  Noticing Newbies
This week: How Do I Create My Item? 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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| ASIN: B07YJZZGW4 |
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How Do I Create My Item?
Creating your first item can be intimidating at first glance, but hang in and take it slow and easy. There's no rush at all. At the top of every page you will see a menu beginning with this:
Get Started Create Something Read Something Reviews and Ranks
Clicking on 'Create Something' will take you to a page to choose a category from a list.
Static Item Most items will go in this category.
These are classic non-interactive, non-changing works containing a single article, poem, essay, interview, short story, fiction, non-fiction, etc. Static Items are the most common Item Type on Writing.Com.
Item Title: Give your item a title that grabs a viewers attention.
Fill in the blanks. If you don't have a permanent title, don't worry--it can be changed. Write something there just to be able to save the item.
Folder: This is Optional. Items will default to your main portfolio unless you choose to place it inside of a folder. Usually, folders are not needed until you have many items that need to be organized. Folders count as one item, so if you're limited in the number of items you can have, I suggest not using a folder. Use the room to write another chapter or poem instead. Besides, keeping your port simple until you learn the ropes will relieve you of some stress.
Item Type: Static Item: Choose the type of item you're writing here by clicking the radio button: poetry;short story; and so on.
Brief Description: It may not be longer than 90 characters. This is important in catching a viewer's attention and making them want to read your item. Some members have trouble deciding what to say here. An easy solution is to copy and paste a 'good line' from the work. This can be changed whenever you want so you're not tied in forever.
Intro Rating: E -- This section is very important. The default setting is E (for everyone) That means no off color words at all. If you forget to fit the rate to your choice of Title and Brief Description the rate will be changed by a Moderator. That means that the rate will be locked and if you decide you want the E rate back because you changed your words, you will have to ask for it to be changed back--you won't be able to change it yourself. This is the area that is shown on genre lists and on the side columns.
E rates are pretty strict in the choice of words that can be used. For instance, if you used 'The Stupid Things People do', it would not be E rate because 'stupid' is derrogatory. 'Books for Dummies' would have to be changed to Non E because 'dummie' refers to people. Dumbbell could be left at the E rate if it refers to the exercise equipment and not a person.
Read this item, the information is important! "Content Rating System (CRS)"
Content Rating: This one defaults to an empty box, which means if you don't set the rate, it won't be easily found on the genre lists. The Content rate has nothing to do with the Intro rate. Content is what you choose to write about in your own words. The lowest rate is E, but remember that the E rate is pretty strict as you found out in the Intro section.
Derogatory words are usually rated as ASR, and the rate goes up as the words become stronger. Mild cursing is 13+ Heavy cursing will be 18+, but if the cursing repeats through much of the document, be safe and rate it higher. Moderators will change any rate they deem should be higher.
Your writing is your business, the rating is WdC's business, and it's very important.
Access Restrictions: Membership Restrictions
This next section determines who will be able to read your work. Read the instructions carefully and set your preferences here.
If 'Allow Everyone' is used, that means anyone on the Internet can find and read your work. You can give your URL to family and friends or post it on forums outside of WdC. If you want to keep viewers restricted to WdC only, you can do that too by choosing Members Only.
I suggest choosing 'Private--For My Eyes Only' at this point. You may not want viewers until you've had a moment or two to shine up any formatting issues. Don't forget to change it when it's ready!
PassKey: If you belong to a group and want only the group members, or certain people to see the work, use this option. Set the item to Private and then choose a passkey. Remember your key number -- there is no backup copy! Send the key and the link to the item to whoever you choose so they can have access.
This is useful if a work is to be submitted to publishers. Keeping it out of search engines will be important.
Genres: Please choose from one (1) to three (3) genres for this item. Be sure that this item properly fits into each genre you select. You can change genres using the "Edit Item" tool once the item is within your portfolio.
If you don't complete this step, your item will not show up on your genre lists in a search. It will sit inside your portfolio without being read.  Take advantage of every opportunity to get your work seen and read. Remember, each genre has its own list. If you don't use a box, it will remain at 'Other'.
Section 4: Item Body -- Finally the good part! You can write your item directly into the body or do as I do and paste it in. I always write in my document program so I have a copy there and here in case of crashes or if you lose your connection before you save it. Write it on your computer and then copy/paste into the body.
Rating / Reviewing Preference: Default is set at 'unrestricted'. You can read the instructions and decide if you want to leave it as it is.
And last, but most important--Save It! You can Save and Continue Editing, Save and go back to your port, or Save and View it.
When it's placed inside your port, you will notice it has a number associated with it. That is the ID number. See WritingML Help for info on tags. It's located in Site Tools on the left column.
Now--create an item and get it out there to be seen! Have fun.
** Image ID #1528029 Unavailable **
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SUBMITTED ITEM
By: infinitecogn
Item:
Comment: I'd like to gain more exposure for this piece. As I feel it's turning out quite well but could probably benefit from more feedback. On another note I'd like to see a science fiction newsletter.
Science Fiction is popular and it is often addressed in the various newsletters. Drama, Action/Adventure, etc. The Newsletters are not limited in their categories. Subscribe to Authors and Short Stories. Isn't there Romance and Love in SciFi? And Drama? The editors cover as many genres as there are--check them all out!
There are 96 named genres on WdC, and they are all covered at one time or another in the 13 newsletters.
If you have a topic suggestion you can always ask by responding to a newsletter.
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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 on "Invalid Entry"
By: Christine Cassello
Comment: I did add my bio. Thank you for reminding us to do that and making it easier to use your feature.
Bios help reviewers know the writing level of the writer, and that helps them know what kind of reviews to offer. Thanks for filling in your bio.
By: P. M. Walkinturtle
Comment: Life is a funny thing, all my life i have used language and the written word to express my thoughts, idea's and philosophy never giving a moments thought to actual publication. Now however after the wonderful encouragement from the members on this site, I find myself entertaining the notion. I find your article and others here to be essential to those like me, who although we may have what it takes, have no idea how to get there.
Thank you!
By: espeon40
Comment: Thank you ever so much! However, I do not think that I could be writing about something.... LONG! I just adore writing short stories, and am quite good at it. So, please, please give me some advice on short stories.
Gladly! 
[#661106] "Invalid Entry"
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: June 02, 2010 Issue [#3773]
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