Joining a Crafted Word community means you are willing to put in the time needed to become a better writer.  Before your blog is created, we will discuss your writing and reading goals via phone or e-mail.  You must agree to make a good faith effort by posting at least three times per week in your blog, as well as commenting on the other blogs in your community.  I will make suggestions, give you writing prompts and offer criticisms regularly.  Your writing time should be fun and energizing, not a torture or a trial!  You will become a better and more confident writer, and that alone will make your efforts more than worth the time you put in to your writing.

    The first thing I do is create a password protected personal  weblog for you (similar to this blog).  I use a weblog called Typepad, one of the most respected and reliable weblog systems.  I have been with them for many years without a problem.

    Once your blog is created, you will receive an e-mail from The Crafted Word with a unique username and password for you to access your weblog.  You and I are the only people with access to your blogs main entry page.  There is a separate username and password to view your community of bloggers.  Everybody in the community shares the same community username and password to “read and comment”  on each other’s writings.  This double layer of password protection ensures that all Crafted Word communities are safe, private and reliable

    You are free to write as much and as often as you wish.  Your blog is available from any computer with internet access--even dial-up.  You can also upload pictures and other  files, including Microsoft Word documents, music, podcasts, videos and more.

    All Crafted Word bloggers agree to use their blogs appropriately: no offensive language; no disparaging and/or hurtful remarks or comments; and no links to outside sites with questionable content.  The Crafted Word blogs are a safe, respectful, upbeat, and positive place to develop and share your writing. All blogs are monitored daily for content and tone. 

    You must agree to use your blog to help develop your writing skills: To that end, we punctuate and paragraph EVERYTHING we write—including comments.  IM shorthand is great for IM-ing, but not for learning strong and effective writing skills.

    Everyone—including the best writers—can work on developing their writing skills in one area or another.  I will help you identify your areas of strength and weakness, and together we can focus on what you and I need to do to make you the best writer you can be.

    Thanks for your time,

    Fitz

    John Fitzsimmons