  Contests & Activities
This week: Reviews are the Heartbeat of WdC Edited by: Annette  
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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
There was a day, last week or nearly a decade ago, that you typed "writing" into your search engine. You wanted to show off some of your poems, short stories, or maybe even get feedback for a whole novel. You found Writing.com.
On this site you found all that you had searched for: Portfolio space, helpful reviewers, encouraging groups, style and grammar lessons from peers. But nothing had prepared you for the amazing bounty of: Contests & Activities
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Reviewing is the heartbeat of Writing.com. We can give each other as little as a one word note that lets the author know their work was seen to line by line in-depth reviews in which every aspect, every single word may be subject to a comment. In between these two extremes are the many reviews that are given on a regular basis which give insight on how the reader felt while reading, if they liked it or not, and also technical advice to the best knowledge of the reviewer.
Writing a balanced review that hits on all the points, is constructive without being hurtful, and encourages to write on is the ideal. Although I have started using a different template, this was my first and best instruction on how to review: "Guidelines To Great Reviewing"
Reviewing is not all serious business. Through the use of List of WDC Emoticons and sigs, reviews can be attractive and useful. Make your review personal with a fun template. Check this one out for inspiration: "Invalid Item"
This week's editors picks are groups that encourage reviewing. Some groups are mainly there to gather members who are interested in sending out helpful reviews. To other groups reviewing is a part of the bigger process of writing and critiquing each other as a means to get better at it and find publication. Each of the groups listed is active and dedicated to promote goodwill and be a positive force on the site. Check out the different groups. You can find some that are geared towards poetry and short stories, others for novels, and others for just about anything that is an item on WdC. |
Simply Positive is a group committed to bringing a smile to others.  Reviewing ALL Case Colors on a weekly basis is our mission. That's right! ALL Case colors! Only one item in each portfolio will be reviewed, and we expect the reviews to be honest, yet encouraging as well.
We are not a group based on only giving reviews - the act of goodwill extends BEYOND that. It's in welcoming a new member to our site. It's in promoting our site to others who might not have heard of us. It's in granting an upgrade to one in need or to newbies to foster their writing. It's in dropping someone a c-note or just a little message to let them know they are being thought of, it's in participating in writing contests and improving our skills to become better, and so much more.
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Do you feel like you need some pampering? Do you know someone who deserves a treat? Feel free to purchase a showering package for yourself or someone else! Everyone feels better after a refreshing shower! 
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A group that is dedicated to making honest and helpful reviews. Become a Knight and support your fellow authors by leaving the negative attitudes at the door and letting the positive energy flow!
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This project was designed to help you succeed in your writing aspirations. You will find all of the leaders here are friendly, encouraging and helpful. Our goal is to help you with your writing, and to guide you through the vast world which is WDC!
What do we do? It's really easy. We review, we write, we support each other, and we work to imporve ourselves in our writing goals. Reviewing other people's work is the most important thing you will do. You'll see things in their work that you could be doing better AND you'll be helping other authors.
We now do raids on the 15th of every month, which is the reviewing of any item on writing.com.
The Talent Pond was established to help writers of all levels realize their full potential through honest reviewing and heartfelt support; to also promote their works to the best of our abilities and make them feel they are the talent we believe they are.
This group is a meeting ground for writers who are serious about the craft, serious about writing, and serious about revising. We give tough, thoughtful reviews (take a look at our Affiliated Reviews,) and we aren't afraid to challenge each other and ourselves. Members of Let's Publish! are seeking to learn more about the craft, diversify their writing portfolios and venture out into the world of publishing.
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This is a group for people who want their entire novel read and reviewed. |
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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I hope you enjoyed this newsletter about reviewing. It really doesn't matter what you write or what you like to review. There is a place for you in all of this. Let me know what kind of review is the favorite type that you like to get. In-depth? Pat on the back? Nothing less than five stars?
In my last newsletter "Long Running Contests" I wrote about long running contests. These are the replies I got.
mARi☠StressedAtWork  writes: Wonderful Newsletter!! I really hope everyone reads the rules and directions carefully... It's hard running a contest when someone makes a mistake a lot because they don't read the important details properly.  But what's even more sad about it is when someone questions the way you judge the contest and say a lot more terrible things-- posting it in the forum for everyone to read too.   Anyways, I hope people who read this would realize running and judging a contest isn't as easy as some seem to think.  ~mARi~
Thank you so very much for the kind words, Mari.
Andrew  writes: Great newsletter, as always; comprehensive and helpful! Thank you so much for the highlight!
You're welcome on the highlight. It's only once a year we can shine like that. May as well let everybody know.
sarahreed writes: Those are great reminders when entering contests! To respond to your question about favorite long-lived contests, here are mine: "Paradise Cove Writing Challenge-On Hold" , "Sensual Fantasy" , and "The Weekly Quickie Contest" . They've all challenged me to write erotica stories with developed plots and characters with depth.
Well, I didn't want to highlight my own contest. But, you are right, all of these are long running contests with a solid following of entries. Not always a ton, but enough to be worth the trouble to keep them going. The Weekly Quickie and the Paradise Cove contest are even more amazing because they have not only withstood the sands of time, but also being handed down to new hosts.
Gemdog  writes: I have a poem I would like to enter. How do I go about getting a rating to see if it is contest worthy? Thank you, Gemdog
The best way to find out if a poem, or any piece for that matter, is contest worthy is to enter it into the contest. In this way you are pretty sure a few people will read it, some may even leave a rating. And if you don't win, it still doesn't mean your poem wasn't good. It only means another poem was more to the judge's liking. If you have an item you want reviews for you may post it on the "Please Review"
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Contests & Activities: June 30, 2010 Issue [#3833]
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