  Noticing Newbies
This week: Edited by: Elisa the Bunny Stik  
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Everytime you create an item, you'll come across Section 3: Genres and Keywords. This is a valuable but often underutilized section. Sometimes we forget that people like to sort site items by genre or search for items using a specific word or phrase. I'll be discussing some ways you can make the most of this section in getting your items (re)viewed.
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| ASIN: B085272J6B |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 9.99
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 THE ULTIMATE GENRE AND KEYWORD PRIMER
Whenever you create an item, there's the section where you can select genres and input keywords for whatever it is you're creating. In a rush to get a story posted, some members may overlook this area. That could cause the item to get lost in the shuffle. With thousands of items on the site, who would want their poetry or interactive story getting lost? By selecting genres and putting in keywords, you're helping more people find your items. Here are some tips on making the most of each function.
GENRES
Pulled directly from Section 3: Genres and Keywords
(Definition of genre: a category of literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content.)
If you're looking for a simpler definition of genre, think about going to a (book) store. Each item is stored with like items, and they're divided off into sections. Selecting at least one genre will put your item in a section with similar ones. This means you can find a word search based on famous movie monsters in the same section as a review of The Silence of the Lambs. People looking in the genre listings (in this scenario horror) will be more easily able to find your item. The nice thing about choosing genres for site items is you have plenty of options. You can choose just one or up to three. If you choose three, think of it like those special displays at the store. The item can be found with similar items, but it can also be found in other areas where it might pair with another item or be an unexpected surprise.
What are the other benefits of filling in genres? First, I can tell that it helps newsletter editors find items to feature. When I was editing the drama newsletter, I'd go over to the site navigation menu, mouse over the Genres tab and select drama. I found a lot of excellent items to feature that way. Even if someone browsing by genre isn't a newsletter editor, sorting the items in this matter is a great way to find things that might not be on the plug pages or linked around the site in some capacity. Another thing to consider is that people browsing by genre have a more specific idea of what they want to browse. They're looking for, say, a comedy short story or a sports-related word search. Filling in genre selections helps define your audience and lures members of it toward your item. There are even some genres that thrive on this (and I'll get there in a second). While some people may find that sort of targeting confining (especially when it bears a strong resemblence to 21st century advertising), it's more helpful than having "none" or "other" as genre selections. Though these choices are more lenient, there are two problems with them. Most people won't browse the listings of "other", and if they do, there's no telling what kind of people will be viewing your items. They could leave the least helpful feedback in the world because the item just isn't their cup of tea. Adding at least one genre can reduce the risk of this happening.
With that in mind, here are a few pointers for making genre choices work effectively.
 Fill in all three if possible. Many items fit into more than one category, and highlighting this fact with multiple genres will help more people find it.
Think about who you anticipate visiting your item. Will it be the right people? This can be a problem with some genres, especially erotica. Make sure that before you choose certain high interest genres that your piece truly belongs there. I had a story with erotica as a genre, but I only had it because there was some sexual content. The item had lots of views but not the right people reading. It made getting constructive feedback kind of tough.
Don't be afraid to change genres on your items. With the above story, I changed "erotica" to "dark" and kept the others. Viewership did decline, but I got more constructive feedback because the people who read it weren't interested in the naughty bits. 
Be aware of connotations some genres may have. A really good example is the Gothic genre. Let's bring out the dictionary definition! of or relating to a style of fiction characterized by the use of desolate or remote settings and macabre, mysterious, or violent incidents I once reviewed a story that did fit this definition quite well. However, I also realized that some people may interpret the name of the genre as the Goth subculture of even pertaining to the Germanic origins of the word. So take your time in selecting genres that are appropriate to your piece and make it clear what type of item you have.
KEYWORDS
With keywords, you can enable your item to come up if someone types a given word or phrase in the search bar at the top of the page. Entering keywords will help your item appear in the resf the word or phrase is not included in the title or brief description. This can be helpful for stories taking places in a certain location as well as articles that highlight a given topic. Keywords get your piece seen by those who are looking for something very specific.
So who are those people, anyway? Okay, it should be obvious by now that newsletter editors are among those who search for items using specific words. There are also people who teach writing courses on the site who will look for items pertaining to a specific topic. You can also count in people who are looking for a given abstract that isn't included in the long list of genre choices (think angst and society). Other people include those who are looking for items rooted in a particular location and those who are looking for a specific type of story (avant garde, anyone?). While keywords may not be as visible as genres, they certainly help. They also have the appeal of being able to cross over audiences. While those who search through genre listings have a certain aesthetic in mind, people searching by keywords are a little more flexible about the category (or catergories) under which an item falls. As long as the concept they're looking for works within the item, they're happy.
So how do you make the most of your keywords? Here are a few pointers.
Remember that you only have 150 total characters for your keywords, including punctuation and/or spaces. Be choosy.
Go for a mix of specific words/phrases (such as Vietnam War) and more general terms (cultural impact).
If your item has to do with a particular city, country or even planet, mention that location by name.
Make sure you don't get redundant. Omit things such as the title, any words that appear in your brief description and genres you have selected. They'll already be visible within the item header, so there's no need to reitereate them in the keywords area.
Genres and keywords, while optional, should not be neglected. Both tools help make more item more visible in general and will help define your audience. A clearly defined audience increases your chances of finding someone who likes what you have to offer and even improve the quality of the feedback you receive. So don't leave them blank! Choose your genres and fill in your keywords today.
Until next time,
(sig by me) |
It's amazing what you can find when browsing by genres and/or keywords. Here are some of my findings. The first batch of items was found by perusing what members put in the sports and reviewing genres.
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1537241 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1540061 by Not Available. |
This batch was created from the items that came up when searched for Minnesota and angst.
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#992392 by Not Available. |
| |  | Last Stop (ASR)
Flash fiction. Three people in the same bus stop and different worlds.
#1353304 by revdbob  |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1172768 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1061080 by Not Available. |
| | | Go (18+)
Broken home, no future, so what. He’s got a gear shift, an engine and that’s all he wants.
#1288736 by Sincerely Me |
| | | Good Christians (E)
Inspired by small town small mindedness, and a fear of of anything different.
#1308082 by T.M. |
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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
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B01IEVJVAG |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 9.99
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Since I'm not normally one to edit this newsletter, I decided to cook up a poll on this topic. You are still welcome to cast your vote!
[Linked Poll's access is restricted.]
And here are some comments I've received for it.
From Angelica- House Florent B & W  : It is extremely helpful to place into a category to have an idea about the writing or interactive. This also gives an opportunity for more exposure as well. As for newbies, they might want to be rrr themselves. |
| ASIN: 0995498113 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 19.95
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Noticing Newbies: June 17, 2009 Issue [#3109]
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