  Noticing Newbies
This week: Party in Your Brain; Are You Invited? Edited by: Stephanie Grace  
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| I believe in simplicity in introduction to new things and also that there is a wide variety of topics to be explored in this newsletter --Not only for newbies, but those that have been here for years and want to recognize newbies through reviews, etc... I think that the primary focus of this newsletter should be twofold: Just Here and Here For Years... I think that the title is so broad that this newsletter really needs to feature something for newbies as well as "oldbies". Of course, cohesiveness between the two is also important so that one does not feel lesser than the other. We are all equals here and I think the best way to convey that message to newbies is to let them see their work alongside "WdC veterans"... |
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DID SOMEONE SAY "PARTY"?
If they did, I didn't hear it.  Okay, so I did, but I figure that all the other newsletters this week will be covering WdC's birthday celebration (and the fact that my birthday is coming and I absolutely HATE celebrating that -have from a kid, it's not an age thing, LOL), I figured I'd go with something different.
Of course, I kind of don't know what that will be... The first paragraph is always so easy; the follow-up is.... Oh!!! I just inspired myself! 
Sometimes, a spark of inspiration hits your head and, before you know it, your brain is doing a jig of excitement to get out your latest awesome idea! Then, you start to type, your fingers frantically rushing over the keyboard, tapping ferociously at the keys so quickly that your eyes can barely keep up with reading the screen as you type the words of the next great masterpiece this world will see. I mean, people will be selling their first born children to get their hands on a signed manuscript of this bad boy in years to come! You are just pure genius!!!
Then you hit 'Enter'. You hit it again (always skip a line between paragraphs, folks). Maybe your significant other sneezes, maybe your dog barks, maybe you need to piddle, maybe you just pause... Your fingers tap gently on the keys, never putting enough pressure on a single key to make another letter appear on your screen. You take your hands off the keyboard, crack your knuckles (don't do that; it could cause arthritis, silly!), and read the brilliance that you have spewed forth thus far.
Still, nothing. The spark is gone; completely extinguished. You look around in your frustration. There's got to be something in this room that will bring it back. You stare at the floor, glance up at the ceiling, look back to the floor... Nothing.
What do you do next?
Nothing. It's gone. The next great masterpiece is nothing but a few sentences on your screen. You select the words, press delete, then quickly hit Ctrl + Z and watch them reappear. You save the document because of course you'll be inspired again and go back to it! Most likely, you never do, though. It just sits there collecting virtual dust.
Sometimes, that's not the way it plays out. Sometimes, we actually do get beyond that point and manage to finish the piece -swearing that we'll go back to edit it, but it never feels the same; we never feel that same inspiration again. Our connection to our own characters has dissipated or our emotion at the time is so drastically different that we just can't 'feel' it.
Those pieces are the perfect food for your portfolio!!! Having others review that start or that rough-edged piece can not only help you to see where you can add strength, but you'd be amazed by how easily it can spark up something inside of you to rekindle the fire you felt when starting the piece. Even just seeing that others are interested in reading it can do wonders for inspiration!
I encourage you to post those pieces that you know need work. Don't strive for perfection before posting to WdC! If it was that perfect, why not just send it right off to a publisher? Reviews aren't just about giving an opinion or pointing out typos, sometimes they're there to guide your fingers down the long, winding path of the next paragraph. Sometimes, they're just there to help you feel your own words again. Try it. Put something in your port that you felt so strongly about when you started or wrote it but can't quite 'feel' now. See where it takes you. Take in the words of the reviewers and forget about interpreting them or thinking about them. Just take them in, open your item, and let your fingers tango!!! 
 ,
Stephanie Grace
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| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1800010 by Not Available. |
777 words does not a novel make, but with this start, SilverQuill is definitely on a good path toward Novel Road! Can you help to make this story better or to guide its creator to the next stepping stone? Maybe SilverQuill just needs your thoughts to be able to sit down and finish the next great American novel... but no one will ever know... unless you review....
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1802919 by Not Available. |
DB Cooper's item is a great example of using WdC to display your rough draft so that you can obtain feedback to know where to focus when you go back to edit as well as gaining support for your storyline and help in with its development. (I like there this one is going... the word 'rivalry' in the description and the word 'football' within the item made me smile in a very evil way.... Me likey!).
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1806476 by Not Available. |
One more beginning in rough draft phase! Quick! Go! Read! Help a fellow writer!
And, now, here are some items from new members... Go and show them some love!
| |  | Duck Mourning (E)
(I'm so lazy) Part of a story that I promise I'll finish, about a girl and her dead duck.
#1806482 by L.J. Valen |
Ohh... Cha-Ching! This one is from a newbie, only has one review, AND it's just a beginning!!! It's like a 'Buy One Get Two Free' deal.
I rather like this... it's different, somehow, from most things I've read...
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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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From JACE  : Fabulous advice, Miss Stephanie. My suggestion to all the new folks (and old alike), don't wait until you think you need to organize--do it as you go. It's be a lot easier when you have fewer items. And you probably 'know' where you're headed ... at least to some extent.
Jace
 Where were hiding that gem of advice when I started expanding my port beyond five items, Mr. Jace?  I can't even tell you how many times I've re-organized my portfolio! There are pages and pages of notebook paper covered with ideas of how to do it so I'd never have to do it again. Guess what... I need to do it again! Thank you for your kindness about the newsletter. I felt like a bit of a hypocrite writing that newsletter with the mess that's gathered in my port! 
From Catherine Hall : This newsletter hit the problem on the head. I keep some of my items together using the sorting system but I never tried using folders before. Now I intend to. Just got to look at your recommended portfolios first. Thanks for the advice.
Thank you so much for your kind words! It's always nice to hear that my ramblings may have helped someone. Not to mention that it makes me wonder why I don't listen to myself!
From Big Mike 2humble2bragbut... : "Portfolio Ornagzitoin" Was this a joke?
Yeah... I'm a little corny sometimes.  Good to know that it was noticed, though!
From mike238  : I am totally happy for this newsletter. :) It made my day fantastic, I love it. You are a great writer.
Awww, Mike... You made me blush! Thank you so much!!!
From BIG BAD WOLF is Merry  and "Things I've made." : Organization can be very important. Folders (if you can use them) can help out with it.
Well said! I love your item --how you have everything in one place. I wonder, though, if you have thought about doing drop-notes for the different item types to maybe make it even better. I speak out of turn a lot. Sorry 'bout that.
From njames51  : Stephanie Grace......I loved your newsletter discussing (and admitting) how messy our ports can be. Even after five years on this site, I STILL have a tough time deciding how and where everything should go. I really enjoyed your humor, and your focus on simplicity. And I totally agree with your introduction regarding this newsletter. I much prefer a newsletter that discusses THE BASICS of WDC. There is so much information I have yet to learn. I will always be a "new" student. Thanks for a fun newsletter!
Thank you, Sweetie!! My port always just feels... cluttered. I can't seem to find a way of organizing it that keeps me happy (and when I settled, WdC went and changed how ports are viewed.... Go figure. LOL). Me? Humorous? Usually people just think I'm a 'smart alec'. Simplicity, though I can agree with. I love making things simple. Even if it means me taking a half an hour to plan it out, I like having a plan so that everything is nice and simple. I don't like headaches --and that includes the figurative ones! That could be why I like the 'basics'. Even after seven years, I still find myself learning or re-learning things all around WdC. It's just one more endearing quality of our beloved internet home. Thank YOU for taking the time to read the newsletter and to comment! It's always nice to know that my words aren't just making people roll their eyes. |
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Noticing Newbies: August 31, 2011 Issue [#4590]
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