This week: Reviewing Endorphins Edited by: JACE - House Targaryen  
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Hi, I'm JACE - House Targaryen .
Welcome to this issue of the Noticing Newbies newsletter. Join me as I take you into some nooks and crannies of Writing.Com that you may not have found time to check out yet.
Don't forget to toss me a note about what you liked or didn't like in my column, or about a topic you'd like to see discussed. This newsletter is about and for you. And for you seasoned members, I hope you'll find something you can take from my ramblings. 
Your Noticing Newbies Newsletter full-time Editors:
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I read last week’s issue of the Noticing Newbies newsletter written by Gaby ~ Keeper Of The Realm  with great interest.
As Miss Gaby stated: “Reviewing: You can love it and hate it at the same time.”
Agreed! That’s why I entitled my newsletter Reviewing Endorphins. Endorphins are most famous for the sense of euphoria they create after a strenuous activity or exercise. My point is reviewing can be both strenuous and exercise.
I consider WDC to be a three-legged stool: Writing, Reading, and Reviewing. I joined for the writing, enjoyed reading other members’ works, and discovered the joys and rewards of reviewing.
Since retiring a couple months ago, I’ve re-kindled my joy for reviewing.
Everyone can review. It’s just your opinion on a written item at one point in time. The trick is to do it in a positive manner. Developing your reviewing technique has significant rewards. But it is exercise!
First, reviewing requires you to search inside as you read those words you wish to review and consider just how you feel. Only then can you share that impact, thereby offering constructive criticism.
Second, constructive criticism is essential for any writer to improve his or her craft. Constructive implies that the words you offer are primarily helpful. Criticism is the analysis of the merits and faults of any item being reviewed. It’s feedback that offers specific and useful advice that can be implemented for better results. But one should never purposely demean the writer.
Third, reviewing provides the opportunity for the reviewer to learn, as well as the author. Every review should be mechanically correct lest the author discount the review as not useful for improving the written offering. Spelling, punctuation and grammar are as important in a review, as in the item being reviewed, arguably more. When you offer advice, be sure it’s factually correct.
Fourth, reviewing can provide a significant means to earn WDC gift points that may be used by the reviewer to support various programs, groups and members. They can also fund your paid membership. In less than one month, I earned more than 30,000 GPs from reviewing.
Official WDC sources for review GPs include Review Mixer, "The Review Mixer" ; Daily Review Rewards, "Daily Review Rewards" ; and Good Deeds … Get Cash, "Good Deeds Get CASH!" . Members may also earmark GPs for their specific items using the Auto-Rewards program, "Auto-Rewards" ; and may award GPs for individual reviews via the Public Review Rewards, "Public Review Rewards" . A third option for receiving GPs is by affiliating with one of many Reviewing groups.
Finally, on a personal note, reviewing helps you grow as a writer by reading lots of different writing styles and considering how they might help your own writing journey. Personally, I get a great deal of joy from receiving feedback from the author that they appreciate the input I provided.
So, start small. Commit to giving ten reviews next month. Pick a genre you enjoy reading. Then tell that author what you think of their work and how it makes you feel.
Happy reviewing!
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Check out this forum designed to assist Newbies.
Then drop in on these Newbies. Take a moment to review this offering ... or something else in their Port. Welcome them to WDC through a scribble in their Notebook.
| |  | The Dream He Was (E)
I wrote this long back, wanted to see if you guys like it. It's fictional
#2308853 by Sky  |
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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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Thanks for spending time with me today. At the bottom of every newsletter is a section entitled
followed by a text box. If you liked what you read (or if you didn't), please take time and drop me a line. I'd love to hear your ideas.
From the Newsfeed:
From Arsuit : Sometimes I record my writing sessions, so I may post a video of that in the writing, but other than that, not really.
If I can't do it on a piece of paper, then I usually don't bother.
If you want to include a video in your item posted on WDC, you'll need WritingML.
From Nostrum : I'm used to mark-up language because of forums (specifically vBulletin, which uses its own form of HTML, as well as some actual HTML), but I honestly find WritingML a mixed bag.
It's great for linking users and chapters, because it's quite intuitive - all you need is the item or chapter ID. The embellished versions are a nice touch, but most of the time I go for the most basic, as all I want is a reference.
That said, compared to vBulletin or most HTML-based comment sections, I find the button-based or command-based (i.e., pressing CTRL+B to bold a letter) a bit annoying when you have to go directly to the middle, rather than having the writing cursor already at the middle so you can start writing. It can be confusing when you press the button or use the command and then have the ML erased because you forgot to move the cursor.
That said - as with most HTML, it enhances writing, so it's a necessity. Having the Help panel (the question mark between the italic M and the emoji buttons) pop-up as a new page is immensely helpful, particularly as the list is drop-down, so you can find what you want without having to scroll too much.
I suspect inserting anything--text, images, or other ML--requires your cursor to be correctly placed. But I understand having to re-do something improperly placed.
From Anna Marie Carlson  : What is a WritingML?
As stated, it's a markup language that enhances your writing. You use WritingML to create links to your items.
From the last cicada  : WritingML is addictive.
Instead of HTML, Writing Markup Language is used to add emoticons and adjust the fonts. It's pretty complex but once it's all done, your pages will look amazing. The help docs are on the left side panel in Writing.Com Tools and top right corner in the Writing.Com 101.
You may already be using WritingML and not realize the formal name. Sometimes called WML. It's the stuff with all the curly brackets .
I agree--it is addictive.
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Noticing Newbies: November 29, 2023 Issue [#12253]
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