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Writing.Com Time

Thursday
February 16, 2012
4:15am EST


Recent Items
By Online Authors
Writing.Com Newsletter Archives: Noticing Newbies
To view an Noticing Newbies newsletter, click an issue date:
#4884:February 15, 2012  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
Reviewing Of A Different Kind
A look at Product Reviews.
#4861:February 08, 2012  Jace
Will You Make It on Writing.Com?
Become active on Writing.Com and make your writing experience the best it can be.
#4851:February 01, 2012  Sara♥Jean
What is a Blog, Anyway?
A little discussion about the widely popular past time of blogging.
#4840:January 25, 2012  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Common Word Errors
Do you make any of these common mistakes when you write?
#4827:January 18, 2012  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
Talking To Yourself
There is inspiration and wisdom waiting for you; I hope my words can help you find it!
#4814:January 11, 2012  Jace
Newsletters: Information for the Masses
Both the official WDC and unofficial newsletters are worth seeking out.
#4807:January 04, 2012  Sara♥Jean
New Year's Challenge - Try A New Genre
Many of us are very dedicated to one genre or another. This is a challenge to try something new for the new year.
#4790:December 27, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
A New Year - A New Outlook
Top Five Resolutions for Writers - Is one of your goals on this list?
#4783:December 20, 2011  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
Baring The Truth
When sharing your words, should you write for you, honestly, or for your audience?
#4765:December 13, 2011  Jace
Taking Stock
Don't forget to look back to plan ahead.
#4757:December 06, 2011  Sara♥Jean
Let It Snow!
How to "Holiday-ize" your website experience, and join in on the fun.
#4739:November 29, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
More than a writing website.
Writing.com is the community that gives back to its members.
#4735:November 22, 2011  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
Picture Perfect
Images on a writing website? Yup, and they can be useful!
#4721:November 15, 2011  Jace
Who Are You Telling?
Talking about Writing.Com to others can be a great ice breaker.
#4703:November 08, 2011  Sara♥Jean
What are GPs?
A little information about GPs, how to get them, and what they are worth.
#4689:November 02, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Reviewing, Rewriting & Respect
Three important steps for any member to remember.
#4688:October 26, 2011  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
Who needs Hallmark? We have cNotes!
Community notes (cNotes) are a simple way to brighten a friend's day.
#4671:October 19, 2011  Jace
Quality Entries: A Judge's Thoughts
A judge's perspective on quality contest entries continued in Part 2.
#4659:October 12, 2011  Sara♥Jean
Campfire Creatives
One of the most fun, but very underused, features of this site.
#4645:October 05, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Secret Identities
The most important reason for having a secret identity? Because it's fun!
#4636:September 28, 2011  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
Strength In Numbers
What are groups and why do they matter? Community starts with family; find yours. ;-)
#4621:September 21, 2011  Jace
Qualifying Entries: A Judge's Thoughts
A judge's perspective on qualifying contest entries.
#4612:September 14, 2011  Sara♥Jean
Writing with Passion
Have you ever seen items that just move you to the core? Some others carry a true passion in their writing. Here's how!
#4601:September 07, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Birthday Traditions
Do you have a special birthday tradition?
#4590:August 31, 2011  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
Party in Your Brain; Are You Invited?
Ever lose your inspiration after a paragraph or two? Oh, of course you have! Happens to the best of us, right? ;-)
#4574:August 24, 2011  Jace
Feeling New Again
Broaden your horizons with a type of writing.
#4560:August 17, 2011  Sara♥Jean
Beating Writer's Block
That Writer's Block can be such a pain! Here are some ways to combat it.
#4549:August 10, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
The Five Rules
Sharing my five rules to being a better author. Do you have your own rules? Share them!
#4534:August 03, 2011  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
Portfolio Ornagzitoin
Welcome people to your port by putting your best foot forward and keeping everything accessible and understandable.
#4519:July 27, 2011  Jace
Testimonials: By You and For You
Inspiration can come from anywhere--maybe even from someone else's inspiration.
#4515:July 20, 2011  Sara♥Jean
Community and Groups
When a part of a website, does the community of people around you REALLY matter?
#4498:July 13, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
The Daily Grind of Writing
Writing is hard work and like some of these famous authors, you must truly enjoy your job.
#4492:July 06, 2011  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
The Almighty Dollar --Err... Gift Point
Knowing what GPs are and how to use them can take a bit of time to get used to; let's try and make it simple, shall we?
#4474:June 29, 2011  Jace
Writing.Com 101: Help Yourself
The definitive reference guide for Writing.Com is available to all. Check it out; you might be surprised what's inside.
