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Noticing Newbies: November 27, 2012 Issue [#5388]

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Noticing Newbies


 This week: Edit Your Way to Success
  Edited by: Tornado Dodger Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

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

About This Newsletter


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 101Open in new Window. and/or "Noticing NewbiesOpen in new Window..

Meet The Noticing Newbies Full-Time Newsletter Editors

JACE Author Icon ~ Tornado Dodger Author Icon ~ Stephanie Grace Author Icon ~ Sara♥Jean Author Icon


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Letter from the editor


"So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads." ― Dr. Seuss


Edit Your Way to Success

Good (publishable) writing takes more than just knowing where to place the semi-colon and when to write out a number rather than using a numeral in a sentence. Don't get me wrong, grammar and punctuation are important and you should know your way around. Most of my favorite authors know the rules, but they also know when to break them. They have a particular voice and engage the reader so that we have almost no choice but to keep reading.

Scenes are one place I see writers set themselves apart from the crowd. One of the most difficult jobs a writer has is to decide how to translate the story to the reader. If your goal is to have the reader feel as though they are a witness to the action, create a scene. A scene puts the reader into the middle of the story for a certain amount of time which can be very effective. If you're just trying to provide some information to set the reader up for the next point of action or scene, and/or share information, then a narrative summary might be more appropriate.

That said, remember, a properly written scene will bring your work to life.

A scene should contain:

Setting -
Your readers need enough info to visualize the scene, but not so much info that they're inundated with useless details that has no impact on the story,


News -
Make your dialogue useful. Is a character letting a secret slip? Is there an argument happening that will lead to something important being revealed?


Action -
Show us what's happening. If your scene takes place at the office, there must be a reason. Is your character stealing files? Do they stumble across something that propels the story?


Conflict -
No matter what you're writing, mystery, romance or thriller - effective conflict is what keeps your reader guessing.


Setup -
What is the purpose of the scene? How does it further the story? If it doesn't, then it's probably not important enough to be a scene in the first place.



Remember success is in your hands, not the publisher. Rejection may be inevitable, but failure is not.

Write and Review on! ~ Brooke

*Down*Looking to get the most out of your editing time? The book below may be helpful.


[Related Links] *Thumbsup*
This month's links are to some writing challenges. Practice helps improve your writing.

"Twisted Tales Contest"  Open in new Window. [13+] by Arakun the twisted raccoon Author Icon
A monthly contest for stories with a twist. Get 500 GPs for entering! Nov round open!
"Hawk's Vocabulary Extravaganza"  Open in new Window. [E] by BScholl Author Icon
A test of skills on the use of vocabulary. (2 time Editor pick) (Quill honorable mention)
"Rising to The Challenge Contest 2012"  Open in new Window. [E] by Lilli 🧿 ☕ Author Icon
Poetry contest for newbies! Come spread your poetic wings!
"Invalid Item"  Open in new Window. [] by A Guest Visitor
Need an upgrade? Win one here! New monthly short story contest.


Editor's Picks


This month, I'm featuring work from authors that sent in feedback to my last newsletter and also some that have shown they are working hard on their stories. Also, all of my featured authors have filled out either their bio block or biography page. *Smile*

 Under the Same Umbrella Open in new Window. [ASR]
Rain may come but love endures
by SpidyDayne Author Icon

Excerpt:
I look up then and tried to find
Words might fit to say to you
Of love and passion and of truth
To ease the pain we're going through..

The gray clouds walking its way above
but our tears raining the earth..
How could we stand to fight for love..
When we forgotten all its worth..

~*Star*~

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Excerpt:
I'm writing to a sailor out in the ocean everyday. I don't know if your name is John, but to me I think it would be rude to call you a 'sailor.' When you get this John please read all the way through it, then contact me in anyway you can think of.
The month is September 17, 2012. My brother turns twenty-five in two days. He uses to stand up for our country in the Navy. He almost died two years ago. He came back alive, thankfully. By dad who had the same occupation had the same fate but he didn't come back alive.
I wrote this letter so that I would be able to get your permission to sail on your boat around the world for a year, or however long you want my there. My whole goal is to find an island to live on. I want my own secluded island to live on that would only be mine. I would also like to know why my brother, and father fell in love with the ocean so much that they would risk their lives.

~*Star*~

 Daybreak poem Open in new Window. [E]
In this poem I have tried to portray the image of a beautiful dawn that i witnessed.
by pixie Author Icon

Excerpt:
At night while trying to write a poem, I fell asleep,
I woke with a start, so tired still, my notebook was still clear,
rubbing my neck I looked out the window and heard a bird's tweet,
then I stretched and went to the garden to have some fresh air,

looking at the sky my jaw dropped, what a wonderful view!
black and grey, blue and purple mixed in breathtaking way,
on the canvas so huge and vast, with no particular hue,
glittering, shining stars on it now slowly fading away,

~*Star*~

 
Number Seven Open in new Window. [18+]
This is the beginning concept for one book I'm working on. Word Count: 2,531
by JVans Author Icon

Excerpt:
She shifted the truck into park, nudged the door open and saddled out of her seat, her over-sized boots sloshing in the mud with a suction that almost pulled them from her feet. She slid her gloves on and climbed up into the truck bed-wet goulashes squeaking against the polished truck body.

Bending over she sprung the bungee cords free, they flew back with a cracking whack on the far side of the bed. With firm footing she gripped the edge of the tarp and yanked and tugged until it was free. With a toss; the shovel and rake clattered onto the ground. Carefully she leaned over the truck gate, popped the latches. It fell open, bouncing and shaking the truck almost making her lose balance. She stepped back to keep from tumbling forward, her hand clutching the edge.

~*Star*~

 Man of the Cloth Open in new Window. [13+]
You will do what we ask when we ask you to do it. Never forget who you work for, Father.
by Kbennett Author Icon

Excerpt:
Steven Kelly sits on the light gray metal bench in a park in Dallas. The black briefcase sits on the ground to his left, just like he was instructed to do. He is just sitting, enjoying the sights and sounds of the downtown park. Kids running and playing, couples walk hand in hand, a man walking his dog. He's just waiting. Told to be there at eleven am. It's now eleven fourteen, they are never on time. He's not sure who it will be this time, it doesn't really matter to him anymore.
People walking by look at him, smile and say good morning. He smiles back and says the same. Everyone around here sure is nice. He reaches up to scratch his neck and feels the stiff collar around his neck. He forgets sometimes that he is a Priest. Wearing the familiar black suit with white collar. That part is still new to him. He lightly rubs the collar and thinks about why he is here and what he's doing and what he has to do.

~*Star*~

 Chapter 1 - Many Arrivals Open in new Window. [13+]
This is the first (and longest) chapter of my book. A fancy ball soon goes awry . . .
by Hubert L. Mullins Author Icon

Excerpt:
Of all the nights to be late, why did it have to be tonight? There had been many close calls in the past, oh yes, but this time was different. This time it mattered more than ever. Several people were counting on her-some very important and some just wanting to hear her play, but they all shared in wonder where she was at the moment.

Sky cursed again beneath her breath, shaking the snow from her hair. She stared menacingly toward her impish friend Tash, who was smiling like a child who just stole a cookie while mommy wasn't watching.

"I think we may be in trouble," she said, walking around to the backside of the wagon. Four others, three men and one woman emerged from the small coach and joined her. The five began unloading instruments in the blistering cold while Sky stood watching.

"You think we're in trouble?" Her voice cracked in the cold, but the sarcasm was unwavering. "The one night we have to make an impression on Garrin and we arrive twenty minutes late. Trouble isn't the word for it."

~*Star*~

 Kick-Ass Adaptation Review Open in new Window. [18+]
Part of my University work, a film review focusing on the film adaptation process. 2:1
by HazelJane Author Icon

Excerpt:
With a whole lot of lycra, copious amounts of action and the type of language that will make your mother recoil in horror, the film adaptation of Kick-Ass is out to shock us all.
Adapted from Mike Millers 2008 comic-book series with the same name, Kick-Ass is a film not to be missed. Be it the controversial character of 11 year old Mindy (aka Hit Girl), or the memorable one-liners, this film will be the subject of conversation for a very long time - of both shock and admiration.

~*Star*~

 Life as They Know It chapter1 Open in new Window. [E]
A 12 year old boy who decided to defeat life......
by 54 Author Icon

Excerpt:
School had started as the bell had been rung . Students sat in their classes listening and barely nodding at everything they heard.Not one was visible in the grounds playing softball or soccer . The part that may seem strange to every stranger is that this was 21st century and not the mid 70s where students existed as book worms and nothing more.

The discipline of this school surprised parents to the extent of putting their children into the premises and destroying their so called childhood , the childhood that is usually spent in the arms of sand or with the company of friends.

