Thelemapedia:Where to start

(Difference between revisions)

Current revision

Okay, take a deep breath.
Hold it for a moment . . . . now, release it slooooooowly.

Adding stuff to Thelemapedia is no big deal. Really, it isn't. You don't have to be a Web whiz. You don't have to be a Thelemic scholar, mystic guru, or an initiate of any organization. You only need a web browser, ninth grade writing skills, and a desire to help add to the fastest growing source for knowledge about Thelema and magick.

Still think it's too hard? Okay, let's prove you wrong. Click on this link (in a new window or tab if you can) -> Temp Zone (http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php?title=Temp_Zone&action=edit). When you get there, you'll see a text box. Type absolutely anything you want and hit the "Save page" button.

There, you have added to the encyclopedia! Basically, that's all there is to it. You can get to that editing box for any article by hitting the "edit" button on the grey bar at the top of every page. You type something and hit "save page". Ta daa!

Okay, you want to try something more "real"? No problem. We have a type of article called a "glossary", which contains a list of technical terms with brief definitions. Why don't you try adding one or two? Check out Glossary of Thelema or Glossary of Magick. Click on the one you are interested in and look around for a blank entry that you want to define. Then, hit the "edit" button on the grey bar. Type in a one or two sentence definition next to your term, and hit "Save page". That's it!

Of course, there is more to adding quality material to Thelemapedia. But what you have just learned is at the core of it all...editing pages. If you are ready to learn more, there are a few pages in the next section that will help you better understand Thelemapedia and how to make significant contributions.

Table of contents

1 But first, remember to relax

1 Start with these pages
2 But, what should I do?

2.1 Begin a new topic

2.2 Edit existing articles

2.3 Fast and easy ways to contribute

3 Where to go from here

[edit]

But first, remember to relax

Here are some things about Thelemapedia that should help you breathe easier about contributing:

You don't have to write articles based only on what you know. In fact, please don't! Since this is an encyclopedia, it should be based on what published experts say (like Aleister Crowley). Find out what they wrote, and report it here.
You don't have to write whole articles from scratch. Few do! Most editors add a little bit here and there. Remember, all Thelemapedia articles are open to editing by all other editors, and you are expected and encouraged to go in and add new material to them.
Thelemapedia has nothing to do with guiding people toward enlightenment. We don't offer spiritual advice, reveal mystical secrets, or act as sages or gurus. Pretty much everything we write here can be found at the library.
Everyone is qualified! Yes, everyone! If you can write the equivalent of a short high school research paper, you can add great material to Thelemapedia. Actually, scratch that...if you are willing to take on such humble duties as correcting spelling, fact checking, and fixing local links, you will be considered a highly valuable editor! We need all kinds around here.
There is no such thing as a perfect article. The pathway towards that ideal is travelled by multiple editors adding what information they can and collaborating on things like content, formatting, and grammar. It is far more valuable to add lots of imperfect material than to have a trickle of "perfect" contributions.

[edit]

Start with these pages

If you only read two things, read these two:

Thelemapedia policies. Discusses the scope of Thelemapedia and the rules governing behavior. By signing on as members of the site, all editors implicitly agree to abide by these policies.
The Really Simple Tutorial. A brief and very easy-to-swallow tutorial on working with Thelemapedia.

Other very useful pages:

How to Contribute. The guide to adding quality content.
Common Sources. List of common books in reference format, along with another primer on citing sources.
What Thelemapedia is not. Useful essay explaining the nature of Thelemapedia by explaining what it isn't.
Thelemapedia Power Structure. Who's in charge (answer: for the most part, you).

[edit]

But, what should I do?

