View source for Help:FAQ

Welcome to Wikiwrimo's FAQ page! Right now this page should probably be called "Rarely Asked Questions" since not many folks have asked these questions yet, but FAQ makes a better acronym. On to the questions.

You might also be interested in [[Wikiwrimo:Guide|the guide to editing this wiki]] and [[Help:Contents|the help contents on using Mediawiki]].

Read all this and definitely still confused? Ask at [[Wikiwrimo:Questions]] or email sushimustwrite@wikiwrimo.org.

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== About Wikiwrimo ==

=== What is Wikiwrimo, anyway? ===

Wikiwrimo is the unofficial [[NaNoWriMo]] wiki by [[Wrimo]]s, for Wrimos. The ultimate goal is to be not only a glossary but a resource for [[newbie]]s and oldbies alike.

=== Is Script Frenzy stuff allowed now that it's no longer happening? What about Camp NaNoWriMo? ===
Sure. Wikiwrimo just happened to win the coin toss.

=== What about (insert unofficial event here)? ===
Go ahead and make a page for it if it's notable, and by all means add it to the [[List of timed artistic challenges|list of timed artistic challenges]]. Just don't go around adding every little neologism about that event here since this wiki is designed for the official events.

=== Is this an official thing? ===

Nope. Your admin is [[User:Sushimustwrite|a long-time Wrimo]] with a love of all things NaNoWriMo, a bit of technical skill, and some extra time on her hands. The contributors likely fit categories two and four, with categories one and three varying across the board.

That means Wikiwrimo is 100% unofficial and volunteer-run. No one is making any money off this (negative money once you count hosting costs), and we're fortunate that the folks at [[NaNoWriMo HQ]] have been very supportive of this endeavor.

== Getting started ==

=== Is joining Wikiwrimo some kind of big commitment? ===
Nope. It's as big a commitment as you make it. Some people edit regularly, while others edit in bursts every few months. If you only edit while you're bored, that's okay, and it's still a good contribution.

=== I haven't participated in NaNoWriMo for long. Can I still contribute? ===
Yes! Every bit helps. I'm not kidding. There are tons of articles waiting to be created, and as a Wrimo, you know something that can be added. Your own experience, no matter how much or how little, is valuable. Take a look at the [[Special:WantedPages|wanted pages]] or [[Wikiwrimo:Scratchpad|the to do list]]. There are a LOT of articles on those pages, and you very likely recognize some of those items. Even if you don't know enough to write a complete article on that topic, you can tag it as a stub and let someone else come by and finish it. That is the wonder of wiki magic.

Need more convincing? There's a [[Region|regional directory]] now. One person can't write about all 600+ regions. But you can write about your own region, and that will make a huge difference.

In short, don't let your supposed lack of knowledge stop you. Whatever knowledge you have is enough. I promise.

=== I participated in NaNoWriMo or Script Frenzy before, but I don't anymore. Can I still create an account and contribute? ===
Sure. Anyone can contribute, no matter how much you know about the events and community.

=== Do I have to enter my email address? You might steal it. ===
It's a completely optional field, but I recommend it if only because you might forget your password one day. Entering your email address makes the process of resetting your password easy and free of other human interference. If you don't enter your email and do forget your password at some point, email sushimustwrite@wikiwrimo.org and I'll get you set up.

=== I can't remember my password. Help! ===
Click "forgotten login details?" on the login screen, enter the requested information, and wait for an email (at the email address associated with your wikiwrimo account) with further instructions. This only works if you entered an email address when you created an account. I highly recommend doing so. If you didn't enter your email when you signed up, can't remember which email you used, or have some other problem, email sushimustwrite@wikiwrimo.org and I'll get you set up.

== Editing ==

=== How do I edit? ===
Once you're logged in, find an article you want to edit, click "Edit", and start editing. Make sure to preview before saving your changes just in case something goes wrong. For more information, take a look at the [[Help:Contents|help area]], which has just about everything you need to know about editing. If it's not there, ask. Someone will know, and if they don't, someone will look it up.

=== This article doesn't exist yet, but should. What do I do? ===
Search for the article first. If it doesn't exist, be bold and create it yourself!

=== Someone edited my contribution. Is that allowed? ===
Yes. In fact, editing each other's contributions is an essential part of the wiki nature. Constant editing and collaboration lead to better articles, which lead to more information for everyone.

=== How do I sign my name on talk pages? ===
Use four tildes like this: <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> to display your name and a timestamp.

=== What's that stub thing I see on a lot of articles? ===
That's for short articles or unfinished articles. To add that to an article you've started or found that needs more work, add this to the very end of the article: <nowiki>{{stub}}</nowiki> If you see that stub thing on an article and know something more about that topic, add to it!

=== It's the NaNo off-season. Can I still contribute? ===
Yes! Wikiwrimo is open all year long, and all your contributions will be loved upon. In fact, [[Wikiwrimo:Wikiwrimo Writing Month|Wikiwrimo Writing Month]], affectionately known as Wikiwrimowrimo, takes place in February and September just to get more people to contribute in the Nano off-season.

== Everything else ==

=== Why doesn't X work? ===
If X works on another Mediawiki-powered wiki (e.g. Wikipedia), then chances are it can work here with a little tweaking. Some features, such as email notifications for every little change, are turned off until we observe the impact on the website. If you have any questions or are curious, just ask! We're friendly. Really.

=== I'm researching for a Wikiwrimo article but can't find a fact that I need. What should I do? ===
Ah, the guessing game. This is a problem we'll run into often, especially since there are no live site archives for NaNoWriMo 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, or 2011. There are no live site archives for Script Frenzy, Camp NaNo, The Young Writers Program, or Script Frenzy's YWP. The [http://www.archive.org Wayback Machine] works for all years of NaNoWriMo (except 2000), Script Frenzy, The YWP, and Script Frenzy YWP, but a full archive (as in one taken on the day before the March relaunch (Script Frenzy and its YWP) or October relaunch (NaNo and its YWP)) may not be available, and it is possible that some individual webpages and/or images won't show up. Also, archives from either YWP site do not contain the forums due to their forums being hidden from guests. Archives of Camp NaNo do exist, but are useless because everything except the login/join page is closed off to guests (creating accounts or logging into them within archives is typically impossible). Just do the best you can and note it as a guess, and if someone can find a fact, they'll correct it. Feel free to look through blog posts, breaking news posts, and Script Frenzy's "beat" posts, as well as any stickies scattered throughout the forums. Some may have facts embedded in them, anything from previous year's stats to notes on a NaNoWriMo term.

Note: The blog linked to on the NaNo site only goes back to some point in 2010 in its archives. If you want to go to earlier posts, you need to search the Wayback Machine [http://archive.org].

=== Can I donate to Wikiwrimo? ===
Since multiple people have asked: You can! Wikiwrimo is 100% unofficial and volunteer-run, so the only expenses are for hosting. These expenses aren't enormous but they still exist. That said, '''if you are financially able, please [https://store.nanowrimo.org donate to NaNoWriMo first]'''.

If you're interested in this, contact Sushi directly at sushimustwrite@wikiwrimo.org, and she'll walk you through the steps. Thanks for your support!

[[Category:Help]]