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Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/4439-WritingML--Not-just-for-looks.html
Noticing Newbies: June 08, 2011 Issue [#4439]

Newsletter Header
Noticing Newbies


 This week: WritingML: Not just for looks!
  Edited by: Stephanie Grace 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

I believe in simplicity in introduction to new things and also that there is a wide variety of topics to be explored in this newsletter --Not only for newbies, but those that have been here for years and want to recognize newbies through reviews, etc... I think that the primary focus of this newsletter should be twofold: Just Here and Here For Years... I think that the title is so broad that this newsletter really needs to feature something for newbies as well as "oldbies". Of course, cohesiveness between the two is also important so that one does not feel lesser than the other. We are all equals here and I think the best way to convey that message to newbies is to let them see their work alongside "WdC veterans"...


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

Well, hello there, my pretties! *Smirk* How are you all doing? How's the weather in your neck of the woods? Way too warm here... I can't wait for autumn to return!!!).

         Anywho, let's dive right in, shall we? In my last newsletter ("Noticing Newbies Newsletter (May 11, 2011)Open in new Window.), we took a look at playing with WritingML to spice up our items and give them more visual appeal through manipulating the text appearance. This time, we're going to delve a bit deeper into WritingML by playing with a few more ways to change the visual appeal of our items. Many of the tips that I'll be featuring are also wonderful tools for organization, so don't' go thinkin' it's all about looks. *Pthb*

         As with my last newsletter, each tag will be accompanied by an explanation followed by an example of what to type and then what it will look like if typed exactly as shown. *Wink*

TEXT ALIGNMENT AND PLACEMENT

I'm sure you've all used a word processing program and, at some point, changed the alignment of your words to be either on the left, right, centered, or justified. Did you know that you can do that on WdC too? Huh? Did ya? Did ya? *Wink*

*Star*Important to this section: You will notice that the second tags in each section contains a backslash(/) within the brackets. If you want to switch from one alignment to the next, you MUST use this closing tag before switching. It is also good to get into the habit of always using the closing tag at the end of items that are not aligned to the left.

{center}{/center}} - The text between these tags will appear in the center of your item.
{center}I like the middle of your screen.{/center}
I like the middle of your screen.


{left}{/left} - This will put all text on the left*Left* side of your screen. If you are opting for this alignment throughout your item, you don't need to use this tag at all since it's the automatic alignment -nor do you have to do it when switching, since a closing tag will automatically revert the alignment back to left, but I didn't want this tag to feel left out. *Wink*
{left}I like to be on the left side.{/left}
I like to be on the left side.

{right}{/right}Any words between these tags will appear on the right *Right* side of the screen. *This may not be very apparent in some cases when the line actually goes from one side to the other. *Wink*
{right}I'm a righty!{/right}
I'm a righty!



{quote}{/quote} - This will give the text between the tags an indented look on both sides. This is great for when you're adding an extra note, have a letter or quoted text within a story, and many other things. I use it often to separate a sentence from added details; I love this code! It's a great ace in the hole to have because of the many ways in which you can put it to work!
*Star*While this tag is supposed to work with the text between the tags, I often find that it only likes to work properly for me if tags are on their own lines, with the text between them. You can see what works for you, but I didn't want to leave you in the dark just in case you run into the same problem. *Wink*
{quote}
I get be nice and long and make Stephanie's fingers rush over the keys more than the other working examples because, in order for you to see me in action, I need to be longer than just a measly sentence or two. I don't know how Stephanie feels about it, but it makes me feel all special and stuff. *Bigsmile* I know your jealous! *Pthb*
{/quote}

I get be nice and long and make Stephanie's fingers rush over the keys more than the other working examples because, in order for you to see me in action, I need to be longer than just a measly sentence or two. I don't know how Stephanie feels about it, but it makes me feel all special and stuff. *Bigsmile* I know your jealous! *Pthb*


{justify}{/justify} - This will justify your text? What does that mean? It means that all of the text between the tags will have a start and end at the same place on both sides (LOVE THAT!) ...just like in most books you're read! *Wink*
*Star*For this example, I am combining this tag with the preceding one to give you more of an idea of it's appearance. It WILL work without it and keep things even when the words go fully across the screen, but I thought it might be better this way so that you can really SEE what justified alignment looks like. *Wink*
{quote}
{justify}I have to be a long, drawn-out block of text to truly show you the magic that I work on the screen, but Stephanie thinks that I'm absolutely worth the effort because I made everything look so nice, neat, and streamlined. *Bigsmile* I'm pretty nifty, aren't I?{/justify}
{/quote}

I have to be a long, drawn-out block of text to truly show you the magic that I work on the screen, but Stephanie thinks that I'm absolutely worth the effort because I made everything look so nice, neat, and streamlined. *Bigsmile* I'm pretty nifty, aren't I? Okay, actually that wasn't long enough my screen, so I'm adding more to the working example. *Wink*



*Star*These next two have NO closing tags, so no need to even give that a thought. *Wink*

{s} - This will insert a single space where it appears.
I am adding a {s} space to make it three between a and space.
I am adding a   space to make it three between a and space.
Not exactly magical, is it? Well, *Pthb* to you! Here's another way to use it:
By adding a colon and a number, you can add multiple spaces in one place. This is great for when you want a poem to have a defined or shaped look to it!
I want{s:10}ten spaces after want.
I want                    ten spaces after want.
*The highest you can go is 50.