There are several valuable ways you can contribute to Thelemapedia:

[edit]

Begin a new topic

Red links go to pages with no content...just click and write. Remember, you only have to start it; you don't have to finish it (other editors will come along). Here are pages to help you figure out new topics to add:

The Projects page. This page has a list of major projects the site is trying to put together. There will always be empty pages here, and you are welcome to tackle any of them. (There are also blue links to pages that have entries but still need much more info).
List of all empty pages. These are pages that have links to them but don't contain any information. They are listed in order of number of links. You certainly don't have to start at the top...just scroll though until you find a topic that sounds interesting.
Start a new article. Just make sure you search first to make sure it doesn't already exist.

[edit]

Edit existing articles

It is equally as valuable to add to existing pages. Many are incomplete and need more material. Remember, it is acceptable and expected for editors to make changes to articles. You are, of course, free to search and browse the site for any topic that you want to write about. You can also use the following links to find existing articles that need more material:

The Projects page. This page has a list of major projects the site is trying to put together. The blue links go to pages that have some info already, but probably need much more.
Stubs. Stubs are pages that have a really really short entry. These pages need your help!
Editing required. (http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php?title=Special:Whatlinkshere&target=Template%3AEditing_required) This page has a list of articles that require more copy- and line-editing.
Articles that need Thelemic info. (http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php?title=Special:Whatlinkshere&target=Template%3AThelema) Many pages on Thelemapedia have been imported from other GNU-licensed sites (see below) like Wikipedia, and are more or less complete. However, most of these have no information from a Thelemic perspective. It is up to you how much you want to do with these: you can add a single paragraph or rewrite the whole thing.

[edit]

Fast and easy ways to contribute

The following tasks are actually very important on Thelemapedia, and go a long way towards improving the quality of the site. If you don't want to do research and/or don't have a lot of time, these are right up your alley.

Correcting spelling and grammar. Pretty self-explanatory, huh?
Formatting. You don't need to change content to make it more legible. Take what's there, move it around, add headers...do what you must to make it easier to read (please!).
Fact-checking. Comb through articles and make sure that things stated as facts really are.
Edit links. Add internal links when there aren't enough and take them out when there are too many. Also, some links are misspelled so that they don't connect to their intended article. Correcting these is very valuable.
Adding citations and references. If you see quotes or statements that you know come from specific sources, help the article out by putting in a citation and links to relevant materials.

[edit]

Where to go from here

Where to start Read this if you are having trouble with getting started
Really Simple Tutorial A friendly guide to all the basics
Editorial Policy Basic policies regarding content and behavior on Thelemapedia
How to Contribute A quick start primer for adding content to Thelemapedia
Wiki Markup Full list of all the formatting code, including text, images, sections, and links
Article Basics Find out how to write a great article
Common Sources How to cite sources (including short libers), and a list of common books in reference format
Projects Page List of needed articles organized by general topic
What Thelemapedia is not
Thelemapedia Power Structure Who's in charge
Characters How to use Greek and Hebrew letters in your article
Using Images How to upload and use images in your Thelemapedia articles
Dispute Resolution What to do when the fighting breaks out
List of boilerplate templates Automatic text messages, like the "stub" line
Comprehensive Wikipedia Help Pages (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents) Everything there is to know about using a wiki

Retrieved from "http://thelemapedia.org/index.php/Thelemapedia:Where_to_start"

