  Noticing Newbies
This week: Earn GP's through Community Involvement Edited by: Brooke  
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The Noticing Newbies Newsletter's goal is to make the newer members feel welcome and encourage them with useful information and/or links to make navigating Writing.com easier. Writing.com members of all ages and even veteran members can find useful information here. If you have specific questions, try visiting "Writing.Com 101" and/or "Noticing Newbies" .
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Last month I received some wonderful feedback from my explanation of the Ideanary. I love bringing information to members new and old. If there is something you don't understand or can't find - write in! If you have an idea or suggestion, don't hold back. Just look under your [WRITING.COM TOOLS] area and you'll find a, you guessed it - [SUGGESTION BOX] . If you know a feature that you'd just like more explanation on, you could visit [Writing.Com 101] at the top of your screen or write in and maybe I'll write about it next month. 
This month I thought I'd share my thoughts on two common questions among new authors.
 "How do I get readers to notice me?" and "How do I get more GP's?"
Years ago, I was a brand new member here too. It took me a long time before I really got involved in the community and as a result, I really missed out on a lot. I know everyone isn't a social butterfly (me included actually) but let's face it - you're here and most of you want to be read. To do that effectively, you're going to have to interact with other members. There are some members that just stumble around reading and will happen upon your portfolio but you can't count on that. The best way to get noticed is to make the effort to be a little social. With that said, the two questions I quoted above can be handled with the same answer = Join a reviewing group.
Now I hear you groaning, it's not hard work and there is no reason to dread it. Believe it or not, reviewing is a very important part of writing. Reading is crucial in your growth as an author and reviewing other's work will help you discover what you like and dislike about the craft of writing. You don't have to be a certified editor to be a good reviewer either. A review is your opinion - plain and simple. You don't need a lot of fancy WritingML or transcripts, just be honest, courteous and share your thoughts.
So how do I know which group to join and how do I find them to learn more about them?
One of the things you want to look for is an active group. The easiest way to find that is to look at the site's public reviewing page to find out which groups are busy reviewing and it will also give you an idea of what the group's reviews look like in terms of consistency and overall content. The directions below will help you find this listing.
Your list may look slightly different but this will give you a basic idea where to find it.
By clicking the word [REVIEWS] you will be taken to our main public review page. This will list reviews that have been completely most recently and marked public by the reviewers. At the top of that page, you will find the following header:
And yes it will look much bigger, smartypants. 
If you click on the [Most Actively Reviewing Groups] you'll notice my group is embarrassingly not even in the top ten.  *subconsiously makes plans to change that - fast!* What you will also see is this handy list provides an easy way to look up all the most active groups (or the link next to them and see the reviews themselves). By clicking on the group names, you will be magically teleported to their homepage where you can learn more about them.
Their are many benefits to joining a group.
 Meet new people
Exposure for you and your work
Knowledge - learning is priceless!
Participation which leads to community advancement
Special access to group only items (some groups)
Earn rewards, Merit badges and GP's! - 
Many (if not all) reviewing groups rewards gift points for reviews you do affilated with their group. One in particular I belong to also runs reviewing challenges and gives away prizes regularly including "Reviewer of the Week" and "Reviewer of the Month". Many of these groups generously reward their members for their time reviewing. These groups make reviewing, dare I say, fun.  I can't speak for all the reviewing groups but if you're worried about commitments if you're busy, some have no minimum reviews per week. So there is no guilt factor if you lead a busy life and just want to help out a couple weeks a month. How much you do or  EARN is entirely up to you. There are thousands of GP's to be earned! Why not see which group fits your interests and give them a try?
Hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like to share your thoughts, please send me a note using the box at the bottom of this newsletter.
Write and Review on! ~ Brooke
[Useful Related Links] 
From Writing.com 101
"Reviewing On Writing.Com"
"Affiliating Reviews With Groups"
Are you aware that WDC has many review incentive programs that reward automatically?
"Incentives For Reviewing"
Participate in Writing.com's review challenge and get a chance at 250K in Gift Points!
"Good Deeds Go Noticed"
Are you looking for a place to find who's looking for reviews? or possibly looking for reviews yourself?
"Please Review"
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Here are some talented new member's items that caught my eye. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. 
Excerpt:
Time wails me,
I am slack,
Blows the wind,
Far and back.
~  ~
Excerpt:
As I turned in his driveway I exhaled fear and inhaled courage. My husband had cautioned me that this might be a topic Jerry wouldn't want to talk about. I parked my truck with that thought in mind. If he didn't want to talk to me I would apologize profusely and go home to forget it all. I felt my hip pocket for my list of questions. I imagined myself tearing it up in small pieces as I let it go.
~ ~
Excerpt:
The loneliness that engulfs me makes me wish for release. I've been alone most of my life, and I can't understand what it is I do or say to people tht makes them stop being a friend before they really get to know me. I try hard to be friends, but somehow, potential frineds never become more than...potential.
~ ~
Excerpt:
They patiently wait for their prey but it never comes. They are all to entrance to dare stop her now. No hard grit nerve to take a step, to speak a breath of a word to her.
