  Noticing Newbies
This week: Writing the 15-Minute Review: Part 2 Edited by: JACE  
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Hi, I'm JACE .
Welcome to this issue of the Noticing Newbies newsletter. Join me as I take you into some nooks and crannies of Writing.Com that you may not have found time to check out yet.
Don't forget to toss me a note about what you liked or didn't like in my column, or about a topic you'd like to see discussed. This newsletter is about and for you. And for you seasoned members, I hope you'll find something you can take from my ramblings. 
Your Noticing Newbies Newsletter full-time Editors:
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Writing the 15-Minute Review: Part 2
Recently, I outlined a few suggestions for preparing for writing a 15 minute review. The actual prep for your review takes place while reading the item you'll be reviewing. This is essential as nothing happens without adequate preparation. If you have time, check out "The 15-Minute Review: Part 1" for part 1.
One of the more important tenets of Writing.Com is the ability to write and receive reviews of one's work. The old maxim of "Do unto others ..." is readily apparent when doing reviews. One has to write reviews in order to receive them. Learning how to do reivews well not only benefits the recipient, but also your own writing abilities.
Take a moment to determine the things you think about or look for when you read a story. Identify a few specific categories, such as characters, plot, or grammar, that you can highlight in your reviews. Prepare a sample of your desired categories; or if you have a paid membership, use the Review Tool to maintain your template. These areas will help you focus your reviewing efforts in a more concise manner.
But, guard against making the same statements over and over. Make a conscious effort to promote some aspect specific to whatever story you are reviewing. Personalize each review.
Check out the Public Review page for some examples of what others are doing. You may see something that hadn't occurred to you before that fits your style. Again, personalize your review in your style; don't just copy someone else's. Knowing what to look for as you read a story, and making notes as you read will help you organize your thoughts quickly. Then it's a matter of writing them out.
Perhaps not every review will be completed in 15 minutes. With practice, though, you'll learn to channel your reviewing efforts into a productive and rewarding pastime, both for others and for yourself.
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An Upgrade Moment
Each issue I write will highlight a feature available only to paid members at various levels. With so many nooks, crannies, and features available to members, one can hardly comprehend everything. Even older members can't track all the changes WDC has undergone over the past two years.  Most are explained in " Writing.Com 101" , and are marked with a symbol indicating to which membership level the feature applies. You may see something you didn't know existed, or something you just haven't tried before.
You can compare all the features available to a given membership level at " Compare Free and Paid Membership Benefits" .
This month, I'd like to discuss the Note Pad. Strictly speaking, the Note Pad is available to all members, and thus might not seem an adequate topic for my Upgrade Moment. But, the higher one's membership level, the more Note Pad pages one has available for use.
Free: 1 page
Basic: 2 pages
Upgraded: 5 pages
Premium: 25 pages
Premium Plus: 50 pages
The Note Pad offers a convenient way to keep track of your personal notes. Keep track of your notes, thoughts and ideas in the Text box provided for each page. I use mine for such things as Story Ideas, Writing Resource links, Auction Donations, Contest Deadlines, and Review Notes to name a few.
Each page can have its own title and background color for even more organization!
Your NotePad can be found within your My Account pulldown in the Navigation menu in the left column. It's also the fourth of the five horizontal icons above the Navigation menu. Upgraded+ members will also find a quick link to the NotePad in their Extended IM Console.
I must say the notes I maintain have saved my bacon more times than I can count. Let me know some of the uses you've found for your Note Pads.
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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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And from the mailbox about my last Noticing Newbies newsletter, "Looking For Help in All the Right Places" .
From iulia  : Hi, This is a short one-sided, romantic look on prenuptial agreements. If you Google search for prenups, everything you find is articles on why signing one is a good idea. This essay tries to convince the reader otherwise. Thanks.
Submitted item: "Why You Should Never Sign a Prenup"
From G. B. Williams  : I was ecstatic seeing my poem on your review list! Thank you so much. I also enjoyed reading others' comments. Thank you to all of you who shared. I am also not the grammarian, and appreciate those who are.
You're welcome.
From franscholan: Hi, Jace! I may be a newbie here on WDC, but writing has been my passion for so long that I feel more like a veteran!
When I read a story, I feel that I have to leave a comment or review. I know how it feels to have many reads on a story, but nobody says a word. As a writer, you need to know if your writing is successful, but you won't if nobody says anything. And, when reviewing a story, 95% of the time, I base it on spelling and grammar. A story can be brilliant, but, in my opinion, bad grammar just takes away from that.
Thanks for your comment, Fran. While I agree that bad grammar can seriously detract from the enjoyment of a story, I always want to make sure the author knows he or she is heading in the right direction with the characters or storyline. In my humble opinion, grammar and spelling is a relatively easy fix; a bad plot takes a mite longer to fix.
From ~ Aqua ~  : Hi, how are you? Thank you for featuring our group Let's Help Each Other Grow. I am a group leader. Anyways, did you know that your newsletters are really helpful?
Again, I am glad to subscribe to this newsletter. 
My pleasure. Keep up the good work of helping our fellow members. And thanks for your kind words.
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Noticing Newbies: July 25, 2012 Issue [#5175]
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