{indent} - This will add an indent of five spaces. This, obviously, is very useful at the beginning of a paragraph. *Wink*
{indent}I am indented.
         I am indented.
As with the space, a colon and number can also be added to this tag to do multiple indents at once.
{indent:4}I am indented four times.
                                       I am indented four times.
*The maximum for indenting is 10.


Line Spacing

In aforementioned word processing programs, you may or may not have also played with the spacing of your lines -especially if you've ever had to have something double-spaced for work, school, or submission. *Wink* Once again, my friends, that can be done right here on WdC as well! How you ask? Easy...

{linespace:}{/linespace} is the tag (and almighty closing tag) to use to accomplish the desired spacing. By inserting a number between 1.0 and 3.0 after the colon, you can easily change the look of your item. *Note that you must enter a number.

{linespace:1}I like
to keep my
brother and sister
words close to me.{/linespace}
I like
to keep my
brother and sister
words close to me.


{linespace:1.2}I am
the default
setting for
line spacing.{/linespace}
I am
the default
setting for
line spacing.


{linespace:2}I am
double-spaced
and favored by
teachers and such.{/linespace}
I am
double-spaced
and favored by
teachers and such.


{linespace:3}I am
thrice spaced
and love to be
breezy and distant.{/linespace}
I am
thrice spaced
and love to be
breezy and distant.



Fun Little Useful Extras

The following tags can be used for plenty of reasons and really help to make things look more organized to the read.

{footnote:}{/footnote} - I'm sure you've seen something like this in a book at some point in your life (textbooks use 'em too). Footnotes are notes (or definitions) placed at the bottom of your item. When using this tag, a number or letter will appear where you tell it to so that, when clicked, it will bring the reader to the note at the bottom.
         To do a numbered list: {footnote:#}
         To do a lowercase letter list: {footnote:a}
         To do an uppercase letter list: {footnote:A}
When you find occasion to use this tag, just insert the chosen tag above, depending upon your preference and pop it into place. *The words that are BETWEEN the tags will be the note that appear at the bottom of the item. The system will automatically list the notes alphabetically or numerically.
*Star*Note: NO letter but "a" or "A" will work in this tag, nor will any number but "1".

WdC is full of great people {footnote:#}At least, I hope they're all people{/footnote} with which you can make friends. {footnote:#}Families have been known to form as well as friendships.{/footnote} There truly is no place like home . {footnote:#}Home means "WdC"{/footnote}

WdC is full of great people 1 with which you can make friends. 2 There truly is no place like home . 3

*Xr**Xr**Xr*YOU WERE HERE*Xr**Xr**Xr*
*added just in case you click a footnote and lose your place. *Wink*


*Star*These next two tags require that you insert a word or words, within quotation marks, after the colon. **These will not work if you don't use quotation marks.

{popnote:}{/popnote} - This is a wonderful alternative to the above footnotes and require no clicking (no losing your place!). This tag will put a dotted blue line under the words to plug into the opening tag. Words between the tags will appear in a nifty little box when a reader hovers over the designated word.


Popnotes are {popnote:"neat"}I don't mean tidy.{/popnote}, but {popnote:"dropnotes"}The next thing we'll look at.{/popnote} are {popnote:"cooler"}I don't mean temperature-wise.{/popnote} {e:wink}

Popnotes are neat , but dropnotes are cooler *Wink*

{dropnote:}{/dropnote} - This will make the chosen word(s) (i.e. title) appear with a solid blue line under them. When a reader clicks on the link, it will open up to show them whatever information you choose to put in the note. When they click the title again, it will close the note. This is VERY useful if you want to give information about different things with cluttering up your item, especially if there is a lot of information within the note. *Wink*



{dropnote:"I am the Walrus"}Koo Koo Ka choo{/dropnote}
{dropnote:"Dropnotes"}Dropnotes are incredibly useful and I love how they give such a cleaner, more organized look as opposed to having thing listed in one blurb for readers to go through. With forums and many informative or how-to items, these can be especially helpful.{/dropnote}

I am the Walrus
Dropnotes



Well, that's about all I have the energy to think up right now, LOL -There was a fiasco with the PopNotes! *Blush* Apparently, the quotation marks in my word processing program are not the same as the ones on WdC and so they weren't working! Can you imagine? I didn't even realize the different! Thank goodness a wonderful friend with a keen eye noticed the slight difference and saved me from my melt down! *Laugh* Thank you, my dear!!! *Kiss*

