The Ruins of Alph Rules and Guidelines
This forum is moderated by:
@bbninjas - Department Head
@steffenka - Moderator
@Jabberwock - Moderator
@bbninjas - Department Head
@steffenka - Moderator
@Jabberwock - Moderator
I. All PB General Forum Rules apply!
The consequences for breaking them here are no different than anywhere else on the forums.II. Chapters cannot be shorter than 800 words in length.
800 words = approximately one and a half pages on Microsoft Word. Exceptions include:
- Prologues and poems are exempt from this rule. 300-400 words is the acceptable minimum for a prologue.
- Short stories must be 1,000 words or longer.
III. All poems must be compiled into one thread.
Only ONE poem thread is allowed per member; do not post your poems in separate threads.
- There is no word limit for poems.
IV. Stories cannot exceed a PG-13 rating!
Profanity:
- Permitted:
- Mild swears (hell, damn, dang, crap, and crud that aren't already censored automatically by the forum are perfectly fine to use in fanfics)
Not permitted: - Strong swears: (the f-word, the sh-word, the n-word, etc.)
Violence and Death:
- Permitted:
- Light to moderate violence (occasional bleeding or bruising of characters).
- Controlled heavy violence (gunshot wounds, gouging/goring/disfigurement of a character's body-parts).*
- Depictions of death.*
* Must be downplayed so that they are not leaving a lasting impression.
Not Permitted: - R-rated depictions (Anything that would be included in R-rated media).
- Violence for the sake of violence.
Drug/Alcohol Reference (Usually found in Dark-sided fanfics):
- Permitted:
- Character(s) taking a swig from a can of beer or downing a shot of whiskey.
- Smoking, on the other hand, is fine so long as it is on the lines of cigarettes, cigars, or tobacco pipes.
- Character getting drunk but not causing a violent act.
Not Permitted: - Types of drugs use/reference (marijuana, heroin, cocaine, etc.).
- Character getting drunk and beating up another character or acting sexually towards another.
Insinuation (Typically involving characters talking about or displaying romantic tendencies towards one another):
- Permitted:
- Kissing, hugging, cuddling, mild sexual references.
Not Permitted: - Full-blown erotica, graphic nudity, sexual acts.
Warning: 10% - 40% depending upon severity. If the case is severe enough, a ban may even be issued based on the moderator's discretion
V. Don't plagiarize.
Members may not, in any way, plagiarize content and post it on the forums. Instances of plagiarism and evidence against a member must be discussed with a forum staff member. Depending on the content plagiarized or how new the member is to the forums, a PM will be sent by [smod]Ice Arceus[/smod] and a warning or ban will be put into place.
VI. No senseless malevolence.
Any work created with the intent of defaming, "trolling," slandering, or harassing another member will not be tolerated. Discrimination on the basis of age, race, gender, sex, orientation, ethnicity, etc will result in the immediate removal of the work, and the offender will be issued a warning or ban, based on a moderator's discretion.
Warning: Violating this rule will result in removal of the fanfic and a warning or a ban, depending on the severity.
VII. Good grammar, spelling, and proper formatting are musts!
- All writings must be of readable quality!
- Minor spelling or grammar mistakes are forgivable.
- All paragraphs need to be double spaced (pressing ENTER twice; including dialogue)
Note: Spoiler tags ([ spoiler ][ /spoiler ]) can be added to lengthy chapters to help separate the actual update from the writer's commentaries or compensate for the fact that they're so long.
VIII. Script Formatting
When writing scripts, generally, you will need a few guidelines. Effective November 2012, the staff of The Writing Café initiated a rule banning scripts. Scripts are rather painful to read, especially if they are not properly formatted, and we've seen a few lackluster examples of scripts here in TWC. Recently, we revised the rules, releasing the ban on scripts, but we needed a few guidelines to show what is acceptable when writing scripts.
First off, courtesy of the Australian Script Centre, we have provided you all with an impeccable example of how to properly format your scripts.
Now, with that said, keep in mind that we will be rather lenient with this, but when writing scripts, you must, without question, follow guidelines similar to the ones posted above.
NOTE: Please PM one of the Creative Works staff members to review your script before posting!
Warning: Violating this rule will result in closure of the fanfic and possibly a minor warning, depending on the moderator's discretion.
IX. Spam
- What will be considered spam:
- "Thank you!" posts
- One worded posts (ex: "Great! Good! Amazing!")
- Number ratings
- Any general comments ("I like your fanfic!")
Warning: Minor spam 20% Major spam 40%
X. Bumping, Double Posting, and Reviving Threads
The original poster may NOT bump a thread more than once in a three day period. If the thread is one month old, a member may revive the thread, as long as they are providing something with discussional value. Likewise, a critic may revive a thread, as long as they are thoroughly critiquing another member's work.
The OP has the ability to double post only if they have completed another chapter and want to post it or if they want to bump their thread for attention. Otherwise, double posting is not acceptable in this forum.
- Permitted:
- Posting in a month old thread only if the member has something of discussional value to add.
Not Permitted: - Replying to a thread older than one month and your post has no discussional value.
- Bumping more than once in a three day period.
- Double posting if you are not adding a chapter or bumping your thread.
Members who are not the original poster may not bump the thread unless they are thoroughly critiquing the work.
XI. Chapters
- Permitted:
- Linking to your future chapters in the original post and making them part of a Table of Contents listing what chapters you have so far.
- Posting each chapter both in the OP and within the thread itself as individual comments.
Not Permitted: - Multiple threads per story (i.e. one for each chapter)
- Compiling all new chapters into the OP without posting them as individual thread comments.
XII. No abusing colors or tags.
DO NOT ABUSE THE TAG SYSTEM, OKAY?
Warning: You will be given a few hours to fix your post. Failure to do so will result in the removal of your post.
XIII. Quoting:
- Permitted:
- Quoting pieces of the chapter and critiquing them individually.
- Putting the chapter in a spoiler tag and writing your critique/comment outside.
Not Permitted: - Quoting the entirety of a chapter.
Warning: Verbal warning. Continued violation of this rule will result in a minor spam warning.
Available Critics/Proofreaders
Critic: Delta
Contact Methods: Private Messaging; Profile Comments
Days Available: Weekdays and weekends
Hours Available: 11:00 AM to 01:00 AM GMT + 01
Genres Covered: Miscellaneous
Critic: Turtwig
Contact Methods: Private Messaging; Profile Comments
Days Available: Nearly every day
Hours Available:Varies. Mainly from 5-12 PM (EST) on weekdays and sometimes all day on weekends
Genres Covered: Misc. (Preferably Mystery, Action/Adventure, Horror)
Critic: le Roi-Soleil
Contact Methods: Private Messaging; Profile Comments
Days Available: Monday-Friday
Hours Available: 1 PM (EST) through 9 PM (EST) (TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.)
Genres Covered: Historical Literature, Epics, Romance, Misc.
Critic: MrGatr
Contact Methods: Private Messaging; Profile Comments
Days Available: Weekdays and weekends
Hours Available: Varying
Genres Covered: Miscellaneous
Critic: Prometheus
Contact Methods: Private Message - Profile Comment
Days Available: Monday to Friday
Hours Available: 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Genres Covered: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Areas Covered: Character Creation and Development, Plot, Subplot, Conflict, Dialogue, Description
If you'd like to be added to this list, then please contact one of the staff members of this forum with the following form filled in:
Code:
Critic:
Contact Methods:
Days Available:
Hours Available:
Genres Covered:
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