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Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/3887-Out-of-Ideas.html
Noticing Newbies: August 04, 2010 Issue [#3887]

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Noticing Newbies


 This week: Out of Ideas?
  Edited by: Cubby Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

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

About This Newsletter

*FlowerR* 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.

*FlowerY* 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!
~~~*FlowerY*~~~*FlowerR*~~~*FlowerY*~~~

Noticing Newbies Newsletter Editors

Cubby Author IconMail Icon
esprit Author IconMail Icon

Your host this week: Cubby Author IconMail Icon


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: 1945043032
Amazon's Price: $ 13.94


Letter from the editor

~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerB*~~~*LeafG*~~~


Quotes

An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.
~ Buddha

Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done right.
~ Walt Disney

A mind that is stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimension.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.


~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerB*~~~*LeafG*~~~


~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerY*~~~*LeafG*~~~


*Idea* Out of Ideas? *Idea*


         Sometimes we writers run out of gas, finding our tank empty of ideas. Wouldn't it be great if we could pull into an Idea Station and pump our brains all the way up to Full? Most of us would be happy for a half a tank of ideas!

         Writer's block can be frustrating when there we sit, a writing utensil in hand, a blank piece of paper (or keyboard and blank screen) but few words enter the mind. A sentence or two might occur, but the rest is history... a total blank. Finally, we give up and do something else.

         It happens to all of us.

         This week, I've compiled a list of block-breakers for you to try out. Who knows? Something from this list just might spark the next best seller!

          *Idea* Observe people at the mall, a park, a fair or somewhere else till you find someone who catches your eye. Ask yourself questions about this person, like: Where does s/he work? What kind of friends does this person hang out with? What about siblings? Parents? What is this person's biggest trial in life? What is s/he thinking right at this moment? *Pencil*

          *Idea* Visit an art gallery. Or browse paintings online. Study a picture you find alluring. Ask yourself questions such as: Who is that lady holding the umbrella? Is her expression stern, or is she silently weeping? Who is the child tugging at her sleeve? Why does the lady hide behind the umbrella when there is no rain? *Pencil*

          *Idea* Listen: What do you hear? Are you alone? Was that the floor that just creaked? But you're alone, right? You hear the creak again. Your cell phone is dead. You know someone is there. *Pencil*

          *Idea* Scan a newspaper or magazine. Anything unusual? Find something unique and pull ideas from it. Create a fiction story using these ideas. Be careful, however, not to use the same names and places as the article. *Pencil*

          *Idea* Open a book somewhere near the middle. Close your eyes and point anywhere on the page. Now open your eyes and read the sentence your finger has touched. Use it as a prompt for your next story. *Pencil*

          *Idea* Check out a book with mostly pictures, like those coffee table books that are bigger than average: A Normal Rockwell book or something to do with the history of American people or whatever. It's amazing how a picture can be inspiring if you study it. *Pencil*

          *Idea* Read what published authors have to say about how they came up with their stories. This can be amazingly inspirational. *Pencil*

          *Idea* Go to a library and read as many first paragraphs of books as possible. Those first paragraphs should reach out and grab you right away, or disturb you enough to want to read more. Think about how you could pull a reader in with a first paragraph. *Pencil*

          *Idea* Make a list of titles, character names, descriptive phrases, quirks, etc. You never know when something might spring out at you. *Pencil*

         I wish all of you the best of luck in your future endeavors with not only writing, but your wonderful experiences at Writing.com.

Have a wonderful week!!!

Keep on Writing!

Yours truly,
Cubby ")


Editor's Picks

~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerV*~~~*LeafG*~~~

~ Got questions? Look for answers here... ~

~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerV*~~~*LeafG*~~~


Getting Started: Table of Contents Open in new Window. (E)
Visit here for a tour of Writing.Com and learn about this vast, exciting site!
#168945 by The StoryMistress Author IconMail Icon


~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerY*~~~*LeafG*~~~

And Now For Our Featured Newbies!

~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerY*~~~*LeafG*~~~


 One Night of Sin Open in new Window. [18+]
A tale of adultry, madness, and murder overflowing from the Faery Kingdom...
by Krymzinrose Author Icon

Excerpt: It was nearing her 15th birthday when while visiting the castle she was sent out to the gardens while her father conducted business. Her parents called her a dreamer, but what girl her age didn't dream about things? As she meandered down a winding path through a more over grown part of the gardens she allowed her mind to wander. Even though she played at disliking the prince, she secretly loved him. He was tall and well built for a lad of 18, with stormy grey eyes and hair the color of sand. She could just picture the children they would have together.

 The Kings of Old Open in new Window. [E]
This is the prologue to a book I am working on
by Lacoda Author Icon

Excerpt: It began with two brothers. With a dream of life and reality of destruction. They stood before each other, with determined minds and poisoned hearts. Together they created the earth, used their differences to bring it to life; now they stood in argument over its future with one final question. Light or Darkness?

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Excerpt: The itchy twitchy bugs were crawling on my head. My teacher saw the bugs, "You must go home," she said.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Excerpt:
Mr. Swenson loved days like this
When the sun shone through the trees,
And the wind would kick up and catch all the leaves
You see Mr. Swenson Knew what could happen with a breeze

 Three Sisters, One Man - Part One Open in new Window. [13+]
An introduction of the three sisters and Master Kingsleigh.
by Batty Koda Author Icon

Excerpt: The warm summer breeze lifted the curtains as the sun slowly rose over the town. Three beds with gold and white puffy comforters filled the room. Two girls sat up with identical brown hair and brown eyes. They stretched long, ivory arms to the roof and yawned. They smiled at each other then looked at the other bed.

 The First Teardrop Open in new Window. [E]
The legend of the first teardrop the world has ever known
by Acendence Author Icon

Excerpt: Not so long ago, on the bridge between forget and remember, there was a single tear drop. This was the first and purest sign of sadness that this or any world has known. The tear of an angel.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Excerpt: The general consensus by which his attitude was based had to do with his aversion to smiling. That he didn't like smiling had less to do with his crooked teeth, more to do with his difficulty in finding amusement in things.

 Dead Steps Open in new Window. [13+]
A poem about a psychotic man who blames his neighbor's child for keeping him up at night.
by Lyons Valentine Author Icon

Excerpt:
Every night at witching hour
I hear a frightful tapping

SUBMITTED ITEMS

*Note2*
 11 Days In Hell. Open in new Window. [13+]
My experience in a mental hospital in eleven parts.
by Lexi Author Icon

Submitted by Starr* Rathburn Author Icon This gal really poured her heart out here. I thought it deserved some attention. Her words grabbed me by the heart!

(Its formatiing is a bit rough, but I suggested she double-space between 'graphs, to make it more readable.)

Cordially,

Starr* R

***

*Note2*
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Submitted by roelane I am writing a Sponsored Story to raise money for The Chauncy Maples Malawi Trust. This UK-based charity is renovating the Malawian ship Chauncy Maples as a mobile primary healthcare centre that will travel Lake Malawi, providing care to needy, inaccessible lakeside Malawians. Any contribution you can give will be hugely appreciated! To read the story or find out how to donate or submit ideas, please have a look at my Sponsored Story. Thank you!

