Creative Writers Online

"There cannot be a common life without a regula. The alternative to rule is not freedom but the unconstitutional (and often unconscious) tyranny of the most selfish member."

--C.S. Lewis, "The Sermon and the Lunch"

Many of us grew up in the post-'60s and '70s with a deep suspicion of rules and authority. For most of us, that suspicion has not mellowed much with the passing decades. However, harsh reality has taught us -- as it taught C. S. Lewis -- that rules are necessary for smooth interactions within any kind of successful community, whether it be a nation, a business, a family, or an internet writing group.

Rules are also necessary to discourage tyranny of another kind. As Lewis points out in another place, "Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive." ("The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment") It is with this in mind that the following rules have been subjected to scrutiny by the full managment board and have been revised as necessary according to debate within the general membership. As ever, discussion of these rules (or guidelines, if you're shy about the "R" word) is welcomed by managment and will be taken into consideration in any future revisions. Please email any comments or questions to the moderators.

•  Minimum Age Limit

You must be at least 16 years old to be a member of this site. Since we obviously cannot card you at the door, we have to take your word on it. However, bear in mind: If you're younger than 16, and the truth comes out -- as it invariably does, eventually -- you've just taken a major blow to your credibility.

• Original Posts

Please look over the available categories in the Forum and post your work in the most appropriate. If you can't find a place for it, that's what "miscellaneous" is for!

Bear in mind that anything posted here is fair game for critiquing. If you don't want a critique, please say so specifically. (Remember, however, that you could be denying yourself a growth experience....)

We don't forbid the posting of mature material. (However, see below concerning offensive material.) Since some readers may want to avoid certain things, please use the following abbreviations in your post title, if applicable, to indicate potentially sensitive content: strong language (L); sexual scenes or dialogue (S); violence (V); religious content (RC); political content (PC).

Part of the creative process is the ability to have fun. While we want to focus on creative writing in the traditional sense, the occasional bit of play is perfectly acceptable.

• Responding to Posts

All members are encouraged to respond to posts. Please keep on the topic as much as possible -- if you find yourself wandering a bit far from the original post, you might want to consider posting a new thread on that topic.

See below for specific rules and guidelines about flaming, spam, critiquing, etc.

• Critiquing

One of the most important services we offer is the chance to receive critiques from fellow writers and readers. However, there are certain things to keep in mind, whether you're giving or receiving a critique.

• Giving critiques

Before you set out to critique someone's work, please read "How to Critique Fiction" and "How to Read and Critique Poetry" in our "How To" section. It's not necessary to stick slavishly to any specific agenda, but these articles will give you sound advice on how to go about providing an intelligent and well-reasoned critique.

Critique in specific terms, not generalities. Don't just say, "I didn't like this". Tell the author why you didn't like it. Conversely, also tell you author why you did like his or her material.

Everyone enjoys having their ego stroked, but unreserved praise -- unless it's truly deserved -- doesn't help a writer grow. Don't be afraid to offer advice, even if you don't think of yourself as "good" enough. Don't forget, you're also a reader, and most writers would give their keyboards to know what the average reader is thinking while reading their material.

A critique is not a review. A review is intended to be helpful to other potential consumers of the material; a critique is intended to be helpful to the author. A critique is also not necessarily criticism, although it may contain elements of that. A critic tends to write with his or her own ego as much as anything else, looking for clever ways to tear apart the author's work. While it's no sin to be clever, try to keep in mind the main purpose of your critique: to help the author improve his or her craft.

• Receiving critiques

Understand yourself. That is, be aware of your own feelings toward your own work. Many writers feel about their material the way a mother feels about her child, and have the same fierce protectiveness toward it. Remember that the majority of critiques of your work are not personal attacks. Even those couched in strong terms are usually meant to help you, not hurt you.

Be aware, also, that in the "real world" editors, agents, publishers, and the general public will often be more merciless than anything you'll get here. It's up to you to develop a hide thick enough to withstand the arrows, while keeping a mind open enough to allow in legitimate criticism.

• Flaming
  • This means personal attacks on another member of the community.  Arguments will erupt; that's part of being human.  But when arguing, address ideas, not personalities.  Flaming is considered a deletable offense (see below).
• Spam
  • This is defined as posting messages on the boards for the express purpose of soliciting sales or memberships at personal websites.  Spamming is also a deletable offense (again, see below). You may, however, post a link in the appropriate "Links" section.
• Links
  • This is something of a gray area
    • Links that can be interpretted as spam should not be posted at all.
    • You might occasionally find a web site you think could be useful or interesting to the membership.  This kind of link is generally acceptable in a thread; however, since the line between this and spam is often vague, it should be used sparingly.  Besides, since an otherwise valuable link could be lost in that huge ball of threads, it's a better idea to post it in one of the "Links" sections, then direct others to that section.
    • Internal links - links to other pages or posts within Creative Writers - are perfectly acceptable.
    • Links to personal web sites should be posted in "Members' Sites". (See also "Spam", above).

NOTE: Members are welcome to delete their own messages or replies as they feel the need. The following pertains only to those messages or replies deleted by the moderators.

If there's anything that causes controversy, it's the practice of deleting posts.  We try to use this only as a last resort, but sometimes it's necessary.  There are four situations in which deletion is or may be necessary:

• Spamming.  (See above)
• Flaming.  (See above)
• Extremely offensive material.  This may include, but is not limitted to, graphic sex or violence, any material that can be defined as pornographic, or political or religious material whose sole purpose is to denigrate another person or belief. (Remember that this kind of material is also in direct violation of our provider, Webs, and could result in the deletion of our community -- something which we will not allow if we can help it!)  Note:  Controversial material is not necessarily offensive.  We do try to allow room for potentially controversial opinions.  That's why we don't take the deletion of this material lightly, and will often not do so unless specific complaints have been registered or unless the material is clearly upsetting to the community at large.
• Behavior disruptive to the smooth interaction of the community.  This includes, but is not limitted to, the posting of inane messages or replies for the express purpose of disrupting the community.
• Plagiarism. This should go without saying. Any material you post under your own name should be your own. If you quote from someone else, it must be attributed to the original author. If you post a translation of someone else's material, it must be identified as a translation and the original attributed to the original author. Plagiarized material will be deleted. The person who posted the plagiarized material may have his or her membership terminated (see below), and could be subject to further legal action.

If deleting posts is controversial, terminating memberships and banishment are downright explosive. For the most part, these are "last resort" options. Again, management has pledged to use these options only when absolutely necessary.

• Termination of Membership

 This option is used primarily (albeit not exclusively; for example, see "Plagiarism", above) for members who clearly have joined for the sole purpose of spamming the boards.

• Banning

 Banning is used almost exclusively for those whose sole purpose is to disrupt the community.

NOTE:  Obviously, the guidelines for deletions, terminations, and banishment are loose. Each case will be considered separately on its own merits. We tend to be rather conservative in our use of these tools, often leaving potentially disturbing or disruptive messages alone and allowing members to work out their differences themselves. But don't push us!