#4467:June 22, 2011  Sara♥Jean
Copyright? What?
We all see the (c) Copyright symbol at the bottom of every page. What does it mean, really?
#4450:June 15, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Thinking Outside The Box
We're told to "think outside the box" all the time, but how exactly do we do that?
#4439:June 08, 2011  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
WritingML: Not just for looks!
In my last news letter, we explored manipulating text with WritingML, this time, we're delving deeper.
#4423:June 01, 2011  Smiling Sonali WDC Power #1!
From Newbie to Oldbie - Bridging the Gap
Newbies feel overwhelmed, confused, excited, shy - and oldbies do their best to help out!
#4411:May 25, 2011  Kate~Rune Writing & Reading
Put your best foot - and words - forward
Weave your words into verse or prose, fiction or fact, of which you are proud, then dress it up and - showtime!
#4396:May 18, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Build Your Audience
Make sure you're making every effort to introduce yourself to your new fans.
#4392:May 11, 2011  Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN!
Stylizing with WritingML
Want to add some visual appeal or a dash of personal touch to your item? WritingML does that and much more!
#4376:May 04, 2011  Fyn - cough hack gasp
Seeng the Trees for the Forest
Learning to read deeply
#4356:April 27, 2011  Crys in Winter Wonderland
What is Review Cheating?
A look at the practice of review cheating
#4351:April 20, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Why am I not getting any reviews?
Are you presenting your work in the best possible light?
#4340:April 13, 2011  Cubby
Stuck in the Mud
What's causing your wheels to spin?
#4329:April 06, 2011  Sara♥Jean
"Tough-Love" Reviews
The things you need to consider when giving a review of an item that may get a low rating from you.
#4312:March 30, 2011  Sara♥Jean
Colons and Semicolons
My last newsletter covered commas. As promised, this time I am covering the use of colons and semicolons.
#4299:March 23, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Earn GP's through Community Involvement
Need Gift Points? Community Involvement is the Key
#4289:March 16, 2011  Cubby
Inspiration through Imitation
Imitation teaches one to experiment.
#4281:March 09, 2011  ~j
Getting the Word Out
It's not enough just to post your items and hope for feedback. Here are some suggestions to get noticed!
#4261:March 02, 2011  Sara♥Jean
Commas, Commas, and more Commas
Do commas frustrate you so much that your muse wants to go into a coma and never re-awaken? Let's hope this helps a bit.
#4254:February 23, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Ideanary? What's that?
Are you familiar with Writing.com's creative tools? Look inside to learn more about the Ideanary!
#4241:February 16, 2011  Cubby
Over-Exposure?
Exposure means promotion.
#4223:February 09, 2011  Smiling Sonali WDC Power #1!
Writing Dot Com - the Comfort Zone
Hone the old, try the new! Go beyond writing, to sharing!
#4218:February 02, 2011  ~j
Forward Motion
Inertia is a two-way condition.
#4200:January 26, 2011  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Avoid Repeating Words
Did you know just about every writer has a certain word or phrase they lean or rely on a little too much?
#4186:January 19, 2011  Crys in Winter Wonderland
Hey You! Just Be You!
What's the best way to get noticed on Writing.com? Just be yourself.
#4179:January 12, 2011  Sara♥Jean
Do You Want to be a "Writer"?
Many want to write, but most do not know how to begin. Here are just a few pointers to help you at least get started.
#4168:January 05, 2011  ~j
More, More, More...
I know, I know, it's resolution time. This year's goals? More, more, more... reading, rating, reviewing and... writing!
#4154:December 28, 2010  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Celebrating the New Year
New Year's Day is a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year.
#4146:December 21, 2010  Smiling Sonali WDC Power #1!
You Don't Need to be a Native Speaker!
Newbies! Don't worry if English isn't your first language! Go ahead and WRITE!
#4127:December 14, 2010  Shannon
New Beginnings
When the door to one year closes, another one opens, and the possibilities are endless
#4116:December 07, 2010  ~j
Cold Feet?
Why do we as writers have any trepidation about sharing our work?
#4097:November 30, 2010  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
The Benefits of Journaling
Consistently writing in a journal can reveal hopes, fears, goals, dreams, and values, not to mention reduce stress.
#4093:November 23, 2010  Cubby
WDC Newsletters
Free tips, advice, and inspiration found in all our WDC newsletters. Sign up today!
#4083:November 16, 2010  Melissa is fashionably late!
What good is...?
What can I use each of the item types for?
#4069:November 09, 2010  ~j
The Other Kind of Ratings
Content Ratings can be complex, but using them correctly will help you direct traffic in your Portfolio!
