  Noticing Newbies
This week: Edited by: Cubby~Cheering House Florent!  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
 Welcome to the Noticing Newbies Newsletter! Our goal is to showcase some of our newest Writing.Com Authors and their items. From poetry and stories to creative polls and interactives, we'll bring you a wide variety of items to enjoy. We will also feature "how to" advice and items that will help to jump start the creation process on Writing.com.
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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** Image ID #1219544 Unavailable ** ~ Get your Spring Back! ~ ** Image ID #1219544 Unavailable **
It's hard to imagine, at least in Michigan, that Spring is only a month away. I used to think a month was a long time, but this year my weeks seem to fly by before I know it. There isn't enough time for me to do all the things that need to be accomplished, let alone the things I enjoy doing. I hate falling behind because when I do, I feel overwhelmed and tend to procrastinate and then lose all my energy. Sound familiar to anyone?
Lately, I've been working extra hours at the library, trying to catch up on paperwork. The first thing I had to do was rearrange my office. It just did not feel balanced and it was awkward getting to my desk. I didn't even want to be in my office, if I could find a good excuse not to be, like weeding through stacks of books, arranging new displays, or just plain getting out and talking with the Patrons. Anything to avoid that office! But every two weeks there's payroll, and we all want checks, of course! Then there's the End of the Month data entries, ordering materials for the library (my favorite part  ), filing (my least favorite part  ), oh, and the list goes on and on. Okay, back to the office... So I rearranged my desk, etc., and WOW! My energy level rose from my feet to my head in no time. Amazing. I've been going gung-ho ever since.
But sometimes we need to make a trade in order to get back on our feet. My trade has been reviewing. Oh, of course I'll soon be back into it, but I needed to back off for awhile in order to catch up on other things. And I've also been writing more. I entered a poetry contest last week, which I have not entered a contest in ages! It felt good. And I've been posting chapters from a children's book that I've actually completed on paper.  No kidding! I've never finished a chapter book ever!  Yes, things are moving along for me at this point.
Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed in this Pre-Spring season. If so, try to re-organize your work space so everything is easily obtainable and comfortable. Reconsider your priorites and make a trade for a short time to see how it works out for you. It's truly amazing how much energy will find its way into your life, bringing you an early Spring!
Enjoy!
As always,
Have fun...
and
Happy Writing!
Love, Cubby ")
A Simple Lesson on the Bitem Format
Understanding the bitem format can be a challenge for Newbies when entering contests. Most contests require this format, but still receive a few of the copy and paste versions of an entry. While there are some excellent articles that explain how to use the bitem format, I decided to include a few simple steps in this newsletter. I must, however, give some credit to fyn  who emailed me, making a request to help Newbies understand how to do this.  Once you learn it, you'll see how simple it really is.
1. Locate those squiggly parentheses to the right of the P key:  { }
2. Inside these squiggly parentheses, add the word bitem: {bitem}
3. Add a colon after the word bitem: {bitem:}
4. Find your item's ID#, which is located in the box to the left of your title in your Portfolio.
5. Now add the digits only after the colon: {bitem:1234567}
 Double-check to make sure there are absolutely NO spaces.
There you have it! That's all there is to the bitem format. No more copy and pasting in contests, right? 
If you still have problems after reading my simple steps, please email me and I will help you until get it right.
As always,
Cubby ") |
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** Image ID #1219544 Unavailable ** ~ Got questions? Look for answers here... ~ ** Image ID #1219544 Unavailable **
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#794007 by Not Available. |
** Image ID #1219544 Unavailable ** ~~~And Now... For Our Featured Newbie Presentation!~~~ ** Image ID #1219544 Unavailable **
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Excerpt: The night was young and crisp, but yet there was no moon. The man took no notice of this as he walked towards the place where the meeting would happen. He was around 6' 4" tall and had a face that look like it had seen one too many horrible things. His body was built like a knight's, and yet he was as fast and nimble as a thief. He could see everything that moved ahead of him, and hear everything behind him. He continued to repeat the prophecy as he walked.
Excerpt: If it hadn’t been for the canary, everything might have been different. It had come as something of a shock to the children when they arrived a fortnight earlier, because nobody walked into Number Forty-Two expecting to see anything so natural, so bright – so alive, really. According to Vanessa, it had been left to her recently by “a very dear aunt”, and the way she pronounced this phrase made it clear that, had this aunt not been quite so well-loved, the poor bird would have had to fend for itself.
