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General info:
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Critiquing Lists:
Discussion Lists:
The IWW Blog
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Frequently Asked Questions Quick reference index:
Q: This site looks too good to be true. Why don't you charge for it? A: We believe writers should be able to have their works critiqued, regardless of their ability to pay. We understand because our staff of volunteers are themselves writers, some of whom are already published, and others of whom wish to be. We're thankful to Penn State University for donating their computer and Listserv program as a public service. Instead of charging, we ask member's support in keeping this community of writers a trouble-free and effective place to learn.
Q: How do you stop disruptive people?
A:
All lists are monitored. Anytime a disruptive post appears, we will
contact the sender privately.
The harsher responses are reserved for the more serious offenses. Banishment is for the incorrigible. Sometimes, we use the Review option in which the member's posts come directly to the administrators first. Rarely, when there's a flood of inappropriate responses, we'll contact the list with an ADMIN: post. Otherwise, we prefer to work behind the scenes. See Rules for details.
Q: What are the criteria for joining the workshop? A: The first criterion is participation. You do not have to be published (most of the current members are not) but you should have some works in progress and be prepared to submit them for critique. You do not have to be an English major, but you do have to be serious about writing. Effective participation in the writing workshop requires:
Q: Why do I have to participate to remain a member? A: Because we don't want you to waste either your time or ours. You're here to get feedback and learn. That takes participation. We're committed to helping you improve as writers. We expect you to do your part. The Internet Writing Workshop is an educational organization. Participation means posting submissions, critiques, and taking part in discussions. It does not mean:
Reading solely for pleasure would make us look like a publisher. We
want works critiqued on our lists to be seen as not-yet published.
Q: I have a lot of obligations. What is considered to be a sufficient level of participation? A: See Participation for details. Half an hour a week is not hard. The greater problem is that you may want to do more than you have time for. That's how it is with worthwhile vocations/avocations. They draw you in, and then you have to decide. One thing you can look forward to is sharing your writing problems with sympathetic members on our discussion lists who know just what you're talking about.
If you find yourself overloaded, take a break, sign off from the
Workshop, and return another time. We won't mind.
Q: How do I copyright my material?
Under international law, all material is copyrighted as soon as it is written.
The copyright remains with the author till it expires (usually after
the author expires).
Q: If my writing is published, who can I brag to? Congratulations in advance. On our Writing list, you can announce "Yahoos"
(sales or other successes). We love to see them.
Also, check out our Showcase of
successful writers.
Q. I have no idea how to market my writing. Can you help? Our membership has all levels of experience, and marketing is a common
topic of discussion. You'll probably get more ideas than you know what to do
with.
Q. I edit/publish a magazine/e-zine. Can I ask people to submit to my publication? We don't allow soliciting in the body of emails, but we do allow
you to use up
to three lines on your email below your signature for limited advertising. You
can give only your name, the publication's name, your position in the publication, and a
URL. (No more than
that, however.)
Q: I really like that story/poem/article I critiqued. Can I show it to a friend?
A: Not without the express permission of the author. Not ever. Absolutely
not. If you do and we find out, we will kick you off the list. The author might
sue you for copyright infringement. So, don't even think about it.
Q: How do I submit my work to the list?
A: See
How the IWW Works. It talks about critiquing, submitting, and use of
discussion lists. It also talks about the "OFFER:" method of getting
critiques outside the mainstream of the critiquing lists you belong to.
A: By definition, all works posted here are "in progress." Writing, like any creative activity, starts with a fog of uncertainty from which your work will be sculpted. When you finish your first draft, you may have an almost overwhelming desire to know whether it's any good or not. You may, but in general, that's not the best time to submit it. That's the time to give it a breather and come back later when you can see it more objectively. I don't know how many times I've waited to reread something I've written, and then said to myself, "How could I have written this crap?" Maybe you won't feel the same, but it's a good idea to polish the work a little before submitting it to the list.
The first reason to wait until your work is polished is to take
pride in a job, to submit the best you know how to do, and the second
is to not wear out the list members' time by submitting one revision
after another.
Q: How do I get my story from my word-processor into my mailer? A: Select (highlight) it in your word processor, copy it (Edit, Copy in the menu at the top of the screen), and then Paste (Edit, Paste) it into your email's sending screen. See How the IWW Works for other details, and consult our Formatting page. If you need help, Contact us.
A: You should critique for the many benefits it brings both you and the people you're critiquing, and because you'll need to do it to stay in the Workshop's critiquing lists. The insecurities you may feel about it will fall away when you experience its importance and depth. Besides helping others, it teaches you how to critique you own work. Very valuable. The benefit of being critiqued by a number of people is that some will see things you've never thought of. Critiques can range from detailed to broad. A broad critique focuses on how well the work conveyed its underlying message and the emotional or intellectual response it created. A detailed critique can delve into specific examples and can include corrections of grammar and spelling. Both kinds are valuable. It is best to write your critique before reading other critiques. That way you'll be giving your own impressions. If you repeat something someone else said, so much the better--the more people make a point, the more seriously the author should take it. Critiquing Etiquette:
Q: What if someone's critique trashes my submission? A: It may not always seem like it, but a critique is a gift. Take what is valuable, disregard the useless parts, and make note of questionable parts for possible future use. You don't have to tell anyone. Maxims in the face of critiques:
Q: How dare you say that about my work? This critique missed the point. What I meant was... A: Receiving critiques is hard. It's not fun to have people point out the problems in our carefully crafted work. And sometimes people do miss the point, and not everyone likes everything. The first thing to remember is that a critique is an opinion to be evaluated in light of your own writing goals and preferences. How you deal with critiques is your business--you can ignore them or not as seems right to you. No one has to know what you accept and what you don't. If you were to publish your work to the world, and some reader missed the point, well, you'd want to know that in advance, wouldn't you? In private communications with your critic, you can ask for clarifications, but never, ever, critique a critique (that is, don't challenge it), either publicly or privately.
In consideration of others on the list, if you wish to discuss a critic's comments, take the discussion to private e-mail, or
to the Writing list if you feel the subject matter is broadly relevant.
Q: What if someone steals my work? Unfortunately, plagiarism can occur anytime writers share their writing with anyone else. Writers have had their works plagiarized by family members, friends, or writing instructors. However, plagiarism is not as common as some people believe. Remember also that a similarity in ideas or plots does not automatically indicate plagiarism — there are only so many ideas and plots around, after all. That said, the IWW offers these safeguards against plagiarism:
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