Noticing Newbies: July 06, 2011 Issue [#4492]
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Noticing Newbies


 This week: The Almighty Dollar --Err... Gift Point
  Edited by: Stephanie Grace Author IconMail Icon
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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

Newbie, shmewbie! No matter our age, does ink not course through ALL of our veins? *Wink* Even oldbies need a refresher course once in a while! *Wink* Hopefully, I'll be able to help people of all WdC-ages in some way or another. It's amazing what we can learn from each other so, please, try to survive my ramblings and leave a comment to let me know if I've helped, hindered, or if you have an idea or question you'd like to see in a future newsletter! *Wink*


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: 1542722411
Amazon's Price: $ 12.99


Letter from the editor

The Almighty Dollar Gift Point


What is a Gift Point?

Gifts Points (GPs) are the currency of Writing.Com. 10,000GPs is equal to one American Dollar -not that you can make a withdrawal and get money from your CD ROM drive, but that's the math. *Pthb*

How are Gift Points used?

Oh... this is an easy question to answer:
         *Bullet*Use them (along with a review, if you can) to thank someone for a review given to one of your items.
         *Bullet*You can purchase a Merit Badge (10,000GPs) for another member or give an Awardicon (starts at 10,000GPs) to an item that really moved you or you thought was just extra special.
         *Bullet*You can use them to SHOP! That's right, shopaholics, you can use your GPs to purchase items -for yourself or a friend, from Member Run Shops AND the WdC Shop! Most membership shops offer high-quality images that you can use in your e-mails, reviews, and/or items, though some offer reviews and other products as well! With the WdC Shop, you can purchase official WDC gear and other products. With the WdC Shop, the same math applies: 10K GPs = $1. Shipping can also be covered with those points, dears, so stock up!
         *Bullet*While this is tied in with the one above, it's a thing all on it's own: Gift Points can be used to renew or upgrade your membership to WdC! Want an Upgraded? Premium? Premium Plus? Better start stocking up! *Wink*

How are Gift Points accumulated?

There are many ways in which you can earn GPs. You even get some just for logging into your account every day! Here are some other ways (the best ways, in my opinion) to achieve your goal of being a GP master! *Laugh*

*Note*Review!
*Bullet*Reviewing is, hands down, the best way to gather Gift Points. You will get GPs for any reviews given to a person that you have not already reviewed. Additionally, you'll get GPs for your daily review count. *PointRight*These are automatic.*Pointleft*
*Bullet*Another way that reviewing can help with your GP fund is Auto-Reward items. These can easily be found by clicking Things To Do & Read on the left side of your screen and then clicking Auto-Reward Items. This will bring you to a list of items that automatically reward you with gift points for reviews of 250 characters or more. Your reviews of these items should ALWAYS be well over the 250 character (Note: character, not word) count! If you cannot give a quality, solid review, then you are taking advantage. Please, be thorough, honest, and kind or, in the great words of Thumper's mother, "don't say nothin' at all". *Smile*
*Bullet*One more great way to gain gift points for reviewing is through groups. Many groups on WdC will reward you with GPs for reviews affiliated to said group or that include a multi-sig (multi-sig is an image included in a review that includes the names of several groups). I will not list any here because I don't feel that you should join groups JUST because of the reward, but for belief in the group, so you can ask me privately or seek them out through Groups or seeing the popular groups that many public reviews are affiliated with. *Wink* (Yeah, bad sentence...).

*Note*Activities and Contests
*Bullet*Activities such as raffles and almost all WdC Contests offer a GP Prize to the winner(s). You take your chances with both and you can't be guaranteed to win, but they're fun -and contests really serve a dual-purpose because many give reviews to the entrants so that you can identify your weak points and work on strengthening your writing! Knowledge is power. *Wink*

*Note*Bots
*Bullet*Okay, this one is a bit more confangled and less direct. Bots are games that randomly appear or are member-generated in the "Instant Message Console". (Map: Left side of screen, under where you see you name, etc... Click the rectangle icon that looks like a speech cloud from a comic book). There are several different Bot games that randomly appear:
         -Math Bot: A simple mathematical equation in written form.
         -AlphaBot: Alphabetize emoticons or Merit Badges.
         -Boxy Bot: Click random boxes until you find the one with the points.
         -Random Answer Bot: These ask a question with no definitive answer and you just kinda have to guess which random choice will be the right one.
*Bullet*Then, there are the three that any member may create in the IM Console (known affectionately as Scroll or Scrolls). These are:
         -G (Guessing Bot): This bot is a game of guessing the number that the member has chosen. A number that could be as low as 1 or as high as 1,000!
         -P (Puzzle Bot): Plays just like Hangman! *Delight*
         -T (Trivia Bot): Question is asked and multiple answers are provided. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes... well... not so much. *Laugh*

