Help:My article got nominated for deletion!

This is an information page. It is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines; rather, its purpose is to explain certain aspects of Wikipedia's norms, customs, technicalities, or practices. It may reflect differing levels of consensus and vetting.

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This page in a nutshell: Don't panic. Deletion discussions are processes which aim to find consensus, not simply votes. Alternatives to deletion exist. Anyone, including you, can suggest those! Address the arguments, not the person making them.

It takes a lot of work to create an article. You decided to be bold, and you've now encountered the deletion process. This may feel very discouraging. All your hard work gone in virtual smoke! Aaahhhh! What to do?! Well, don't panic just yet. Deletion isn't automatic; it's a process. This happens when someone feels that your article^[1] is at odds with Wikipedia norms. While articles do routinely get deleted, many will get to stay in Wikipedia, either as standalone articles, or as part of a more relevant article.

Maybe your initial reaction was feeling hurt, or even angry. Know that plenty of established users have had articles nominated for deletion. People will (or at least will try to) argue objectively about whether or not the article is worthy of being in Wikipedia, so try not to take the deletion discussion personally. Listen to the reasons given in the nomination. If something is unclear, ask for clarification. Address/refute the reasons given as best you can (preferably backed with reliable sources), and try to improve the article accordingly. Others will be more likely to listen to you if you stay calm and explain why you think the article is relevant/encyclopedic than if you act upset.

Remember, address the arguments, not the person making them. No one wants to delete your article out of spite; people want to do what is best for Wikipedia. If you feel others are making the deletion personal, you can request that they stay civil and refrain from making personal attacks. Likewise, attacking those who think the article shouldn't be on Wikipedia is a bad idea and can even result in you being blocked.