The level of feedback is something to explore when considering membership on any list. Some require participation or you will be dropped from the list. Others are informal and don't mind if you need to drop in and out of the group as your workload requires.

The information you'll get when you sign up should state the rules. If not, ask the list administrator for clarification.

Not only can the number of critiques vary, but also their quality. Some people offer cyberspace pats on the back. Others give detailed comments including punctuation, questions, clarifications, and other tips.

Do remember that e-mail lists are not always efficient since your submission may or may not be critiqued in a timely manner. If you work under tight deadlines, a private critique partner would probably be better for you than a list. One such option is Critique Partner Connections, included in the list following this article.

If you're wondering about the people you'll meet in a critique group, I've found that the lists reflect real life. For instance, my romance writers' list is comprised almost exclusively of women since romances are usually written by women. My Christian and magazine writers' lists are balanced since these categories attract men and women alike.

The writers are in all stages of their careers. Some have hundreds of published credits. Others are just starting to submit their first efforts to editors in the cold, cruel world of publishing. They often have other careers in varied fields such as nursing, counseling, ministry, editing, and agenting for authors.

As a member of any critique group, expect to spend time critiquing work ranging from awesome to barely readable. While you might prefer to trust your fiance's opinion and chuck the whole idea of all that work, membership is worth the time spent.

Since they don't have to live, work, or sleep with you, e-mail friends don't need to encourage articles that have no hope of being published. Unless they are professional writers, your friends in the real world probably won't be able to give you good tips on how to improve your writing or where to sell your work.

There are other advantages to e-mail lists. You don't have to get dressed to go to a meeting, and it's never your turn to provide refreshments for 30 people. There's no waiting until the next scheduled meeting to get input. You can submit your work any time of day or night.

Because some of the list's writers live in other time zones, they often critique right away no matter how late in the evening work is submitted. E-mail doesn't put anybody in the hot seat because submissions go out to the whole list. Anyone who has the time, interest, and inclination will respond.

Once you've decided to join any online group, you need not lurk as long as you follow a few basic rules of etiquette:

1. Each list has its own personality. Read the introduction and follow the rules.
2. Don't submit large bodies of work all at once. Book writers should submit one chapter at a time. Poets and short article writers shouldn't deluge the list with bunches of submissions.
3. If the article is long, warn everybody. Anything over 1000 words is considered lengthy. State the word length in the subject line or at the beginning of the message. On the other hand, telling everyone that your masterpiece logs in at a mere 100 words might garner more critiques from time-conscious writers.
4. Tell everyone what you seek. Are you looking for general observations or do you want nits on grammar as well? Do you need marketing ideas? If you have a market, state it. Critiques might be more valuable from people who are familiar with the publication or publishing house you hope will buy the manuscript.
5. Don't flame anyone. Telling someone to get lost will only label you the resident grump and make the list unpleasant for everyone else.
6. Ignore submissions from people whose talents you don't appreciate. The writer will find a kindred spirit in someone else.
7. Give honest criticism. You're not helping anyone by being too nice. As long as the criticism is constructive, give it. Just be sure to point out something good about the article as well.
8. If you find yourself on a list that you don't like, simply unsubscribe. Don't send an offensive parting speech. The cyberspace world is comparable to a small town. Chances are you'll find yourself on another list with several of those you insulted.
9. Most important: HAVE FUN!

CRITIQUE PARTNER CONNECTIONS or e-mail creator at mdjcpa@usit.net. This service matches critique partners and has a one-time fee of $l0.

The Writing Lab or email to jilla@carbon.concom.com

The Writing Workshop This workshop offers several subgroups:

• Fiction: (address: FICTION@lists.PSU.edu)
• Novels-l: (address: NOVELS-L@lists.PSU.edu)
• NonFiction: (address: NFICTION@lists.PSU.edu)
• Poetry-W: (address: POETRY-W@lists.PSU.edu)
• Script-W: (address: SCRIPT-W@lists.PSU.edu)
• YAWrite: (address: YAWRITE@lists.PSU.edu) For writing aimed at children and young adults
• NATURE-W: (address: nature-w@lists.PSU.edu) Subgroup for nature writers.
• PROSE-P: (address: prose-p@lists.PSU.edu) For brief, literary pieces
• LOVESTORY-L: (address: lovestory-l@lists.PSU.edu)
• FEMWRITE-L: (address: femwrite-l@lists.PSU.edu) The workshop for feminist literature.
• TEENWRITE: (address: teenwrite@lists.psu.edu) A workshop for teenagers (about 12-19 years).
• KINGDOM WRITERS or contact: Sue Hoover for Christian writers