MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

1. Peer environment. Writers critique your work, and you have the opportunity to critique theirs.
2. Web Site. All members are provided a biography page on which they may list information about themselves and post work samples. Member information and submissions are stored in a password-protected section of the CSFWG web site.
3. Special Events. CSFWG arranges for guest speakers, special purchase offers, and other events for members only.

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

1. An opening. Our membership cap is currently set at 15 per group.
2. A desire to write. Submissions are not mandatory, however, participation in the critique process is expected (see Membership Retention below).
3. Membership Fee. While CSFWG resisted charging a membership fee for five years, costs associated with the group have risen. In exchange for the annual $25 fee, CSFWG provides discounts with a number of local merchants, in addition to all submission/critique benefits.
4. Attendance. While attendance is not mandatory, it is expected. Members submitting materials for critique are required to provide printed copies of submissions, at their own expense. In order to avoid wasted copies, and therefore money, members should either plan to attend meetings, or notify CSFWG on the Friday before a meeting that attendance is not possible.
   It is understood that circumstances are sometimes beyond our control, and such notification may not be possible. Please see Membership Policies below for more information.
5. Participation. During monthly meetings, members orally critique work submitted the previous month. While critiques are not mandatory, they are expected as a matter of courtesy. All members who desire critiques for their own work should be prepared to critique the works of other group members.
6. Critiques. Read submitted work and be prepared to critique it in two ways at the next meeting:
   Written. Note errors in grammar, character development, plot development, etc., throughout the piece. On the last page, provide an overview of your thoughts and suggestions, and provide your name and a way in which the author might contact you. This is required so the author may contact the critiquing member in order to clarify points in the critique.
   Oral. While the written critique serves as a record that will aid the author in revisions, the oral critique functions as a workshop. Each member gives an opinion of the work, and the author has the benefit of group discussion in order to identify specific problems. In addition, the author has an opportunity to discuss problems, and to explore possible solutions.
   See Submission/Critique Guidelines in the Member Guide section for more information.
7. Activities. CSFWG Activities are agreed upon by the group; participation is suggested. As of December 2000, CSFWG business is no longer discussed during general meetings, but rather at monthly business meetings. Attendance by group-elected officers is mandatory; attendance by group members is encouraged.
8. Age Limit. We require that all members and visitors be at least 16 years old. If a person wishes to join and is under 18 years of age, then a parental waiver will be required, and we also require that a parent or guardian attend a few meetings to make sure they approve of what their child is doing. While we do not allow pornography in our submissions, some of our writers submit material that may not be suitable for children. If you are under 16 years of age, the Pikes Peak Library District has critique groups available for teenaged writers. You can find out more about these PPLD events here.

MEMBERSHIP RETENTION

Since establishing a membership fee, CSFWG has established a set of ground rules that members are expected to follow.

1. Attendance. Notify CSFWG by the Friday before a meeting if you will not be able to attend. Emergencies will, of course, be excused from this policy. We require this courtesy so submitting members will not pay for too many copies of their work. Notifying CSFWG of an intended absence allows us to "excuse" you from the meeting, and make arrangements to get an electronic version of submissions to you.
   If a member misses three meetings without notifying CSFWG beforehand, membership will be revoked. Because we are capped at 25 members, it is not acceptable for a non-participating or non-attending member to occupy a spot that might be better used by a new member.
2. Participation. Members are expected to read and critique submitted works. Members who are unable to read or critique a work may notify the author and make arrangements to provide the critique outside the group setting. Members may be excused entirely from critiquing by notifying the author directly. However, habitually failing to critique may result in revocation of membership in order to open the membership spot to a new member who might better use it.

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