  Noticing Newbies
This week: Open house or by invitation~your choice Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
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
I'm honored to be your guest host for this week's WDC Noticing Newbies Newsletter ~
The moment a man sets his thoughts down on paper,
however secretly,
he is in a sense writing for publication.
Raymond Chandler
Our WDC Community welcomes daily 'Newbies' who arrive, each with a unique voice, eager to add that voice to the symphonic chorus that is our Community. To all the 'Newbies' and 'Not So Newbies' ~ Welcome to this issue of the WDC Noticing Newbies Newsletter.
|
| ASIN: 1542722411 |
|
Amazon's Price: $ 12.99
|
|
Greetings, fellow writers!
Welcome to the Writing.Dot.Community (writing.com) 
The 'welcoming committee' greets each of us with a portfolio ready to personalize as we choose; and our fellow writers are doing likewise, inviting us to read and comment on their verse and prose and articles just as they look to read our work. We're a versatile, eclectic, creative bunch and we look forward to each new voice that arrives with a solo to add to our lyric cacophany.
Okay, you've taken a walk around the neighborhood and met a few fellow writers, reading and maybe even visiting their portfolios. Now, you open yours, and decide to 'Write Something.' You will likely first post a 'Static Item' which is a stand-alone story or poem or article or essay - you get my drift.
You open a not so blank page that not only offers a nice large space for your writing, but asks several questions about your writing before you announce it's ready to share.
Section 1 - Basic Item Information
 Item Title = give your work a name, or if you don't have one yet, nothing wrong with calling it 'untitled' - it's your portfolio to trim as you choose.
Folder = the default is 'My Portfolio' which is where it's at until you decide to create individual folders for stories, poems, reviews, your call.
Item Type: Static Item: It's not really 'other' is it? A quick pop of the pulldown allows you to choose the type of writing you are sharing - Poem, Story, Article, .... Don't you agree this is an important search key. Some days you may wish to read a story, or you may be seeking a bit of verse or perhaps you'd like to spend a rainy evening reading a book or op ed article. Likewise fellow writers. Here's where you place your work front and center on the seeker's sightline.
Brief Introduction: This can be a tag line to your work, or a statement it's for a contest, or whatever you wish to say to introduce your work ~ invite your readers.
Intro Rating: This is the rating you assign for the words you use to introduce your work (above)~ there are rating guidelines with respect to content you can quickly scan with a simple click. The default is 'E' but if you're not certain a quick check will offer guidelines so that our younger members can see you've posted something.
Section 2 - Content and Access Settings
Content Rating: This is left blank for your input, again with a simple pulldown. If you do not rate your content, it's not shown in public listings.
Access Restrictions: and
Membership Restrictions: Both these setting default to 'public' and 'allow everyone' and casual visitors to our Community, whether or not members, can view your work. This works fine if you're not inclined to publish in print or online the work you are sharing, or if it's a published work and you have rights to share it can be a cool introduction to other work in your portfolio.
I recommend, to comply with first time rights for possible publication, setting a new entry to at least 'Registered Users.' This way all registered members of our Community can read and share their comments freely (age-eligible, if applicable), but it's most likely not considered 'published' if you choose to submit to an editor or publication later. Of course, if you do decide to submit for publication, read their guidelines for the parameters for any first rights.
If it's a work in progress or written for a specific group within our Community, you may wish to make it 'Private' and offer a Passkey that you share with a group or in response to individual requests.
This brings us to 'Group Edit Access' - which defaults to 'No Group' and for static items is usually accurate. If you're working with a crit partner perhaps, you may wish to allow editing, but I'd recommend at first encouraging comments by review or email for your work.
Section 3: Genres and Keywords
Genres: Select at least one, as many as three, genres by which members can search for and find your work. As with all the other entries here, you can update if you change your mind, and the selections are creative and versatile, so you will likely find at least one that fits your work and will guide readers to your portfolio.
Relevant keywords: Another way to draw readers who are looking for a certain type of story or verse or article or novel to read. Offer some keywords that will bring them to your portfolio to find what they seek.
Section 4: Item Body
This is your blank page, no longer intimidating, but inviting your keystrokes or the upload from your word processor. Write the Muse Creative and share it here.
If you're writing a long piece or are doing considerable revisions along the way, consider using the 'Save and Edit' button down below to protect your work as it progresses. Also recommend doing that before your spellcheck so you have a final draft with which to work.
Section 5: Item Preferences
You can 'Preserve Spacing' for items you upload from your word processor; as well as 'Double Space Paragraphs' as you type by selecting one or both of those options. Cool features, right?
Select your rating and reviewing preferences. You will get the most possible feedback from 'Unrestricted' with ratings and reviews and the most private from'Email Comments' which keeps your item off the public listing categories and 'reviewing' page. Scan the choices and select your preference - this also you can change later.
The auto-reward of gift points is well defined on screen, if you choose the option; as is the copyright information ~ and now you're ready for
'Save and View'
Now you see your story or verse or article or novel as it will appear to your fellow writers. You have the option to edit now and at any time in the future - it's your work. Now 'Save Item' and you're ready to share your {bitem : number} (spaces omitted and a numeral) with fellow writers in our Community and while you're at it, stop over and introduce yourself to fellow newcomers and longtime residents both. Share in the exchange of ideas, encouragement, and comaraderie ~
.
But after you've visited with some of our newest members here, some good reading awaits ^_^
Write On!!
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading
|
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: B083RZ37SZ |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
I thank you for spending some of your treasured writing time with me in this exploration and hope you've enjoyed reading the words of fellow newcomers.
I wish you each joy and success in your own writer's journey
Write On!
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading
|
| ASIN: 1542722411 |
|
Amazon's Price: $ 12.99
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
Noticing Newbies: July 21, 2010 Issue [#3865]
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
