1. Click the **plus** (<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-square-plus"></i>) button next
   to the name of the channel where you'd like to start a conversation.

1. Enter a topic name. Think about finishing the sentence: “Hey, can we chat about… ?”

{!compose-and-send-message.md!}

!!! keyboard_tip ""

    You can also use the <kbd>C</kbd> keyboard shortcut to start a new topic in
    the channel you're viewing.