Frequently Asked Questions

We realize that joining a workshop for the first time can be confusing, so here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive:
Q:	Why do I need to sign my real name?
A:	This is a community of writers. As a community, we are not thrilled to deal with anonymous email handles. Nor do we trust those who hide behind them to protect our copyrights. We wish to establish trust and friendship here, as well as feel assured that our work won't appear elsewhere under someone else's name. No one is allowed to remain at Other Worlds who does not provide a real name in the subscriber profile, or sign a real name to all posts to the workshop.
Q:	I am getting all sorts of email which seems to be addressed to me, regarding subs and crits I didn't write.
A:	This is normal workshop traffic. All members receive all posts to the workshop. This way they can benefit from other members' takes on the same submission. Beware of hitting "Reply" in your email in response to a post from the list. Your answer will go to every member of the workshop, which may not be what you intended.
Q:	What counts as a crit?
A:	We expect well-thought-out, in-depth responses involving your reaction as a reader. Did you like it? Why? Did you find it a poor read? Why? Were the characters believable? Was the dialogue clearly a poorly-disguised infodump? Did you find the style offensive or inappropriate to the plot or subject matter? Then say so. A feel-good "Gee, this is great" crit helps no one. It will also not be counted for crit credit. If you liked a piece and can't find anything to say, you can label a post as "Shortcrit" and tell the author so. This is still valuable feedback to the author, as well as a nice ego-boost! If you don't know where to begin critting, we suggest you peruse the suggestions here to get started.
Q:	Why do posts take so long to get back through email?
A:	This is a moderated workshop. Nothing goes to the membership without being read and approved by the administrators. This keeps flame wars from starting, and ensures that headers properly reflect the content of the post (i.e. a crit is not mislabeled SUB). We do not edit the contents of any post.
Q:	What are the Six Keys?
A:	The Six (formerly Seven) Keys are a structured program designed to help beginners with the basics of writing. It also serves as a good refresher course for intermediate and advanced writers. It is a six-week program with a moderator and structured assignments to be completed each week. The cost is $60, payable in Amazon gift certificates. The Keys are offered irregularly throughout the year. Query the admins to find out when the next cycle starts. It will be announced to the membership at large when a cycle is about to begin. Only members of OWWW are eligible for the Keys program.
Q:	What is OWWWNoise?
A:	The Noise list is the chat portion of the OWWW workshop. Members may post nearly anything there, whether writing-related or not. Posts not directly related to writing should be reserved for the Noise list. Members are added manually by the admins, and removed only by request or after unsubscribing from the main list.
Q:	What format should my subs take?
A:	For help in formatting work for submission to the workshop, go here. Do not send anything to the list in HTML format. Send it in plain text only. Keep posts below 4,000 words. If your crit runs longer, split it in two and label it 1/2 or 2/2. For very long subs, post them at the Files section.
Q:	What is the Files area?
A:	The Files section contains long works in progress, complete novels being critiqued, and pertinent information from the Admins regarding list rules, etc. Any member is allowed to create folders in the Files section, which will be listed under the user's Yahoo ID as the creator. In order to call the attention of fellow members to the posted work. an email should be sent to the list with the header "SUB: NameofWork chap1" and the announcement that it can be found in the Files area.
Q:	What constitutes "lurking"?
A:	Lurking is hanging out at the workshop without participating. We take a dim view of lurkers. If you are uncomfortable critting, too bad. We demand that all members crit and, eventually, sub their own work. We learn by doing, so all members are required to critique or sub at least twice a month to maintain their membership. We also demand that members critique more than they sub, so that no one becomes a "user" without paying back to the workshop.
Q:	Why do I have to change headers on my emails?
A:	The only way we can track subs and crits for participation credit is if members properly reflect what they are posting to the list. Also, some members sort their email by subject looking for specific crits. They may miss a crit or a new sub of a work in progress if the headers are improper. Recognized headers for this workshop are: SUB: only work being submitted for critique CRIT: only a critique of a work. DISC: comments on works, crits, or general interest topics. They should be labeled as DISC: New Member Introduction, or DISC: crit of mywork whatever REF: request for help on a particular topic SHORTCRIT: a crit too short or unspecific enough to count for credit ADMIN: reserved for administrator use. Used for announcements to the list.
Q:	Will putting my name in the Yahoo subscriber profile make it accessible to the Internet at large?
A:	Not unless you click the box indicating that you wish to be added to the Yahoo directory. Your name should only appear to the other members of the workshop.
Q:	Is my work protected?
A:	Yes. Posting at Yahoo does not give the copyright to Yahoo nor constitute first electronic publication. Your copyright is respected by the admins and by the agreement of every member to abide by the workshop rules.