However , in this school childhood meant nothing more than getting ready for your future that may be becoming an engineer or a doctor.Students here did not know the meaning of life as they didn't have time to think about it. The homework was the mountain the were forced to lift on their little shoulders.

~*Star*~

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Excerpt:
"Are there mozzies here?"

"Yes"

"Are they heaps bigger than at home?"

"I don't know"

"Does Uncle Joe like footy?"

"I don't know, Jules"

"Can I play footy when we get there?"

"Probably"

"There's aliens here, Johnny Weatherly told me that"

"We're in Adelaide, Jules. It's not a different bloody planet"

We are in a taxi. Nylon seats...sweaty, itchy thighs. The scent of pine needles invades our nostrils, emanating from the green tree dangling from the rear-view mirror. The driver, hearing my brother's comment, looks back at us with a smile.

"Don't worry, mate, plenty of Vic's like you round 'ere".

~*Star*~

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Excerpt:
"May I sit here?" Alex asked gesturing toward the empty chair at her table.

"Oh, um . . ." She glanced around the room and saw it was standing room only. "Sure, have a seat."

"Are you sure?" he asked as he pulled the chair out.

"You just want a place to sit, right?"

"Yeah," Alex told her. "This place is jammed and I'd like to sit and eat lunch before going back to work."

"Well, go ahead," Caitlin said glancing at him once again before returning to her magazine.

Alex sat down and took out his phone to catch up on some e-mails, but he kept finding himself shooting covert glances over at his tablemate. She was classically beautiful with long hair that fell in waves over her shoulders. She had perfect, porcelain skin and the greenest eyes he had ever seen that were framed with long, dark lashes.

~*Star*~



 
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Ask & Answer


I received some wonderful feedback to my last newsletter [#5341] "T.H.I.N.K. Before You SpeakOpen in new Window. and I'm proud to share it with you.

From readsalot
I agree fullheartedly. I have such a hard time at home dealing with stress and all that it feels like a responsibility I have to face half of the day. I am a teenager and me personally have experienced less bullying now in school but everyone loves me so that might not be a good example. What do I know anyways?


Stress is hard and I'm glad you have such a good support system and you feel loved. I appreciate you writing in and sharing your thoughts. *Smile*

From hopelesslyoptm with item: "Invalid ItemOpen in new Window.
I'm launching a new story writing contest this month and the 3 best stories will win an upgrade. I'd love to have this contest highlighted in your magazine. Thanks! Chris :D


I hope being featured will bring you some participants. Looks like a great contest. *Thumbsup*

From jdstephens Author Icon
Thanks for touching on this topic. I personally like to listen to Youtube vidoes of songs when I write, and I'd say that it's staggering just how many fercosious, nonsensical arguments you can find on any clip that more than half a dozen people have ever seen. The newsletter was a good reminder,to me at least, to always whatch what you say-especially given that, in cyberspace, one's words will outlive them a thousand times over or more.Friends of my great grand-children might someday bump across a venomous comment I've posted somewhere...


You never know *Wink* Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

From pixie Author Icon
I just want to THANK YOU guys for all your efforts and bringing us some very informative and good reads:) Also the newbie work highlighted here is fun to read, we have some real talent over here:)


You're very welcome. Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to write in.

From C.Evil Author Icon
What a great reminder to everyone about being carefull before you speak. I think anyone can make a mistake and you should be carefull. Negative reviews can be awful, but it's always works to ask yourself "Did I find something usefull from the review?". There are times I a have a harsh review, but I can use to help myself as a writer.


Yes, it's always best to sit back and try and find something useful when you ask for someone's opinion, even if it's not what you expect to hear. Thanks for writing in and letting us know how you feel.

From mARi☠StressedAtWork Author Icon
I love this newsletter! *Smile* T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak! *Heart* I've never even considered to use each letter of the word 'think' to really get the point across... I think it's easy to say truthful things, to be helpful when you sympathize with others, to be inspiring when giving advice... but it's hard to say things when even when they're necessary (if you're afraid to hurt people's feelings); and even harder to be TRULY kind (I feel it depends on a each person's definition of kindness...) The featured works here in you newsletter sound very interesting, too! School is too busy right now, but I'll keep this newsletter in my inbox, and hopefully I'll have loads of time to read during winter break. *Bigsmile* Thank you for sharing!! ~mARi~


Thanks for much for this note. It really made me smile. Hope you're having a great week.

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