These days, most writers know that posting your short prose and poetry online means that editors will consider the work to be previously published and therefore ineligible for publication in most literary journals. (Note: “Previously published” means something different for books. See our post: What is previously published writing?)

Naturally, writers want to share their work online because it’s an easy way to swap support and critique. But who wants to take the chance of having a piece become ineligible for publication?

One writer recently asked us: How can you share your work with a group without publishing it online?

If you’re careful and honest, there may be a few ways you can share your short stories, personal essays, and poems with a small group of people using the Web—without inciting the ire of irascible editors.