I post this out of frustration and maybe a newbie will gain some insight from it that will help them.
I can’t call it a newbie circle of death because it is much less dramatic than that. I haven’t lost any money so in that respect I can say I am lucky. I have been struggling for a couple months now since my start in online poker. I put down a $50 deposit and at this point I am up $25 or so. But it has been a continual roller coaster ride the whole time. There have been times when I steadily made money and then I have an awesome day and gain 3 buy-ins. At that point I am thinking “Man!! I got this. I can do this!”. Only to struggle the next day and lose a buyin or two or three. Which continues until the next time I do something right and once again I have an awesome day. “Boom, I got this, I can do this, all that before was just working out my game.” At which point the next day I suck again and lose money. After a couple months of this I am really starting to think maybe I just don’t have what it takes….and that may be true…but I am not willing to give up yet. For one, I really like playing. Besides, I have the time. I usually play about 4 hrs a night and poker can be as thrilling as Everquest or WoW or any of those other games I would spend time on instead. Man, the feeling when you take down a big pot…now that feels good. Anyway, I am rambling.

Playing style. Like most newbies I have experiemented with all types of play. Wild maniac. Loose. Tight. There have been times when I made bundles playing loose and thowing money around. But when I tried to repeat that the next few sessions I’d lose my shirt. So I’d try tight…which worked and I’d say “is that all it takes?” Then the next day I’d try it and found that nobody would pay off when I made a hand..so I’d win nothing. So the next day I would try and loosen up to help my table image and I’d lose again. On and on, round we go, where we stop…. You get the idea.

I think I have finally come to the conclusion that the ONLY way to make consistent money is to play tight. If the table isn’t paying me off, maybe I’ll move tables or just accept it but I am not going to deviate my play again. It just isn’t worth it. (Amazing that I couldn’t just take that advice from this site huh? Yeah, well, no comment.) So my plan for tonight is to two table and play tight. That’s just got to be the best way in the long run. Besides, it’s so much less effort when you’re playing a hand and your kicker is like a T,J,Q, or K and you don’t have to put so much effort into worrying….is my kicker good, because you know it likely is. (I am rambling again) I’ll report back if this works but after all the experience I have sucking…it has just got to be.

Short version:
If you’re a newb, play tight and don’t let boredom convince you to do otherwise. It just isn’t worth it.