Site Can be Addictive

Writing.com is a complete school for any budding (and more than budding) writer. The site offers many, many opportunities for growth in reading, writing, or reviewing. One can register free for the first time and pay one’s way by reviewing works posted – yet under premium membership!

From the looks of it, every little detail has been accounted for. Yet each little feature is subject to review by the members – a sure way to ensure relevance, responsiveness, and timeliness.

The site declares that it does not normally censor or restrict content posted to the site, but that it requires that content posted be rated properly according to their proprietary guidelines as follows. This way, preference of readers is respected. One’s choice of reading or reviewing contents can be guided by the following ratings -

E: Everyone
ASR: Adult Supervision Recommended
13+: Recommended for Readers 13 Years and Older Only
18+: Recommended for Readers 18 Years and Older Only
GC: May Contain Graphic Content
XGC: May Contain Extreme Graphic Content
NPL: Not Publicly Listed

The more mature writers contribute much to the site with their scholarly write-ups, which through time get refined with reviews. For some writers, they develop their own blog corners at the same time build their portfolio. They have thought up folders for themselves that they use for group building, discussion forums, reviewing, writing, art contests and the like. These activities make the site ever vibrant and never boring. In fact, it can become habitual for a new member to be clicking to this site many times in a day – ensured by having to win gift points while one enjoys free premium membership for 30 days.

What makes this gift-points idea very meaningful is that it encourages giving among the members – for welcome, for appreciation, for encouragement, for help – even for crusading health projects of member groups. The benefactors are either named or anonymous. The support group of the site itself gives out gift points as awards for writing, reviewing and responding to messages. In short, the system has found a way of encouraging every good act towards a writer’s development through the gift-points concept.

By comparison, the gift points look like the Japanese yen – thick, thick wads just to a dollar. But they go a long way, enabling every writer to learn giving – as well as receiving. There are greater awards for higher levels like writing and art contests of every kind. These also make use of gift points as alternative currency.

Membership in the site is generally paid membership from basic, to upgraded, to premium, to professional, to enterprise. The last one is “For small businesses who host more than one client web site in their portfolio.” The higher the level, the more amenities. A large community of writers of all ages thrive there - by renewing their membership from year to year.

The site is particularly attractive with its well-defined forum rule for clean and friendly postings. Many sites have this rule but actually do not impose it.

What comes in the way, however, is the sprucing up of write-ups with art. They occupy much space and to an academic, they appear like fruits of pink-minded juveniles. Other than this, the site makes great company for a writer - all the way.

Writing.com