*Note*Buy 'em.
*Bullet*Yup. You can BUY points in the WdC Shop. $10 for 100,000GPs -and special offers and sales come around pretty often too! *Delight*


Well, I'm not sure how much more I can say on this topic since, well, ya get 'em, ya use 'em ....and, always, ya love 'em! *Laugh* Sure, they're not very helpful with the bank account balance, but they can be a great financial help nonetheless! Time is money; Money is Gift Points! *Wink*

*Heart*,
Stephanie Grace



Editor's Picks

While I'm sure you figured I'd include an auto-reward item or two, I'm choosing not to this time. *Blush* Call me 'mean', but I don't want anyone that offers auto-rewards to feel like they're being used for their GPs. *Blush* Sorry.

Since this is the Noticing Newbie Newsletter, though, I'm going to share a few items offered by some wonderful newbies to our lovely home! *Wink*

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1790761 by Not Available.

I really loved the imagery in this item!!!


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1789917 by Not Available.

The title of this item grabbed my attention instantly and, as I read the poem, I was so glad that it did!


 Grandma Open in new Window. (E)
A poem about the importance and the roles of Grandmas throughout peoples lives
#1789520 by Harrison Author IconMail Icon

I have a personal reason for selecting this one, but it's truly a beautiful sentiment that everyone should read and review!*Wink*


 Exercise 1 - What I want for my readers Open in new Window. (E)
Mini essay for Focus On Fiction workshop
#1789417 by Innkeepersdaughter Author IconMail Icon

I think many of you will find yourself agreeing with this item! I love seeing something that shows the thoughts of the writer in this way!*Bigsmile*


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1789079 by Not Available.

This one really resonated with me... just give it a read and review; perhaps it will touch you too?

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

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!

ASIN: 1542722411
Amazon's Price: $ 12.99


Ask & Answer

It's so nice to hear from you all! *Kiss* Here are some comments from the June 8th newsletter that I just couldn't resist responding to! *Wink*

I didn't know we had an {s} tag?? Or the line-spacing tag...It's amazing how I've been here everyday since late 2007 and I'm STILL discovering new things! Thanks, Stephanie Grace! from NickiD89 Author IconMail Icon
*Laugh*Thank YOU, Nicki! One of the wonderful things about WdC, I think, is that it changes, things are always being added to make things easier for us ---or just to make our items look better! *Wink* I had to look up a few tags myself because I'd forgotten them! *Shock**Laugh*


Thanks for another informative NL, Stephanie! By highlighting some of the WritingML formatting, I think you've shown both newbies and oldbies alike the visual/creative possibilities with items in their port. Heck, I've been around forever, and this article reminded me about the Quote tags. So thanks for that! *Bigsmile* from Jeff Author IconMail Icon
Thank you!*Kiss* I *Suitheart* quote tags! I really think I'd be lost with with them sometimes! *Laugh* So useful!!!


Hi Stephanie - Love your informative tidbits on writing. You don't have to be a Newbie to appreciate explanations on some of the a-maze-ing finds on this site.
Thank you for your explanation of drop-notes/pop-notes, indents, line spacing etc. Very practical, time-saving and tidying. from Mia - craving colour Author IconMail Icon
*Blush*Thank you! *Laugh* Now my head's too big get up from the computer! *Laugh* I'm glad that you found my rambling informative! I hate when I see an item and it looks too cluttered or messy... Always makes me want to e-mail the member and go, "Hey! Don't you know visual appeal is important too?". *Laugh* Especially when it's an article or a How-To... WritingML is just so incredibly helpful with such items!


ML is useful, especially in dialogue only pieces. from BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful Author IconMail Icon
Oh, yes!!! *Delight* It is definitely a great way to help the reader better distinguish one voice from the next. *Delight*Thank you for that!


Hello. I very agree with all users. It's very informative newsletter. I am a novice here but I like this place because I feel very well here. Thanks. from olga777
Thank you! I'm so thrilled that people actually found some hint of useful information in my words! *Laugh* I'm delighted that you like it here at WdC! Before you know it, you'll just be calling it home --if you're not already! *Wink*



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