Should you delete your Crit post?

My test would be: Google the post. If it comes up, then delete it. If it doesn't, then no editor/agent will find it on a search.

Then again, I do this (using something I read on the site) before I post my work for critique because of copyright concerns. To date, no serious writers' site (such as AW) has allowed casual access to their critique space.

Because of the password protection, Google can't find posts on Share Your Work. Most people let posts stay forever. For one - if the original post is taken down, but the comments are left, the thread no longer makes any sense. There's been a lot of discussion of this topic (pretty sure there's a sticky in SYW on it), the consensus seems to be that posting work for critique is not the same as posting it for public consumption. If you post your work on a blog that anyone can access, that's a potential problem. Puma

I usually delete mine after they've been up for a few weeks just so I know I won't have random old drafts floating around, but it's nothing that I stress over. It's just a personal choice.

Nicole

I've read in several publishers' guidelines that chapters, or partial chapters, posted on online critique sites are not considered in any way "published".

Just ask the moderators of any board to delete the whole thread for you.

Editors have better things to do than look up old critiques.

The problem a publisher has is if you've posted the whole work, leaving it up in a "public" venue where anyone can drop in and read it. This can be considered giving away your "first rights".

Taking your works down is a good idea, but don't worry overmuch about it if the work was password protected.

Neos who post the whole thing on their websites...not doing themselves any favors!