  Noticing Newbies
This week: Don't Hesitate to Toot Your Own Horn! Edited by: esprit  
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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! |
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Don't Hesitate to Toot Your Own Horn!
(by me)
Miscellaneous Tidbits
Shameless Plug
I've always been curious where this phrase came from; just think about it. It's a common phrase, seen all over the web. What's shameful of being proud of your writing? Shameless sounds like we should hide our writing except when we're given special permission in special forums. Are you ashamed of your cooking skills, or your singing voice? Okay, these may not be good comparisons; some people should definitely be ashamed. Here's a better one. Can you take a computer apart and rebuild it bit by byte? Is there a 'Shameless Computer Technician' page in the phone book? No. Don't you plug and sell your expertise shamelessly for a paycheck?
Why does shame only apply to writers? Be proud!
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I found an interesting tidbit that could be useful on WDC. Somebody stick it in the suggestion Box, okay?
Mail Goggles will prevent many of you out there from sending messages you wish you hadn't.
Stop sending mail you later regret == When you enable Mail Goggles, it will check that you're really sure you want to send that late night Friday email. And what better way to check than by making you solve a few simple math problems after you click send to verify you're in the right state of mind?
Have you ever responded too quickly to a review? Would the delay of forty seconds be enough time for you to have second thoughts? 
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Why I think it's Important to Read the FAQ page before asking the question in a forum.
How Can I Become a Preferred Author?
http://www.writing.com/main/faq.php#become_pref
Want to become a Preferred member with a yellow case? Read the FAQ and heed what it says - carefully.
Please do not campaign to become a Preferred Author. Rest assured that members interacting positively within the community will be noticed in due time. Please do NOT ask to become or pester Staff or Moderators to become a Preferred Author. It is not nice and not something we prefer! Did you comprehend the signal word in italics?
In order to prevent this from happening, please understand that you will be assured NOT to be promoted by contacting us regarding a possible promotion or overtly campaign for one.
Members are promoted based on their own merits, not because of any nominations. Nearly all members promoted to Preferred Author are not nominated by anyone at all! Their activity within the community stands out on its own.
The FAQ page is your best friend.
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Online manners and etiquette -- "netiquette,"
We're spending more time than ever online. It goes without saying, more and more of our communication is happening in cyberspace. Emailing, instant-messaging, blogs and message boards provide ample ways for us to put our ideas out there. Unfortunately, when it comes to Internet communication, many of us don't mind our manners.
Online faux pas
From writing in all caps or all lowercase letters, from not responding to reviews and emails to not greeting or thanking people, we seem to ignore common courtesies online. Maybe we're in such a hurry we just don't take the time to be polite, or maybe we don't think it's necessary in an anonymous environment.
Include a short greeting in your emails and forum posts. A simple "Hello" can go a long way in creating a tone that doesn't seem terse.
Remember, it is against site rules to send mass mailings outside of a Group.
http://www.writing.com/main/agreement.php
Send mass emails sparingly, as many people find them annoying. If you must send an email to multiple recipients at one time, try and avoid listing everyone's email addresses in the "to" field.
Avoid having those ga-zillion addresses show up in the "to" section and take up half a page in the recipients mail box. You can send the email to yourself in the "to" area and put all the other addresses in the Blind CC area.
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Don't take random acts of kindness for granted. If you do, don't expect them to happen again.
Receiving anonymous gift points, anonymous reviews, or an upgrade, is fun and we love to do it. If it's sent anonymous, they don't expect pay-backs but a simple line of Thank You would be nice. Anonymous reviews can be thanked by return mail. Anonymous can always be thanked through these forums.
"Thanks Anonymous!" by Writing.Com Support 
"Invalid Item" by A Guest Visitor
When you reply to a review, always use the reply form at the bottom of the review instead of a separate email. This refreshes the reviewers memory of the item and the comments.
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Contests 'n Prizes
When you decide it would be fun to have a contest and give away all those neat prizes, make sure you have enough GPs to fund it. Don't ask or expect others to give them to you. Voluntary donations are wonderful and can go a long way to fund your second contest; but again, have the total amount in hand before the start. It's the nice thing to do.
Pleading for donations and then going on major spending sprees is too similar to the bank stimulus packages to be comfortable. People notice.
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Should I choose 'Contest' sub-genre for an item I wrote for a contest?
No. The Contest genre is only for the actual Contest forum. Display the regular genres the item is written in.
Q. What do each of the Static Subtypes mean?
http://www.writing.com/main/faq.php#static_subtypes
Subtypes can be confusing to those not famailiar with the categories. Is an article the same as a bulletin or an essay?
A. The following is a listing of the Static Subtypes that Writing.Com offers along with the definition from Webster's Dictionary:
appendix
article
bulletin - etc.
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Q. I have not received my order from the Store; what should I do?
http://www.writing.com/main/faq.php#not_received
A. If you have ordered a product or service from Writing.Com and have not received it within the time specifications listed above, please fill out our support form located at: ... .
I'm going to add one more bit of direction that we often forget about. You know that on your Account Page, there is a space for your personal information: your real name and address. This is the automatic, default address used for your purchases in the WDC Store.
Have you moved? Did you remember to update this information? If it contains an old address, your purchases will be delayed or possibly lost forever. Keep your account personal information current if you use or plan to use the store and/or the Wish List.
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Thanks for reading - I hope you found some useful tidbits.
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SUBMITTED ITEMS
Remember to read your neighbor's work too!
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Helpful Links
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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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Comments for "Invalid Entry"
Submitted By: larryp
Submitted Comment: esprit - an informative newsletter covering a very important topic for writers - revisions. I especially like this: "Don't fall in love with your words. If you do, you will resist changing them even if you know they're not great." Good advice.
Larry
Thanks, Larry. 
Submitted By: njames51 
Submitted Comment: Esprit - yes, I've been reading these newsletters. Loved the quote in the March 11 newsletter and also the quote by Edgework in a prior newsletter. Enjoyed this newsletter also. I love revision when a reviewer tells me to throw out a section I KNOW is lousy. I HATE revision when a reviewer tells me to cut a section I dearly love. But, inside, I know they are correct. Good newsletter!
Thanks, Nancy!
We always appreciate the feedback, thanks!
Editors:
CHRISTMAS cub-BELLS R RINGING! 
laurencia
Your host this week is esprit |
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Noticing Newbies: April 08, 2009 Issue [#2961]
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