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We don’t have a lot of rules.  We use common sense (that isn’t really very common).  Mainly, respect the writer. 

  1. Critique the WRITING, not the WRITER.  Work toward improving the wriing, not just marking things “wrong” with it.  Look for what WORKS and WHY.  There are several websites devoted to how to critique and be critiquied.  I highly recommend them.
  2. And the “I’m holier than thou” law is in effect at all times.  We have writers brand new out of the box, with strong aspirations but not a letter put on paper, yet.  We have multi-published writers, sometimes other published authors, agents, editors as special guests.  We have members who have penned a few small pubs, still working on those big ones close to their hearts.  The “holier than thou” law means no one is holier than any other human on this planet.  We all learned the same way — (mostly the same way) — to scoot, to crawl, to climb, to walk, to run, to drive, …. and what we learned is in no way more important than how anyone else learned.  The important thing is that we learned.  We all have differing experiences, knowledge, intellect, creativity.  Here, we celebrate that hodgepodge of what makes us humans. 
  3. So, be kind.  Have your say at crit, then let others crit.  Don’t dominate a crit, no matter how important the knowledge or how smart you may be.  Everyone gets a say.  The author being critted will decide who’s comments have most merit for his/her work.
  4. Don’t get that “flash in the pan” syndrome.  Say, you get one book, short story, poem, art, etc. published.  Congratulations! 

Now, go make more.  And when you get to crit group, we’ll applaud you, but still, you’re just one of us, a writer honing his/her craft, over and over again.  Getting published, I don’t care who you are, Elmore Leonard or the Great Harlan Ellison, won’t get you put on a pedastal at our group.  Hogging group time because suddenly you’re the Robert Silverberg of Science Fiction won’t endear you to the group, nor will it allow you to remain a member.  Disruptive and rude members will be asked to leave.

Not a lot, mostly common sense :) .  Come join us!

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