Community guidelines

IvoryPen works because writers and readers trust each other. These guidelines apply to stories, profiles and responses alike.

Write in good faith

Publish your own work, under your own name or a pen name you consistently use. Quote other people fairly and say where a quotation comes from. Links are welcome, including links to your own website and to your sources, as long as they lead where they say they lead.

What is never allowed

• Anything illegal, or content that helps someone break the law.
• Malware, phishing, and links that are deceptive or designed to cause harm.
• Harassment, hate, or threats against any person or group.
• Sharing someone else’s private information without their consent.
• Impersonating another person or organisation.
• Plagiarism, or publishing work that infringes someone else’s copyright.
• Any sexual content involving minors. This is removed immediately and reported.

Profiles

A profile should describe the person or project behind it honestly. Portraits, covers and bios follow the same rules as stories. A website link should point to a site you are connected with.

Responses

Responses should be about the story they sit under, and civil toward the writer and other readers. Disagreement is fine; personal attacks are not. Advertising, repeated messages and links unrelated to the story are not approved. Moderators read responses before they appear and may decline any that do not fit these guidelines.

How moderation works

Reports sent through the contact page are read by a person. When something breaks these guidelines, moderators may remove the story or response, and in serious or repeated cases close the writer’s profile. Where it is useful, we explain the decision to the writer.

Changes

We may update these guidelines as the network grows. The date at the top of this page always shows when they last changed.