  Noticing Newbies
This week: FAQ: Back to the Beginning Edited by: eyestar~*  
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 Hey New WDC authors! I am thrilled to have the chance to welcome you as a guest editor this week! 
Thinking back to my first forray into this strange land, with trembling feet and nervous tummy launching my first poem in public, I have to smile! What I thought was so confusing has now become easy! I learned a lot by the seat of my pants--as things popped up....and then had great mentors in group I joined!
Now as A moderator and one of the leaders of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group" I get lots of questions from new folks, so my focus today will be on Frequently Asked Questions! You may already know a whole lot especially as we have the wonderful WRITING 101 document, filled with just about everything you need to know! When I joined, this extensive tool was still in the making! I am still learning myself as The StoryMaster  keeps us on the leading edge as we evolve. Still, it can be overwhelming all at once, so let's see If I can touch on some aspect that you may need or wonder about.
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 What on earth is bitem? (That was one of my first questions as I am not Techy!)
That is the lingo of linking items when you want to share what you have done! It makes it easy for folks to click on your story to get there. Magical. {item:power} gets you "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group" . Once you know how, it is easy. 
And if you go to the left side bar Click on Writing.Com Tools! Under ML Help and Emoticons you will find all kinds of quick cheats as to how to link things in case you forget! I use it a lot for items I do not link often like newsletters! 
"How to Post in A Forum" you might find useful at some point! 
 What are gps?
I recall getting Gift Points for reviews I did as a beginner and thought fairies and angels behind the scenes were sending gifts. I did not clue in at first,  Actually gift points are the money system of our community. The kind creators of WDC offer "incentive points" for reviewing if your reviews are 250 characters (letters) long.
Members save them for purchasing upgrade accounts, or gifting folks who review them, or buy Ribbons or Merit badges as gifts for fellow authors. You can also participate in fund raisers that groups do to raise gps for social activities here. You can win them in contests, raffles or when you review for a group as well.
How do I get my items noticed?
You will be glad to know how to link for this task!
Now you can link an item to the "The Shameless "Plug" Page" , or the Newsfeed and notebook,
or to a chat forum in a contest or even in an email asking for help.
 Another key way is to get active and read and review others.
Joining a group is also a way to connect with a smaller section of WDC.
Check under the Side Bar Tab: BROWSE by Type to find groups.
Another editor has this piece of wisdom: "Noticing Newbies Newsletter (September 28, 2016)" . 
 What are sigs and banners?
This is not perhaps the first query for newbies until you join a group or want to create an activity. But it has come to me so... I will share!
Sigs are signatures or pictures with text that are used to decorate reviews, contests, and emails. They can be personal or associated with a specific group. Before the days of affiliation using a signature with your group name was a way to identify for the purposes of crediting. It is still a popular practice to show your flair and association with a group.
You can also use them to id yourself in emails and for fun! Groups have generic ones for their members and there are shops where you can purchase them. Banners are pictures used for headers in contests and activities. To link one is simple too. {image:1234567}
Check out our reference: https://www.writing.com/main/books/entry_id/703692
 What is that little hand beside the envelope in our handle for?
If you click on it, it makes the item a FAVOURITE of yours and will be listed for easy reference on your own FAVOURTIE list! If you click it twice, you are now a FAN of that item! It is a convenient way to find it again without having to run around and recall where you saw it before.
To find your FAVOURITES, you go to the Sidebar and click MY ACCOUNT. Also, the right hand side bar will let you know when an item changes... eg. a group forum may have a new entry so it will show up on top.
Click the little envelope and it will automatically open an email to the person.
"Invalid Item" has insightful detail when you have time.
 A not asked question but something that I do mention to new members getting to know the ropes!
When you want to reference a person in an email, newsfeed etc, you do need to use the username---the name given when you scroll over the suitcase of an author. Sometimes we use the handle name and it does not have an easy way to access the person.
For example, MINE: username:1starsong handle:eyestar To link an author: {user:1starsong} or {suser:1starsong} eyestar~* There are many variations you can find in the ML help Document on the side bar too.
Let's stop there even though there is tons more to share. NO sense being more overwhelmed especially as some of the queries may not even have entered your mind yet.
Best tips: read bit by bit "Writing.Com 101" and
https://www.writing.com/main/books/action/view/entry_id/703794
and Ask questions of other members. We are all here to help you feel comfortable and find a niche so you can get the most out of WDC offerings.
Meantime, write on and get your flair out there with a bioblock, story, poem and chat on the Newsfeed!
You are in for marvelous adventures.... be pro active and have fun! 
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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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Noticing Newbies: June 28, 2017 Issue [#8359]
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