Creative Content Lab: Guidelines

Creative Content Lab: Guidelines

These guidelines are designed to ensure an equitable and productive environment where everyone receives valuable feedback and contributes to the growth of their peers.

I. General Principles:

1. Respect and Professionalism: All feedback should be delivered constructively, respectfully, and professionally. Focus on the writing and research, not the individual.
2. Confidentiality: The content of submitted genealogy writing and discussions within the group is confidential. Do not share information or discussions outside the group without explicit permission from the author.
3. Learning Focus: The primary goal is to help each other improve our genealogy writing. Approach feedback with a desire to learn and to help others learn.

II. Submission & Participation Requirements:

1. "Give to Get": To submit an article for feedback, you must commit to critiquing at least one other member's submission within a specified time frame (e.g., for every report you submit, you critique one or two).
2. Writers can only submit (1) Ticket per calendar month.
3. Scheduling Submissions: Review requests run a 3-week cycle.
1. WEEK 1 Submission Week: When a writer submits a Ticket, Week 1 commences.
1. The Saturday following the submission, requests will be assigned by the Coterie Content Lab.
2. All Tickets should be submitted by 12:00 AM (Pacific Time - US/Canada) Saturday morning.
2. WEEK 2 Accept or Decline Week: All Tickets received are sent out to Reviewers that Saturday.
1. Reviewers have 72 hours to accept or decline the assignment.
2. If the review is declined by the first reviewer, a 2nd reviewer will be assigned to review it by Wednesday of that week.
3. If the 2nd reviewer declines the request, the Ticket will be returned to the writer as a declined request.
3. WEEK 3 Review Week: If the review is accepted, the Reviewer has until Saturday of Week 3 to complete it.

4. The maximum length of any submission is 2500 words.
1. Submission Format:
1. Requests for feedback through the Content Lab should be submitted via Notion using a Ticket. See “Submit a Ticket” on your Content Lab page.
5. Feedback Deadlines:
1. Feedback from a Reviewer for a submitted Ticket must be returned to the author within the time limits set above. See Scheduling Submissions
2. Failure to provide feedback on an accepted submission may result in your own future submissions being deferred.
3. After you decline 3 assignments, your ability to participate in the Coterie Content Lab will be reconsidered. If you are going on vacation or have a week that you have a reason for not being able to participate, please email robin@cuzens.com. This will not count as a Decline — within reason. Please give 1 month notice.

III. The Feedback Process:

1. All Feedback will be Attributed: Attributed feedback can foster direct dialogue.
2. Focus on the Questionnaire: All reviews should address the questions outlined in the questionnaire section of the Ticket. This ensures consistency and comprehensive feedback.
3. Provide Specific Examples: General statements like "this is confusing" are not helpful. Instead, pinpoint specific sentences, paragraphs, or sections and explain why they are confusing or what could be improved.
4. Offer Solutions/Suggestions: Where possible, offer concrete suggestions for improvement rather than just identifying problems.
5. Identify Strengths: Don't just focus on weaknesses. Highlight what the author does well. This encourages good practices and builds confidence.
6. Writer's Role:
1. Be prepared to provide a brief overview of your report and any specific areas where you would like feedback.
2. Receive feedback with an open mind. It's okay to clarify or ask questions, but avoid becoming defensive.
3. You are not obligated to implement every suggestion, but consider all feedback carefully.