  Short Stories
This week: Spirit Is a Fragile Thing Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week. |
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"If you let people break your spirit and detour you from your path, then you have not been true to yourself or those you're here to touch--those who believe in you." ~ Allison DuBois
I will celebrate my sixth WDC birthday on April 11 of this year. I can't even begin to tell you how this site and its members have blessed my life. Not only has my writing improved 1,000-fold since becoming a member, I have made friends with people from all over the globe--people of every race, socioeconomic status, faith, generation, and political ideology. We are a community drawn together by our shared love of writing, and our like-mindedness gives us a sense of security and makes us feel safe ... most of the time.
Five years ago I posted an essay titled "A Little Perspective On Aging," a piece I'd written two years earlier when I was thirty-seven. I was proud of it, and I wondered what others would think.
Within days of uploading the piece I received a scathing email from an older woman who'd read it. She said that thirty-seven-year-old women like myself don't know anything about what "aging" means--that I have no idea what it's like to be attracted to and admire men in their thirties only to have them reject you because you're "old."
I was taken aback. My feelings were hurt. I felt a little angry and very discouraged. I didn't want to write anymore, at least not right away, and it took me a while to realize something: so what! So what if someone I will never meet didn't like my essay. Who cares? Over time I came to recognize that not everyone will like what I write, but their disapproval shouldn't keep me from writing. The majority of people who have read and reviewed my work were exceptionally supportive, helpful, and kind, but there's always someone who simply enjoys raking people over the coals. I started writing long before I joined WDC, but the negative reviews I've received since becoming a member have certainly helped me develop a thick(er) skin--a necessity if you're going to be successful. They've also made me a better writer.
When/if you receive a negative review, put it in perspective and take the really nasty ones with a shaker of salt. If you have fifteen people give your work a four-star rating accompanied by positive reviews and one person who gives it one star and a negative review, go with the majority. If the majority says to change something, you should probably at least consider changing it. And if someone sends you something particularly hurtful, I recommend not responding in kind. You can either not respond at all or send a simple, "Thank you for taking the time to read and review my work" email (my response of choice when faced with such things).
We have a responsibility to treat other members as we would have them treat us: with decency and respect. I recently received an email from a fellow member which said, "I recieved a rather discouraging review [of my novel] which kind of induced me to put it on the shelf for awhile. Unfortunately there has been no incentive to take it down again and really get back to work on it." We can review someone else's work and make suggestions without crushing their spirit (I've personally read some of this member's writing, and he is quite good). Be kind. Be considerate. Before you hit that send button, re-read the review as if someone had sent it to you. Does it encourage and build up, or does it discourage and tear down? Does it offer suggestions about how to make the piece better, or is it a nonproductive, negative rant? Is it a review you yourself would like to receive? Always begin and end your review on a positive note, and refer to "Comment-In-A-Box" [E] and "Guidelines To Great Reviewing" if you need help deciding how to rate/review something. They are the only guidelines I use when critiquing someone else's work, and I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with them in their entirety if you haven't already.
By encouraging, supporting, and nurturing each other, we will all become the best writers we can possibly be.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for six wonderful years.
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I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. Please remember to do the authors the courtesy of reviewing the ones you read. Thank you, and have a great week!
| |  | Heart Chimes (E)
Listen to it, Helen. When two hearts touch each other, they make beautiful music
#856302 by Rasputin  |
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#210791 by Not Available. |
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#1262327 by Not Available. |
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#1655336 by Not Available. |
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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!
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The following is in response to "Short Stories Newsletter (March 21, 2012)" which came out last week: therefore, I don't have much feedback to share with you.
Fyn  says, "Shannon, I LOVED this newsletter!!!!" Thank you, fyn! I'm glad you liked it. 
Olivia: it's NaNo-Time
38383   says, "That was a great NL, and a great tip with this Missed Connections site, Shannon! Actually, in my novel "BOUND " , FMC and MMC meet by chance, and it doesn't look as if they would meet again: they're bumping into each other in front of a book store, she leaving a truly hot first impression on him by spilling hot cappuccino all over him!  " Have you seen the movie Serendipity? It's another great example of chance encounters that change your life. Thank you for sharing your story, Olivia! I look forward to reading it.
whimsicalme says, "Very useful newsletter. Thank you for sharing." Thank YOU for reading!
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Short Stories: March 28, 2012 Issue [#4953]
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