Help:Your first article

Writing an article

Learn how you can create a Wikipedia article.

This page in a nutshell:

The topic of the article must be notable: it must have in-depth coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the topic.
If you are connected to the topic, follow the Conflict of interest guidelines.
Make sure there isn't already an article about the topic.
The article you write must include citations to the sources you used.
Use your own words to write the article; don't copy from sources word-for-word.

New here?

Creating an article is one of the more difficult tasks on Wikipedia, and you'll have a higher chance of success if you help out with other tasks first to learn more about how Wikipedia works. You can always come back to create an article later; there is no rush!

Hello, editor. Welcome to Wikipedia! Creating a new article is one of many ways to contribute to the encyclopedia, but can be difficult for new editors. Please take the time to read through this guide. Also consider looking at our introductory tutorials or contributing to Wikipedia to learn the basics about editing. Working on existing articles is a great way to learn Wikipedia's protocols and style conventions; see the Task Center or your homepage for articles that need your assistance and tasks you can help out with.

Before creating your first article, it's highly recommended to practice in your sandbox. Choose a notable topic supported by reliable, independent sources. Write in a neutral tone, avoid promotional language, and make sure your references are verifiable. If you're unsure, the Article Wizard can help guide you step-by-step through the process. Don't worry if it's not perfect—every experienced editor started with their first try!

Once you are familiar with the basics of Wikipedia editing, this page will guide you through the process of creating your first article! Specifically, you will learn how to:

Determine whether Wikipedia should have a new article on the given subject
Identify and use reliable sources to support assertions in the article
Create a draft of the article
Submit the draft for publication into the encyclopedia itself