Noticing Newbies: January 13, 2016 Issue [#7420]
<< January 6, 2016Noticing Newbies Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueJanuary 20, 2016 >>

Newsletter Header
Noticing Newbies


 This week: Use What's Around You
  Edited by: ember_rain
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

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

About This Newsletter

I am a stay at home, dyslexic, homeschooling mother of 6. I only ever wanted three things in my life.. A good husband, wonderful kids and to be a writer.

High School gave me the chance to find my husband . The Universe blessed us with a good marriage and awesome kids. WDC gave me a chance to at least feel like a writer. They embraced me with all my writing flaws and gave me the chance to do this newsletter every month despite my obvious shortcomings.

Friends have jokingly suggested that I drank the WDC kool-aide. I will happily agree. I did and I am so glad I did. Here is to all of our new members finding their writing home with us as well.



Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

Welcome to all our new members! It's great having you join us. We hope you are finding your way around easily enough. If not, drop any of us wearing blue or purple on our portfolio cases a line and we will do our best to help you out.

I thought a lot this past week about what this newsletter should be about. In the end the subject was right in front of my face. Though, you may or may not have heard, The past few weeks here in Arkansas have been wet. So wet in fact that my husband got nearly a week off from work. We had a flood. The Arkansas flooded as did the Fourche La Fave river. That meant for a few days, there was no way in or out of the county. This is the third flood I have lived through. The last two were both in 2015 thought the most recent one did run into 2016.

I have decided Mother Nature is trying to tell me something. If you need something exciting in your story that forces people together snow storms are good but flooding is better. It lasts longer, at least if your writing about a warm climate, than snow and its a lot more scary. Sitting listening to the news talk about levies that have been over topped and how we have reached record levels in some areas, that's scary.

Where we are is far enough from the rivers that we were safe as long as the creeks didn't decide to wash away the road in a flash flood. Being safe when you have animals to take care of and it's rained 8 inches in two days is, quite frankly, a relative term.

Now comes the rest of winter. We are use to snow or ice for a day or two in December but it was unseasonably warm and now that January is here we are both breaking record highs in that its going to hit 61 in a day or two which I do believe if it happens is a record. But, We also broke a record for having 31 as a high when our normal for that day is around 50.

Mother Nature is not happy. The reason why isn't important. What is important is she isn't happy and we as writers have an opportunity, dare I suggest an obligation, to use it as inspiration. She can obviously inspire poetry. But she can be a catalyst in a Romance for what splits your main couple up or what pulls them back together. Trust me, there is nothing that can bring you back together with someone you love but are mad at faster than the words Tornado Warning.

I think sometimes as modern writers we think about weather with writing and we think about the whole, "It was a dark and stormy night" cliche of a Mystery, but that doesn't mean you can't write about the weather. I mean is any book complete without a little rain? Can a story truly be good if you only have sunny days?

The best part of Pretty Woman is the sunshine when she takes Edward for a picnic and the rain when hes heading to the airport. Those moments couldn't be captured better by ignoring the weather all together. No, you need it to highlight moods but you also need it to just be the terror it can be.

So let me encourage you to look out your window, observe the weather and use it to inspire you be it a short story, poem, or the current weather in your current novel. Whatever it may be, let what is outside in just long enough to write something great.


Editor's Picks

Just some items from some of our newbies

{{bitem:2071399}
 
STATIC
Graymist's Love  (E)
Young Graymist falls in love with a rogue-only to discover he was plotting to kill her.
#2071388 by Pyrogue

 Family Tradition  (13+)
Nothing says Christmas like a bit of crime.
#2071350 by AshleyMaeBigs

Forever Angel  (E)
I wrote this for a friend who lost his Daughter when she was one month old.
#2071343 by Angela Marie

 Quandary  (13+)
Child abuse destroys lives. This fictitious story deals with the insidious monster.
#2071333 by Brett Matthew West

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

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!



Ask & Answer

So what's the weather like outside your window?

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


<< January 6, 2016Noticing Newbies Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueJanuary 20, 2016 >>

This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright.