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STEP 1. Start in the Nature Directory
Browse the directory until you find the category most relevant to the subject of the document you want to create. Make sure to be as specific as possible regarding both geographical location and subject (nature theme). Once in the relevant category click on the link Create a document near the bottom of the page: this opens the nature document creation Form. You are now ready to enter your information.
Go to the directory.

STEP 2. Use the nature document creation Form
Nature documents are created using the nature document creation Form so that all have the same basic structure. The form makes it very easy to create great looking documents, well structured, easy to read and appealing. No particular computing knowledge is required. However some degree of customisation is also possible by using HTML tags in the text. The list of tags allowed is indicated in the form's contextual help.

STEP 3. Follow the Authoring Guidelines
Before setting out please make sure that you know and understand the aims of the Open Earth Project, the type of information sought to meet these aims and the criteria used for reviewing submitted documents. These criteria are presented in the Authoring Guidelines below.

If you have not yet done so please read About the Open Earth Project and Help to build the Open Earth Project.

Relevant websites may be submitted to the Open Earth Project for listing in the Directory (read Authoring Guidelines below regarding subject relevance). A specific submission form is available for this purpose. Only non commercial websites may be submitted. Suppliers of services to travellers such as guided tours companies and others may advertise their company and service by creating Service Documents where a link to their website can be displayed: read more.

To submit a website start in the Directory, and search the category best representing the website's topic. Then click on the appropriate link at the bottom of the page to access the Website Submission Form. If necessary you will be able to suggest a more specific category within the category you are starting from.
Go to the Directory

Presentation: Author's guidelines and Editing work
At the Open Earth Project we appreciate the efforts of all those who contribute their energy, passion, time and expertise to create documents in this website. That's why the role and prime mission of the Open Earth Project's Editorial Committee is to encourage the submission of documents by maintaining the level of quality and the relevance of the information published, and where possible to help authors in their submission process.

To do this the Editorial Committe has put in place a set of criteria to make sure that all information published is in line with the aims and spirit of the Open Earth Project. All documents submitted are matched with these criteria by one of our Editors prior to publication, and if necessary authors may be asked to review and amend their documents accordingly before publication.

This is why, in order to make your submission as easy and quick as possible, and to save time for everyone, we strongly recommend that you read our guidelines presented below before setting out and creating a document for submission in this website.

Documents as authoring units
Documents are the unit elements of content in this website.

Nature Documents present non-commercial information. One nature document is made of one webpage and covers a specific subject. Larger topics which require more space than can reasonably fit in a single webpage should be divided up in smaller sub-topics. Each may be dealt with in a single document, and all will usually be gathered in the same category in the Open Earth Project's Nature Directory.

Service Documents are special types of documents which allow companies and businesses to present services useful to nature-travellers and nature-lovers.

Language
Currently, documents may be submitted in English and French only, which are the only two languages spoken within the Editorial Committee.
As the Editorial Committee expands, so will the number of languages accepted for publication. If you would like to become an Editor, especially if you have full command of an additional language, please read Become an Editor.

Writing Quality
Command of the language used in submitted documents: while a perfect command is not required, Editors may return a document if grammatical mistakes result in laborious reading or lack of clarity.
Spelling: Spelling mistakes may be accepted up to a point, but Editors may require corrections before acceptance of a document.
Vulgar, abusive and other unacceptable terms: any terms and expressions deemed coarse, vulgar, abusive, aggressive, defamatory, intentionally misleading or otherwise contrary to proper social conduct, conventions and honesty will not be accepted. Further, to submit documents containing such terms and expressions may result in their author being barred from the Open Earth Project's community altogether.

Subject's Relevance - Scope of the Open Earth Project
While the Open Earth Project's focus on nature is broad, all submitted documents must in a way or another relate to nature. The Editorial Committee will have final decision upon a subject or submitted document being relevant or not. If unsure, you are welcome to check your projected document's relevance before submission: email editors@open-earth.org. Read also About Us for further details about the Open Earth Project's aims. A non-comprehensive list of relevant main subject categories includes:

- natural history,
- conservation,
- restoration,
- scientific work and research,
- education,
- outdoors,
- tourism,
- history,
- biographies,
- people's life and action in nature.

When Members create an account a Personal Area is automatically assigned to them. This is a private page accessible to them only by logging in the webiste using their email address and password.
Members can use their personal area to review, access and manage their own information in the Open Earth Project: account, documents and ID page.

When documents are created they automatically appear in the personal area with, for each document: ID number, date of creation, title, category, number of visits, and status (draft, pending editor's review or published). They can be accessed for further work or updating by clicking on the link provided.

ID pages give authors the possibility to present themselves to their public. In order to create and manage your ID page please use the link provided in your personal area.
In addition to the presentation text and one image (optional), the ID page automatically presents the list of all nature documents published in the Open Earth Project by the author.
Finally thanks to their ID page authors can create a list of their own publications (such as books, articles and other media) which will appear not only in the ID page, but in any of their documents if the appropriate option is selected in the document creation form.