  Noticing Newbies
This week: Edited by: Cubby  
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3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
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6. Ask & Answer
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 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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~ Writing Exercises for Muse on the Loose! ~
I've often found that when my muse is on the loose, I need something to reel it back it in. Sometimes writing exercises work wonders. This week I am going to share a few exercises that have worked for me in the past, and also a few that have worked for others. Some of these might seem rather silly, but don't knock them.  It's truly amazing what can stimulate the mind and tease that muse into coming back.
1. Walk through your house or apartment and pick up items randomly without thinking about it. Now place those items in a group, get out your notebook and pencil, and think up a story that includes each and every one of those things you gathered up.
2. Pick up a book you have never read, open up to whatever page you choose, and find a sentence on that page to begin your story.
3. Write down a dozen nouns or so on separate pieces of scrap paper. Fold them up and put them into a hat or bowl or some other container. Shake 'em up, if you like.  Now pick three or four to use in your next story. This truly has worked for me!
4. Sit down at a mall, a local fair, a flea market, or any other busy area in your community and watch the people. Jot down descriptions, actions, anything that enters your mind. Perhaps one person looks suspicious. Describe him or her. Another might be an undercover cop or wizard, or whatever your creative juices tell you. Write it all down. You very well could witness a dramatic situation, like a fight between a couple. Why are they fighting? What's the background information on their actions? Of course you make it up in your own mind, but imagine the possibilites! Or perhaps a toddler is confused because he or she cannot find Mommy. What has happened to Mommy? Or what happens to the toddler? I could go on and on, but I'm sure you get the picture.
5. Drag out your dictionary or thesaurus, if you don't already have one nearby. Open random pages and point to the first word your index find lands on. Make a list of at least ten words and use them.
6. Read a child's picture book. Think about the plot and turn it into a chapter book with new characters and goals, making it your own creation.
7. Read newspapers and find an article on an unsolved happening, or a story of something that happened to someone. Build on it and solve any mysteries with your imagination.
8. If you like to do Logic Puzzles, find one and create a story of it. Believe it or not, it can be fun.
9. Have you read a book lately that you didn't like? How would you change it to make it better? Now write your own version of it, with new twists and turns, and new thought-up characters, of course. Same thing goes for a movie. Have you ever sat through something that had so much potential but turned out to be a flop? What would you have done to change the storyline?
10. If you don't already own a Rhyming Dictionary, go out and purchase one; or borrow a copy at your local library. Find a word that has several rhyming words to go with it. Now write a poem, using as many of those words you can make work for you. I've done this and it's not only a challenge, but it's fun!
These are all pretty simple exercises, but they may or may not work for you. Doesn't cost anything to try them out though, eh?
As always,
Have fun...
and
Happy Writing!
Love, Cubby ") |
~ ~ Got questions? Look for answers here... ~ ~
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~~~And Now... For Our Featured Newbie Presentation!~~~
Excerpt: There are times when a man can feel an ominous tinge in the air. He may not be fully conscious of it, but there is a gray cloud of evil lurking, smoldering like an old cinder waiting for a breeze to flare it up. It may be the weather, or a person, the texture of the sky or a combination of many phenomenons imagined, real or a juxtaposition of unexplainable forces. I felt it this day and I sensed that the little dandy of a poet sensed it too. It was gray enough for sure. The wind howled and roared like so many wildcats. Evil was about. It was close but I knew not where it would come from only that it was on its way. The little poet’s cheeks were white and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead into little rivulets that ran down his nose as he strained at the wheel fighting fear and the wind that wanted to push that station wagon into the abysmal depths of the slimy morasses that quivered on each side of us on that lonely logging road.
Excerpt: Morissa let the craziness around her slip away as she concentrated on the task at hand. She was used to this; a group of rebel wizards and witches trying to take down the Emperor. They never succeeded, and they always disappeared, never killed in the streets, always captured and taken to the Emperor, never to be heard of again. She ignored the guard looking over her shoulder, making sure she was doing only as she was told; she knew the drill and had no intention of disobeying. Magic users had been slaves for about 50 years now. The stories go that the roles were once reversed, and those with magic had held the normal people as slaves. The great emperor had risen up and found a way to defeat the evil magic users and free the people. No one knew exactly how it happened just that it did.
Excerpt: Aunt Mary's 50th birthday party was on November 1st and my family congregated from all over the Midwest to celebrate her decent of the proverbial hill. She was among the more popular members of the family, the glue that bonds. Aunt Mary was a planner. Boredom wouldn't dare slither from its den when she was near. Planning was her virtue and activity was her sword. In the eve of the celebration, Hollows Eve, she had made plans to tour a less than famous true haunted house. You can find them on Google or Yahoo, they are surprisingly numerous, especially in the city.
Excerpt: “My transport?” he said, “I didn't order any transport. In fact, I'm a little bit confused as to why I'm talking to voices from my alarm clock.” Donald, still taking in the green impinging on his sense of place, hadn't dared move from the wall, not sure what would happen if he let go.