#4053:November 03, 2010  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Words have power. What do yours say?
Your words have the power to touch millions of people, of all ages, all over the world. So what are you saying to them?
#4040:October 27, 2010  Cubby
Stepping Out
Challenge yourself to step out of that comfort zone!
#4032:October 20, 2010  ~j
It's All in How You View It...
The best way to get views and reviews is to put your best foot forward... or, as the case may be, your Portfolio!
#4018:October 13, 2010  Melissa is fashionably late!
Why Should I Upgrade?
Exploring Writing.Com with a free membership is great, but here is why you should upgrade your membership.
#4005:October 06, 2010  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Is Writer's Block a Myth?
What motivates you to write? Do you have creative exercises to get your muse moving?
#3976:September 22, 2010  Crys in Winter Wonderland
Dealing with Reviews
Congratulations, you've received your first review! Now what?
#3970:September 15, 2010  ~j
Community Within A Community
Finding your place in the Writing.Com community is easier than it sounds! A few places to begin...
#3953:September 08, 2010  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Learning Linking
Everywhere you look activities require you to "link" your submission. Do you know how?
#3946:September 01, 2010  Cubby
What Genre Should I Choose?
Don't box yourself into one specific genre. Branch out and experiment alittle.
#3933:August 25, 2010  Fyn - cough hack gasp
C'mon in! The Water is Fine.
Encouraging new members to join in, ask questions and be a part of this place we call home!
#3918:August 18, 2010  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Three Stars = Average
Explanation of the star rating system and advice on responding to reviews.
#3902:August 11, 2010  Kate~Rune Writing & Reading
Notice Me! I've Something to Show You!
The WDC Neighborhood welcomes new members daily ~ getting noticed is as easy as opening your welcoming portfolio
#3887:August 04, 2010  Cubby
Out of Ideas?
Is your Idea tank empty? Stop here for a refill!
#3882:July 28, 2010  esprit
Boston Baked Beans
Make the brief description the hook to pull the reader in.
#3865:July 21, 2010  Kate~Rune Writing & Reading
Open house or by invitation~your choice
You decide who sees what in your portfolio ~and how you present your work invites readers to visit and comment
#3851:July 14, 2010  Brooke-Happy Anniversary Jeff!
Reviewing is Fun-damental!
Reviewing is rewarding in many ways and all you need is time and the desire to share your opinion.
#3839:July 07, 2010  Cubby
This & That for Newbies
First questions Newbies tend to ask.
#3834:June 30, 2010  esprit
Read to Learn to Write
If you don't hook a reader right in the beginning of the book, you might not hook them at all.
#3812:June 23, 2010  Crys in Winter Wonderland
The Role of Moderators at WDC
What do moderators do, anyway?
#3808:June 16, 2010  Legerdemain
Bid Click
A short explanation of how to bid for advertising space.
#3786:June 09, 2010  Cubby
Beginnings
The first paragraph of a story should be unsettling enough for the reader to want to read more.
#3773:June 02, 2010  esprit
How Do I Create My Item?
If you wonder why no one is reading your item, make sure you've filled in the genre information.
#3758:May 26, 2010  Crys in Winter Wonderland
Revising with the Reader in Mind
Sometimes, it's not enough to just change grammar and punctuation.
#3729:May 19, 2010  Smiling Sonali WDC Power #1!
Handle With Care!
How do folks use a 'handle', in a community of writers? How do you, as a member of Writing Dot Com, respond?
#3732:May 12, 2010  Cubby
Tidbits for Newbies
Advice to to newbies along with links, quotes, recommendations and writing prompt. Selected items written by newbies are also featured along with feedback from readers.
#3713:May 05, 2010  esprit
WdC Newport Upgrade
If you have questions or find an issue with the upgrades, make this forum a fan/favorite and post here.
#3694:April 28, 2010  Northernwrites
Sliders and Snapshots
Detailed information about how to use the new Sliders feature.
#3674:April 21, 2010  Crys in Winter Wonderland
#3662:April 14, 2010  Cubby
#3654:April 07, 2010  esprit
{x}Shouldn't you be working?{/x}
A duplicate
#3655:April 07, 2010  esprit
Shouldn't you be working?
A list of gadgets to keep us focused on writing.
#3653:April 07, 2010  esprit
#3622:March 31, 2010  Crys in Winter Wonderland
#3630:March 24, 2010  Kate~Rune Writing & Reading
#3619:March 17, 2010  Fyn - cough hack gasp
#3574:March 10, 2010  esprit
Do Real Men Read Instructions?
