Noticing Newbies 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 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! This week's editor is yesnomaybe . Passionate about writing? Take your passion to new heights - with an online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, available only from top ranked National University. Choose workshops based on your interests. Work with experienced and published faculty. Prepare for a variety of career opportunities. Use a state-of-the art online system: Study where and when you want. Click here to get more information! Hey everybody and welcome to the the Writing.com Noticing Newbies Newsletter! If you’re a newbie and haven’t already, please visit our "Noticing Newbies" forum to introduce yourself and meet other newbies, and/or "Writing.Com General Discussion" to chat with other members about a variety of topics. Either forum is a good place to mingle with your fellow Writing.com members. This week, I asked my friend and fellow "Noticing Newbies Committee" member, the lovely and talented blueeyes to write an article on the importance of item descriptions. While I struggle with this particular detail, as a reader, I do understand its importance. Let's read what Ms. Blue has to say: ~~~~The Importance of Descriptions "Please read and rate!" "Read this. It's good." "I dunno." "This is a story." "I'm not done yet!" The above are samples of item descriptions I've seen on Writing.Com. Do any of the statements make you want to read the item they're describing? What about those statements says something about the item the author wants you to look at? I don't think they're funny, or creative, and it certainly doesn't make me want to read the item! What is an item description? An item description is that short line of text that follows an item title, and is visible at the top of every item you're viewing. You can also view the item descriptions when you're searching for something to read. What makes an item description so important? An item description is your teaser--it's your way of drawing a reader into your story and, hopefully, get a rating or a helpful review. A well-written item description can catch the eye of your ideal reader. It can raise curiosity, briefly describe the item, and tease the reader into clicking on your item. Most importantly, there are presently over 185,382 items at Writing.Com. What's going to make your item stand out? What's required in an item description? If your item is rated R or lower, then your item description must be G-rated. That means, if you wouldn't hear it in an old-fashioned Disney movie, then it's not acceptable in your description. Descriptions for items rated NC-17 and X can say anything. For more details on this concept, visit "Invalid Item" . You have 90 characters in which to tempt a reader to visit your item. That's enough room to write a sentence, or a list of keywords that might draw a reader in (for example, the coloured sentence is just over 90 characters). ~~~~ Well, there you have it! A great lesson on the importance of a good item description. Perhaps we should all strive to make better use of them. ~~~~Noticing Newbie Descriptions Here's a list compiled by "Noticing Newbies Committee" of great newbie descriptions. Notice how each one says "Read Me!"
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~~~~ These last two have particularly good titles and descriptions. I'm a huge fan of unusual titles!
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Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter! http://www.Writing.Com/main/newsletters.php?action=nli_form 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! http://www.Writing.Com/main/newsletters.php?action=nli_form Don't forget to support our sponsor! %%NL_AD_BOT%% ~~~~It's a Scavenger Hunt! Don't forget about our Noticing Newbies contest!
Not only is it fun, but you'll learn alot simply by entering. How can you win if you don't enter? ~~~~ Do you have a question or comment for the editor? You may fill out the feedback link below or email me or any of my fellow newsletter editors. We'd love to hear from you! Pita outlawpoet amawitch. Thanks for reading the Writing.com Noticing Newbies Newsletter. See you next week and keep writing! Have a question or comment for the Editor? http://www.Writing.Com/main/newsletters.php?action=nli_form To stop receiving this newsletter, go into your account and remove the check from the box beside the specific topic. Be sure to click "Complete Edit" or it will not save your changes. |