Thanks, Chris and Manny for your input. I’ve started typing, and this is what I have so far. Some of the formatting is probably going to be lost on the forum with the paste, but I can reformat it for the web when I actually go to post it in the mature forum.
I also haven’t finished the genres, the last part. But I’m out of time and have to go to work. I hope I can either finish that tonight or tomorrow, so let me know though what you think of it so far…and if I should break it up into seperate posts in the fic forum - it’s a long doc! 5 pages so far in word. I like to be thorough 
TCL.org Mature Fan Fic Forum Rules and Guide
Rules : For writers and readers
· You must be 18 or older to join this forum, of if you’re here you’ve already assured the mod or admin that gave you the password you are of age. If it comes to light that anybody lied, they will be immediately banned from the board.
· If you are a fic writer and wish to post your work here, ask a mod or admin for your own sub-forum. This will keep your work in one tidy spot, and is especially useful for multi-part fics to be better organized. The general area of forum can be used to discuss fan fic related topics, especially if the topic involves mature fic themes or ideas.
· Writers, also be sure to check out our guide for help in properly labeling your fics with warnings and such. We want our readers to make the most informed decision they can to read or not to read. No “X” rated work will be allowed here. This forum is for what you might consider “R” through “NC-17” types of stories. Hence the warnings and disclaimers we will be requiring on all stories posted in this area.
· Moderators and admins reserve the right to disallow any fic deemed too extreme. Mature does not = free reign to shock or pile on the squick. Read our guidelines, use your better judgment and if all else fails and you’re unsure, ask before posting your story.
· That said, mods and admins can’t read every fic submitted word for word, so we’re going on an honor system here. Please read the guidelines for lists of ratings, warnings, and formatting requirements for this area before you begin. You won’t get your own forum until you assure us you’ve read and understood these rules and what is to follow. Lying (and we’ll find out when you do everything wrong) may result in the loss of your forum or a suspension of your account.
· Furthermore, if you make a habit of leaving out important warnings and people are complaining, action will be taken. Obviously, the cases will be handled with several things taken into account. If you’re a known, contributing writer and just made a goof, we’ll give you a warning and ask you to put the missing disclaimer in. However, trolls writing trollfic will be dealt with immediately.
· For readers, feedback is usually welcome. Feel free to post comments or questions on a story in their threads and/or specific threads an author might set up for feedback. An author should make it obvious if they don’t wish to receive concrit and do try to respect that. If crit is welcome, do keep it constructive (the ‘con’ in concrit) and on the helpful side while balancing that with a comment or two on what did work in the story. And always keep your comments directed at the story, not the author. Personal attacks on writers won’t be tolerated, and any readers deemed to be trolling the forum will be dealt with immediately.
· Also for readers, pay attention to the headers at the beginning of each fic and the warnings and other disclaimers that are put there. For instance if cursing offends you and someone has marked their story for language, odds are if you read on you’re not going to be amused. If you read on anyway, please don’t complain to mods, admins or the author about it. You were warned for a reason. However, if a writer failed to mark a story with an appropriate warning (a list can be found in the Guide) then let us know and we’ll ask the author to amend that. Likewise, if there’s a warning you think should be on our list but isn’t, politely let us know and we’ll consider adding it. But do understand the part of the risk of coming to this forum is there’s going to be stories with elements that go to a level of maturity that surpasses the canon. Familiarize yourself with our rating system and warning lists so you know what you may be in for before reading a given story. You really do read at your own risk here.
· Also, any fic existing purely to advocate illegal activity will be prohibited and deleted. Obviously, your story can look at illegal or immoral acts (drug use etc), but its tone shouldn’t be that of promotion of the activity in anybody’s real life or done in bad taste (i.e. don’t trivialize matters such as rape or abuse so that it is done in poor taste). No underage sex can be described or implied in stories, either, so be sure your characters are of an acceptable, legal age. Yes, I know they’re not real but it’s the principle of it. And since laws vary state to state and country to country, we’ll say for the sake of argument and averages that any characters engaging in sexual activity in fic should be at least 18 or older. In other words, if you want Kit to see some action, you better age her first.
· When reporting a fic for a perceived violation of our rules and guidelines, be sure to supply us with a link, what rule you think they broke, and a portion of the most offending bit of the fic. It’ll help us investigate faster. Do be sure a fic is really in violation, though, by reading these rules and guidelines over. If the fic is deemed to be fine but you reported it anyway, chances are we might come down on you for wasting our time. And besides, this is not the time or place for grudge wank so definitely don’t report someone because you don’t like the review they left you or other such petty actions. You’re in the mature forum, act it.
Header Requirements, Ratings and Warnings Guide
· First of all, all fics should have a header on them with the information as follows:
Title:
Author:
Status: (such as one-shot, complete, in-progress)
Summary: (Please no ‘just read it’ or ‘I suck at summaries’ kind of things here. It’s important to give the reader in a forum like this a quick gist of your plot in the summary and it usually can be done in just a few sentences. This field is REQUIRED)
Pairing(s): (Optional – list any romantic couplings your story features if you wish)
Character(s): (Optional – list characters or character groups with starring roles if you wish)
Rating: (Required – see our list of ratings seems how we can’t use the movie system…we have our own!)
