Code of Conduct

The goal of CLUB CRITIQUE is to foster a safe, inclusive, and professional environment that encourages the craft of crime writing through peer review. All participants are expected to act with integrity, empathy, and mutual respect.

Crime Writers of Canada values the diverse voices of the Canadian writing community. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment regardless of race, ethnicity, background, culture, lifestyle, creed, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

Professional Guidance: Act as a critical reader, not a co-writer. Provide honest, constructive feedback that respects the author’s unique voice and sub-genre (from cozy to noir).

Objectivity: Direct all feedback at the writing, never the writer. Avoid personal judgments or overly harsh language.

Reliability: Honor the group by meeting submission and review deadlines. If you cannot attend a session, provide as much notice as possible to the facilitator.

Empowerment: Focus on helping the author achieve their goals for the manuscript, rather than imposing your own stylistic preferences or market expectations.

Proactive Ownership: You are the driver of your writing career. Submit clean, legible work with specific questions or "areas of concern" to help your peers focus their feedback.

Receptivity: Receive feedback with an open mind and a "silent" posture during the critique. You do not have to adopt every suggestion, but you must consider them respectfully.

Respect for Time: Understand that your peers are volunteers. Adhere to the word count limits (2,500 words) and formatting requirements.

Originality: Ensure all work shared is your own and maintain the highest standards of literary honesty and copyright.

Confidentiality: All participants must treat unpublished manuscripts, plot outlines, and internal group discussions as strictly confidential.

IP Protection: Authors retain full ownership of all work submitted to the group. By providing feedback, critiquers waive any claim to the author’s intellectual property. Conversely, members should respect the creative labor of their peers and may not use specific, unique plot elements or characters from another member's work in their own writing without express permission.

Permission: No part of a member’s writing or the group’s discussion may be shared outside the circle without express written consent.

Professional Scope: The relationship is focused on the craft of writing. Members are not expected to provide counseling, financial aid, or professional services (legal/tax/agenting).

Content Warnings: Authors should provide "Trigger/Content Warnings" for graphic violence, sexual content, or sensitive themes to ensure a safe reading environment for all members.

Inclusivity: The CWC has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or religion.

Harassment: Any form of verbal, written, or physical harassment is grounds for immediate removal from the group and potentially the CWC.

In the event of a disagreement or a breach of this code:

1. Direct Communication: If safe and appropriate, parties should first attempt to resolve the issue privately.

2. Facilitation: If the issue persists, the group Facilitator should be notified to help mediate the discussion.

3. Escalation: If a resolution cannot be reached or the breach is severe, the matter will be referred to the CWC Executive Director or the designated Board representative. This may result in:

• A formal written warning.
• Suspension from the CLUB CRITIQUE program.

4. Termination: The CWC reserves the right to remove a member from the critique program at any time if these guidelines are not met. Severe or repeated issues (harassment, plagiarism, or bullying) will be escalated to the CWC Board of Directors and may result in the revocation of CWC Membership.