Hmmm... got a fandom that you don't see discussed around here much? Make a random plug for it. I've noticed that I tend to be fans of books and series that don't have a lot of activity on the board in general because they aren't prone to fanfiction. For example, I love A Wizard of Earthsea and Witch World, which don't exactly get a large amount of attention on the internet. (For which I'm kind of secretly grateful because I never want to know what the shippers would do in either of those universes.)

Other than that, I guess... just general discussion stuff? I haven't been here too long, and I show up when I can, so I might not be the best person to ask. Also, *Hugs* because I know what it's like to have medical issues and a crazy course schedule. Hemophilia sounds scary. :(

Sorry to hear about your medical issues, here's hoping they behave themselves!

I recall your presence a while back, so I'm glad to see you've returned. As for how to get more involved, I would say just don't hold back! We aren't super-big important people who don't have time for you, so don't be shy. If you have a question, ask it. If you have something you want to discuss, say it! To be honest, I don't have anything better to do at the moment, so if you need me for anything, just ask! Don't be a stranger!

Ouch, hemophilia? Not fun - although I'm glad you're in better health again!

I know what you mean about feeling too new to interact - when I first started here a few months back, I felt like a third-grader trying to fit in with high school students! I figured the best way to get past that was to read everything PPC-related I could find and participate in conversations that dealt with subjects I already knew something about (at least to start with). That way, I was able to figure out the many personalities here and learn about the PPC at the same time.

And, of course, I probably annoyed people with how often I used.to post links to badfics I'd found - that was before I realized anyone can edit the Unclaimed Badfics page on the Wiki!

First, welcome back! I'm glad to hear your health has stabilized.

Like the others said, you weren't doing anything wrong, but pretty much the only way to integrate anywhere, not just here, is to get involved with discussions and games and whatever else is going on at a given time. That's how we get to know each other. {= )

Jumping in head-first can be scary, though, so to get a sense of how things work on the Board, I recommend reading stuff on the Board. Read everything. Read posts you wouldn't normally think of reading, because you never know what might come up as the thread goes on. We are incredibly prone to tangents and silliness around here.

I'm afraid that's pretty much all there is to it, though: reading and writing. If you didn't come here expecting to do lots of both, especially the first, that's the bit you'll have to work on to improve. You'll never catch on to how we do things if you don't observe others interacting for yourself, and since that pretty much all happens in text, the only way to observe is to read.

Also, speaking for the wiki, there are less-than-random ways to go about learning over there. For instance, if you read the main page, you'll find many particularly handy links listed. For another thing, there's a blue menu bar across the top of the wiki, where there are more handy links. Some of them are the same ones, and you can assume those are important, and some aren't, but those are good to know, too.

When you feel ready, a great way to start interacting would be to leave reviews of new missions for their authors. Being new doesn't make your opinion of a story any less valid, and constructive feedback is always gratifying for the author. Plus, we all like talking about our characters, so commenting about them is a good way to strike up a discussion with someone new. {; )

I hope that helps.

~Neshomeh

I remember when I first joined, it was a bit intimidating for me too. I had been a lurker, and I returned to lurking for a bit until some discussions started that I felt I could participate in. Don't feel like veteran boarders won't value your opinion. They will. And you don't have to post on every thread, just where you can contribute, as I'm sure you can.
I'm speaking as a relative newbie myself--I only joined a few months ago.

Have some welcome back awesome-laced cookies.

And from what I read, it sounds like you were a bit overwhelmed by the PPC as a whole. But don't worry, we don't bite, unless you want us to. Just, well, you were doing right. Join some discussions and get a general feeling of how the PPC works.