Mission Statement
To provide support and guidance to dedicated writers of the literary short story through a regular forum for detailed, constructive critiques, sharing of creative work, and the discipline of regular presentations.

Guidelines
1.  Members need not have been previously published but should have a backlog of short story work for review and revision. 

2.  The group is for intermediate and advanced writers with competence in the basic elements of the short story: character development, theme, plot, point of view, setting, and tone as well as mastery of standard formats, grammar, and punctuation: the mechanics of good writing. 

3.  Our focus is the literary short story. 

4.  Each submission can range from "short shorts" to an 8,000 word maximum.

5.  We generally meet twice a month in the evening (a little less in the summer) and look for commitment to regular attendance.

6.  Members submit on a rotating basis and while the schedule may be flexible to individual needs, we expect that each member will be submitting regularly. Thus the group will remain small, about 5 members.

7.  Each reviewer provides written and oral critiques as well as editorial comments on the hard copy.  We normally review one writer's work per session. 

8.  We will be honest, diplomatic and constructive, with the goal of helping each other improve our work.

9.  All Short Story Group members must be current dues-paying members of the Knoxville Writers' Guild.

10. Admission is by application and invitation. All applicants must be current dues paying members of the Guild. Applicants meet with at least one group member at a monthly meeting of the Guild and give copies of a short story they have written to each member by hard copy or e-mail. The short story group members then review the story, come to a consensus, and inform the applicant.

11. We strive for long-term participation to create a nurturing, productive and supportive group of dedicated short story writers.