This week: Answers Edited by: JACE  
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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
Hi, I'm JACE .
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. This newsletter is about and for you. And for you seasoned members, I hope you'll find something you can take from my ramblings. 
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Since publishing my "Newbie Survey" , I've received more than 35 responses. Many Newbies who responded had some concerns that I thought should be addressed. All the issues raised in this Newsletter are from Newbie members (for less than one year).
From an Upgraded member: Trying to format what I uploaded. I wish I could just upload an item and it would automatically apply a nice format to it. I left Wattpad because formatting of my uploaded items was such a pain. Also, I don't much like the bit process, you know, when you have to use { put stuff in here }. Seems to me there would be an easer way to share items.
Many sites on which folks post their writing have specific formatting methods. Yes, there is a learning curve to formatting your work here. A bar of WritingML formatting buttons across the top of select text boxes includes the most commonly used formatting options, which makes formatting your documents much easier. I remember feeling a mite overwhelmed when I first joined. But I was "formatting" with the best of them inside two weeks. I hope you persevere.
From an Upgraded Newbie: Having to fill all the categories and sub categories.
I assume you're talking about creating an item and filling out the required boxes.
Indeed, there are boxes (categories and sub-categories) that must be completed when creating an item. The categories exist for a purpose--for both the author and a reader. Such information is used to enable an author to identify and place the item in a specific place in his or her Port. It also allows a reader to find, read and possibly review items of interest among the many thousands of items stored on WDC. The more information included, the easier to finetune locating a specific item.
From an Upgraded Newbie: There is a lot of information and links all in one page. It's overwhelming and hard to learn.
It's true, there are a lot of links on each page on WDC. Writing.Com is more than 20 years old, and as Internet sites go, is very complex. Consider the requirements for hosting almost 100,000 members, and some 3-400,000 items, including stories, poems, Interactives, blogs, books, images--check out the Browse By Type listing in the Navigation Menu for other items. Also check out "Compare Free and Paid Membership Benefits" for listings of the many features available to WDC members.
As a member for more than 13 years, I find a certain elegance to the complex aspects of the site. And yes, it took me some time to learn how to navigate it's complexity. Stick with us, and you'll find it easier to navigate.
From a Basic member: Making interactives paid is pretty unreasonable, but WHY DO FOLDERS NEED PAID MEMBERSHIPS??
I think it's obvious that not every feature can be made available to all members. The amount of storage required to code and maintain every feature, and store the hundreds of thousands of items, Portfolios and the like for thousands of members over more than 20 years is surely of a magnitude most of us can't comprehend.
And the expense to maintain such a site is funded by paid members amounting to less than 3 1/2% of the total membership ... along with a certain amount of advertising, of course.
Free memberships are allowed up to 10 items in their Ports. Perhaps consider that folders for ten items are not a critical asset for free members.
From a Free Newbie: Constant silly messages. Difficulty of posting. Rigmarole to read anything. Silly points system.
I'm not sure where to go with your suggestions. Feel free to contact me with more details and I'll try to find some answers for you.
From an Upgraded Newbie: Not being able to put certain emails into a special folder.
I need a bit more information about your issue. Folders are available to all membership levels although Free and Basic members are limited to two email folders. Upper level members have unlimited folder access. If you have specific questions regarding the use of email folders, post them in "Technical Support Forum" .
In a nutshell, open your Email and click on the Folders tab. From here one can Manage Email Folders by creating, deleting, renaming and subscribing to folders. Subscribing to a folder activates it, and active folders are displayed just under the Tabs at the top of the page. Save or move emails to a folder by selected the email to be moved, clicking on the Arrow icon, selecting the appropriate folder from the drop-down box, and clicking on the Arrow icon to complete the move. For more information, check out ""Folders" Tab" .
From a Free Newbie: Very bad, for a paid service I would expect complete stories but none of the ones i have tried to read (which are older) are complete(or have endings). For incomplete stories I would expect ads on the screen but no viewing limitations, as this site has incomplete stories and limitations, I would rate it the lowest of all other sites.
Writing.Com is a peer-to-peer writing site, on which members post their work--in all stages of completion. They often display what they have from time to time to solicit comments hoping to improve their work. Some members post finished work; others post incomplete updates.
Many internet sites use advertising to help support the website. Graphic and Pop-Up ad usage is heavier for Free members, lighter for Basic members, and disappears for upper level members.
I hope you'll consider reason for the existence of WDC and continue to participate on site. From "Writing.Com 101" --" A large community like Writing.Com offers much more overall diversity in writing topics and styles, member opinions, peer-to-peer reviews, and social interaction than a smaller writing group with only a handful of members. The diversity and inspiration found within our community is astounding."
Next month I'll feature responses to my survey from "older" members, including Preferred Authors, Moderators and Senior Moderators. In the meantime, enjoy all that Writing.Com has to offer.
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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.
| |  | Simple Pleasures (E)
Inspirational story from the past on living life and treasuring times with loved ones.
#2249940 by Ruthie4u  |
| | | Fire of Spring (E)
This poem might become part of a bigger world that I am working on.
#2250076 by Jamin |
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2250017 by Not Available. |
| | | Chivalry (18+)
gallant guy shelters a gorgeous gal under his small umbrella in an unexpected downpour ...
#2249865 by musey |
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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!
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Amazon's Price: $ 19.95
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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 mailbag:
From hbk16: The survey is meant indeed and allows the constant improvement. Great newsletter indeed!
Thanks. Always appreciate your support and readership.
From dogpack saving 4premium  : I found WDC through a search engine. My natural curiosity and being a researcher to find the answers made it possible for me to join this wonderful community. Usually, when I first find a website I haven't visited before, I search it by clicking on the links to see what is available. For WDC I roamed around, tried different options, asked questions, and very much enjoyed this experience. It took me a while to get the hang of doing a lot of the things here, but once a person does one activity it builds upon another because many features and activities have the same or similar means for completing the tasks. Explore WDC and enjoy. Safe travels and many blessings.
That sounds just like me when I first joined. I was a nosy member for sure. 
From Norbanus  : On WDC it is hard to follow another author. Becoming a fan does nothing to improve one's connection to another member. There seems to be no way to be notified when a fan posts new writing. Am I wrong?
My research shows that becoming a FAN or FAVORITE of an item will be displayed in the Favorite column (right side of the screen page) when an update occurs. But currently there is no such feature for a person or member on the main page--it would be too cumbersome to manage.
But FAN info IS available by checking the "Daily Update" link from the "My Account" page. It shows new items and updated items from your favorite authors. It's basically a snapshot of a day's activity, and is available for the current day and up to 7 days prior.
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Noticing Newbies: May 19, 2021 Issue [#10757]
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