~ ~
Excerpt:
Someone asked me once, what is love like?
I simply said, 'tis like the feather on a windy day.
Can go unnoticed, floating by in a simple breeze.
Stopping on a windowsill, for a tiny peak.
~ ~
Excerpt:
I am having dreams
Of the seven skies
Bewildering screams
And justified cries
~ ~
Excerpt:
"Hey guys wanna have a sleepover tonight?" asked Fin. The bell had just rung dismissing everyone from school. I was walking down the hall with my two friends Fin and Dory trying to decide whether or not I wanted to go, it's not like I had anything better to do on a Friday night being the lifeless nerd I am.
~ ~
Excerpt:
Clyde, with his perpetually runny nose, always wore an always rumpled and out of date plaid shirt. His black horn rim glasses, ever smudged with fingerprints, persistently slid down his face. You would have to look long and hard to find a more harmless and bland looking person than Clyde.
But, looks can be deceiving.
~ ~
Excerpt:
At the top of the garden, Jack saw a crow,
In its beak there was what looked like a toe!
A toe in the beak of a little black crow
"I must be wrong," said Jack "but I've got to know".
~ ~
[Submitted Items]
Submitted from peacekeeper  "Quiet"
Well I just wanted to know how people felt about this particular piece and what problems it may have. Thanks.
Submitted by Venomous Candy "What you do"
hello
im new writer write casually
this is my first poem so waiting for comments
reviews
plz do review
thanks
Submitted by kristiana "Invalid Item"
I just thought I would share this with the newbies. My members and I are great at setting and encouraging others to achieve their goals. There are no requirements for reviewing or anything like that, just the requirements you set for yourself. Making improvements to help give members ideas on how to achieve what they set out to do!!! Check it out!!!
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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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I received some wonderful feedback to my last newsletter [#4254] " Ideanary? What's that?" and I'm proud to share it with you.
From wonderwoman2
I love this! Thanks for enlightening me!
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
From abigail42
Good newsletter. I didn't know what the ideanary was for. Thanks.
I'm glad you found it useful. It's a really cool feature.
From Joy 
What better way to explain the Ideanary! Thanks, Brooke.
You're welcome! I'm really glad everyone enjoyed learning about it.
From cookie_writer
Hi Brooke, Thanks for another informative and fantastic NL. Another tool to help in reworking is always a good thing. Thanks again.
You're very welcome. Thanks for taking a moment to write in and tell me you enjoyed the NL. I am glad it's useful to members that aren't 'newbies' 
From salliemoffitt
I have seen the ideanary on the menu, but never used it. Thanks for explaining this helpful tool. I will now use it every time I write. It is awesome.
Sallie
Great! I can't tell how happy I am to hear you enjoy using it.
From Specter
Another Newbie with a handle like slick, who's been kicking the can around the site, discovering the pick and pluck from aspiring writers.
Words run the mills of the mind from stranger to friend, but the Ideanary is the characters of stars.
Thanks Brooke for the insight.
You're very welcome and very creative. I'm glad you wrote in and inspired me to check out your work.
From BIG BAD WOLF is Merry 
There's always ideas to be found.
Submitted item: "Eggnog and Werewolves Part 1"
There sure are. Thanks for writing in and sharing your view.
From ~*Arpita*~
Hello again!
It was interesting to know about the Ideanary. I have been here for sometime now, but didn't know something like that existed. I'll definitely check it out when I'm in need of alternative words while I'm writing a piece (which, being from a non-English background, is pretty often). Along with this you also pointed out the importance of dialogues in a story. Very well-written Newsletter!
Best wishes,
Arpita
That's great! I hope it comes in handy and you enjoy using it.
From NickiD89 
I've never noticed or used the Ideanary Lookup Form before. Good thing this "Oldie" subscribes to the Noticing Newbies Newsletter! Thanks for teaching me something new about WDC
You're very welcome. I'm thrilled that I could teach an experienced member something new about the site - enjoy it!
From mARi☠StressedAtWork 
I've never even taken the time to check out what the "Ideanary" is used for... now that I know what it does, I think it is a very useful tool. I can't wait to use it next time I write. Thank you. 
Always,
~mARi~
Thanks Mari. I hope you enjoy using it and thanks for writing in.
From anastasia beyverhausen
Thanks for point out the Ideanary feature. I myself have overlooked its usefulness in adding some diversity to the words normally used, but will enlist its help from now on.
-AB
I was hoping it would inspire some new users and it looks like I've done just that! Thanks for writing in. I appreciate you!
and also feedback from my previous issue [#4200] "Avoid Repeating Words"
From Jessette 
It is true that repeating words is made irritated to each person. Being professional,We should always ready to hear any words that somebody's talking, to avoid repeating words to lessen our time during conversation. There is a saying that "one word is enough for a wise man. Beside, less word less mistake, more words more mistake. Listen carefully and be wise.
Thanks for writing in and sharing your thoughts!
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Noticing Newbies: March 23, 2011 Issue [#4299]
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