Genre(s): (Required. A list of possibilities and what they usually mean will follow below)
Warnings: (Required. A list of the biggest warnings can be found below, which lets the reader know basically what type of content earned the fic its rating. Where someone might be fine with language, they may not like sexual themed things so be sure to warn for any and all)
Do note that if you’re writing a multi-part story, you only have to put this header on your first part or chapter. You can, if you wish, reiterate particular warnings again in an author’s note or something, at the top of the chapter it most applies to. That’s up to you. CYA as you see fit.
Ratings:
The MPAA is frowning upon use of their movie rating systems in fic archives. So to protect TCL legally, we’ve come up with our own version, only using the MPAA version below as means of comparison/reference. Fics posted must use our new system. Thanks.
· “G” will be Level 1, here. A Level 1 fic would be about as harmless as the canon material and can be posted in the open, general fan fiction forum (link)
· “PG” will be Level 2. Level 2 fics touch upon or elude to themes that are a little too heavy or complex for youngsters to grasp, so parents may have to decide if they want their kids pondering such things. Also can include aspects like milder language or mild violence. Such fics can also go in the other fic forum.
· “PG-13” will be Level 3. Such fics are generally recommended for young people in their teens or older, due to either subject matter or language and violence levels. Parental judgment for the under 18 crowd still recommended.
· “R” will become Level 4 and this is why we have this restricted forum. These fics will have some aspect that’s potential offensive to someone’s sensibilities whether it be stronger language, stronger violence, and/or adult themes of some sort. Examples of adult situations would be subject matter/elements the show never dealt with that can be considered too heavy, controversial, or offensive, or perhaps subjects the show simplified (like drug addiction) but your story delves into it deeper. Death, sexual subjects, mild scenes, or innuendo, and other mature or complex subject matters would be considered adult situations. The warning list will help you get specific with that, but if your fic contains any or all of those elements, give it a Level 4 rating. No underage sex can be depicted, however.
· “NC-17” will be Level 5. These fics are not for the under 18 crowd at all regardless of adult input, and as a general rule will contain a blunt look at something bound to offend someone, somewhere and usually entails some sexual content as well. This rating covers issues the Level 4 looks at, but the intensity is ramped up, basically, to earn it this higher level. There’s more details, things are more graphic than a Level 4, and so on. No underage sex can be depicted, however.
· X is not allowed here at all, so if the story is dripping with profanity, violence and gore, and hardcore sex scenes they don’t belong at TCL at all. Sorry.
If you are unsure what to rate your fic, you can ask for help in the discussion area of the mature forum, or seek a mod’s thoughts on it. Then again, if all else fails, rate it one step higher than you initially figured. It covers your bum, even at the risk of upsetting some reader that thought they were in for say, a steamier story than they got. I’d rather have someone irked there was less sexy than they wanted than someone looking to avoid that altogether and running across it unexpectedly.
Warnings:
Adult Situations: A broader warning covering any number of things that might be handled in the story such as drug use, deaths, sexual themes and innuendo, complex relationships, frightening imagery, and so on, that younger readers would grapple with. Good if you have things in there that aren’t covered by the terms below.
Character Death: This one is tricky, so use your judgment. There are instances where this warning can spoil a story, but if you can warn readers of this and not spoil the story please do so. This generally implies that a canon character that didn’t die in the show is going to die at some point in the story, applying less-so to OC’s.
Mild Language: This covers cursing and other ‘colorful’ language of the milder variety. Language used should be among what is generally the least offensive oaths, and occur sparingly.
Mild Sexual Content: For the more fluffy romance scenes, or romance novel types of sexual scenes. Also good warning for any innuendo or the fade-to-black kind of sex scenes (implied sex). Basically, if the sex scenes don’t happen frequently and aren’t described in play-by-play detail, this is the warning for you.
Mild Violence: For violence that goes beyond the ‘cartoony’ stuff in the show, and yet isn’t described in too graphic of detail. Meaning, a character can get hurt and bleed, and that be mentioned, but you don’t go into huge detail about the character’s pain or wounds.
Rape: If your story contains any implied or described non-con or rape, you have to put this warning on it. Non-con means ‘non-consensual’.
Strong Language: For stories that use stronger curse words or really colorful expressions. Still, there shouldn’t be stories laden with F-bombs and offensive language so use some restraint.
Strong Sexual Content: For steamier, more detailed in description action that would earn a story an automatic Level 5 rating. Or for stories that are built around sexual stuff, where it happens rather frequently. Basically, your average lemon fic warning. However, keep in mind X isn’t allowed, so let’s not go overboard.
Strong Violence: If the violence in your story is shown in gripping detail, use this warning. Still, we’re not aiming for stories that drip in nothing but blood or just have graphic violence for the sake of it. Be reasonable.
Genres:
If a genre you know of and want to use is not listed, please let the mod know and it’ll be considered for adding. For now, these are some basic, accepted genres.
AU (Alternate Universe): There are generally two kinds of AU fics. One is the ‘what if’ scenario, such as “What if Thundera never exploded?” and the writer begins from that altered premise. Or the author pics a point in canon to diverge from significantly, altering the course from there on out. For example, they rewrite the anointment trials in some way, making canon altered from that point on out.
The other kind usually takes the canon characters and puts them in another setting entirely, such as “The Thundercats visit modern day Earth” scenario.