-Thelemapedia is a big site and it can be tough to know where to begin. This article is designed to get you started...
+<center><i style="font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;">Okay, take a deep breath.<br/>Hold it for a moment . . . . now, release it slooooooowly. </i></center>
-First, you will want to read these articles. They are pretty easy to get through, and they really will make your participation here much more productive:
-#'''[[Thelemapedia:How to Contribute]]'''
+Adding stuff to Thelemapedia is no big deal. Really, it isn't. You don't have to be a Web whiz. You don't have to be a Thelemic scholar, mystic guru, or an initiate of any organization. You only need a web browser, ninth grade writing skills, and a desire to help add to the fastest growing source for knowledge about Thelema and magick.
-#'''[[Thelemapedia:Editorial Policy]]'''
-#'''[[Thelemapedia:Article Basics]]'''
-==Contribution strategies==
+Still think it's too hard? Okay, let's prove you wrong. Click on this link (in a new window or tab if you can) -> [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php?title=Temp_Zone&action=edit Temp Zone]. When you get there, you'll see a text box. Type absolutely anything you want and hit the "Save page" button.
-There are several ways you can contribute to Thelemapedia:
+There, you have added to the encyclopedia! Basically, that's all there is to it. You can get to that editing box for any article by hitting the "edit" button on the grey bar at the top of every page. You type something and hit "save page". ''Ta daa!''
-#'''Write on a new topic.''' Find a red link or create a brand new topic and get writing. The beauty of the wiki is that you don't have to write a complete article. Just write as much as you know or have time for. If you do write something that has obvious omissions, just write that in the article, and someone will eventually get to it. If there is a section in your article that you know someone has more knowledge about, try leaving a note on the "discussion" page of their [[Special:Listusers|userpage]]. You can also leave a note in the [[Thelemapedia:Community_Portal|Community Portal]] that your article needs more contributors.
+Okay, you want to try something more "real"? No problem. We have a type of article called a "glossary", which contains a list of technical terms with brief definitions. Why don't you try adding one or two? Check out [[Glossary of Thelema]] or [[Glossary of Magick]]. Click on the one you are interested in and look around for a blank entry that you want to define. Then, hit the "edit" button on the grey bar. Type in a one or two sentence definition next to your term, and hit "Save page". That's it!
-#'''Edit existing topics.''' Click on a blue link of your choice and see if there is anything you want to add or change. Read [[Thelemapedia:Editorial Policy]] to find out good etiquette in doing this. Oftentimes articles will have large chunks missing that you might be able to fill. Other times, you will see an article that is—let's face it—hideous. By all means clean up such entries. When you do, be sure to leave a note in the discussion page.
-#'''Fact-checking.''' Comb through articles and make sure that things stated as facts really are.
-#'''Correcting spelling and grammar.''' Pretty self-explainetory, huh?
-#'''Formatting.''' You don't need to change content to make it more legible. Take what's there, move it around, add headers...do what you must to make it easier to read (please!).
-#'''Adding citations and links.''' If you see quotes or statements that you know come from specific sources, help the article out by putting in a citation and links to relevant materials.
-==Getting information==
+Of course, there is more to adding quality material to Thelemapedia. But what you have just learned is at the core of it all...editing pages. If you are ready to learn more, there are a few pages in the next section that will help you better understand Thelemapedia and how to make significant contributions.
-===Copyrighted materials and citing references===
+===But first, remember to relax===
-Remember, you cannot take material that is copyrighted (like in a book or on a personal website) and just copy it over verbatim. However, there are ways to use such materials without violating their copyrights. Note that copyright law governs the ''creative expression'' of ideas, not the ''ideas or information themselves''. Therefore, it is perfectly legal to read an encyclopedia article or other work, reformulate it in your own words, and submit it to Thelemapedia.
+Here are some things about Thelemapedia that should help you breathe easier about contributing:
-However, distinct ideas should be cited and referenced, like this (Gates, 2004). Then put in a reference at the bottom of the article linking it to the site or book, like this:
