Inklings Guild has a few guidelines which we expect all members to be able to follow. Failure to follow these guidelines when critiquing another writer’s work could result in a suspension or dismissal from the group. Please also read our Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Policy.
Submission Requirements
Document Uploads: Please upload your document in a standard document format such as .doc, .docx, .pdf, or .txt.
Readability: Please double space your drafts and for readability please use font size 12 for Times New Roman and Calibri or use font size 10 in Arial. Text files can use their default font and size.
Content Restrictions: If your writing contains graphic or potentially troubling content, please make a note for people giving critiques. You can do this when using the Request a Critique submission form.
Restricted Content: Content that may be illegal in your jurisdiction, or in the United States, should not be uploaded to this site at all. This includes certain depictions of mass violence, content relating to underage characters, etc.
Critiquing Guidelines
1. Give and take constructive criticism. If you provide a critique, please also submit something to be critiqued. Sharing your work with others helps you get feedback and helps others learn from your strengths. We also want to nurture a constructive atmosphere where people are comfortable participating in the community by giving and receiving feedback.
2. Construct feedback in a way that will be well-received by others. Your feedback is your opinion and is welcomed when provided politely. Tone makes a big difference in how feedback is perceived. Proposed changes or corrections are more likely to be taken when given in a courteous and respectful manner.
3. Please strictly follow the writer’s requests on what to critique in their work. If a writer asks for feedback on their style, tone, and cohesion, please do not burden them with many pedantic remarks about spelling and grammar. This is rude and such edits can be saved for a later draft.
4. Be constructive in your feedback. Always answer the question of why your feedback is useful to the writer. The worst kind of feedback is a critique that can’t be used. “I don’t like this section” is not helpful. “I don’t like this section because it makes me lose interest in the character’s role in the plot” expresses a reason that readers may experience. The writer can use this insight to improve that section.
5. Please consolidate your feedback into as few responses/uploads as possible. When critiquing another writer’s work it’s possible for you to upload a document back to them, containing your edits. Please avoid sending them multiple documents that they would have to sift through. It makes the correction process confusing and tedious.