Respect the Cult. Respect Each Other.
Debate stories, techniques, genres, and ideas as fiercely as you want. Personal attacks, harassment, bullying, threats, discrimination, or targeted hostility aren’t welcome.
The Cult Rules
Keep the room brave. Keep the work protected.
Writers take risks when the room is trustworthy. These rules protect the people, the pages, and the strange unfinished things entrusted to the circle.
The room
Keep it fierce. Keep it human.
Critique the Writing, Not the Writer.
Be specific, constructive, and useful. “This sucks” isn’t criticism. Explain what isn’t working, why it isn’t working for you, and—when possible—suggest a direction for improvement.
If You Ask for Critique, Be Ready for Critique.
You don’t have to agree with every note you receive. Listen, consider it, thank the reader, and decide what serves your work. Don’t turn critique into an argument you need to win.
Give as Much as You Take.
This community works when writers support other writers. If you’re regularly sharing work, make an effort to read and respond to other members too.
The work
Protect what writers entrust to the circle.
Your Work Remains Yours.
Never repost, publish, distribute, screenshot, feed into AI systems, or otherwise use another member’s unpublished writing without their explicit permission.
No Plagiarism. Ever.
Do not present another person’s writing, characters, concepts, artwork, or other creative work as your own. Inspiration is inevitable. Theft isn’t.
AI-Generated Writing Is Discouraged.
Bakersfield Writer’s Cult exists to encourage writers to develop their own voices, skills, and craft. The use of AI to generate stories, poems, scripts, or substantial portions of creative work is strongly discouraged, particularly when sharing work for critique, workshops, submissions, or Cult projects. We want to read your writing—rough edges, strange choices, mistakes and all.
Mature Writing Is Allowed—Label It.
Horror, violence, sexuality, disturbing themes, and difficult subject matter are part of literature. Clearly warn readers about potentially sensitive material when sharing it. Explicit material must remain within Discord rules and applicable law.
Don’t Hijack the Workshop.
Keep substantial feedback focused on what the writer actually asked about. Don’t rewrite someone’s story into the story you would have written.
The boundaries
Make trust practical.
No Unsolicited Promotion or Spam.
Share books, websites, events, services, crowdfunding campaigns, and social accounts in the appropriate channels. Don’t join solely to advertise something and disappear.
Don’t Solicit Members Without Permission.
No mass DMs, unsolicited services, aggressive networking, scams, or repeatedly pitching editing, publishing, marketing, or other paid services.
Keep Private Workshops Private.
What is shared in critique groups, private channels, workshops, or member-only events stays there unless the creator gives permission otherwise.
Use the Right Chamber.
Post work, critique requests, promotions, resources, general conversation, and questionable 2:00 A.M. plot ideas in their appropriate channels. It keeps the Cult organized.
Don’t Spoil Another Writer’s Work.
If you’re discussing another member’s story somewhere outside its original thread, use spoiler formatting or ask first.
The last word
Good faith is the rule beneath the rules.
Mods Have the Final Call.
Moderators may move or remove posts, close arguments, issue warnings, mute members, or remove people when necessary to protect the community.
Don’t Make Us Create a Rule Because of You.
No rulebook can anticipate every spectacularly strange decision a room full of writers might make. Use common sense and act in good faith.
🩸 The short version
Write boldly. Critique thoughtfully. Don’t steal. Don’t be an asshole. Support other writers. Respect confidentiality. Label the weird stuff.
Welcome to the Cult. Now go write something.