Wordos Code of Conduct

Wordos Code of Conduct

In practical terms, Wordos interact in three areas:

  • the online and "meat-space" gatherings where we chat and critique each other's work
  • the password-protected website where we post our work to share with other members
  • the email (google groups) list where we post announcements and occasionally have written conversations, and the emails where zoom links are shared.
  • We expect members and potential members to behave in a professional fashion in all those areas, and the following code of conduct covers them all.

Our Mission

  • Our primary goal as a critique group is to help one another toward short story publication: to improve our craft in order to produce publishable stories, and to develop other related skills.
  • To do that we have to be a group of people who trust one another with our work. Building trust requires that certain behaviors are encouraged and others are not tolerated in our spaces.

We Encourage

  • regular reading of genre magazines and other short story outlets, so members are familiar with work editors are currently buying.
  • clear, specific, text-focused feedback about what is working in any given story.
  • clear, specific, text-focused feedback (and questions) aimed at helping fellow members improve the story that exists (not the story you would have written).
  • kind but straightforward and professional critique. There is no need to be cruel to tell a writer who's not read widely that their story would benefit from a less well-worn plot.
  • taking care of one another in a professional manner. Check in. Don't assume people's level of comfort. Don't monopolize the conversation. If there are 12 people and 15 minutes of conversation per meeting, that might mean not talking at all during some meetings so others have a chance to speak. Listen respectfully. Think about what's not being said.
  • professional and civil discourse in the face of any personality issues. We've all worked with colleagues we had issues with; no group of human beings is likely to ever escape that dynamic. Focus on the work, not the person. Always.

Respect each other's time and investment by:

  • posting work that is as finished as we can make it
  • marking pieces containing sensitive topics such as sexually explicit or emotionally challenging scenes (sexual assault, child death, suicide, violence, acts of bigotry, etc) with a trigger warning, currently hidden behind white text after the words CONTENT WARNING at the top of the submitted piece).
  • reading submitted work at least twice if possible, so you can give the author your first impression and then an analysis based on a second read.

We Discourage

  • the use of the word "you" during verbal critique. It can derail focus on the text and instead make it feel like the critique is about the author.
  • comparing the work being critted to previous stories or other people's work.
  • self-marketing. By and large, our peers are not our audience. "I did the thing and I'm excited about it!" posts are fine. If you've unsure if what you want to share is bragging, excitement or marketing, ask a fellow member or co-chair to look at it and/or post it for you.

We Absolutely Prohibit

  • sharing of your login information to the website. Other members' intellectual property is behind that login. Respect its value. Protect your login.
  • sharing of member's work outside the membership without the author's EXPLICIT permission. That way lies accusations of theft and the danger of publishing someone else's work (thus robbing them of first rights).
  • bullying, harassment and hate speech. That will not be tolerated.
  • Respect boundaries. Respect the word no and the phrase "I'm not comfortable with that."
  • Don't "pick" on people.
  • Avoid stereotype-based or biased comments such as disparaging remarks about people's race, weight, gender, sexual orientation, or pronouns. "I don't understand why they..." is a conversation best left for coffee with friends who can explain why that's a problematic framing while maybe helping you understand whatever you're unclear about.
  • members taking their displeasure with other members to any form of social media to run them down or harass them. Things online have a way of blowing up that you might not intend, and private sharing quickly becomes fandom sharing -- and the internet is forever. Please bring any issues to the chair rather bitching to your friends online.

Email List

  • In addition, when it comes to the email list (which is currently moderated) please remember than one person's "direct honest discussion" is another's flame war, and there is no such thing as a two-person conversation in a 100-plus member group.
  • We entrust each other with email addresses. Do not abuse those addresses in an attempt to "flirt," harass, accuse, or "mess with" anyone. THESE ARE YOUR COLLEAGUES. Treat their personal email addresses with the same respect you would a corporate email address with a strict HR department.
  • Sharing anything outside the email list by screenshot or forwarding, without the consent of all involved, will result in removal from the list.
  • No insults.
  • No airing of grievances of any other member, by name or obvious reference, in any Wordos forum. If you have a problem with someone's behavior, take it to the Chair(s).
  • Don't violate the 24-hour rule: If something pisses you off, don't respond to the author of that something for 24 hours. (Feel free to give the chair a heads up if it violates the code, however)
  • We're colleagues. Take a walk, write a short story in which you scream at/punish/airlock a character, make a five layer cake, cry. Don't touch a keyboard. Again, if you have an issue with someone, take it to the chair.
  • Sarcasm, beloved of us all, is VERY hard online. We recommend marking sarcastic statements with the on/off markers: Sarcasm/ /sarcasm. But ... avoiding sarcasm in email is probably best. Yes, it bums us out too.
  • Don't post your stories in email!

(Updated January 1, 2024)