~~~*Snow2*~~~*Snow3*~~~*Snow2*~~~

~ A Few More Places to Check Out... ~

~~~*Snow2*~~~*Snow3*~~~*Snow2*~~~


FORUM
Noticing Newbies Open in new Window. (13+)
A warm welcome to our newbies; come meet new and not-so-new members of Writing.Com!
#126963 by The StoryMistress Author IconMail Icon

THE DROP-OFF BOX  Open in new Window. (13+)
Monthly newbie contest.
#530577 by Tammy~Catchin Up~ Author IconMail Icon

Rules To Live By Open in new Window. (E)
Entry for the Don't Newbie Contest
#1275125 by D.L. Robinson Author IconMail Icon

Weekly NEWBIE Challenge Open in new Window. (E)
LEARN - Bitem Format, Emoticons, etc., and receive Reviews
#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~ Author IconMail Icon

Tips for New Members Open in new Window. (ASR)
Tips for new members -- things to know to improve your Writing.com experience.
#1016867 by JACE Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#552576 by Not Available.

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerV*~~~*LeafG*~~~

FEEDBACK

~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerV*~~~*LeafG*~~~


*Note1* Winnie Kay Author IconMail Icon
Attractive, colorful newsletter, Cubby. Your information and encouragement to Newbies is commendable. In a way, we are ALL "Newbies" of one sort or another.
Winnie


~ Well said! We all learn new things everyday and I find that exciting! Thanks so much! *Smile*

*Note1* starspark
I love this newsletter! It's been a great help as I navigate through WDC.

Something I'd love to read in future NN newsletters: Short anecdotes from "the veterans" about their first months here at WDC. It'd be nice to know how the great ones started out. *BigSmile*

Again, thanks for an amazing newsletter. I look forward to your next one!


~ What an excellent idea! I'll definitely keep that suggestion in mind. Thanks! *Smile*

~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerY*~~~*LeafG*~~~

*Note* Cubby's Writer's Block Challenge of the Month *Note*

Pick three random objects in different areas of your home or office. Don't think about them, just pick quickly. Try not to choose something on purpose that is related to the other two items. Write the names of the objects down. Now incorporate them into a short story of poem!

~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerY*~~~*LeafG*~~~


Till next time...
Have a great week!

Happy Writing!

*RainbowL*Be safe*RainbowR*

Cubby ")
~~~*LeafG*~~~*FlowerV*~~~*LeafG*~~~

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