This week: Settling Into the Site Edited by: Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline  
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Who or what helped you settle into this website?
Writing.Com is a big website. Yet, settling in may be easier than you think.
This week's Drama Newsletter contains some tips and tricks to help you do just that.
Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline |
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My sister has recently joined Writing.Com. Helping her get settled in reminded me of what it was like when I was a new member. It’s easy to forget as the years go by how puzzled you can feel finding your way around unfamiliar territory. This is especially the case when it’s a big site with a multitude of tools – like Writing.Com.
Writing.Com is a brilliant online home for writers of all levels of experience. When I joined – all the way back in 2004 – I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I had no idea about stanzas, or imagery, or anything much, really. I wrote by feel. In my second language. To encourage my sister, who wrote her very first poems about a week ago, I dug up "The Window" [E], which is the first or second poem I ever uploaded to this site. It’s… not good. You can tell that my English was poor and I had a lot to learn. I have kept it, though, to look back at. To see how much I’ve grown as a writer. All thanks to Writing.Com.
Still, it can be daunting when you’re new. You have to figure out the site. You worry about how your work is going to be received. You find the newsfeed, and see these interesting contests and activities, but how do you enter them?
A good place to start is by clicking on "Get Started With Your Account" . It teaches you the very basics of what you need to know about the site. It’ll help you set up your portfolio, create your first item and directs you towards further information. There are even some video tutorials you can follow along with.
At some point during your stay on Writing.Com, it is likely that you’ll have to learn a tiny bit of coding. If you want to enter a contest, for example, you will need to know how to create a link to your item. If you want to embed an image or a video in your item, you will have to find the code to do so. Again, this may feel daunting at first, but you’ll soon pick up on it. You can find various codes by visiting Writing.Com Tools > Writing.ML: Docs & Help.
Do use both newsfeeds. The community newsfeed shows all newsfeed posts in the community. It’s an excellent way of meeting other members, and a place to ask questions if you need to. When you spot authors of interest you can become a ‘fan’ of them by clicking twice on the + sign next to their portfolio case. This will have them appear on your personal newsfeed, and help you keep track of any contests and activities they may run.
Don’t hesitate to enter contests and activities. They’re a good way to find inspiration and learn new skills. They’ll help you explore a variety of genres and forms. Some you will take to; others will turn out to not be your cup of tea. Either way, it’s a new experience and will help you develop as a writer. When you win – as you are likely to at some point, if you keep on practicing – it’s a wonderful feeling. Who doesn’t enjoy some recognition from their peers?
Speaking of recognition from your peers, if you happen upon an excellent item, contest, activity, reviewer, or newsletter written in 2023, a kind thing to do is to nominate it for "The Quills" [ASR]. The Quills are an annual event, aiming to award the best of Writing.Com. It can only do so with the assistance of the community. Without people who nominate excellent items, they and their authors may well be overlooked. It only takes a moment to nominate. You can do so through this form: "Quill Nomination Form 2024" [E]. It lists the various categories you can nominate in, and their requirements, and you can use it as many times as you spot something, or someone, you believe to be worthy of recognition. You never know, you may find yourself nominated, too!
Exploring the site and reading other people’s work is not only enjoyable – there are some true gems out there – it’ll help you improve your own writing. Exposing yourself to different styles and genres will help you discover what works for you, and what doesn’t. You can develop this further by reviewing items that you feel you have something to say about. Perhaps you very much enjoyed something about a story. The author will love to hear what you have to say. They’ll want to know what you thought of their characters, the setting, the plot. Did the beginning of the story draw you in? What did you think of the ending? Did it work for you? You might also have thoughts on what could be improved on. The author will want to know about that, too! As long as you are kind, respectful and constructive – the same as you’d want others to be when reviewing your work – suggestions for improvement tend to be gratefully accepted, so please don’t hesitate to voice your views. Then, you can apply this to your own work. You can help yourself by helping others. This, of course, goes for poetry and other types of item as well.
Once you have posted some items, entered some contests and written and received some reviews you may surprise yourself by how settled you now feel. You have mastered the basics. Learned that people are friendly. You can breathe a sigh of relief… and then explore further. There is a lot to see, a lot to do, but now it will no longer feel so scary. You can have fun! That’s what it’s all about.
And there’s a lot of fun around the corner. Writing.Com’s Birthday Week is coming up, and if you haven’t experienced that yet, well, you’re in for a treat! It’s a big party, with tons of contests, activities and new releases. I encourage you to dive right in! That’s what I’ll be doing.
I’ll even be running some events of my own. Hope to see you there! 
Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline
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There are a few contests and activities open for sign-up:
Some other contests you might enjoy:
And don't forget:
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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
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The Drama Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! 
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Drama Newsletter Team |
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Drama: August 23, 2023 Issue [#12138]
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