Guiding Principles
12 x 12 Guiding Principles for Community Engagement
At 12 x 12, we commit to cultivating a space where writers of every background feel genuinely embraced. We strive to create a safe environment free from harassment. While it is inevitable that our members will hold diverse views and be exposed to differences of opinion, we encourage members to keep discussions respectful, constructive, and aimed toward increasing understanding between one another.
For starters, we want to distinguish between debate and conversation. While debate is focused solely on “winning” arguments, conversation is focused on sharing information and increasing understanding. Debate isn’t part of our ethos, but we wholeheartedly encourage open dialogue. We ask everyone to keep the conversation collegial, friendly, and enriching.
To achieve this goal, here are some friendly guidelines for participating in our events and activities, including our Facebook Group, Forum, and webinar chats.
1. Hate Speech and Harassment are not permitted
- Definition of Hate Speech: We define hate speech as any form of communication that attacks and/or discriminates against a person or group based on characteristics such race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, socioeconomic status, and/or other factors. It often promotes prejudice or hate against groups or persons.
- Definition of Harassment: We define harassment as unwelcome conduct that is based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, socioeconomic status, and/or other factors where the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create an environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive.
- Addressing Harassment and Hate Speech: We do not anticipate hate speech or harassment in this collaborative community of writers and illustrators. However, if we do encounter it in any form, we will address it by removing the content and considering membership restrictions or removal of the member responsible (at our discretion). Please refer to our Anti-Harassment Policy and Code of Conduct.
2. Respectful Communication
Open discussion is welcome. Disagreements are natural
but must be expressed constructively and without personal attacks. We expect
communication to be civil and respectful at all times.
- Calling In: As a learning community of diverse writers from all over the world, our education extends beyond the craft of writing. In the process of learning about one another and cultures that differ from our own, miscommunication and/or disagreements may arise. If you choose to address an issue in which you believe that another member has veered from normal discourse or disagreement to harmful speech, we encourage calling-in as an initial response.
- Calling-in is not intended to provide a space for individuals to call out or criticize others for their beliefs, ways of life, or identity. Instead, it is designed to foster compassionate dialogue, where individuals can hold each other accountable respectfully and thoughtfully. Calling-in involves addressing concerns through a private conversation with the person involved or by reaching out to the 12 x 12 admins, rather than calling out or sharing grievances in a public manner (i.e. tagging someone on social media and/or sharing a post on other networks or venues).
- Before considering engaging with a person or a post, please read the
Calling In and Calling Out Guide and and consider the following points when deciding how to interact:
- If you know the member, feel comfortable talking to them, and/or have a good rapport, consider privately sharing your insights with them or commenting respectfully on their post.
- If you do not know the member well and/or do not feel comfortable communicating with them directly, please reach out to admin for support.
- If you choose to comment on their post in disagreement, please keep comments respectful at all times. Consider, “I disagree with this statement because…” Focus on the issue/topic and not on the person.
- If someone reaches out to you about something you said or posted, and you do not feel comfortable engaging with them about the topic, you may reach out to admin for support.
- If the situation has the potential to cause harm to you and/or others, please reach out to admin immediately.
- Civil conversation means respectful dialogue; however, it does not mean that people will be devoid of emotion. By creating an environment of empathy, and understanding, and growth, we strive to create a space where emotional expression is respected.
- If you believe the interaction has veered into harassment or hate speech, please reach out to admin immediately.
3. Community Guidelines and Posting Etiquette
- Relevance: Posts should be directly related to children’s book writing, publishing, illustrating, or other relevant topics. Off-topic posts may be removed.
- Respect Members’ Privacy: Refrain from sharing confidential information or screenshots of discussions outside of 12 x 12.
- Critique and Feedback: Receiving feedback is a cornerstone of growth for creators, but it must be given with good faith and sensitivity. Critiques should always focus on the work and not the creator.
- Generative AI may not be used to write critiques
- Promotional Content: While members are encouraged to share their own publishing news, and service offerings, excessive self-promotion or spamming is not allowed. Promotional posts should be balanced with contributions to discussions and support for fellow creators. Please contact admin before posting about your course or service offerings.
- Solicitation: Although members are welcome to share information about picture book-related courses or services they offer (within the parameters of Promotional Content defined above), please refrain from directly soliciting paid work from other members within the group. Let’s keep our community supportive of one another and focused on mutual growth!
- Copyright and Credit: When sharing images or excerpts from picture books, please give proper credit to the authors and illustrators if their names are not clear and visible on the image.
- Posts with AI Content: Please disclose if any or all of the content in your post contains generative AI.
- 12 x 12 Content and AI: You may not input any 12 x 12 content, whether created and posted by admin or any other community member, into AI software without their explicit permission.
- Moderator Discretion: 12 x 12 admins reserve the right to remove any content or individual member who violates these principles or disrupts the community.
