Why I Write
When I write, I draw on my experiences as a woman with a painful past, a rapturous wife and mother, a world traveler, and a spiritualist. For me, writing is an art form. Like an artist, the work becomes more than I imagined it would be. When I set out to write a story with a particular idea or character in mind, words I cannot claim as my own flow from a magical and mysterious place through me and onto paper. The work takes on a life of its own; it is living art. The process fascinates me, satiates me, and makes my life more meaningful. Please read my stories! If you would like to offer me feedback on my work, please click here and sign up for a free membership: https://heftynicki.Writing.com I hope to see you there!
Glittery sig
Most Recent TWIST Newsletter ~ 8/10/2011
[The following is the most recent TWIST newsletter, sent to the group on 8/10/2011. To receive TWIST newsletters, contact NickiD89 Author IconMail Icon today!]



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[TWIST! Thoughts of the Day]


Hello TWIST-ers!

If you have begun reviewing other WDC authors, you have been faced with the many choices that present themselves. How many stars do you award when rating a story? Should you use a review tool template to organize your thoughts or improvise your feedback? Do you want to come across as “intellectual” as you discuss the work, or do you use wit and a metaphorical knuckle bump to congratulate the writer on his success? Will the writer know you were the reviewer or will you send the review anonymously? And regardless of all the choices you make, one final option awaits just above the “submit review” button: Will your review be private or public?

Before you make this choice, you should know what the WDC Public Review Page is all about.

Every review you check as “Public” will be viewed on the Public Review Page by all WDC members. It works in the same way as book reviews on sites like Amazon.com or Goodreads.com, which give people who have read a book the opportunity to tell potential readers what they thought of it. Like reviews on Amazon or Goodreads, WDC reviews can intrigue members and entice them into clicking the link and reading the item for themselves.

But unlike Amazon and Goodreads reviews, WDC reviews focus on more than whether or not one recommends a story or poem. WDC reviews are also about writers helping writers to improve. We strive to encourage and support each other, while discussing elements of a story or poem that may become stronger through revisions, edits, or simply by the writer diving deeper into his or her craft. And those comments on specific ways to improve may reach out and affect more people than just the author being reviewed, when the feedback is posted on the public review page.

What it comes down to is this: The Public Review Page is a place for showcasing a fellow author’s work, to praise its strengths and discuss its weaknesses, with the intention of helping the writer – and all WDC writers – improve. So when you are deciding whether to check your review as public, think about these things before making your choice:

*Target* Does your review make others interested enough in the story or poem to click the title link and enjoy it for themselves? (Make it PUBLIC.)

*Target* Does your review include feedback that could be beneficial to another writer who may be facing the same story dilemma, plot or character issues, structuring problems, etc., which you address in the review? (Make it PUBLIC.)

*Target* Does your review come from an honest, supportive, and encouraging place in your writer’s heart? (Make it PUBLIC.)

*Target* Do you link a bunch of auctions or raffles you are involved in at the bottom of your review? (Consider only including one, if you must. Otherwise, make your review PRIVATE. The public review page is not an advertisement board, and fundraising links distract from the feedback you are providing.)

*Target* Do you ask the author for a return review, with or without linking one of your portfolio items? (Send the review PRIVATELY. Remember, the public review page is for showcasing the author’s work, not the reviewer’s.)


And one final reminder: All the public reviews you submit are also archived in your portfolio. Any WDC member can scroll through all your public reviews in one list, by visiting your port and clicking on your “Community” button, and from there clicking on “Public Reviews.”

If you’ve never visited the public review page, you can do so by clicking this link: http://www.writing.com/main/my_feedback/action/rrs or by clicking “Reviews” from your left sidebar.

Understanding the function and (unspoken) etiquette of the Public Review Page will allow you to make the right choice each time you submit a public or private review.



*Right* Every month I promote highlighted contests, activities, groups, forums and fundraisers geared to support teen writers. Please read through them and click the links *Smile*


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[Contests For Teen Writers]

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#1798894 by Not Available.


"This contest has four categories: A sig category, A forum category, A group category, A writing category! You can enter up to 4 times, once in each category. The contest starts on the 4th of August and ends on the 5th of September." ~ Shaye Author IconMail Icon – Click the link for full contest details!


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#1796849 by Not Available.


"This project will run for 30 days. Your job is to form a group with other Teen Ink members to complete a project by August 30th, which you will then have judged by an impartial judge." ~ rmm55 – NOTE: You must be a TEEN INK group member to compete. Info on joining that group is found below!


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[Forums For Teen Writers]

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#1784021 by Not Available.


“Determined Dyslexic Society, Coming together to help each other become better writers. I hereby pledge that I am a teen of WDC and I either am dyslexic or I simply wish to support teens with dyslexia any way I can… ” ~ ember_rain


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“The purpose of the 'Help Desk' is to guide you to the right area of Writing.Com. If you have any questions--feel free to post them in the forum." ~ Lornda Author IconMail Icon


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#1594589 by Not Available.


“Welcome! In this forum you'll be able to see, and learn, how to use the different links that Writing.Com uses." ~ 🦄🏳️‍🌈Sapph Author IconMail Icon


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[Group For Teen Writers]


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#1783166 by Not Available.


“As a teenager myself, I have to admit I am quite eager to meet fellow authors. At my school, sports and popularity is prized, not the true gift of writing. For writing is a gift, to be used by an author to reflect their imagination and experience.
Here everyone will have the opportunity to read, review, and get reviewed by other teenagers. ~ rmm55


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“Our name is our aim! I.N.K.E.D. is an acronym for Inspiring Newcomers through Kind and Encouraging Deeds, but it also stands for community spirit. We want to inspire newcomers. Having arrived on this page, we’ll try and give you some idea how we go about doing just that.” Riot Author Icon *Smile*


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[Activities/Fundraisers]


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#1794575 by Not Available.


"We are selling all we can so please look around." ~wolf knight Author IconMail Icon


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"We hope to raise lots of gps for many groups and activities through this! .... Donations can be sent in up until the August 15th. Bidding begins on the August 16th and ends on 3rd September.*Smile*


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[TWIST! Announcements!]

Feel free to visit our Group Forum!! This is the place you can go to meet other TWIST! members and to talk about what you are doing to maximize your WDC experience. Please stop by and introduce yourself today!

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Have something for the TWIST emails? Want to meet other TWISTers? Post a message today!
#1619412 by NickiD89 Author IconMail Icon



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Next month WDC will celebrate its BIRTHDAY! There will be tons of activities to enjoy around the site. I’ll be sure to get our next newsletter out by the third of September so you won’t miss a thing!


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If you have an item you would like promoted in an upcoming TWIST! email, please fill out this survey *Smile*

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Have a contest, activity, group or fundraiser you want promoted? Fill in survey today!
#1619418 by NickiD89 Author IconMail Icon



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Thank you so much for your attention! If you have any suggestions for how I can improve these monthly newsletters, let me know. You can read past newsletters here: "Archive of TWIST Newsletters" Open in new Window. The next email will go out in about four week’s time. Until then, I hope you check out the activities listed here! See you next time!!


Keep *Smile*ing!
~Nicki~











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