Excerpt: When one thinks of Kansas, thoughts of the Wizard of Oz and twisters usually come to mind. No one ever prepared the residents of Topeka, Kansas for what would happen in the year 2016 when they started their normal days on their farms. No one ever prepared them for the hardships they’d be facing three months down the road. Due to a freakish weather pattern, a renewed Ice Age had developed on May 14, 2016. As it slowly moved throughout the globe it finally hit in the sleepy town of Topeka, and thus changed the lives of some families forever.
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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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Last month's question: Do any of you have a writing cycle (or schudule, or whatever you might call it)? If you do, please share your process with us, if you don't mind
 ElizabethHayes-DaughterofIAM 
Hello Cubby! What a great newsletter! I haven't got a particular writing schedule. But, after reading this newsletter? I just might have found the inspiration to change that. Thanks!
I'm so glad for the newbie newsletter. It helps me find writers to review. Very helpful.
-Elizabeth Hayes
That's great! And thanks so much for the feedback.
 crazyboy
Thanks for sending me this news letter!!
And that you for reading and appreciating it!
 Kritter 
I've been getting frustrated lately. I spend a great deal of my time on writing.com reading and reviewing. I try to do three or more pieces a week - though things have been a bit busy the past two weeks for that. I read and review to become a better writer, to enjoy other writer’s work and to have people read and review my work. The trouble is, they aren't. It is a very rare thing for someone to look into my portfolio, even when I have done a tremendous amount of work in theirs. To get any reciprocation I have to either hint strongly many times or just ask outright. I don’t think I should have to beg to get read. I thought reading and reviewing each other's work was the point of this site. Am I mistaken?
I'm so sorry you haven't had very many returned reviews. It's a polite thing to do, but not everyone has the time to do it. No, you shouldn't have to beg, but there's nothing wrong with asking if they would mind reviewing one of your pieces. If you haven't discovered them yet, there are actually review forums that you can post your items in, and they will be reviewed. You may want to try "Please Review" for starters. Good luck!
 halyn
Hi.
I have a problem. I have only four items in my portfolio, but I am not allowed to create any new items. What can I do to fix this?
~~Halyn
In order to create new items that exceed five, you will need to pay for a Basic Membership, which allows you up to 25 items. That comes to about twenty bucks a year. Or if you wanted to go for an Upgraded Membership, you can add 250 items for about fifty dollars per year. You also have the option of paying quarterly or twice a year, for a few dollars more. And of course there are more memberships that go beyond these. Check them out at the Writing.Com Store. If you look toward the top of your screen, you will see several columns/lists. Click on Our Store to read more about memberships. 
 Rniss
I've just joined a couple of weeks ago, or so, and I've found this newsletter really helpful. Honestly. It's got links to everything I wanted to know and things to read and review. I try to read as many picks as I can, and I found it very interesting and helpful. Thanks.
You are very welcome! This is a wonderful place, isn't it?
donnadcalhoun
(This comment is on the 9/6/06 newsletter which I am just getting around to reading.) This summer, I find myself in a position to concentrate full time on writing for the first time. I am a very orderly person and I like the thought of scheduling a "break" time to "go out into the world" and gain experience for new ideas. How about the 3 Rs - recreation, reflection, and research? Thanks.
 Better later than never! Thank you for adding your feedback.
 And here is the feedback from the last newsletter that I was unable to write, thanks to my computer being out-of-commission. zwisis did such a wonderful job filling in for me. 
SHERRI GIBSON 
This is an excellent newsletter! I am always reviewing "newbies", for I feel they deserve recognition for their endeavors. I've found most to be really good writers who but need a bit of support and encouragement.
Sherri
What an inspiration you must be to Newbies! Keep up the good work, Sherri!
schipperke
Excellent newsletter Forever! I bet you will be surprised how many of us 'oldies' still read the Newbie newsletter!
She did do an excellent job, didn't she?
Nwriter
hi,
i can't remember when i actually joined, but i still regard myself a newbie. i actually discover something new everytime i visit this site. this particular newsletter was very useful because of the plug in site. normally i just end up reading features.so thank-you and keep it up.
sincerely,
nita
For as long as I've been here (four years? whoa!), I am still discovering new things, too.
AXiLeA
Thank you so much for featuring my work.
Regards.
Axilea.
You are very welcome.
silentrocker
Hi Editor, :)
It's a pity that you'll allow only 5 pieces of contributions on ur site. Why not more than that? I have so many more poems i could upload. Why don't you'll become a little more generous?
Thx
Rgds
Canta (zone of silence)
If you check into the different Membership options, you will find that you can enter more than five items into your portfolio for just a few dollars a month. As I explained to another member... In order to create new items that exceed five, you will need to pay for a Basic Membership, which allows you up to 25 items. That comes to about twenty bucks a year. Or if you wanted to go for an Upgraded Membership, you can add 250 items for about fifty dollars per year. You also have the option of paying quarterly or twice a year, for a few dollars more. And of course there are more memberships that go beyond these. Check them out at the Writing.Com Store. If you look toward the top of your screen, you will see several columns/lists. Click on Our Store to read more about memberships.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 Quote: I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter.
~James Michener
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Noticing Newbies: November 01, 2006 Issue [#1353]
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Attention all Newbies!!! Please consider entering the next round of this contest! It's a great way to earn Gift Points and possibly a First Place Ribbon! Deadline is December 31st at midnight.
