Help:Beginning a Story

From WikiStory

Do you want to begin a new story, poem, plot, or character description? Go for it!

Before you begin a new page

Check to see if there is a story that is already very similar to your idea. Search the writing namespaces and category namespace and/or browse categories. Perhaps there is a story to which you would like to add.

If you are looking for ideas for a story, check WikiStory:Story Ideas to see if there are any ideas on which you want to expand.

How to create a new Story page

When you have decided to create a page, choose what namespace your story should go in. Then, decide what the title of your story, poem, plot, or character description will be (selecting a title must be done before you begin writing).

To start a new page, either use the "Create a Page!" table below, or see Help:Starting a new page.

There are two alternative ways, different but equally valid, to use the "Create a Page!" table:

1. In the upper input box, replace "namespace" with the type of writing you want (it can be story, poem, plot, or character description, except that for a work in the Story namespace, you simply delete "namespace" and the ":" that follows) and replace "title" with the title of your work.

For example, to create a story called "The Day of the Triffids", enter

The Day of the Triffids

To create a poem called "Triffids", enter

Poem:Triffids

2. In the second row of input boxes, select the type of writing you want to begin and replace the word "title" with the name of your piece.

Create a Page!

Method 1: Enter the namespace and title for a new story in the input box below and click "Create page" to go to the Editing page for that new story. (Do not delete the colon.)

Method 2: Choose one of the story types below, replace the word "title" in the input box with the title of the work you want to create, and click the button beneath the input box in which you just typed. (Do not delete the colon, if there is one.)

The name of a page cannot be changed (or "moved") except by Administrators. Choose carefully, to avoid having to ask an Administrator to change the name.

How to write and collaborate

Write your story or part of it. Use the "Show Preview" button to proofread your work before saving it.

Guidelines

It is highly recomended that you enter information into the "Guidelines" section on the talk page corresponding to your story. This will help you and other authors share a common goal as to where to take the story and how to write it. In this way collaboration will be more cohesive and successful.