• Café Life is the Colony's main hangout, watering hole and meeting point.

    This is a place where you'll meet and make writing friends, and indulge in stratospherically-elevated wit or barometrically low humour.

    Some Colonists pop in religiously every day before or after work. Others we see here less regularly, but all are equally welcome. Two important grounds rules…

    • Don't give offence
    • Don't take offence

    We now allow political discussion, but strongly suggest it takes place in the Steam Room, which is a private sub-forum within Café Life. It’s only accessible to Full Members.

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Help Please! I'm New, I'm Lost

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Marta

Marta

Colony Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2025
Location
Wisconsin, USA
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Heya! đź‘‹

I joined and have no clue how to navigate this mouse maze. I'd eventually like to meet a few authors and swap critiques but I'd really like to figure out how this site works. The forums seem straightforward in terms of discussions. But where in stars above do newbies like me start? Thanks.
 
Hi Marta

Welcome! :) It might feel like a maze at first, but you'll soon find your way around, I'm sure. Take a walk through the threads. Browse and see what you find.
Here in Cafe Life, you'll find all sorts: discussions, musings, challenges . . .
For critiques, head over to the lab. People with work there will love you to give an opinion. (Just check out the rules for critiquing the Litopian way.)

Happy browsing :)
 
Hi, Marta, and welcome.
I expect @Jonny will give you more advice when he welcomes you.
But you've come to the right place for meeting authors and swapping critiques.
What sort of thing do you write?
xx VH
 
Hi @Marta

Nice to meet you.

Litopia is a great place to be lost in. But hopefully things are starting to make sense.
That you've opened this thread is a great start.
If you're interested in exchanging critiques, the Lab is where it all happens. This video guide should help orientate you How to use the lab and more
Any other questions, please ask.

Rachel:)
 
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Hi @Marta

Welcome to Litopia and I really hope you enjoy your experience here in the coming weeks.

As others have said,, there is a lot to see and do and I always recommend just getting involved in the many forums and activities as the best way to familiarise yourself with the Colony.

I see @Sedayne has posted the link to the Lab, one of the main areas of activity. A great place to start. There you can read the work of others and give feedback and critique. This will help you network and build relationships with other Litopians who will in turn return the favour when and if you post your own pieces in due course.

At Litopia we are all writers ourselves and we firmly believe giving feedback is an invaluable aid to making our own work so much stronger and complete. Something I'm sure you will realise once you start doing it yourself.

Also, here's a link to general help and FAQs.


If there is anything specific you need help with or you can't get something to work, please drop me a line and I'll be happy to assist.
 
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