I hope that you've learned at least something from my babbling and will give some more WritingML a try! The better an item looks, the more likely a viewer will stay to read what you have to say. *Wink*

Love and good writes to you all! *Kiss*

*Heart*,
Stephanie Grace

Reminder:
*Note*If you would like to see more about WritingML or want to see other color choices, etc... You can easily do so by clicking "Writing.Com Tools" on the *Left*left side of your screen (Under where you click for your e-mail, Gps, Blog, etc...). When that opens, all the way at the bottom is "WritingML Help". Click that and a small pop-up window will open in which you can find those bits of information and so much more! (Look at the red arrows in this image, that's where you want to click):
** Image ID #1775078 Unavailable **


Editor's Picks

{fount:courier}Well, I couldn't really find much to attest to the awesomeness of the WritingML tags featured in this newsletter, so I'm just going to throw in some awesome items and some that, as of me linking them, have received one or no reviews. After all, WritingML isn't just for your own items, but can make your reviews so much more appealing, too!

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1758288 by Not Available.

I hate tooting my own horn, but Toot, Toot!. This could use a major edit and revamp, but it's my hope that between "Noticing Newbies Newsletter (May 11, 2011)Open in new Window., this newsletter, and this item that you will be able to make full use of WritingML and your Review Tool to give the best reviews ever scene on WdC --and prettiest, *Wink*! Ya know.. if you want to. *Laugh*

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1777016 by Not Available.

Yup, a contest. *Pthb* Not only do I really like the concept of this contest but I think that it also offers a great opportunity for you to stretch your WritingML muscles --Use COLOR, but you can also use so much more... just try it!!! *Wink* Good luck in the contest! *Kiss*

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1782353 by Not Available.

There's something about this poem that really caught my attention. I love that Dyane is clear enough for reader's to understand the meaning but also vague enough for people to mold it to their own life and thoughts. I absolutely love poems that can be interpreted in different ways and this poem definitely falls into that category!


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1782015 by Not Available.

In this poem, L.T. Simons really brings to life something that I think we've all gone through at some point --I know that I have! Aside from being easy to relate to, this poem is simple to feel which is something that I always love.


Prisoner for Love Open in new Window. (13+)
Never be tempted by a pretty face.
#1782653 by Lilithmoon☽ Author IconMail Icon

I love poems that tell a story and that's exactly what can be found here: a story in just enough words to tell it without giving every single little detail. Lillithmoon manages to convey the emotions very well and tells the story in such a way that I could easily feel for the voice telling me the story... Just read. *Pthb*


 
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Ask & Answer

{suser;heftynicki}: Very informative newsletter! And I learned something new: I have several siggies linked to my signature block, their image ID numbers separated in a single tag by commas so that every time the page is refreshed, a different siggy appears. But I didn't know this worked with color tags too! I'm looking forward to trying it out. Thanks!!
Thank you so much, Nicki! It's nice to know that all my rambling at least had some kind of good come out of it! *Laugh* Randomizing with a comma in a tag always works for links too. *Wink*

eyestar~* Author Icon: Stephanie Grace.This absolutely rocks. Superb in its detail and clear in directives for newbies trying to use ML. I like how you added examples. wow! I am keeping this as resource and passing it on. *Star* eyestar
Jeff Author Icon: Great NL, Stephanie! This is a wonderful resource for anyone looking for an overview of WritingML! *Star*
I really don't think my husband will appreciate you two making my head any bigger, my dears! *Laugh* Thank you, though! LOL. I really thought people would just roll their eyes at my WritingML rambling so I'm absolutely over the moon to see it well received. Hopefully, I didn't make anyone's head spin too much this week as we got into the more confusing stuff... *Blush*


mARi☠StressedAtWork Author IconMail Icon: I remember being a newbie and not knowing this stuff at first... until I said to myself [enough] with asking questions... and just started exploring the site and clicking random button and trying everything out. *Laugh* This totally saves time though, having someone explain it. Great job on the newsletter!! *Heart*
Always,
~mARi~
We've all been there, haven't we? It's amazing how things become so second nature and we forget how scary and tough they seemed at first. I remember always having WritingML help open for a while because I just couldn't remember everything. I still don't have everything memorized, but it's rare that I open it. I think once we know what tags we prefer, we stick with them and just forget about the others --which is good in many ways. Sure, knowledge is power, but I doubt that any of us will ever be on Jeopardy! and have to know the WritingML to embed a YouTube video to win... *Laugh* I mean, it could happen, but I highly doubt it. It's useful if you want to add a YouTube video to your blog, but if that isn't your thing, why bother knowing it? That's why I like just going with what help as far as visual appeal and better organization. I can't tell you how many times I've left a forum or item because it just look blah, cluttered, and... a mess! *Blush* Thank you so much for your kind words, Mari! *Kiss*

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Footnotes
1  At least, I hope they're all people
2  Families have been known to form as well as friendships.
3  Home means "WdC"

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