help: Improve documentation about starting a new conversation.

Document new ways to do it from the left sidebar.

help/include/how-to-start-a-new-topic.md

@@ -1,30 +1,36 @@
 {start_tabs}
 
-{tab|desktop-web}
+{tab|via-left-sidebar}
 
-1. Click the **Start new conversation** button at the bottom of the app, or
+1. Click the **plus** (<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-square-plus"></i>) button next
-   use the <kbd>C</kbd> keyboard shortcut.
+   to the name of the channel where you'd like to start a conversation.
 
-1. _(optional)_ You can change the destination channel for your message using
+1. Enter a topic name. Think about finishing the sentence: “Hey, can we chat about… ?”
-   the dropdown in the top left of the compose box. You can start typing to
-   filter channels.
-
-1. Enter a topic name. Auto-complete will provide suggestions for previously
-   used topics.
 
 {!compose-and-send-message.md!}
 
-!!! tip ""
+!!! keyboard_tip ""
 
-    You can click on the
+    You can also use the <kbd>C</kbd> keyboard shortcut to start a new topic in
-    **Clear topic** (<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-close"></i>) icon
+    the channel you're viewing.
-    near the upper right of the compose box to erase the topic name.
 
-!!! warn ""
+{tab|via-compose-box}
 
-    In Zulip, you can compose a message to a different place than the one you
+1. Click the **Start new conversation** button at the bottom of the app.
-    are viewing. In this situation, the message feed will fade to indicate
+
-    what's going on.
+1. _(optional)_ You can change the destination channel for your message using
+   the dropdown in the top left of the compose box. Start typing to filter
+   channels.
+
+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.
 
 {tab|mobile}
 

help/include/send-dm.md

@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@
 
 {tab|desktop-web}
 
-1. Click the **New direct message** button at the bottom of the app, or the
+1. Click the **plus** (<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-square-plus"></i>) button next
-   **Start new conversation** button if you are in a direct message view.
+   to **DIRECT MESSAGES** in the left sidebar, or the **New direct message**
+   button at the bottom of the app.
 
 1. Start typing the name of the person or [group](/help/user-groups) you want to
    message, and select their name from the list of suggestions. You can continue

help/include/when-to-start-a-new-topic.md

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Topic names should be brief but specific, for example:
 * **Not so good topic names:** "question", "hi", "help", "this topic is about
 a question I have about topics"
 
-!!! tip ""
+
-    Don't overthink naming your topic. The first 2-3 words that come to mind
+Don't stress about making it perfect! The first 2-3 words that
-    are probably fine!
+come to mind are probably fine, and you can always [change it
+later](/help/rename-a-topic).

help/introduction-to-topics.md

@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 
 ## How to start a new topic
 
+Zulip lets you start a new conversation in any channel, no matter where you are.
+
 {!how-to-start-a-new-topic.md!}
 
 ## Further reading