by Gerard Coulombe

Created on: July 10, 2009

Basics of Helium: Helium is a website for all categories of writers. It is open to all genres: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, etc. To become a Helium writer, one need only apply. That's easy enough. Google "Helium.com," and Helium's page comes up on the screen. It features an attractive display of art, graphics, and "titles" on a variety of subjects, most often topical, with the "write" button there inviting the viewer to join in the writing challenge.

Just in case a reader/writer has not heard, writing is a lonely business. Helium very much helps to fill this gap, on first viewing Helium, one is quickly apprised of the fact that there are thousands if not millions just like you and me who love to write but who cannot find a market for one's work other than the "letters to the editor column" once in a while. That can wear thin. Helium is a very large colloquy of writers. Just being able to read, compare and take note of what's done every day over time is a good thing. The goal is to rise to the top every time one writes. Frequently not impossible, easier for some than for others. Very difficult to buck trends.

On first view, the Helium "home" page lists in a column called "Channels" the range of topics divided by kind of writing: Art and Humanities to Travel and Other. There are twenty-six subsets listed. A member new to Helium, writing from strength and interest can turn to the favored area of interest due to expertise. Chefs who also love to write about food can open the "Food and Drink" Channel. Teachers can open the "Education" channel. By opening a channel of interest, the chef/writer can select any topic, open it, and find a list of authors and their pieces. One can learn about the author by clicking on the author's name, a Helium service, and you can give the articles under the selected title a read to see how the topic appeals to you as a writer. Could you do better than those writers who have thrown their hat in on the selected topic? Go ahead and try it. Go ahead, write your piece, plug it in by clicking on "write," follow the prompts and get published. It all happens quickly.

Once you have sent your work to Helium. It has been forever captured and is immediately entered in competition. This is a phase of Helium that is attractive in some ways because what it's an invitation to "Rate" a series of other writers' contributions to Helium on the entire range of contributions coming in to Helium from writers all over the world.

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