Writing.Com 101

InkSpot.Com Setup

InkSpot.Com is an alternative portfolio location available to Writing.Com members with a Premium Membership or better. InkSpot.Com pages are "lighter", with no community links built in. Your InkSpot is your place to showcase your work to your own personal visitors, fans, friends and family without the rest of the Writing.Com community getting in the way.

To set up your InkSpot.Com profile, click on Portfolio/ InkSpot Setup in the left navigation menu, and work your way through the form:

InkSpot Status: Should be set to Enabled.

Page Layout: You can choose from a variety of page layouts, to personalize the way your InkSpot appears.

My InkSpot: This is the public URL address that you can share with friends, family and colleagues so they can view your InkSpot.

Profile Page Item #: If you have a specific item set up (like a web page), entering the Item ID in this field will direct anyone visiting the URL (see above) to this item, rather than your main portfolio page.

Profile Column Location: The default location for the profile column is on the left side, but this setting will allow you to move it to the right side, or disable it entirely.

Profile Column Title: You can customize the heading for your profile column, to anything you wish. The default is About This Author.

Profile Image Item #: You have the option of uploading an image for your profile (must be an WdC Item).

Profile Bio: This space can be used to customize the biography that appears on your InkSpot page.

Item Titles Shown: These settings will determine how the title of your Items will appear on your InkSpot.

Background Color: You have the option of choosing which color you'd like for the background on your InkSpot.

Background Image: Alternately, you can also opt to have a background image for your InkSpot.

Content Background Color: Like the page background color, you can also choose the background color for your item content.

Content Background Image: Alternately, you can also opt to have a background image for your item content.

Font Color: This allows you to select the color of the text for your InkSpot.

Portfolio Title Text: This text is used in the header navigation for your InkSpot. When viewing your portfolio, it will show just the text. When showing as navigation back to your portfolio, it will read Back to [your text].

InkSpot.Com HTML
In addition to the formatting options above, members with an advanced understanding of HTML can use the CSS Include, Outer Header HTML, Outer Footer HTML, Content Header HTML, Content Footer HTML, Column HTML, "Above Portfolio" HTML, and "Above Contact Form" HTML text areas to write their own HTML coding to change the appearance of their InkSpot. Please note that anything inputted into these fields can affect the appearance of InkSpot.Com pages and could lead to incorrect formatting.

Once you've finished adding all the information to the form, click on the Store These Settings button, and your InkSpot will be saved. Revisit this area of your port to update your InkSpot as often as you like. The items in your port will automatically be updated, but this is the page to visit when you want to change the appearance of your InkSpot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is InkSpot.Com and what is my InkSpot?
InkSpot.Com is an alternative portfolio location available to Writing.Com members with a Premium Membership or better. InkSpot.Com pages are "lighter", with no community links built in. Your InkSpot is your place to showcase your work to your personal visitors, fans, friends and family without the rest of the Writing.Com community getting in the way.

Who can setup an InkSpot?
All Writing.Com members with a paid Premium Membership or higher can have their own InkSpot.

Do I have to know or use HTML to setup my InkSpot?
No. We've built InkSpot.Com from the ground up to be easy to use, but also ultra-flexible for those who want to customize and personalize their InkSpot. If you don't know how to use HTML, you don't need to make any changes to your InkSpot's configuration and it will still work perfectly.

I'd like to hire a fellow Writing.Com member to help personalize my InkSpot. Where do I go?
For the time being, we'd suggest posting in "InkSpot.Com Develop & Discuss"  with a subject line of HELP WANTED. This will alert fellow members to your interest in hiring some help for your personalization.

Can Writing.Com help me learn HTML or answer my HTML questions?
Unfortunately, helping members with their individual HTML questions is not something we're able to do. You can, however, post in "InkSpot.Com Develop & Discuss"  with your questions and perhaps someone can help you out. You can also use Google ( http://www.Google.Com/ ) to search for HTML tutorials and help sites. A few examples include:
          http://www.htmlcodetutorial.com/
          http://www.w3schools.com/HTML/
          http://www.pagetutor.com/html_tutor/index.html

What happens if I let my Premium Membership expire?
If a member no longer has a Premium Membership, visitors to their InkSpot will be bounced directly to that member's Writing.Com portfolio. Items on InkSpot.Com will bounce to that same item on Writing.Com.

What happens if I let my Premium Membership expire and then I renew at a later date?
If your Premium Membership expires and you renew at a later date, your old InkSpot settings will become immediately active again and your InkSpot will return to its original state. Please keep in mind that changes to your Paid Membership level may have other effects on your Writing.Com portfolio and the items within it. Any effects to your Writing.Com portfolio (downsizing, etc.) will transfer through to your InkSpot as well.

Can I add additional advertising to my InkSpot?
Yes, you are welcome to use the HTML areas provided to add anything you'd like to add to your InkSpot, including additional advertising. You are responsible for managing your advertising. Aside from the 468x60 at the top of each page, Writing.Com does not require any compensation for other advertising that you may add to your InkSpot.

Can I use Javascript on my InkSpot?
Most Javascript should work on your InkSpot, though some scripts requiring advanced access to the page's inner workings might not work. If you have a script you'd like to try and know how to install it on the page, your best bet is to give it a try.1

Recommended Reading

1. "Portfolio" Tab
2. Free and Paid Membership Benefits
3. InkSpot.Com Develop & Discuss 
4. Support Writing.Com

Footnotes
1  Updated by northernwrites; written by Jeff