We offer real-world experience in writing, querying, and getting your work published. Here's how it works:

Net Author is staffed by accomplished writers, editors and publishers.

We publish your work: fiction, poetry and stories and non-fiction essays and articles.

Net Author pays! We offer an honorarium, currently $10.00 for each poem and $25.00 for each story or article we accept.

Articles, essays and interviews related to the art and craft of writing may be queried for publication in Net Author's collection called The Stacks.

Articles, stories and poetry may be queried, then submitted for publication in our on-line journal, E2K.

All submissions must first be queried. We insist on this process because most publications require queries. We will help you sharpen your skills through practice.

All submissions are subjected to high editorial standards. As a member, you will never be rejected summarily. Our staff will work with you to polish your writing and presentation skills. Through this process, you will build your portfolio of polished, high-quality work. For complete submission guidelines, please follow the "Submission Guide" link in Net Author's E2K.

The most fundamental skill necessary to success in writing, is writing. We work with you to perfect your writing skills.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive reference resource, and this e-mail discussion group where you are free to keep us appraised of your latest accomplishments, ask questions, and introduce topics for discussion.

New writers are welcome. Dive right in, tell us about your writing activities and aspirations. Veteran writers are appreciated. Join us in shaping a new literary paradigm.

Robert Marcom
Managing Director

Net Author welcomes comments regarding the following rules. Direct comments to:  Moderator

Please Note: Net Author discourges the posting of your intellectual property directly to its email discussion list operated through Yahoo.com.

Net Author cannot be responsible for the preservation of your rights to your intellectual property should you decide to post your work. A separate, private list is maintained for the purpose of facilitating critiques of intellectual works. Contact Moderator-at-NetAuthor.Org for details.

Group Structure

1. Net Author is a private, non-profit organization.
2. We are a group of peers. The group members shall each be equal to the other under the rules.
3. We are not a democratic organization; all rules are propagated and enforced by the Net Author Moderator.
4. Members may leave Net Author lists at any time. No guarantee can be made regarding availablility of membership at a later time.

Critiques and Comments
Critiques may be offered in any format. Members may critique by summary, or line-by-line; and with format guidelines, or without them. Format guidelines for structuring critiques may be offered for use, but are not to be insisted upon.

Critiquing a critique is regarded as impolite and unconstructive by Net Author. The discussion of critiques shall consist of general topics. Individual critiques offered by members shall not be discussed in group forum.

No Flames. Flames consist of (but are not limited to) personal comments of a derogatory nature: hostile comments, belittling comments or comments intended to embarrass. The Moderator is the final arbiter of the group for determining whether a comment fits the definition of "flame." Persons who violate this rule are subject to immediate expulsion from all Net Author activities.

Social Conversation
Conversation between members via private email is expected and encouraged. All comments regarding individual offenses by members against members shall be directed to the Moderator via private means. All comments regarding the structure, operation or function of the group shall be directed to the Moderator via private means. Individual conversations held in private between members are not regulated by Net Author. Net Author assumes no liability for any result or outcome of private conversation.

Participation
Minimum participation requirements are suspended until further notice.

The Masthead for Net Author:

See masthead on the left of every page.

1. Membership in Net Author is useful if you wish to stay current with planned activities.
2. Membership is useful if you intend to participate in the group discussions
3. Members may participate in any writing exercises.
4. Members may submit work to the separate critique list for critiques. There is no minimum ratio of critiques given, to critiques received. The critiques are offered by members on the assumption of reciprocation.

1. Our mission is to provide community among writers, and to promote e-publishing as a quality venue for authors.
2. Some of the members have adopted a secondary mission of taking over all the chocolate in the world. Members are not required to like chocolate. It might be the politic thing to profess, however.

WHAT IS Yahoo Groups, AND WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH NET AUTHOR?
www.groups.yahoo.com is an e-mail list service. They act as a "majordomo" or "listserv" for us. In return, we tolerate an advertising blurb on each group e-mail.

WHAT IS VIRTUAL CHAT?
We use a Multi-user Object-Oriented domain server which is run via Java script. The server software is located at the Achieve site of the University of Toronto. Our host there is also a member of NA. (Thanks Jason!)

WHAT DO YOU REQUIRE FROM MEMBERS?
We have a nominal requirement of one writing-related post per week. This requirement is not currently enforced. This precedent indicates it probably won't be enforceable in the future. We do have a few absolute "no-nos" though.

1. Flames between members will NOT be tolerated. You may count on this. All complaints should be addressed to moderator-at-netauthor.org.
   
2. If you participate in The List critique group: Critique works only; not people. This rule has proven itself, and will be enforced.

DO YOU PAY MEMBERS FOR ARTICLES?
Yes. Members have the additional benefit of receiving detailed critiques of articles written after acceptance of a query by the editorial staff.

How much do you pay? (Hey, it had to be right there at the top.)

We pay $25.00 US for articles about writing and literary philosophy. We pay $25.00 for each story, essay, or column accepted for publication inE2K. We pay $10 for each poem accepted. For complete submission guidelines, please follow the "Submission Guidelines" link in Net Author's E2K.

After you have published it, what continued rights to my submission do you retain?

You retain all rights. We ask for permission to maintain your article for as long as our visitors find it useful (gauged by hits on the article page).

What specific niche in the market are you concentrating your efforts on?

We are a writers' community focusing on the Internet & WWW as a resource and as an expanding marketing opportunity for writers.

What distinguishes your site from the other sites at the same niche on the Internet? (You are not allowed to use the words quality, cool, or edge.)

We are not an e-publisher (per se) but we do pay for articles. We are not a chat group, but we do encourage community among writers. We are unique in offering those opportunities to writers, along with the service of providing education to those learning the craft.   We aspire to bring together the experienced author and the novice writer in the most fruitful ways for each.   We are non-profit by design, and we charge no fee for any service.

Are there any professional literary people on your staff? How about professional marketers, economists, web designers? Are anyone working full time on this site? Or even on a regular time schedule?

We have a professional, fully credentialed instructor at university level as our Editor In Chief. She also instructs at Net Author through creating and critiquing writing exercises when time permits or membership requests. One of our Editors at Large. is post-grad in Applied Linguistics, and is part time. The Moderator works time, full time, and over-time. Our editorial positions all are unpaid.

The moderator is a long-time veteran of writing groups. He was administrator for The Writers' Room discussion list for two years, prior to initiating netauthor.org

Volunteers are well qualified: They are breathing, and they work harder than they have to.

What known writers are you publishing, and who have you published in the past?

We don't "publish" writers according to their previous accomplishments. We seek information or enlightenment from our writers.

What is your normal response time and publishing time? How often is this site updated?

The site is updated as necessary; at least weekly.

We respond to queries within five working days.

Will the submission be edited or will I receive any other real feedback?

Members receive a detailed critique of submitted work. Non-members receive a personal acceptance/rejection.

What is your monthly hit rate?

14,000+ per month, as of December, 2001

What resources are you using per week on marketing your site?

We keep regular advertising in Inscriptions Magazine and newsletter, in the usenet news groups alt.writers, misc. writers, alt.skunks, alt.irc.undernet.authors.

Does your site have a political, idealistic, or otherwise non-commercial goal? Do you work for this goal in any way beyond running this site?

Our mission is to provide community among writers, and to promote e-publishing as a quality venue for authors.

Has your site been designed according to general principles of user-friendliness and taste?

I'm glad you asked. We do not use graphics on our writer's site, unless they are essential to understanding. Our site is intended to be a "working writers'" site. We reserve all bandwidth possible for the purpose of transferring the information you seek.

We gratefully accept all comments aimed at improving our performance.