Noticing Newbies: March 05, 2025 Issue [#13018]
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 This week: Getting Noticed on Writing.com
  Edited by: Jeff Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

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


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 Author IconMail Icon and I'm one of the regular editors of the official Noticing Newbies Newsletter! I've been a member of Writing.com since 2003, and have edited more than 400 newsletters across the site in that time. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me directly or submit feedback in the comment box at the bottom of this newsletter.


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor


Getting Noticed on Writing.com


One of the most common questions that I get from newer members of the site, once they've joined and figured out how to create things, is "How do I get feedback on my work (or participation in my activities)?" So I thought I'd spend some time in this week's newsletter detailing a handful of ways that you can get more eyes on the things you work on here on Writing.com.

The first thing to understand, though, is that attention works the same here on Writing.com as it does anywhere. Which is to say that attention is a scarce resource, and you're competing with a lot of other people for that attention. Over the first four days of March, the site added an average of 41 new static items per day, as well as 55 book entries per day, 265 chapters per day, 214 forum posts per day, and 230 notes posts. During the same period of time, there were an average of 128 reviews per day.

Doing a little quick math... even among the writing that's created (static entries, book entries, and chapters), that's 361 new things being created every day. And with only 128 reviews a day, even if all those reviews were for items created that day, only about one-third of the created material would be getting reviewed. That's, of course, not even counting the fact that Writing.com has literally hundreds of thousands of items that have already been created and are also being reviewed.

There's just too much content to be able to realistically expect engagement just for creating an item and putting it in your portfolio.

So how do you draw people's attention away from all the other stuff out there and focus on yours?

There are two time-tested, tried-and-true ways of capturing attention: cultivate it or pay for it.

The latter is a little simpler, so let's start there. There are a number of ways you can purchase attention on this site, if you're inclined to spend the money:


"Auto-RewardsOpen in new Window. pay Gift Points to readers whenever they submit a review for an item you've set up an auto-reward for. Under the Community menu on the left-side navigation panel, there's even a separate director of Auto-Reward Items so those who are looking to earn some Gift Points by reviewing can do so. Auto-Reward items are appealing to reviewers because you're compensating them for their time.

"Review RequestsOpen in new Window. similarly allow you to offer Gift Points in exchange for reviews, but to specific members who have enabled Review Requests on their account. If you don't like the idea of just anybody offering you feedback and shelling out GPs for it, you can make requests of specific reviewers that you respect or admire and offer to pay them specifically to review your work.

"BidClick System: Sponsored Items, Links & GenresOpen in new Window. allows you to sponsor your items and have them listed higher up in a particular genre or item type listing. For example, if you've written a horror story, you can bid to have your item show up on the first page of the results when someone goes to Browse By Genre > Horror, by paying for the clicks that you get for having a sponsored item high in the listings.

Purchasing Prizes and Services offered in fundraiser activities can be a great way to get feedback as well. Auctions and Raffles are the most common types of fundraisers on the site (other than direct fundraising by specific activities), and many Auctions and Raffles will offer prize packages that include reviews and similar. Some members even have stores or groups where you can purchase reviews from an actively reviewing group. If you have some funds to spend and want to help contribute to a good cause, purchasing feedback from those offering it in the form of a package or services you can buy can be a great way to ensure you get feedback.


That said, if paying for feedback and/or engagement isn't your thing, you can also try to cultivate attention for your stuff, but where money is quicker, this will likely take longer, because you're trying to build connections and relationships with people who will do you a favor by engaging with your material free of charge. Some ways to do that include:


Reciprocal Reviews are when you offer to read and review someone else's work in exchange for them doing the same for you. This often works really well with other members who are having a hard time getting feedback on their work; you can help each other by reviewing one another.

Being Active on WdC may sound like simple advice, but it really is one of the best ways to get engagement for your stuff. If you're just on the site asking other people to do things for you (e.g., review your work, participate in your activity, etc.) without maintaining a presence in the larger community, it can be really hard to find people who aren't going to eventually feel used or put-off by all the requests. But if you participate in other peoples' activities, offer feedback to others, and engage other members where they're at, you can build genuine relationships where you want to help each other. Some of the closest relationships I have on the site are with people for whom I was willing to participate in their activities and offer feedback on their work before I ever asked them to help me out with mine.

Advertise your work on any of the public forums where you're encouraged to do so. Under the Community menu on the left-side of your screen, there are bulletin boards where you can post to advertise your contests, activities, blog, or even a Shameless Plug Page where you can post anything you want. There are members who spend a considerable amount of time looking through these listings for things to read or ways they can participate in the site. It may not be guaranteed engagement, but it's a way to get your items noticed outside of your port.


Hopefully this helps provide some information on how to get the attention you're seeking for the thing you're doing on Writing.com, whether that's something you've written and put in your portfolio, or an activity you're running and looking for additional participation. Given the amount of material that's available across this site, unfortunately it's unlikely (although still possible!) that someone will just stumble across it in your port. If you're looking for something more than just the occasional interaction with your work, you might consider some of the above ways of drawing more attention to your work and helping it stand out from the other stuff out there. *Smile*

Until next time,

Jeff Author IconMail Icon
Logo for Senior Moderators - small
If you're interested in checking out my work:
"New & Noteworthy ThingsOpen in new Window. | "Blogocentric FormulationsOpen in new Window.


Editor's Picks


This month's official Writing.com writing contest is:


Image Protector
SURVEY
Short Shots: Official WDC Contest Open in new Window. (ASR)
Use the photo to inspire your creativity. Write a short story and win big prizes!
#1221635 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon



You are also invited to check out these items from members of the community:


 The Pros and Cons of Remote Work Open in new Window. (E)
Working from home offers flexibility but also isolation and distractions.
#2336128 by Liv Author IconMail Icon



 No Title Yet Open in new Window. (E)
Something I wrote without thinking
#2336078 by laya_v Author IconMail Icon



 Bonded Open in new Window. (13+)
A voice can hollow you out: leave you waiting, empty, ready for anyone to speak you whole.
#2336068 by Barak Author IconMail Icon



 THE BUTTERFLY LOVE Open in new Window. (E)
The Circle Of Life.
#2336001 by JacquesTales Author IconMail Icon



 Dinner Plates Open in new Window. (E)
A reflection on life and marriage
#2335980 by Jennifer Helmer Author IconMail Icon



 Dance With Death Open in new Window. (18+)
Practice exercise. It's my first attempt at a combat scene. Reviews/criticisms welcome!
#2335884 by cha0ticditz Author IconMail Icon


 
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!

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Ask & Answer


Feedback from "Noticing Newbies Newsletter (February 5, 2025)Open in new Window. about white cases:


I like it. Very nice.
         — Anhait Author Icon



Good job explaining the white cases. I was never sure of the procedure, thank you for making it all very clear.
         — Ichabod Crane-writing-reading. Author Icon



WOW! I never thought about the cases very much and was thrilled when I became a preferred author. Then I learned about the white cases TODAY! The description, purpose, and how-to information nearly floored me.

I don't know how Am feeling about the white cases. Emotionally touched.

Thanks for sharing. Something for me to think about.

         — G. B. Williams Author Icon



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Word from our sponsor
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