This week: Reviewing Edited by: Jeff  
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"You never know what you can do until you try,
and very few try unless they have to."
-- C.S. Lewis
About The Editor: Greetings! My name is Jeff and I'm one of your regular editors for the Noticing Newbies Official Newsletter! I've been a member of Writing.com since 2003, and have edited more than 400 newsletters across the site during that time. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email or the handy feedback field at the bottom of this newsletter! 
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Reviewing
Did you know there used to be a Reviewing Newsletter on the site? And did you know that the newsletter archives are still available to read because they've been archived into the site's official "Reviewing Handbook" ? From the left-hand navigation column, just click on Writing Resources > Review Handbook. There are nearly 60 articles with advice, tips, interviews, and other resources for those who are looking to improve their reviewing skills.
Reviewing is one of the best things you can do for your own writing ability. A lot of people will recommend reading to improve your writing, and that's most certainly true, but reviewing takes it one step further by encouraging you to think about what you're reading in critical terms. Why it works or doesn't work. Which elements were successful and which ones could stand to be improved.
When I was first starting my career (and just developing as a writer), I got a job interning for a Hollywood production company. One of my main responsibilities was to read scripts that were submitted to them and write coverage (essentially a review; it required a synopsis of the plot as well as an analysis of several key criteria such as story, characterization, dialogue, structure, etc.). I'd read as many as three scripts a day and, by the end of my yearlong internship, I'd covered hundreds of screenplays. By the end of that internship, I'd also discovered that my own writing skills had increased dramatically, because I had spent the past year inundated with different writers telling their stories, and started to figure out what kinds of things worked and what kinds of things didn't. It's how professional readers (whether it's a Hollywood executive, a publishing house editor, or an agent) can often weed out the really bad stuff within a few pages or chapters; they see the telltale signs of trouble based on their experience reading so many other submissions.
Writing.com's review system offers a lot of ways to gain exposure to different kinds of writing. In addition to just perusing members' portfolios, or checking out the competition when you enter a contest, you can also click Read & Review in the left-column navigation menu and be taken to a random item from a random member (bonus: you also get bonus Gift Points for random read & reviews!). Also in the left-column navigation menu (under Community) is the option to visit "The Shameless "Plug" Page" where members can promote their own work. Also under Community is the Read a Newbie page. Right there on the left-hand column navigation menu is also a Recent Reviews link where you can see what items other people have already reviewed. You might find your interest piqued by something someone else said in the course of providing feedback.
However you come by it, reviewing other creative works is one of the best ways to improve your own. Reading and reviewing extensively will develop your sense of what works and what doesn't, so that when you're writing your own poems and stories, you'll have a knowledge foundation you can draw from and help yourself figure out what works and what doesn't.
The best writers aren't always the ones who spend all their time writing; they're just as often writers who spend some time writing, and some time enjoying and evaluating the writing others have done.
Until next time,
Jeff
If you're interested in checking out my work:
"New & Noteworthy Things" | "Blogocentric Formulations"
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This month's official Writing.com writing contest is:
I also encourage you to check out the following items:
EXCERPT: In the heart of a small, quaint town, there stood an old and abandoned theater known as Midnight Manor. Legend had it that the theater was cursed, haunted by the spirits of actors who had met untimely demises on its stage. Despite the warnings and eerie stories surrounding the theater, a group of daring teenagers decided to explore Midnight Manor one fateful night.
EXCERPT: Once upon a time in India, A kingdom named Bharanipur was ruled by a king named Ripudaman. His son Prince Vats was very luxurious. King Ripudaman was pious and benevolent. He also had great respect for the sages. Prince Vatsa did not understand why his father Ripudaman was so respectful to sages. According to him, there could be no one equal to the dynasty because the king is the guardian of the subjects. He does not even bow down like other people when he meets a sage on the way. Ripudaman was disappointed with his behavior. For this reason, he did not declare him the crown prince even if he wanted to.
EXCERPT: My eyes scan the letter in my hand once more. I've read through it several times, yet I remain confused and unsure of what awaits me as I prepare to arrive at Silas’s residence.
EXCERPT: Selena Quintanilla is a music icon whose impact continues to resonate throughout the industry today. Known as the "Queen of Tejano music," Selena gained fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s with her unique blend of traditional Mexican music and contemporary pop sounds. Her powerful vocals and energetic performances captivated audiences around the world, making her one of the most beloved and influential artists of her time.
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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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Feedback from "Noticing Newbies Newsletter (March 6, 2024)" about the long-form activities:
Thank you, Jeff, for the tips about longer writing activities. Planning ahead is great advice. I look forward to the Noticing Newbies newsletter where long-time writers also benefit from reading it.
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Noticing Newbies: April 03, 2024 Issue [#12497]
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