Excerpt: Most of you are here by your own nomination. You have sent in an application highlighting your most distinguished characteristics, the exact reasons you are truly amazing, and you are now here due to our amazing highly selective admissions committee. As presenter and judge of the Most Amazing Person in the World Award, I have read every last one of your applications, and I have made my decision. But first, I would like to tell you a little story.
Excerpt: Aegeus gently shook the sleeping Aethra’s shoulder until she awoke. He then told her that she would bear him a son, but that she would have to raise the child there, in Troezen, without him. He instructed her not to reveal to the child his father’s identity. Aegeus placed a sword and a pair of sandals underneath a great stone in a forest clearing just outside the city. He showed Aethra this spot and told her that when his son was old enough to lift the rock and retrieve these things, then she could tell him about his father. She should then tell the boy to travel to Athens secretly, to avoid any plots that may spring up against his life if anyone learned of his right to the throne.
Excerpt: Forte was looking up at the building tops when she saw something out of the ordinary. It was a weird sort of something, like a odd shaped cloud, except it didn’t seem to be there at all. She thought it had a face as it felt like it was peering at her, but it was hard to tell. Whatever space it occupied shifted like a storm of static. It caused the faint buzzing of noise that she usually had when around machines that gave off certain waves, but unlike all the other times she had that feeling, this time she could hear it. Forte was trying to decide if she should ignore it, when she notice that the rest of her party was ahead of her now and she scampered away to catch up to them.
Excerpt: Omar’s parents came up with a plan to escape their country. They had relatives in Beirut that were willing to take them in and they hoped they could get Omar to train with the Lebanese national team. Though it wasn’t the team Omar dreamed to play with, he would still have a chance to play professional soccer, to bide his time and perhaps later be able to realize his dream in a new Iraq.
Excerpt: But I don’t just mean they were playing basketball and badminton, although they were. They were playing — these soon-to-be college students — like children. The looks on their faces. The energy. The unbridled joy of just being able to run freely and wave their arms around. The scene revived in me a sensation I hadn’t felt for some time. I was permeated by Youth, like some kind of strange radiation. I couldn’t help but smile. Then a realization slowly washed over me: I am not one of them. I am no longer a kid. I, at some point when I wasn’t paying attention, crossed over into (gulp) Adulthood. And up there in the distance...is that (shudder) Middle Age? Having nowhere to go but forward, I find myself faced with the fact that someday (stem cells willing) I will find myself to be, well, Old.
Excerpt: Have you ever watched a cat, peacefully napping away in a patch of warm sunshine, suddenly, with absolutely no warning, spring about three feet into the air and tear off into another part of the house? Now, anyone who has ever spent a significant amount of time around a housecat knows that cats NEVER do anything without reason. They do not waste effort on activities for YOUR benefit, which is what makes them so difficult to train. So why does this “napping beauty” suddenly and inexplicably spring into action? There must have been something that you didn’t see, but that she definitely did.
Excerpt: The man who was guarding Sean for the last few hours stood beside the elevator doors, eyes never leaving his captive. The guard scared Sean, more because of his unwavering look than any physical attributes he may have possessed, but the two men who entered the room now scared him even more; these men meant business. They were on a mission to get something out of Sean and they would not relent until he gave in or died, and he knew death would not come easily.
~~~Submitted Items from Newbies!!!!~~~
I just started here and i am trying to get noticed. including one of my short stories in your newsletter would be a huge help. thank you.
This is a memoir I've written about my first seven years at an all boys' school, Rondebosch. I've since left.
Please do read and review this, this is my first ever item on this site. Thanks.
This is the best essay I've ever written. There may be a few facts missing from it, but I received a 96% on it! This is about the American Revolution -no offenses of Great Britain are included- and I would love to get exposure and feedback.
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https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Last month's question:
Do you enjoy reading steamy, erotic scenes in fiction, or do you prefer to skim over the details? (I'm not talking about X Rated items. )
 kundanchhabra
Do you enjoy reading steamy, erotic scenes in fiction, or do you prefer to skim over the details?
Yes, I actually enjoy reading steamy, erotic scenes - my favorite is from "The Dare", a sci-fi story by Susan Kearney and "The Twelve Month Mistress", a romance from the Harlequin series
Anything steamy to read on writing.com that you recommend?
