  Noticing Newbies
This week: In-Depth Reviewing Edited by: esprit  
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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 will 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!
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Amazon's Price: $ 19.95
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What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.
- Samuel Johnson
In-Depth Reviewing
In-depth reviewing is tough for both the critiquer and the author, but it doesn't have to be. One way to make it easier is to keep it professional. If a writer asks for an honest, in-depth review of their work, they are serious. They don't want you to gloss over the bumps and tell them it's perfect if it isn't. They want to win the contract or contest. If they had the nerve to ask for this type of review, be nice and gather your own nerve to let them have it with both barrels. But, only if they ask.
The trick to remaining professional is to keep yourself and the author out of the comments. Don't get personal. Concentrate on the writing and stick to the writing. You won't need to fear violating the 'be nice' rule if you point out plenty of the good stuff too. They need to know what works as well as what doesn't. It's all part of in-depth feedback.
If you want to help a writer's story become publishable, in-depth reviews are the only way to go. But if you're afraid of saying anything constructive, {translated by many to mean negative) you won't be as useful. Stay aware of your tone when pointing out the flaws. Keeping it friendly is vital. Don't use exclamation points or capitals when pointing out errors! Read the review over before sending it and change anything that sounds bossy or like an order. Mean and Rude do not define Honesty. 'Don't be mean' is a great definition of 'be nice.'
Putting down another's draft does not make you a better writer, nor does it help anyone else. If you must be rude, review your own work; you're not helping and your comments are not welcome.
But, you're not a mean person, so stop worrying about being helpful. You don't need to cover everything either. Cover any element that catches your attention. Comments on plot, characters, setting... any and all are useful and needed. Don't re-write their item. No reviewer is expected to be expert in all areas, and reviews don't need to be two pages long. Choose the star rate to match the review and you'll be fine.
I don't like the term, 'Negative Feedback.' It rings of negative connotations and why would anyone ask for this? Constructive feedback is essential in helping a piece become better, and that is not a negative act. When we criticize work offered specifically for in-depth reviews, our goal is to help authors become publishable writers. What they decide to do with the feedback is always up to them; they don't need to agree with you.
Thanks for reading and enjoy the new emoticons and fonts! They are so autumny. My favorite colors. 
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 The content of public reviews should not exceed the content rating of the item itself. Public reviews are filtered from viewing by member content filters based on the content rating of the item. Therefore, if the item itself contains particular words, it is generally okay to use those same words within a review of the item.
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Remember to read your neighbor's work too!
Helpful links
 This new forum is a meeting place for those who:
 are new to reviewing
have questions about reviewing
want to share experiences in reviewing to help others
want to discuss anything about reviewing
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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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Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 5.99
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 Premium and Normal Upgrade
I had a normal upgrade before accepting the free premium trial. Is time being taken off my normal upgrade during the premium? To try to make my question clearer: I had two or three weeks on my normal upgrade before I accepted the premium trial. Will I still have my two-three weeks for the normal upgrade after the premium runs out? Or will my normal upgrade expire before the trial ends?
Complete answers to your question and more can be found at:
 Five Item Limit
I had an upgrade and it expired so some of my items were locked. I then proceeded to delete the remaining items I could see in my port. But I'm still not able to add any new items. Is there any way for me to delete the items that were locked after my upgrade expired?
At this time there is nothing you can do but wait till the grace period expires. For more info see "When Your Paid Membership Expires..." [E]
Reminders are sent to your inbox beginning two months ahead of the expiration date. This is to give you plenty of time to copy and move them to your own computer program for safe keeping. You should always keep a copy there. You can also copy and save your reviews if you choose to.
Feedback from last month's "Invalid Entry"
Submitted By: B.L. Houghtalin
Submitted Comment: Good job on another great newsletter. Keep up the useful content!! B.L. Unity (Houghtalin)
Submitted By: laurencia
Submitted Comment: Awesome newsletter E!
You give great advice and inspiration, thank you.
Submitted By: dream_of_roses
Submitted Comment: Ohmigosh that was such a good article! I'm sort of moving out of the newbie stage, but I still love to read this. Good job!
Submitted By: Eclectic
Submitted Comment: This was some really good advice - sensible, practical and very very handy ! Especially liked the bit about just stopping and observing the world, people's faces, their body language.
Submitted By: Gen
Submitted Comment: Dear, Esprit,
I can honestly tell you, that in the two years, I have known you, you have taught me more about writing than all the professors I had in school.
Your gospel is to write from the gut and to practice at it always. Truer words were never spoken.
You know how I was basically on my back for over three months. What did I do? I read and reread books to the average of one book every two days. I did nothing else. No tv, no stereo, no Playstation. It was like drinking from the Fountain of Youth! It recharged me. It gave me my incentive back, and it made me even better at my God given talent, as you shall soon see.
But even after all of that you showed me that I could be even better. You did it with your words here in this simple "Newbie Newsletter". Don't get me wrong; everyone of the editors here are literally WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD. You are all definitely unsung heroes in my book. There is much knowledge and wisdom here about the craft of writing.
Submitted By: karabu
Submitted Comment: What a great newsletter. This one shows that this isn't just for "newbies". I'm always learning helpful tip. Thanks!
Submitted By: SmokeyMtn
Submitted Comment: Excellent newsletter...again.
I particularly appreciated the section on Paying Attention. As writers, we literally walk past 100 stories a day and so many go unnoticed. I'm putting a new post-it on my monitor..."Writer's block? Take a walk."
It will remind me to observe and write it down. Maybe I'll only get a setting or a character study but I'll be writing.
Thanks again for a great newsletter.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments; we always appreciate the feedback.
Editors:
CHRISTMAS cub-BELLS R RINGING! 
Puditat
laurencia
Your host this week is esprit |
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Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 12.99
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Noticing Newbies: October 25, 2006 Issue [#1333]
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