+* '''You don't have to write articles based only on what you know.''' In fact, please don't! Since this is an encyclopedia, it should be based on what published experts say (like [[Aleister Crowley]]). Find out what they wrote, and report it here.
-*Gates, B. (1998). ''[http://www.opensource.org/halloween/halloween1.php The Big Open-source Advocacy Homepage.]'' Retrieved Sept. 18, 2004.
+* '''You don't have to write whole articles from scratch.''' Few do! Most editors add a little bit here and there. Remember, all Thelemapedia articles are open to editing by all other editors, and you are ''expected and encouraged'' to go in and add new material to them.
-For a complete list of citation and reference formats, see the Wikipedia page on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Cite_sources Citing Sources].
+* '''Thelemapedia has nothing to do with guiding people toward enlightenment.''' We don't offer spiritual advice, reveal mystical secrets, or act as sages or gurus. Pretty much everything we write here can be found at the library.
+* '''Everyone is qualified!''' Yes, everyone! If you can write the equivalent of a short high school research paper, you can add great material to Thelemapedia. Actually, scratch that...if you are willing to take on such humble duties as correcting spelling, fact checking, and fixing local links, you will be considered  a highly valuable editor! We need all kinds around here.
+*'''There is no such thing as a perfect article.'''  The pathway towards that ideal is travelled by multiple editors adding what information they can and collaborating on things like content, formatting, and grammar. It is far more valuable to add lots of imperfect material than to have a trickle of "perfect" contributions.
-Citing sources provide references that help the reader to check the veracity of the article and to find more information. If you consult an external source while writing an article, citing it is basic intellectual honesty. More than that, you should actively search for authoritative references to cite. If you are writing from your own knowledge, then you should know enough to identify good references that the reader can consult on the subject. The main point is ''to help the reader''—cite whatever you think will be most helpful. This applies when writing about opinions, as well—beware the temptation to write weasel phrases like, "Some people say..." Who said it, and where and when?
+==Start with these pages==
-===Sources of content===
+'''If you only read two things, read these two:'''
-There are lots of great sources of information regarding Thelema, magick, astrology, and the like. Here are some references to get you started...
+#'''[[Thelemapedia:Editorial_Policy|Thelemapedia policies]].''' Discusses the scope of Thelemapedia and the rules governing behavior. By signing on as members of the site, all editors implicitly agree to abide by these policies.
+#'''[[Thelemapedia:Really_Simple_Tutorial|The Really Simple Tutorial]].''' A brief and very easy-to-swallow tutorial on working with Thelemapedia.
-====Books====
+'''Other very useful pages:'''
-Naturally there is an abundant amount of information printed in books. If you want to see a basic list of books on Thelema, we recommend [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=scarletwomanl-20&keyword=aleister%20crowley&mode=books this list].
+#'''[[Thelemapedia:How_to_Contribute|How to Contribute]].''' The guide to adding quality content.
+#'''[[Thelemapedia:Common Sources|Common Sources]].''' List of common books in reference format, along with another primer on citing sources.
+#'''[[Thelemapedia:What Thelemapedia is not|What Thelemapedia is not]].''' Useful essay explaining the nature of Thelemapedia by explaining what it isn't.
+#'''[[Thelemapedia:Power structure|Thelemapedia Power Structure]].''' Who's in charge (answer: for the most part, you).
-====Reference sites====
+==But, what should I do?==
-'''Thelema References'''
-*[http://oto-usa.org/ U.S. Grand Lodge]
-*[http://www.hermetic.com/ The Hermetic Library]
-*[http://outercol.org/ The A.'.A.'.]
-'''Esoteric References'''
+There are several valuable ways you can contribute to Thelemapedia:
-*[http://www.bulfinch.org/ Bulfinch’s Mythology]
-*[http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html Folklore & Mythology]
-*[http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm Sacred Texts Archive]
-*[http://www.astro.com/astrology/in_intro_e.htm Astro.com] (astrology)
-*[http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/ Skeptic's Annotated Bible]
-*[http://www.choronzon.com/tocmirror/tzimon/Magidict/magdic1.html Magick Dictionary]
-'''General References'''
+===Begin a new topic===
-*[http://www.encyclopedia.com Encyclopedia.com]
+Red links go to pages with no content...just click and write. Remember, you only have to start it; you don't have to finish it (other editors will come along). Here are pages to help you figure out new topics to add:
-*[http://www.about.com About.com]
+*'''[[Thelemapedia:Projects|The Projects page.]]''' This page has a list of major projects the site is trying to put together. There will always be empty pages here, and you are welcome to tackle any of them. (There are also blue links to pages that have entries but still need much more info).
-*[http://reference.allrefer.com All Reference]
+*'''[[Special:Wantedpages|List of all empty pages.]]''' These are pages that have links to them but don't contain any information. They are listed in order of number of links. You certainly don't have to start at the top...just scroll though until you find a topic that sounds interesting.
-*[http://www.bartleby.com/ Bartleby]
+*'''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial (the basics)#Starting a new article|Start a new article.]]''' Just make sure you search first to make sure it doesn't already exist.
-*[http://www.loc.gov/ U.S. Library of Congress]
-*[http://www.refdesk.com/ RefDesk.com]
-*[http://www.infoplease.com/almanacs.html InfoPlease]
-====Open source sites====
-Open-source sites have material that is openly available. However, you need to cite properly anything you use verbatim. Use the references at the bottom of this article as an example of how.
-*[http://en.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia]
+===Edit existing articles===
-*[http://sourceryforge.org/ SourceryForge]
-*[http://www.internet-encyclopedia.org/ Wikinfo]
-*[http://wikisource.org/ WikiSource]
-If you use an article from one of these sources, you can do so verbatim, but you need to reference it properly. A good reference line looks like this:
+It is equally as valuable to add to existing pages. Many are incomplete and need more material. Remember, it is ''acceptable and expected'' for editors to make changes to articles. You are, of course, free to search and browse the site for any topic that you want to write about. You can also use the following links to find existing articles that need more material:
-*This article was originally taken from: Wikipedia. (2004). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley Aleister Crowley]''. Retrieved on Sept. 3. 2004.
-====Search engines====
+*'''[[Thelemapedia:Projects|The Projects page.]]''' This page has a list of major projects the site is trying to put together. The blue links go to pages that have some info already, but probably need much more.
-Do not underestimate the power of [http://www.google.com Google] to help you find information!
+*'''[[Special:Shortpages|Stubs.]]''' Stubs are pages that have a really really short entry. These pages need your help!
+*'''[http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php?title=Special:Whatlinkshere&target=Template%3AEditing_required  Editing required.]''' This page has a list of articles that require more copy- and line-editing.
+*'''[http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php?title=Special:Whatlinkshere&target=Template%3AThelema Articles that need Thelemic info.]''' Many pages on Thelemapedia have been imported from other GNU-licensed sites (see below) like Wikipedia, and are more or less complete. However, most of these have no information from a Thelemic perspective. It is up to you how much you want to do with these: you can add a single paragraph or rewrite the whole thing.
-==Where to go from here==
+===Fast and easy ways to contribute===
-{{help}}
-==References==
+The following tasks are actually very important on Thelemapedia, and go a long way towards improving the quality of the site. If you don't want to do research and/or don't have a lot of time, these are right up your alley.
-Some materials on this pages were taken from:
+*'''Correcting spelling and grammar.''' Pretty self-explanatory, huh?
+*'''Formatting.''' You don't need to change content to make it more legible. Take what's there, move it around, add headers...do what you must to make it easier to read (please!).
+*'''Fact-checking.''' Comb through articles and make sure that things stated as facts really are.
+*'''Edit links.''' Add internal links when there aren't enough and take them out when there are too many. Also, some links are misspelled so that they don't connect to their intended article. Correcting these is very valuable.
+*'''Adding citations and references.''' If you see quotes or statements that you know come from specific sources, help the article out by putting in a citation and links to relevant materials.
+==Where to go from here==
+{{help}}
-*Wikipedia. (2004). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Cite_sources Cite sources].'' Retrieved Sept. 18, 2004.
+[[Category:Thelemapedia]]
-*Wikipedia. (2004). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_write_a_great_article How to write a great article].'' Retrieved Sept. 18, 2004.
-*Wikipedia. (2004). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Copyrights Wikipedia:Copyrights].'' Retrieved Sept. 18, 2004.