  Noticing Newbies
This week: Edited by: Puditat  
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 Welcome to the Noticing Newbies Newsletter!
This newsletter is designed to showcase some of our newest Writing.Com Authors and their items. Poetry, stories, polls, interactives...the aim is to provide a variety of items for you to enjoy. Advice on writing or navigating the site, and items to help jumpstart the creative process on Writing.com will also be presented.
We hope all members of the site will take the time to read, rate, review and welcome our new authors. By introducing ourselves, reviewing items and reaching out, we will not only make them feel at home within our community, we just might make new friends!
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| ASIN: B004PICKDS |
Product Type: Toys & Games
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Amazon's Price: Price N/A
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Getting Your Novel Read
This week's topic arises from feedback received to the Noticing Newbie Newsletter.
Natural Spring posed this problem and question:
Hi, I am working on a novel. I am very busy and do this in my spare time. I only have four chapters written so far, and have restricted its viewing to registered authors because it is precious to me, but none have read any part of it yet. Do you have any suggestions short of leaving it unrestricted?
Novels are a labour of love. We invest huge amounts of time and effort into creating a story of epic proportions. Once written, there is seemingly endless rewrites, revisions, editing and fiddling.
As a novel writer myself, I know the problem of getting your novel read and reviewed.
One of the biggest reasons they do not get read, is simply the size of the project. Novels are large, and reading them takes a large commitment. Reviewing them takes even more.
We must admit, too, that reading a novel while curled up in bed with a drink and some nibbles is far easier and more relaxing than reading on a computer screen.
Other factors which have a bearing on whether your novel gets read or not are the subject matter, the genre, the content rating, etc.
So here are my tips to maximise the views, and more importantly, reviews you get of your novel.
 Give the item appropriate settings - assign the maximum of three genres, don't put yout content rating too high or too low. Use as many keywords as you can, and choose them wisely. Think about what words you would perform a search on if you were looking for a story like the one you've written.
As far as the access restrictions go, you need to assign what you are comfortable with. The more you restrict it, the narrower the reader field is going to be. However a one or two deep reviews are far more useful than a hundred 'nice story' comments. Leaving a piece you want published 'Open' does give more potential for work to be stolen. A minimum of 'Registered Users' and above is my personal recommendation.
Do not put multiple chapters in one static item. Keep your novel in nice, bite-sized chunks. People are more likely to attack a novel in comfortable, manageable pieces. Using a book item is a good way to present chapters (Upgraded Membership or above is required for this).
Do put your heart and soul into the first chapter, and the first sentence even. Make it as gripping and interesting as you can. If you get a reader interested, they are more likely to return to read more.
Make every effort to format your writing correctly. This includes attention to punctuation, grammar and spelling. Use a spell checker if spelling is not your strong point, or even if it is, because typos happen.
Include line breaks between paragraphs. Use indents on the first line of each paragraph if you want to, for additional reader comfort.
Give appropriate recognition to those who review your work. If they spent any amount of time helping you, they deserve some thanks. Return reviews, Gift Points, or cNotes are a lovely way to say an extra special 'thank you'. Say thank you, do not be defensive, answer any questions they may have had, and say thank you, again.
Using edit points, offering GP rewards for reviewing, or sponsoring your item/chapters may increase traffic to your novel. Post every so often to the "Request Reviews" page (found under your 'Item Jumps' drop-down menu).
Find a group that deals specifically in novels. These are useful groups, but most will require you to commit to reviewing other member's novels. Specific novel reading forums are also an option.
Here are some that may be useful:
"Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item"
If people take the time to point out things that need fixing, then you should take the time to at least do some amendments. Fixing things like spelling, punctuation, or format do not take long to do. They are worth addressing, and addressing quickly. These small matters will make your reviewer feel their time was appreciated, and it will likely keep a few more readers in for the long haul.
Deeper issues, like plot or characterisation, will probably need time to be considered, so make sure you include a note in your thank you about them. It may be a simple "Thanks for the plot tips; I'll think about those." or a lovely, "Your points were very helpful and I will need to consider how I can work them into the story."
Be patient. Your novel was not written overnight, and nor will it be finished or perfected in a week.
I hope these tips are useful. Best wishes for getting those novels written and reviewed.
Thanks for reading.
Puditat
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#794817 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#910040 by Not Available. |
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| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1119619 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1119564 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1120636 by Not Available. |
| |  | Fear (E)
this is basically a poem about fear
#1120473 by kait |
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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| ASIN: 197380364X |
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Amazon's Price: $ 15.99
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Great, helpful newsletter! 
kelly1202
Glad you thought so. 
I always think about making a reviewing template, but never do it. Thanks for the nudge, and the reminder!
karabu
Then my job here is done.  Thanks for the feedback, Karabu. 
Once again you have helped so much! I am a younger member and I am not as experienced as others, so I find this so useful!
Great job!
Best Wishes,
Taylor
Is being hated by Jacob
So glad to hear it helped out some. Best wishes for your writing.
Any queries, problems, praise, or advice?
Send it to one of the Editors via the feedback form on this newsletter,
or direct to their email by clicking the wee envelope after their handle.
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Product Type: Kindle Store
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Noticing Newbies: June 21, 2006 Issue [#1102]
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