User talk:(WT-en) Boats

''Hello, Please be kind to a novice, 1st. time user. I need some help from a more experienced user on the English Germany >> Cochem page I'm writing and in the process of editing. Some (positive) critique, matters of layout, sidebox, image and link placement would be helpful, along with other positive suggestions and help. Thank you in advance, Boats ''

Critique and positive suggestions as requested
First the official and standard welcome message that will give you the articles that you should read:

Hello Boats! Welcome to Wikivoyage.

To help get you started contributing, we've created a tips for new contributors page, full of helpful links about policies and guidelines and style, as well as some important information on copyleft and basic stuff like how to edit a page. If you need help, check out Project:Help, or post a message in the travellers' pub.

Now the suggestions:
 * 1) Stick to the templates. They help to keep the whole of Wikivoyage uniform and makes it easier for people to find the information they are looking for.
 * 2) Wikilink to other wikivoyage articles, i.e. use Koblenz rather than just Koblenz
 * 3) This is a very important one: Do not commit copyright infringements, i.e. do not simply copy and paste other people's work from other websites into Wikivoyage. I have noted a number of copyright violations already from ,

Hope this helps

--(WT-en) Nick 03:25, 15 March 2008 (EDT)

Thank you Nick
Comments well taken, especially the copyright violations! I will especially focus on this in the coming days's. As a little background: We've visited this area many times over the years, staying in various Hotels, Pensions, B&B's and private apartments including vineyard properties, for weeks at a time. We now live in [Cochem] since November, love it here and want to tell from, personal experience, what a gem this area is. I have many of my own photo's, a few of which I'd like to upload. My office/study has a direct view of the famous Cochem (Reichsburg) castle and the Mosel river below. I draw a lot of inspiration from this. Currently, we have the opportunity to visit many the sites, pubs, eateries, shops etc, in the area on a regular basis. Since starting this little project, I have questioned myself how much in the 'first person' one writes this entry on Cochem. I know it says plunge right in but ... at this stage I'm a little unsure and beginning to doubt how much of a 'travel writer' I am in reality (apart from the technical aspects), yet I'd like to contribute to this effort as I am a frequent user of travel community articles on the net and, as a motivation, want to give something back. I recognize I'm a novice, yet one has to start somewhere. I will continue in my endeavor however, for now, and would welcome critique, reports of violations and tips to improve my [Cochem] entry on WikiTravel from you, or anyone else, that can help. Thanks again, Boats


 * We are all novices when we try something new (whether it is travel writing, swimming, making an omelette...), but the only way to get past that point is to take the plunge and just start doing it. Have fun --(WT-en) Nick 08:45, 16 March 2008 (EDT)

I will, and thanks for the encouragement :) boats