the best ways to connect with other writers on the site. Reviewing breeds reviewing—the more you do, the more you are likely to receive.

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Let’s Welcome Our Newbies

New members may feel a little shy when they first arrive in a large, established community. A small gesture of kindness can make a big difference.

You can help welcome new members by:
• Reading and reviewing some of their work
• Responding to their first forum post
• Leaving a friendly hello in their Notebook

To easily find items from new members, visit the Read a Newbie link located under Community in the left-hand navigation menu.

Taking a moment to welcome someone new helps keep Writing.Com the friendly and supportive place it has always been.

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A Newbie’s Perspective

The following article was written by a Writing.Com member describing what it felt like when they first joined the community. Many new members find the experience very familiar!

Wandering through Writing.Com  [E] #845170 Discover the wonders of Writing.Com with a new user. by Diane

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Explore more:

About Writing.Com
Community Recognition
Success Stories From Our Members