Writing.Com 101

Messenger

Messenger is Writing.Com’s built-in messaging system, allowing you to connect and chat with other members in real time.

It provides a flexible and easy-to-use way to communicate across the site.

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When to Use Messenger

Use Messenger anytime you want to communicate with other members.

This is especially helpful for:

• Private conversations
• Real-time chat and interaction
• Community engagement and collaboration
• Staying connected while browsing the site

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Access Messenger

Click Messenger in the left navigation to open the full messaging system.

You can view conversations, start new ones, search messages, and adjust your settings... all in one place.

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Ways to Message

Messenger gives you multiple ways to chat:

Messenger Bar (Desktop)
Keep conversations open along the bottom of your screen while you browse. Drag, minimize, or expand chats as needed. You can have multiple conversations open and switch between them easily.

Full Messenger View
Access all conversations, search, settings, and message tools in one clean, organized space. This is what opens when you click “Messenger” in your navigation.

Popup Window
Open a conversation in its own window so you can move it anywhere on your screen. This is perfect if you like to keep a chat open while working elsewhere on the site.
 

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Key Features

  A built-in mini editor with formatting options like bold, colors, fonts, and more
  Reactions you can add to messages with a click or tap
  Built-in Giphy support for quick, expressive replies
  Cross-tab syncing, so your messages stay updated across multiple tabs
  Search your conversations to quickly find past messages

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Control Over Your Conversations

Click the Settings button (gear icon) inside Messenger to customize who can start conversations with you. You can set rules based on membership level, favorites, or group connections, and combine those however you’d like.

You can also create a personal block list that overrides everything else.

Within any conversation, you can close the thread with someone at any time. This stops new messages without requiring a full block, and you can reopen it later simply by messaging again.

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Chat & Community Guidelines

Messenger includes public chat features where members can interact in real time. Conversations flow naturally from top to bottom, and the pop-out view gives you flexibility over layout and sizing.

Our community chat is a great way to converse and make connections with others in real time.

When participating:

• Keep content within the ASR rating or lower (see: Content Rating System (CRS)
• Be respectful; harassment is not tolerated
• Avoid excessive self-promotion
• Follow general Writing.Com community guidelines

Failure to follow these guidelines may result in removal of messages or loss of chat privileges.

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Tips

• Use settings in messenger to control who can contact you
• Keep conversations organized by closing threads when needed
• Use Messenger to build connections, not just send messages