  Noticing Newbies
This week: Reviewing is Fun-damental! Edited by: Tornado Dodger  
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Hi, my name is Tornado Dodger and I'm proud to be your guest editor this week for the Noticing Newbies Newsletter. The goal of this newsletter is to share advice or explanations on writing or site related topics that we feel would be of interest to beginning members. We also highlight new members work to give them exposure. I hope you will take a moment to read their work and leave feedback for these new members to welcome them to the community.
All new members are invited to visit "Noticing Newbies" to learn more about the site's features, ask questions and meet other members. Another great place to get to know your fellow authors is "Writing.Com General Discussion" . Stop by and say hi! 
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Reviewing is Fun-damental!
I've had the pleasure of being a Writing.com member for over five years. In those years, I've reviewed over 2000 items. When I first started here, I didn't think I was qualified to review. Can you believe that? I imagine many of you can and some may even think the same thing. The thought couldn't be further from the truth. Reviewing is a wonderful activity that will actually help you improve your own writing. By discovering what you like and dislike about another authors work, your own writing will improve as a result. Reading/reviewing is a fundamental part of writing.
The most important thing you can share with an author here is your opinion. A review is just that, your opinion. People display their writing here for many different reasons. For some, it's a release of personal nature, sometimes it's just for fun and for others; it's for critique with the hope for improvement. For most, I believe it has a lot to do with the encouragement. Considerate reviewing gives them that encouragement. Sharing your writing with the world is sometimes a scary thought. You don't know what kind of comments you'll receive or reactions you will get. To help you decided, there are many choices available to authors when placing items out for comments here. These choices can be updated at any time by editing your item. You can review your different options by clicking this link  "Rating/Reviewing Preferences" . The short breakdown below is what also appears when you're creating an item:
 "Unrestricted" will garner your item the most feedback possible. The item's average received rating and number of ratings received is publicly displayed to all viewers.
"Rating Requires Review" will eliminate feedback from readers who do not wish to type-in a textual review of your item. The item's average rating is shown only to you.
"Reviews Only; No Ratings" allows members to review your item, but not rate it.
"Email Comments" removes the rating and review area on your item and replaces it with an email form allowing members to send you comments. No "anonymous" feedback may be sent to you with this option. Note: This option removes your item from our public listing categories, including our public "Reviewing" page.
No matter what you choose, it's exciting when you get that first review isn't it? It can also be a little nerve-wracking. It can be that way for the reviewer also. They sometimes wonder, how will the author feel about my review? My personal philosophy is above all else - to be respectful. If you have knowledge or expertise is a certain area, feel free to share it. If you see a misspelled word or a typo, by all means, point it out. Is being a spelling bee champion or grammar master a prerequisite for being a great reviewer? No, it most certainly is not. All that's required of you is a little time and an interest in sharing your opinion with other authors. You never know, they just might return the favor and review your work. Many authors have found critiquing partners and even friends just through reviewing.
Aside from all the personal benefits of reading and reviewing I've mentioned above, there are even more rewards available. You may have noticed in the top right corner of the page, there is a box entitled "Reviews and Ranks". This is where you'll find the public review page. You can also see which members review the most and what groups review the most. Many members who enjoy reviewing join a reviewing group. This allows you to meet other members with similar interests. In addition, many groups also "credit" their members reviews. Crediting reviews involves another author sending you gift points as a reward for quality reviews. You can find the most active reviewing groups by following this link:
http://www.writing.com/main/my_feedback/action/top_actively_reviewing_groups
There are many rewards given for quality reviews. If you've given any reviews, you've probably received gift points from "Daily Review Rewards" and perhaps the "The Review Mixer" . You can read about the different ways you can earn gift points for reviewing here "Reviewing @ Writing.Com" I would also recommend checking out this wonderful opportunity to earn an enormous amount of gift points just for being a helpful reviewer. "Good Deeds Go Noticed"
Ready to give it a try and share your opinion with your fellow authors? Well, this is a great place to start "Please Review" ! Have fun and Write (and Review) On!
Related Items:
"Guidelines To Great Reviewing" E: Writing a detailed review takes time. Follow these guidelines for best results!
"How To Deal With Negative Comments" E: How To Deal With An Unconstructive And Negative Comment.
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Excerpt:
In less than five minutes the studio was packed. The men were all sitting on their sticky mats looking at her. She was sure she knew what Little Red Ridinghood felt like in a room full of Big Bad Wolves. She tried to shake her nerves and decided the best thing to do was to get started.
Excerpt:
"Mighty chief Achewon Sanquen," he began, "we wish to know the answer to a puzzling question."
"What is your question, my son?" The chief asked the boy.
"If you love another, but there erupts a cripple in your contacts with that person, how are you to know if you should hold on, or let go?" The boy asked. The five other boys behind him nodded; they wished to know as well.
Excerpt:
The red fiery sun dipped below the horizon. The night got cooler, but the summer breeze kept them warm. "So when do you live?" Lenny said, playfully challenging her theory. Sally tugged at her auburn curls and looked down at the grass between her legs. "Whenever I was happy, that's where." She finally answered. "The past," Lenny said. "The past." she answered quietly.
Excerpt:
He'd almost forgotten; he'd received a note as well, less than a day ago. No rhyming couplets or painfully beautiful metaphors here, though. As he pulled the sheet of paper from its envelope and leaned toward the fire, he did have to admit that there was a certain poetry in the words.
Excerpt:
With lowered head and bended knee
I wait with cradled helm.
Her lips are red as though they've bled;
Most desired of the realm.
Excerpt:
With breath which smells so sweet,
Mixed with sour tones.
You look at me with wide eyes.
Cheeks blushed with garden rose.
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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
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
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As a guest editor, I have no official feedback. However, this is your opportunity to write in and let us know what you thought about today's edition, your reviewing advice or even share an experience. We'd also love for you to share with us a topic you would like to see covered in a future issue.
As a fairly new moderator here, this is my first newsletter for the site and I'd love to hear your opinion. Write me, share your comments and if you'd like, include an item that you'd enjoy seeing featured.
Until next time, have a great time reading and reviewing! ~ Tornado Dodger
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Noticing Newbies: July 14, 2010 Issue [#3851]
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