< ~5 min. read >

Before your journey into workshopping for TF2 begins, there are a few things I’d like to share. This is a list of 12 principles that I find important for new workshoppers to know, as they may face situations that rely on these bits of wisdom.

• Do not mass-publish. Everyone deserves to be seen.
  
• Do not add contributors for low-effort jobs. Being rewarded for association isn't fair.
  
• Do not publish something without checking for similar submissions first. Arguments and poor reviews are sure to follow. Negotiate with other creators, or at least inform them.
  
• Do not take all critique as judgment. Try to learn the most you can from what you get.
  
• Do not produce repetitive ideas or feel constrained by time. Take breaks or find concepts if new ideas can’t be thought of. Nobody knows when new updates will come out, so just take your time and put quality first.
  
• Do not be afraid to ask for help. That’s why there are guides.
  
• Do not produce more than you need to. More variants do NOT equal more profit or recognition. Your idea is good enough alone.
  
• Do not worry about promotional/product quality as a fresh starter. Nobody makes Picasso on their first try.
  
• Do not assume ratings affect acceptance. Valve adds what Valve pleases with no consideration for stats.
  
• Do not try to take ownership of a product’s features. If others can do it, others will.
  
• Do not alienate those who have earned less than you. Workshopping isn’t a popularity contest.
  
• Do not do the work and expect the reward. Create because you love creating - positive feedback is rewarding enough.

That's all there is to the guide! Keep these as words of motivation for yourself and a means of respect - please don't force them onto anybody who doesn't follow them strictly. I want to keep quality in mind as much as possible rather than prioritizing quantity to earn some form of profit or recognition. Do your work for the love of the game and the people.

View the next part of the series here: https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2821189386