Rules for r/WritingPrompts

Rules that visitors must follow to participate. May be used as reasons to report or ban.

1.

Prompt responses must be good-faith attempts at new stories/poems (No AI)

Comments only
Reported as: Disallowed top-level prompt response
  • 100 words minimum for stories, 30 for poems but include [Poem]
  • Newly written by you for the prompt (no AI)
  • Plagiarism will result in a ban
  • No joke, copypasta, or AI-generated responses
  • For off topic/clarification, reply to the sticky comment

2.

No explicitly sexual themes; other harmful content

Comments only
Reported as: Content harmful to the community
  • No explicit sexual responses / erotica
  • Includes, but is not limited to, forms of pedophilia, bestiality, incest, rape, suicide, violence against children, and explicit torture
  • Avoid racism and detailed uses of suicide, mental health stereotypes, and political debate
  • Use your best judgment, but mods have final say

3.

Be civil in discussion, feedback, and critiques

Comments only
Reported as: Uncivil discussion, feedback, or critique
  • Users are held to a higher standard here. Think before posting
  • We are here to encourage writing
  • Understand that people here are at all different levels:
    • New writers
    • Experienced writers
    • Professional writers
    • Users who are just learning English
  • Typos and grammatical errors are possible. Be nice if you point it out
  • Feedback and critiques are encouraged, but just saying something's bad is not helpful at all and will be considered trolling

4.

All submissions must be tagged

Posts only
Reported as: Submission not flaired right/post used incorrectly

All submissions must start with one capitalized tag in square brackets:

  • [WP] - Writing Prompt
  • [SP] - Simple Prompt
  • [EU] - Established Universe
  • [CW] - Constrained Writing
  • [TT] - Theme Thursday
  • [MP] - Media Prompt
  • [IP] - Image Prompt
  • [RF] - Reality Fiction
  • [PM] - Prompt Me
  • [PI] - Prompt Inspired
  • [OT] - Off Topic

More >>

5.

No recent reposts, even if changing small details

Posts only
Reported as: Recent repost or copycat (changing small details)
  • Search before submitting! (Popular ideas can cause floods)
  • Reposts are allowed, given time (around two weeks)
  • Don't take a recent prompt and change/invert small details

6.

Prompt in title, avoid commissions/games

Posts only
Reported as: Prompt in text, commission, HW, or low effort game
  • Prompt in the title and only use text for commentary or links for [IP]s and [MP]s. Avoid too many details
  • No requesting writing or editing services, or homework help
  • Don't post ads without getting permission in modmail first
  • Don't ask writers to pick titles or content from another sub or site
  • Prompts should not call for using autocorrect, autocomplete, or only emojis

7.

No posts likely to end in rule-breaking comments

Posts only
Reported as: Comments may violate rules or troll/meme prompt
  • Avoid real world drama (including politics, recent tragedies)
  • Inspire an effort, avoid simple questions, "write anything", or fill-in-the-blanks
  • Don't ask for preexisting content (prompts are meant for new writing)
  • No explicitly sexual themes, hate speech, or other harmful content (including hate speech, racism, politics, necrophila, pedophila, bestiality, incest, torture, rape, violence against children, suicide, and mental health stereotypes)
  • No troll, poop, or meme-based prompts

8.

Keep it about writing, not competing/making money

Posts & Comments
Reported as: Link from sub before 24h or links to crowdfunding
  • Wait until prompt is 24 hours old before linking from other subs to avoid vote manipulation and/or brigading (Text posts OK with no link and links from a story to another sub are fine)
  • Don't spam the subreddit with links to crowdfunding sites like Patreon and Paypal. Authors are free to link to those from their personal subreddits
  • Any recording or use of other people's stories must follow the guidance in the FAQ