What is this thing?
The Dark Fiction/Horror Writers workshop started in 1994 on AOL. For many years it was the only free online workshop for horror writers. For nearly six years, Michele Patterson ran it with Paula Guran. Patterson then took over administering the group alone. Now entitled Blood, Sweat and Fears, it is a Forum where authors over the age of 18 can discuss and critique short fiction. Writers in the group submit work and are assigned a date. Each week, one participant's short story will be posted in a private area for review and comment by the entire group in a helpful manner.

Who is Michele Patterson?
Patterson is the assistant editor of HORROR GARAGE and handles all unsolicited fiction to the award-winning print magazine. She's had several short stories and poems published herself and has reviewed for Painted Rock. A member of the Horror Writers Association, she served two years on the Bram Stoker Additions Jury. When Patterson is not at her computer working, writing or playing, she's busy at her Colorado home working and playing with her three young children and husband. Her hobbies include embroidery, knit and crochet, yoga, jogging and reading (lots and lots and lots of reading). Her Web site is Hauntess's Horror Web.

Why NOT do live online sessions of the critiques?
There is a Time/Place Conundrum. When the members of the group are in several different time zones and countries with varying degrees of access to live Net interface a single meeting time is impossible to schedule.

There is also the Human Factor. In live chat, writers often find themselves getting defensive, even about work that they themselves know they want help with. This is partially a result of "coversation online." The flow is much different than that in real life. You also can't hear nuance and tone. Dominating voices can take over text more easily than verbal communication. You have to "take turns" more and online crits can't have the "give-and-take" of live crit.

What do I have to do to join up?
1) Email hauntess@yahoo.com and request to join.

2) Read the Critique Suggestions and accept them as your guide.

3) Once you are on the list you will receive a password to access the private area where stories are posted. Although you may jump right in, if you haven't done this type of thing before, just read the story and the group's crits of it. After seeing what it's like, you'll feel more like trying it yourself.

Must I criticize each and every week?
No. There will be stories you aren't interested in or those you feel you would prefer not to respond to. You also have a life and all this takes time.

How often MUST I criticize?
At least once a month to remain in the group. Special circumstances are, of course, taken into consideration. Just let us know.

MUST I send in work for criticism?
No, not as long as you are offering valid, helpful criticism to others. (Be prepared to accept a bit of good-natured teasing about it, though.)

What type of material can be considered?
It needs to be dark fiction or horror. That is a very broad category, so don't worry TOO much. Short stories are much preferred and you will get a better response with a story less than 4000 words. If they are too long, people sometimes don't have time to thoroughly go over and respond. Sample novel chapters will be accepted, preferably with a brief description of the novel. But you will, most likely, get fewer people responding.

What about adult material?
This group is oriented to adults. We have accepted fiction of a fairly sexual nature for years, but we occasionally shy away from something pretty extreme or offensive.

Okay, sounds great. What do I do next?
Email Michele Patterson at hauntess@yahoo.com