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- from the novice to the published professional to the next best, top-selling author who feels drawn to the keyboard like the rest of us - come together to offer their works to the public.

Writers are often introverts, but many are driven by curiosity (and a natural human need for socialization) to reach out to other writers. We want feedback; we want human contact; we want to connect on a deeper level.

Once you join Helium's writing community, you will meet other writers, world-wide, who wish you well, who understand how you feel about your works, and who want to help you meet your personal writing goals.

Although we are "competitors," writers want to see others succeed. Perhaps writers secretly feel like part of the success story when we see others do well after accepting our feedback and suggestions.

Introduce yourself on the Forums. Look around. There are hundreds of active threads; many of your questions are already answered there; some valuable writing tips are waiting for you.

The monitored Community Forums offer: active discussions about writing stars, rating stars, Helium's contests, the Marketplace, and the Writing Critiques Forum. In Helium's "Back Lot," you can vent safely or clear the air with another Heliumite.

Some newcomers complain that cliques have formed, and they feel excluded. That is true when you move to any new community - in real life or virtual reality. If you can't find an existing group that seems to be on your wavelength, start a new thread and lure the like-minded to you.

You'll meet friendly, encouraging, Helium staffers who respond quickly and warmly to all newcomers; they will make you feel at ease, and they take complaints seriously. You'll see some of the same names repeatedly - of monitors, site stewards, the official "greeter," Rachelle, and some of Helium's regulars who visit the site daily.

Some of Helium's members have become more familiar to me than my own geographically-scattered family.

We had two family crises this past month: my elderly mother went to the ER by ambulance for a 6th admission for atrial fibrillation, and my elderly dog needed two surgeries this past week. Some Helium members shared heart-warming sympathy; others sent simple good wishes for a good outcome.

Both issues are resolving nicely: my mother is back in her home; our 11-year-old dog is recovering and goes back to the vet for his stitches to be removed this Tuesday.

Many family members do not know about these events. They might not learn about them until

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