Messages

Content warnings and their use

<< Thread Modifed May 13 at 10:07AM >>

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Hi fellow writers!
I am hoping someone with some more experience using FanStory than myself can answer a rather detailed question:

I am really new to posting fan style creative writing and I want to make sure I am using the content guidelines correctly. I think I have a good idea of what they may mean, but I would appreciate some advice for how they are used here. I don't want to use them if they aren't needed, but I also absolutely want to use them where appropriate.

The Novella I am working on is set in the Star Wars Universe and is designed to be about the level of an R rated film. Gritty, exciting, and romantic, but never ventures into anything like gore or fully described sex. I would really appreciate knowing where you guys draw some lines because I would hate to get it wrong.

Sex: This is the one I am most unsure of. I really don't want to use this one if I don't have to because it is not my intention to write erotica. Just action with a sweet, slightly steamy, romantic plot. That said, the story does contain some adult theming in places. The world is gritty and the story reflects that. SA threat is implied or threatened obliquely, and in one instance more directly, but is not ever realized. Any realized sex is romantic, clearly consensual, and is not described. The scene essentially fades to black for the actual thing. No textual nudity is described either.

For Violence: I am fairly sure I need to use this one. It is an action adventure military fiction tone. People will get shot, stabbed, cut in half with a lightsaber etc. Blood pools seep from under shot villains etc. But it never ventures into gore. Think more Lord of the Rings violence than something like Deadpool or Sin City.

Language: I expect I need to use this one too. The story is military fiction so characters do use some English swear words, S**t, Da*m, or H*ll etc. The rest of the swear words are actually Mandalorian swear words that are cannon in the Star Wars setting which I find hilarious! I do provide a dictionary, and there is an F word equivalent along with a few other high level curse words. I describe them politely without using the actual swear words, but it is clear what they represent.

Thanks. This community has been amazing so far and I have loved all the feedback I have gotten on my first two chapters! You guys rock!

RE: Content warnings and their use
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RE: Content warnings and their use

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R-rated means over 18 viewers only in Australia, so I'm assuming it's something different wherever you are. There used to be a four step warning, but now seems either on or off. I tend to think anyone who reads a piece has the option to stop... though that might not apply to any children on the site. I've posted sexy books and vanilla ones and no one has ever complained about it either way in the 21 years I've been on the site.

RE: Content warnings and their use

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No need for the adult content flag unless you're describing obvious anatomy. The general content warnings should cover it (no pun intended). BTW, all that the adult content flag does is require an additional parameter to the URL to bypass it ("?av=1"). If you really need an example for what sort of screwed up content requires the adult disclaimer, here you go. I advise everyone not to read that.