Read the FAQ's, explore the menu lists, click on portfolio cases and look around.
#3583:March 03, 2010  Northernwrites
Annoying Word Repetition
How to figure out what's really wrong when writing repeats a word several times close together, and how to fix it.
#3553:February 24, 2010  Crys in Winter Wonderland
#3562:February 17, 2010  Cubby
#3531:February 10, 2010  esprit
Describing the Five Senses: sights, etc
There are few words for describing taste and smells. Here's a list of sorts and a few exercises to help you practice.
#3539:February 03, 2010  esprit
What is Character Arc?
Everyone says you need to have a character arc, but they don't say how to do it. What is a character arc anyway?
#3524:January 27, 2010  Diane
#3509:January 20, 2010  Cubby
#3473:January 13, 2010  esprit
Test Characters Emotions by Freewriting
He might not be the person you thought he was going to be, but he will be real.
#3454:December 30, 2009  Smiling Sonali WDC Power #1!
Through Thick and Thin
Writers need to be thick-skinned. And thin-skinned. Put those together, you get - "THINK" skinned!
#3460:December 23, 2009  Cubby
#3437:December 16, 2009  esprit
It Takes a Village
'Profiling Characters' What good does it do the beginning writer if they don't know which questions to ask?
#3415:December 02, 2009  Kate~Rune Writing & Reading
#3409:November 25, 2009  Cubby
#3394:November 18, 2009  esprit
Getting to Know the site and the Lingo
I clicked on search to find a forum, but my forum doesn't come up. Why not?
#3368:November 04, 2009  Kate~Rune Writing & Reading
#3358:October 28, 2009  Cubby
#3345:October 21, 2009  esprit
NanoWrimo Excitement!
Your NanoCounter helps you keep track of how many words you've written for this year's NanoNovel.
#3331:October 14, 2009  Laurencia
#3296:October 07, 2009  Shannon
#3301:September 30, 2009  Cubby
#3287:September 23, 2009  esprit
Sustainable Writing--One Scene at a Time
When I hear a new writer announce he's writing a novel, I admire him-then I sympathize. He has a rocky hill to climb.
#3273:September 16, 2009  Laurencia
#3234:September 09, 2009  esprit
A Reminder of What WDC Means to Us
This once in a lifetime date, 09-09-09, is also WDC's 9th year birthday month.Let's not take it for granted.
#3254:September 02, 2009  Cubby
#3219:August 26, 2009  esprit
Flash is a Good Teacher
There's no room for wandering, for extra details or to wait to 'get to the good part later'.
#3225:August 19, 2009  Laurencia
#3204:August 12, 2009  esprit
Don't Take Criticism Personally.
If you can detach yourself from the writing, you'll see that it's not you on the page, even if it is your life story.
#3200:August 05, 2009  Cubby
#3185:July 29, 2009  esprit
Why You Should Subscribe to the NL's
WDC offers thirteen newsletters each week offering help to writers. tips, hints and examples in each one.
#3165:July 15, 2009  Kate~Rune Writing & Reading
#3150:July 08, 2009  Cubby
#3136:July 01, 2009  esprit
Yes, Spelling and Grammar Matters
You want your reviewers to read your story with a sharp eye, looking for story elements and content, not fixing errors.
#3121:June 24, 2009  Laurencia
#3109:June 17, 2009   A Decade for a Stik?
#3105:June 10, 2009  Cubby
#3079:June 03, 2009  esprit
Simple Review Guidelines
This is a basic guideline for members who feel they don't have enough knowledge to review other writers.
#3073:May 27, 2009  Laurencia
#3057:May 20, 2009  esprit
Asking For Reviews
You have decided you want someone to read and review your writing. What should you give them?
#3053:May 13, 2009  Cubby
#3029:May 06, 2009  esprit
Membership Types: Premium, Upgraded, etc
I could have written a full letter on the value of a premium membership, but I thought it best to let others do it.
#3017:April 29, 2009  Laurencia
#2985:April 22, 2009  esprit
First Step, Learn the Basics
All stories, whether horror fiction or historical fantasy, use the same basic structure. A beginning, middle and end.
#3002:April 15, 2009  Cubby
#2961:April 08, 2009  esprit
Don't Hesitate to Toot Your Own Horn!
What's shameful of being proud of your writing?
#2974:April 01, 2009  Laurencia
#2947:March 25, 2009  esprit
Think revision is just fixing commas?
That's proofreading. Proofreading too early will just be putting a clean band-aid on a dirty wound.
