Noticing Newbies: November 23, 2005 Issue [#727]
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Noticing Newbies


 This week:
  Edited by: esprit 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

noticing newbies - newsletter header


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

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!

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Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

noticing newbies - newsletter header



Character Counts!


You may be surprised to learn your characters are more important than the story.

Think of the movies you've loved. Why did you love them? Was it the story or was it the primary actor that drew you to the theater? Do you say, "This is going to be a good movie because so and so is in it?"

Good characters can bring any mediocre story to life, and often do.

Did you know that when a preferred actor bows out of a movie project, the producers will most often cancel the film? They know that without a charismatic lead character, their movie is destined to fail.

It's the same with writing fiction. Without interesting, attractive, larger than life characters, it can be very difficult to make a story work. Why? Because your characters are more important than the story.

Since the beginning of time, humans have written about gods and heros. Real people and truth are important - but not quite important enough to be compelling.

Vanity sells. Mostly it has to do with identification.

Everyone, deep down, thinks they are attractive, witty, brave and clever; at least they like to think they could be, or have someone think they are. It's human nature.

Everyone wants to identify with a hero, the person who overcomes their limitation and succeeds against the odds.

When we watch our favorite actor on the screen, we know they're just acting. Still, for a couple of hours we let ourselves get engrossed in the story. We want to be like them. For a time, we really believe we can be, and are, like the characters in the movie. We're outside of ourselves, strong, attractive, cool - in short, heroic.

The same is true of best selling fiction. The lead characters are more often than not emotionally deep, brave, highly motivated and tremendously good looking. It's very rare that the mode is broken in this area, simply because today's readers don't like it.

People always want to identify with the lead characters and to do that, they want them to be handsome, beautiful and heroic.

Agents and publishers of fiction like heroes too. They sell.

Make a conscious effort to create likable characters. It's important, particulary to agents and publishers, and specifically to your readers.

Reader identification is the key, and should be your ultimate goal. Don't skimp on the characters.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this weeks letter. *Smile*

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

See you on the 21st of December. Wow, where did 2005 go?

** Image ID #914638 Unavailable **
Logo for Writing.Com Moderators - small.
noticing newbies committee sig

Next week's editor will be CHRISTMAS cub-BELLS Author Icon

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Editor's Picks

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 Unspoken Open in new Window. [13+]
On my Grandfather's Death
by Bilks Author Icon


 Animosity Open in new Window. [13+]
A horror story involving the prediction of a man's future through dreams.
by littledreamer Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 The Great Train Robbery Open in new Window. [E]
Even a boy can be a hero.
by Lauren Gale Author Icon


Ally's Window Open in new Window. [ASR]
Years after a tragic accident, a young girl remembers her father on Christmas.
by DevonMarie Author Icon


 The Steering Wheel Open in new Window. [E]
A little boy's treasure becomes his curse
by Alabama Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor



Remember to read your neighbor’s work too!


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helpful links

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


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


Writing Contests @ Writing.Com Open in new Window. [E]
Writing Contests on Writing.Com are posted here.
by Writing.Com Support Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


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Writing.Com General Discussion Open in new Window. [13+]
A message forum for general discussion. Please come and chat with others!
by Writing.Com Support Author Icon


THE DROP-OFF BOX  Open in new Window. [13+]
Monthly newbie contest.
by Tammy~Catchin Up~ Author Icon



*Star**Star**Star**Star**Star*


 
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!

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Ask & Answer

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1032184 by Not Available.



Each month, newbies who posted their first items in "The First Step", are invited to share their experiences with us.

This can be done in whatever style you choose and can cover a wide variety of topics

Some examples

Your feelings surrounding the posting of your very first item.
Your thoughts as you’ve made your way through the Writing.Com community.
You can tell us some of what you’ve enjoyed/disliked since you’ve taken the First Step.
Perhaps you’d like to share with us some of what you have learnt.
Or maybe what you’d still like to learn.

Your entry can be a short story, poem, article or whatever you need it to be to get your thoughts across.


Have fun with it!

Editors:

CHRISTMAS cub-BELLS Author Icon
Puditat Author Icon
laurencia

Your host this week is esprit Author Icon


*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07YJZZGW4
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Removal Instructions

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