  Noticing Newbies
This week: Looking For Help in All the Right Places Edited by: JACE  
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Hi, I'm JACE .
Welcome to this issue of the Noticing Newbies newsletter. Join me as I take you into some nooks and crannies of Writing.Com that you may not have found time to check out yet.
Don't forget to toss me a note about what you liked or didn't like in my column, or about a topic you'd like to see discussed. This newsletter is about and for you. And for you seasoned members, I hope you'll find something you can take from my ramblings. 
Your Noticing Newbies Newsletter full-time Editors:
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Looking For Help in All the Right Places
(Part 2 of Writing the 15-Minute Review will be posted in my next Noticing Newbies issue. In the meantime I'd like to comment on Help.)
So you're new to Writing.Com. It's been said before, but it bears repeating--WDC is a very complex site, but you will get used to this place. Realize that familarity will not happen overnight.
Consider the last time you moved to a new community. You didn't know where your kids' school was located; or the best mechanic; or even the grocery store. You needed to look on a city map (like using "Writing.Com 101" ), or you had to just drive around town to familiarize yourself with the surroundings (like picking a link in the Navigation menu located under your personal User icons in the left column and exploring it).
You've probably discovered the many official Help or Discussion forums, including:
"Writing.Com General Discussion" by Writing.Com Support 
"Noticing Newbies" by The StoryMistress 
"Technical Support Forum" by Writing.Com Support
"Non-Technical Support Forum" by Writing.Com Support
Perhaps you've found some of the member-led advice and assistance forums:
"Newbie Welcome Wagon" by River 
"Newbie Help & Support Writer's Hideaway" by FrosTIGGY the Snowman 
"Invalid Item" by A Guest Visitor
"Let's help each other grow!-Forum-Closed" by ~*Arpita*~ 
Please ... PLEASE, don't be afraid to ask for help. The chances are your issue is not new--someone, somewhere has experienced the same need during his or her journey across WDC. It's been answered in one of those forums above. But you don't have to search through literally thousands of posts to find that answer. Just ask, and one of the many folks who monitor these forums will help. It may even be another Newbie who just went through that particular issue. I remember how great I felt when I helped another member just weeks after I joined. Talk about a confidence booster.
Give youself some time to get acclimated to the site. Poke your nose into the various nooks and crannies. Check out something new each day you get online, even if it's only for a few minutes. Set up one item in your Port just for practicing the WritingML links. I believe you'll be surprised at how fast you'll learn your way around.
And don't be afraid to speak up, whether to ask for help or to help another. We're all in this together, and the strength of Writing.Com lies in our banding together to help each other. I look forward to seeing your wit and wisdom in the forum pages. 
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And from the mailbox about my last Noticing Newbies newsletter, "The 15-Minute Review: Part 1" .
From CREEK : Thank you very much for your advice. I am not a newbie nor a pro. I like giving reviews. I found your article helpful and thank you very much.
You're welcome.
From eyestar~* : This is an awesome and helpful topic and well written--great advice. I appreciate you adding hints for folks who are not upgraded too. 
Thanks for your encouragement, my friend.
From Cerulean Raven : When I review, I simply jot down any error in grammar or awkward phrasing that jumps out at me as I read. I do this on the first read because personally, I find it hard to move past bad grammar until I have taken steps to correct it. Such is the path of a grammar enthusiast. Then I can focus on the content. I also make sure to mention anything that confused me or needs more elaboration in a story. The most rewarding part of reviewing is knowing that you have provided feedback for someone that needed and wanted it badly enough to come to WdC.
Sounds like a good plan. You're right--sometimes it is hard to get past bad grammar. 
From troy ulysses davis : Very informative.
Thanks, Troy.
From platinumbwords: "Writing a review is a separate and distinct entity." For me, reading something and reviewing it are distinctly entwined. As I read, I stop myself when I notice an area I feel can be improved, or an area/group of lines that is especially well-written or well-executed. I then write in the review portion my ideas, feelings, and advice for the writer before I return to the story. This is similar to how works and writing are reviewed in Writing Centers, where I worked one year in college. I just wanted to provide a description of my own reviewing experience, to explain a different way of reviewing to post-reading considerations :)
Of course, one has to do what works best. I usually do much the same thing as you by stopping when I catch something. The problem is that always adds time to my reading the item and writing the review--time I was trying to reduce.
From jim1184  : Hi, Jace. This is a great news letter and topic. I agree, WDC is the best! But you can be quickly captured by the system.Good Reviewing is time.I am selfish with my time. But I do have a rule: If I read it. I review it. Well (99%) Thank you for the Excellent tips.I do save some time by sticking to my strengths and avoiding my weaknesses. Spelling and Grammar. I leave that to the experts. They have to be glaring errors for me to comment on them. I stick to story, characters and does it grab me? Does it make me want more? Jim
I'm sure you know, Jim, one can't be an expert on ALL things reviewing. Stick to your strengths and I have no doubt that author will appreciate your comments. One person's opinion and all that....
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Noticing Newbies: June 27, 2012 Issue [#5119]
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