Actually, I read mostly children's chapter books! Otherwise, I like historical fiction and sometimes biographies. Perhaps another WDC member might read this and point you in the right direction as far as some steamy writing on the site goes. You can also do a search on the site. Thanks for the recommendation. As a library director, I'm always open to new titles.
Breezy-E ~ In College 
I try my best to ignore the more erotic scences, and it annoys me when they're such an integrated part of the story that it's impossible to do so.
Breezy-E
Don't you think that is why Christian/Inspirational Fiction has become such a popular genre? My patrons love Beverly Lewis, Terri Blackstock, Francis Rivers, ----- Kingsbury, and many other authors that write in this genre. We have a book discussion group at the library once a month, and one of my elderly staff members belongs to it. Most of the books have parts in it that she is offended by and so she doesn't read the rest of the book. I just skim through those parts, and like many movies, I don't find them necessary to the point of detail they sometimes go into. I could take them or leave them, but I pretty much feel they are just fillers. Not everyone, of course, has the same opinion. And that's fine. I'll stick to my children's chapter books.  By the way, Breezy-E, thanks so much for emailing me some good Christian Fantasy titles for me to consider for my library. I'll definitely be looking into those. (((HUGS)))
mariasmatrix
Thanks for making us all feel so at home here.
Maria
You are very welcome! It's a pleasure.
CharlotteWheever
Wonderful and very helpful newsletter! My endless confusion (a common state for me) is slowly ebbing away. Much thanks!
Thank you, Charlotte! Glad to hear things are beginning to clear up for you. There are so many wonderful things about this site, it takes time learn them all. Thanks for you feedback!
essence of thought
Hi Cubby,
You've made me want to read that book too! It is really true that a certain good work may make us like a certain genre or type of writing that we've never thought of reading before. As to erotic scenes in fiction, I am not likely to read them. For me, I prefer to skim over details; I see that hints may be enough!
I'm glad I had managed my online connection now, not to miss any of your enjoyable newsletters!
I think the hints are enough, too. Let the imagination take its course! Glad you are back online!
nancy777ca
I do enjoy reading the erotic scenes in novels because I think you lose something if you skip them. If the story is written vividly and everything is so powerful and the author has a talent for painting pictures with his/her words, getting to a love scene and then skipping it or simply alluding to it seems like a cop out to me and I think cheats the reader. It's a part of life and a vital part of making characters relatable and genuine.
In cases of romance novels, I think they are essential. In my personal opinion, you cannot show the love and passion between two characters without the payoff and relationship growth shown with a love scene.
I understand those who are a bit squeamish about writing love scenes, but I think if you want to write real and powerful fiction, you have to be true to your characters and fair to your readers and go the distance. Danielle Steele, Jackie Collins, even DH Lawrence all had/have families and /or children.
Nancy
I think a love scene is fine if it is done well. Like you say, in romance novels they are essential. I agree with that, if it's just not over done. Actually, I don't mind the love part at all, the emotions and such. But beyond that, if a writier isn't clever, those steamy scenes are too methodical, at least for me. Danielle Steele in a very popular author at the library I work in. Can you believe I've never read any of her books? I'll have to pick one up one of these days, just out of curiousity.
Guedde
I appreciate this newsletter as I am new to this and have been slow to understand all the options. This helps.
I'm so glad you feel this newsletter is helpful. If you ever run into difficulties, please don't hesitate to email me.
flip8889
In response to your question of the month:
Do you enjoy reading steamy, erotic scenes in fiction, or do you prefer to skim over the details? (I'm not talking about X Rated items. )
I think it depends on two things; first the mood I'm in and second the writing.
Some things are so well written that I don't even want to skip over the "the's or but's" Other times I may just want to get to the point.
If the steamy erotic scenes are the point, I probably will not finish reading it. As with any writing...too much becomes a bore.
Often, I like to let my own imagination fill in the blanks.
Wow, I think you and I are on the same wave length! Thanks so much for sharing your response with us.
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Quote
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.
~ William Wordsworth
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Cubby's Question of the Month
How do you keep your life balanced, if in fact you do? I would love to receive any tips and/or advice that might benefit those of us who live in chaos.
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If you are interested in book discussions and/or recommendations, please join me at these brand new forums:
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See you again on March 21st!!!
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Love, Cubby ")
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Next week's editor will be... Puditat |
| ASIN: B004PICKDS |
Product Type: Toys & Games
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Noticing Newbies: February 21, 2007 Issue [#1559]
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