 Noticing Newbies: June 11, 2008 Issue [#2445] |
  Noticing Newbies
This week: Edited by: Cubby  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
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
 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!
|
| ASIN: 0996254145 |
|
Amazon's Price: $ 12.95
|
|
Consider Your Layout!
The layout of anything you post is important, especially if you want your item to be read and/or reviewed by other members in the community. This week I'd like to offer a few simple suggestions for your consideration.
1. Leaving a line-break between paragraphs helps the reader not feel overwhelmed before he or she even begins to read an item. It allows breathing room from one paragraph to the next. This also helps out the reviewer.
2. Never write a complete article or story all in one humungous paragraph. Many readers and/or reviewers will take one look at a piece written this way and click out of it.
3. Avoid writing an entire item in pink, light teal, etc. While colored text is fun to experiment with, it can be hard on the eyes if too much is used at one time. See what I mean? 
4. Consider using numbers, letters, bullets, arrows, or other tags next to items written in a list and/or instructions.
5. Save italics for thoughts and/or emphasizing words.
6. DO NOT CAP ALL YOUR LETTERS UNLESS YOU ARE YELLING!!!
7. Experiment with centering vs. left or right margin, especially in poetry.
8. i realize the lower case i is more acceptable than it used to be, especially in poetry, but when writing a story or article, please... please... please use the upper case I.
9. Take a good look at your item's layout as a whole before dismissing it as good enough. Should you indent? Are the margins roomy? Do you feel satisfied with the balance of your piece?
Writing is a lot of work because there are so many layers to deal with. You may be a good writer, but if you want others to read your words, make sure you have an inviting layout. 
Have a wonderful week!!!
Keep on Writing!
Yours truly,
Cubby ") |
~ Got questions? Look for answers here... ~
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#794007 by Not Available. |
And Now For Our Featured Newbies!
Excerpt: Numbly, I rose slowly to my knees from the scant mat of straw that served as my sleep space, shaking away the memory of the nightmare. I crawled to the leaky bucket beside my sleep space. My head swam and my limbs felt weak. Even in the abundance of spring, food for orphans was a struggle to obtain. My trembling hand grasped the chipped pewter ladle and brought the warm, stale water to my lips. But the water did not tame the raving monster in my belly. Infuriated, the monster cramped and writhed inside me, punishing me for trying to appease it with the meager liquid.
Excerpt: The yellow corn stalks snapped under her feet. She ran through the dying field. Away from something? Toward something? She couldn't tell. Her heart beat faster and faster with every step. Her ears prickling with the sounds of the death beneath her.
Excerpt: "You see," I told the class, finally finishing my ten minute speech, "It's not that their plans are flawed. It's not that they leave an amount of evidence behind. It's because they think they can't get caught. They think they're God."
Excerpt: There's a bench by the river that sits parallel to Main Street. An advertisement for an insurance company may or may not be on this bench. Across the sidewalk facing the bench is a wide grassy area, predictably perfect for flying a kite, if that's your thing, followed by another stretch of sidewalk and then the river. The river, which by normal river standards, is a narrow one, eventually hits at the base of a mid-size, Midwestern city.
Excerpt: The elf opened his eyes abruptly, sensing that something was wrong. A jade light caught the corner of his eye and he abruptly stood up, and a strong wind made him stumble. The luminescent green was protruding from every crack in his home, and he paused momentarily gazing. Slowly he came back to his senses, and ran through the now hip high grass as fast as his small feet would carry him. He reached his home sweating and out of breath, and as he reached for the door-knob was sent flying backwards.
Excerpt: George flipped around like a coin, jerked the shovel from its resting spot, and darted to the weed's domain. Not wanting to touch the offensive plant, he stabbed his shovel into the surrounding dirt, digging deep down as he stewed. He was about a foot down when he felt something squish. Curious, he poked it three more times, almost forgetting about the weed that sat above it. After one last poke something began to crunch in the ground.
~ A Few More Places to Check Out... ~
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#844409 by Not Available. |
|
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!
| ASIN: B07YJZZGW4 |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
FEEDBACK
Ash 
This was an informative newsletter and I enjoyed reading many of the pieces of work showcased in it. :) I have thought a lot about joining a campfire but haven't had much time to do too much on the site.
Ash
Campfires are lots of fun! I'm so glad you enjoyed the featured items. Thank you so much for your kind response.
H.C.Paye - All I Need
June 11th! My Mom will be thrilled to recieve this newsletter on her birthday!
It's my dad's birthday, too!  So your mom is part of the community, too? How cool!
Ash
This was a great newsletter. I really enjoyed reading Mrs. Hopeful! :) I'm glad that the people who take the time to write these newsletters pick good entries for us to read and review. :)
Ash
Thank you! (((HUGS)))!!!!!!!!
esprit
Good letter and links, cubby. You have a knack for finding good writing!
Thanks, esprit!  You're a sweetheart, as usual!
Helen McNicol
Cubby, my favourite character of all time would have to be Ken from Mary O'Haras My Friend Flicka. His character was so perfectly flawed in every way. He strived to please his military father and disappointed him at every turn, while he lived in his older brothers shadow, but loved that horse Flicka with an unconditional bond and an innocence that only children and animals seem to possess.
I have never read that book. I'm wondering if I have it at the library. It might be one to considering reading, now that you've mentioned it. Thanks so much for your response to my question!
Recommended Books
I have recently finished Stephenie Meyer's first three books of her Twilight Saga: (u)Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. I can hardly wait for the fourth, Breaking Dawn, to come out August 2nd! These are YA (young adult) novels, but I recommend them for anyone older, too. If you've read any of these books, please let me know what you think. I love talking about them!
Please send me your favorites!
Quote
"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
~ Martin Luther King Jr.
 Cubby's Question(s) of the Month
What do you like best about Writing.com?
Enjoy the summer!
I'll see you again on July 9th!
Cubby ")
Next week's guest editor will be esprit
|
| ASIN: B083RZJVJ8 |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction
of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
