Merge pull request #12 from JessicaGarson/main

Adding updates to the contribution guide.

This is so helpful! Thank you!

Author: lee2sman

docs/contributing.md

@@ -1,11 +1,90 @@
-Contributions to L5 are welcomed. Consider opening an [issue](https://github.com/L5lua/L5/issues) to discuss proposed changes. [Contributions to this website](https://github.com/L5lua/L5-website) are also welcomed. 
+## Contributing to L5 ❤️
 
-We welcome all contributions including suggestions, [issues](https://github.com/L5lua/L5/issues) (bug reports), pull requests, [tutorials](https://github.com/L5lua/L5-website/issues/1) and improvements to documentation.
+Thanks for your interest in contributing to **L5**! Contributions of all kinds are welcome — from code and documentation to tutorials, examples, and teaching.
 
 We are inspired by the *[all contributors](https://github.com/all-contributors/all-contributors.github.io)* approach to contribution to open source projects:
 
 > Our community values contributions of all forms and seeks to expand the meaning of the word contributor as far and wide as possible. It includes documentation, teaching, writing code, making art, writing, design, activism, organizing, curating, or anything else you might imagine. --*from [p5.js Contributor Guidelines](https://p5js.org/contribute/contributor_guidelines/)*
 
+If you’re new to open source, don’t worry. This guide explains **which repository to use**, **when to fork**, and **how to get started** step by step.
+
+## Step 1: Decide what you want to contribute
+
+L5 has **two main repositories**. Which one you use depends on *what you’re working on*.
+
+### L5 - The library itself 
+
+Use this repository if you want to:
+
+- Fix bugs in the L5 code
+- Add or improve features
+- Improve core documentation
+- Add examples that ship with L5
+
+**Repository:** https://github.com/L5lua/L5  
+
+### L5 Website - The documentation site
+
+Use this repository if you want to:
+
+- Improve reference pages
+- Write or edit tutorials
+- Add screenshots or examples
+- Improve wording, structure, or beginner explanations
+
+**Repository:** https://github.com/L5lua/L5-website  
+
+
+## Step 2: Start with an issue
+
+Before writing code or documentation, we recommend **opening an issue** to describe:
+
+- A bug you found
+- A page that’s confusing
+- A feature or tutorial idea
+- Something you’d like to improve
+
+This helps avoid duplicated work and gives you a place to ask questions.
+
+### Where to file issues
+
+**Library issues:** https://github.com/L5lua/L5/issues
+**Website issues:** https://github.com/L5lua/L5-website/issues
+
+
+## Step 3: Fork the repository
+
+If you want to make changes:
+
+1. **Fork** the repository you’re contributing to  
+   (either `L5` or `L5-website`)
+2. Clone **your fork** to your computer
+3. Make your changes
+4. Open a **Pull Request** back to the main repository
+
+You do **not** need special permission to fork, and you do **not** need to create a branch in the main repository.
+
+Most contributors work directly on the `main` branch of **their fork**.
+
+### Example (command line)
+
+After forking the repo on GitHub, clone *your fork*:
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/L5-website.git
+cd L5-website
+```
+
+Make your changes, then commit and push:
+
+```bash
+git add .
+git commit -m "Describe your changes"
+git push origin main
+```
+
+Finally, open a Pull Request on GitHub from your fork to the main repository.
+
 ## Some ways to Help with L5
 
 - **File bug reports** with detailed reproduction steps by [creating an issue](https://github.com/L5lua/L5/issues)
@@ -17,6 +96,15 @@ We are inspired by the *[all contributors](https://github.com/all-contributors/a
 - **Create educational content** like zines or video tutorials
 - **Develop add-on libraries** or document Lua ecosystem integration
 
+We follow the *All Contributors* philosophy:
+
+> Our community values contributions of all forms and seeks to expand the meaning of the word contributor.
+
+## Contributors meetings
+
+We regularly host in-person contributor meetings in NYC. All are welcome! Feel free to reach out directly if you'd like to learn more. 
+
+
 ## Winter 2026 L5 Survey
 
 [The Winter 2026 L5 Survey is currently live](survey.md)