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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/8019-Writing-at-Christmas.html
Noticing Newbies: December 07, 2016 Issue [#8019]

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Noticing Newbies


 This week: Writing at Christmas.
  Edited by: ~ Santa Sisco ~ Author IconMail Icon
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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

Hello, everyone. I am ~ Santa Sisco ~ Author IconMail Icon, one of the four permanent editors of the Noticing Newbies newsletter.

My aim is to ensure you have a smooth transition into the site. I still remember my first day here. "Bitem?" Do I have to be a computer programmer to put my writing on here? *Laugh* Forty-eight hours later, I realized it was a case of easy when you know how!. My biggest mistake when I joined was that I didn't take the time to read the "Writing.Com 101Open in new Window.. I was excited and wanted to do everything the same day. Sound familiar? *Smile*
You will see my contributions every four weeks, and I hope they help you with using this great site.

My fellow permanent editors are Brooke Author IconMail Icon, ember_rain, and Sara♥Jean Author IconMail Icon.


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Letter from the editor

As this will be my last newsletter for 2016, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Things to write and do this Christmas.

Have you managed to find and buy all the Christmas presents you need this year? Have you ever considered giving a very special gift to your family and friends? Yes, I am talking about your unique talent with words; your writing! A few years ago, I was in the terrible situation of having too little money to buy gifts for my family and friends. I tried to get a loan, but that was a waste of time. I looked in all the cheap stores and couldn’t find anything within my budget to cover six presents.
Then I found some elegant A4 picture frames with glass fronts. I purchased six of them, and that is when I decided to write bespoke poems as their presents. It took a while to get the writing done and a lot of work experimenting with different formats before I was happy to print them and put them into the frames. I was nervous when I gave them out, but shouldn’t have been. Five of the six people said it was the best present I had ever given them, and all six display the poems in their living rooms.
Even if you don’t need to get any more presents, consider doing something similar for someone special this Christmas. *Smile*

Something I love doing at Christmas is people watching. I have more notes written about people's mannerisms over the holidays than at any other time. Perhaps it is the overindulgence with food and drink or just the relaxed atmosphere, but I usually note down something worth giving one of my characters to make them more believable. Watch out for body movements too. Hand gestures and leg movements may go unnoticed because we know the people and have become blind to their automatic actions. Watch and see if you can spot anything you’ve overlooked, possibly for years.

Whatever you do over the holidays, be safe and enjoy the company of loved ones.


Editor's Picks

This week I have chosen a selection from read a newbie.

Community > Read a Newbie

Selections:

 Children Raising Children Open in new Window. (E)
A piece of text I wrote about my parents having me as teenagers
#2104670 by Gabriel M Author IconMail Icon


 Dancing Open in new Window. (E)
A free-form poem
#2104596 by Raen Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2104541 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2104533 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2104516 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2104444 by Not Available.


 I wish...... Open in new Window. (E)
This is something that got inspired for a recent story I heard
#2104421 by A. I. Ambrose Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2104388 by Not Available.

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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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Ask & Answer

From "Noticing Newbies Newsletter (November 9, 2016)Open in new Window. zoomsqrd Author IconMail Icon said:
Hi! I agree that it is better to show and not tell. However, I am curious when writing a short story how much showing should you do? Should you tell more than show to keep it in the short story format? I am just curious. Thank you. Z

Thank you for your question. I would say it all depends on the length of the story. That would also determine the amount of showing you do. You could mention a car, or a silver car, or a luxurious silver BMW with a jet black leather interior. Once you have written your story, you could easily decide that a silver BMW is a good enough description for the reader and fits best with the scene you wrote.
My rule is that it is always easier to trim when editing, than to add content. There are thousands of short stories on WDC, and you can always judge what would work for you once you read a few and specifically look at the show used. Hope that helps.


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