#2952:March 18, 2009  Cubby
#2930:March 11, 2009  esprit
The Cluttered Path
A reader becomes lost when word clutter is so dense he is forced to backtrack to find the point.
#2917:March 04, 2009  Laurencia
#2904:February 25, 2009  esprit
Four + One Main Concerns
A writer's main concern is to impress the reader. "Did you like it?"
#2893:February 18, 2009  Cubby
#2877:February 11, 2009  esprit
Can I Make Changes To My Port?
Stop! Don't touch that delete link! I know these technical letters aren't as much fun to read as who's spoonin' who,
#2875:February 04, 2009  Laurencia
#2850:January 28, 2009  esprit
Take the Time to Rewrite
Revising/rewriting. This is how your good idea takes shape and becomes a good story.
#2842:January 21, 2009  Cubby
#2828:January 14, 2009  esprit
What Do You Really Want?
Begin easy and enjoy your time learning. It's a long road to publication, and you have time - don't rush it.
#2810:January 07, 2009  Laurencia
#2803:December 31, 2008  Kate~Rune Writing & Reading
#2792:December 24, 2008  Cubby
#2782:December 17, 2008  esprit
Questions From Members.
To be noticed, read, reviewed, and rewarded for your work you must take it into your own hands
#2748:December 03, 2008  spidey
#2738:November 26, 2008  Cubby
#2720:November 19, 2008  esprit
Have A Question? Need Some Help?
I've heard through the grapevine that some of you are overwhelmed at the size of Writing.Com.
#2716:November 12, 2008  Laurencia
#2687:October 29, 2008  Cubby
#2674:October 22, 2008  esprit
Useful Tips on Procrastination
Without a job to put off, procrastination has no purpose.
#2666:October 15, 2008  Laurencia
#2650:October 08, 2008  esprit
WDC is Huge and Confusing.
It can be hard to find what you're looking for in the first few days. Two places hold almost everything you'll need.
#2640:October 01, 2008  Cubby
#2623:September 24, 2008  esprit
Have You Thought About Screenwriting?
Why not give it a try? I've read that entering contests are the way to get noticed, winning or not.
#2620:September 17, 2008  Laurencia
#2601:September 10, 2008  esprit
Honest Opinions
Each member has their own take on how best to review, and writers will decide if they're useful or not.
#2581:September 03, 2008  Cubby
#2572:August 27, 2008  esprit
WDC Power Search vs WWW Google
A plus for using power search is the opportunity for instant interaction with the authors; can't do that with Google.
#2568:August 20, 2008  Laurencia
#2551:August 13, 2008  esprit
Writing Terminology
You may come across them occasionally among a reviewer's comments and not understand clearly what they mean.
#2538:August 06, 2008  Cubby
#2524:July 30, 2008  esprit
What Kind of Parent Will You Be?
Learning to write is a lot like learning to parent. Neither is easy and there are reams of advice available.
#2522:July 23, 2008  Laurencia
#2498:July 16, 2008  esprit
Finding the Perfect Match
Every writer has questions and every writer has answers, the topic of this newsletter is helping them find each other.
#2472:July 09, 2008  Cubby
#2473:July 02, 2008  esprit
News We can Use-Writer Beware
Paying publishers and agents don't come looking for you. If they do, hang onto your wallet.
#2470:June 25, 2008  Laurencia
#2450:June 18, 2008  esprit
Become a better Reviewer/Writer
Know the rule, and know what effect you are creating by breaking it. Such an action should never be an accident.
#2445:June 11, 2008  Cubby
#2423:June 04, 2008  esprit
Fill in Your Bio Block
Your BioBlock is the welcome mat you lay out for the visitors to your portfolio.
#2413:May 28, 2008  Laurencia
#2403:May 21, 2008  esprit
Get Your Groove Back!
Would you like to know what will help you? It's something I've never seen advised in any 'how to' books, but it works.
#2396:May 14, 2008  Cubby
#2359:May 07, 2008  esprit
#2363:April 30, 2008  Laurencia
#2349:April 23, 2008  Melissa is fashionably late!
#2340:April 16, 2008  Cubby
#2321:April 09, 2008  esprit
#2308:April 02, 2008  Laurencia
#2302:March 26, 2008  Past Member 'kelly1202'
#2284:March 19, 2008  Cubby
#2268:March 12, 2008  esprit
#2262:March 05, 2008  Laurencia
#2249:February 27, 2008  RobiMediaExcellenceAwardWinner
#2236:February 20, 2008  Cubby
#2204:February 13, 2008  esprit
#2211:February 06, 2008  Laurencia
#2195:January 30, 2008  esprit
#2191:January 23, 2008  Cubby
#2172: