NWW Participation RULES
A. New people who come to NWW (or old members seeking reinstatement) will be expected to attend at least four times in a QUARTER (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, July-Sept, Oct-Dec), before they will be allowed to have the webmaster add their name and bio with webpage link to the NWW website. B. After attending four meetings (not necessarily consecutive), new members can be sent an e-mail invitation to join the NWW Yahoo List and must respond to have their name automatically added. C. To MAINTAIN membership in NWW with continued listing on the website AND being on the NWW Yahoo List, ALL members must EITHER attend at least one meeting a Quarter OR post at least one time to the list a Quarter (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, July-Sept, Oct-Dec). The three List Moderators will be responsible for noting this participation at the end of each quarter (Mar 31, June 30, Sept 30, Dec 31), contacting any default member, and notifying the Webmaster of any default members who will then be removed from the NWW website and from the NWW Yahoo List. Reinstatement requires attending four meetings in a Quarter.
The purposes of these rules are 1) to discourage transient "use" of the website, e-mail list and group to merely advertise oneself without investing one's effort in the group and 2) to encourage sincere participation in the give-and-take of the organization. GENERAL RULES
We welcome all genres but the following: pornography, erotica, and non-fiction of any kind, and anything we don't like. That applies to EVERYONE!
Don't discuss personal matters during the meeting. It's not fair to rub your fantastic life into our faces. We're here for one reason and one reason only. To ruin your life as you know it. When you leave the room crying we have met our goal. ·If you become a "regular," you'll get a members' list with everyone's telephone number, address, and electronic address for stalking purposes only. You can use these to keep your gossip greased or whine about these rules.
READINGS
Sessions on the first Wednesday of the month are reserved for readings only--no lessons. During the rest of the month, members read portions of their works-in-progress if there is time at the end of the meeting. Tripping other members before class starts so that you might have their reading spot is strictly forbidden, unless of course, I'm the one who doesn't get to read.
The page limit depends on the number reading in the remaining hour(s). A page is defined as 1" margins, double-spaced copy. For single-spaced copy the ratio is two pages equals one. Legal paper is not permitted, only 8" by 11 1/2" is acceptable. The facilitator will determine the amount you may read. She/he also has the right to stop you if the work is offensive, inappropriate, or if you aren't wearing your colors. Colors are defined as, summer tones, winter tones etc. We do not want people reading if their tones do not match their color scheme. If your work is putting all the other members into a coma, congratulations you'll probably be published in two months.
Don't ask to read more than the allotted number of pages. (It makes you a selfish Bastard) We don't care if the Pulitzer deadline is just around the corner. You should plan ahead. Besides, we're too wrapped up in wondering why we weren't nominated to even listen. Please do not take offense if several members take out little dolls that look like you and stick pins into them. That pain in your neck is purely a coincidence.
Do not explain your work. (Frankly we don't give a damn) If it requires explanation, then it isn't ready for presentation. The setup should be included in the story. However, other members may ask that you bring them up to date. Do this as briefly as possible. (YAWN) We don't need a psychological profile for each character, or for you. We don't care that your mama spanked you.
Articulate and speak loudly. We can't critique what we can't hear. If you fail to comply, the rest of the evening will require you to stand at the podium on one foot while we eat your French fries.
Do not interrupt those reading. This includes acknowledging the arrival of another member or whispering to the person next to you. Miming is permissible. A giant wave of the hand and/or blowing a kiss is acceptable. The only time this rule may be ignored is when the individual entering the room is armed and appears to be hostile. (It only happened once, we swear)
Don't read something you've already read unless it has changed drastically and at least a year has gone by since we heard it.(YAWN) Also please do not explain past critiques, we are critiquing what you just read, not what was written three years ago. If this is rewrite number forty-two, make it forty three!
If your piece has already been edited or published, leave it at home. It's too late for us to be of any benefit and you're wasting the time of those who want to get where you are. Don't rub it in their faces. It's not nice. (SOB, as in crying, not son of -B*****)
CRITIQUING Critiquing begins with the person to the left of the reader and goes clockwise around the room. The critiques are usually written in brief form on notes which are given to the writer to mull or cry over later. On the first and third Wednesdays of the month, that fall into a month with an "R" in it, we go to the person on the right, spin and then we all shout, "THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!" Be truthful. (Or lie, like the rest of us.) Saying it's National Book Award material when it wouldn't even make it as casual bathroom reading won't help the writer. Always include something positive. There's always a plus in everyone's effort. No, saying you're glad they have finally finished reading doesn't count. Do not interrupt the individual critiquing. Wait your turn. You should have learned this in kindergarten. Once you become a member, your kindergarten teacher's name must be forwarded to the facilitator, if you fail to comply, we will contact him/her. Do not repeat a criticism already presented. Most members get it the first time. If they don't get it, stand on your chair, shout and wring your hands. If another member opposes your critique, don't argue the point. The writer will decide what's best, or probably ignore you anyway. As the reader/author, do not debate the criticism. You can take it or leave it. Some of it is only opinion anyway. We prefer you take it and run with it. We like it when no talents take our ideas and steal them. Besides, defending your writing merely tells the person you will ignore them anyway. That is rude and everyone else will throw spitwads at you to punish your rudeness. Do not ask for a lesson in what you don't understand until after the session. (Brown noser) The facilitator or one of the other learned members can help you after the meeting. The facilitator may schedule instruction in the problem area at a later date; your kindergarten teacher will also be available. Many counseling sessions have taken place at Skyline Rest Home. (They love us there) In the meantime, research it yourself. It will be good for you. Do not talk amongst yourselves while the critiquing is going on and any note passing will result in the facilitator reading your note aloud to the entire class. You could learn something. Hard to believe, we know, but you really could. Also, if there is any gum chewing, please be sure you brought enough for everybody. LOGISTICS
When a reader/author points to their head and says, "Internal, they are indicating a characters internal thoughts, not what they really think of you."· IE... "Internal, Point to the head, I hate it when John shows up for class."
When a reader/author says, "Drop down, everyone will drop to the floor and put their hands behind their heads. (It stems from that one armed incident.) P.S. We love pulling this on the new-be'/ wanna'be's. If you refuse to follow any of the suggestions (improve), then stop coming. If you're already perfect, you don't need us and we don't want to listen to you. So there! (KISS as in off.)·
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