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Mod Note, March 4, 2024: Please refer to our new rules thread instead of this one!
For all first timers, the Writers' Workshop is home to the forum's creative writing. If you've written prose fiction, poetry, essays, non-fiction short stories, or any kind of creative writing you want to share with everyone, then this is the place for you! This thread in is a guide to help you get started with useful links, an FAQ, and our rules.
If you are hosting or participating in roleplay, the roleplaying rules can be found in this thread.
Please remember that all forum-wide rules apply in the Workshop as well, so ensure you read and follow them alongside these ones.
1) Mislabelled Threads
All threads containing sexual, violent, or other potentially inappropriate content must be labelled with the appropriate prefix of EVERYONE, TEEN, or MATURE and must state in the first post what that inappropriate content is.
- Please refer to the Rating Guide for more details, located here.
2) Superfluous Thread
All threads should be created and maintained appropriately.
- Game travelogs, Nuzlocke fics, Let's Plays, and other niche types of fanwork are allowed as long as the contents are primarily in a written format (ie., no video-based Let's Plays or one-sentence screenshot captions).
- You can post foreign words, short phrases, and other kinds of codeswitching in moderation and without an accompanying English translation. Full poems and song lyrics in other languages are okay to post as well, though we ask that an English translation be provided.
3) Plagiarism
Do not post content written by someone else or use characters belonging to other users unless given explicit permission by them.
Users may link to work posted on other sites, but should include a preview (of prologue/chapter length) in the thread. Full stories posted here tend to get more attention, however!
1) Can I still participate in the section even if I don't write?
Sure! You're welcome to comment on stories and join in discussions in the Written Word.
2) What's the Written Word, exactly?
The Written Word is where you can discuss all aspects of writing, ask for help with your writing, or to talk to other users about anything else in the General Chat Thread.
There has been some confusion in the past about keeping anything worldbuilding-related to blogs only, but we welcome you to share your world by making a thread for it in the Written Word labelled with the WORLDBUILDING prefix. One thread per setting is allowed.
3) What's the Workshop Archive?
The Workshop Archive is where completed and abandoned works are stored, so have a read of some great work from the past! You can use the COMPLETE prefix as a filter if you're specifically looking for one-shots, poems, and completed chaptered fics.
4) Do I have to review?
Reviewing is not required, but we do encourage it so that writers can get feedback, improve, or at least know someone is reading. You don't even have to write a lot. Just letting the author know you are reading can make a world of difference! For advice on reviewing, click here and here.
5) I've already finished my story. Can I post it all in one go?
You can update your thread as regularly as you want, but we recommend waiting for a day or two between each chapter/installment. This gives your fellow users more time to read your story and share their thoughts.
6) I'm still confused about a few things. Who can I talk to?
You can talk to the mods! We'll answer any questions.
No problem! If you have any questions, contact a moderator or post in this thread. We won't bite! Also, if you believe another user has broken the rules, feel free to use the Report button so that the moderators can discuss and take action accordingly.
Forum Moderators: @LightningTopaz, @Beth Pavell, @Cresselia92, @namohysip, @Torchic W. Pip, and @lisianthus
For all first timers, the Writers' Workshop is home to the forum's creative writing. If you've written prose fiction, poetry, essays, non-fiction short stories, or any kind of creative writing you want to share with everyone, then this is the place for you! This thread in is a guide to help you get started with useful links, an FAQ, and our rules.
If you are hosting or participating in roleplay, the roleplaying rules can be found in this thread.
Please remember that all forum-wide rules apply in the Workshop as well, so ensure you read and follow them alongside these ones.
1) Mislabelled Threads
All threads containing sexual, violent, or other potentially inappropriate content must be labelled with the appropriate prefix of EVERYONE, TEEN, or MATURE and must state in the first post what that inappropriate content is.
- Please refer to the Rating Guide for more details, located here.
2) Superfluous Thread
All threads should be created and maintained appropriately.
- The first post of each thread must contain part of the work, in the form of either content, a teaser, or an index/table of contents.
- Users who post the index first should post the first chapter/entry within a reasonable time frame.
- Do not create new threads for separate chapters of one story. Multiple pieces of short poetry, related short stories, and nonfiction works that are part of a series should also be contained in one thread.
- Game travelogs, Nuzlocke fics, Let's Plays, and other niche types of fanwork are allowed as long as the contents are primarily in a written format (ie., no video-based Let's Plays or one-sentence screenshot captions).
- You can post foreign words, short phrases, and other kinds of codeswitching in moderation and without an accompanying English translation. Full poems and song lyrics in other languages are okay to post as well, though we ask that an English translation be provided.
3) Plagiarism
Do not post content written by someone else or use characters belonging to other users unless given explicit permission by them.
- Brief, non-detailed references to other fan-works and/or fan-characters are allowed.
- Collaboration is allowed. If you post a piece you co-wrote with someone, please credit your co-author accordingly.
Users may link to work posted on other sites, but should include a preview (of prologue/chapter length) in the thread. Full stories posted here tend to get more attention, however!
- Advertising your work in other users' threads and/or through private messages is not allowed. Bringing up your own work as part of a thoughtful discussion is not considered advertising.
- The Fic Advertisement Thread and your signature are the only appropriate locations to advertise your work.
- Paid commission details are not allowed here, nor are off-site links to paid commission details.
- The Simple Questions, Simple Answers thread is for all your quick questions related to writing or Pokémon fanfiction!
- The Plot Bunny Zoo is available if you need inspiration, or feedback for a plot you thought of yourself.
- The Samples Thread can be used to post a short excerpt of writing you'd like immediate feedback on.
- The Need a Name Thread will help you name your characters, fictional places, stories, or anything needing a name!
- The Writers' Workshop General Chat Thread is where you can talk about anything and everything with our writers!
- Review League is a Writers Workshop exclusive activity where you can earn points and prizes for each review you post!
- The Review Game is where you can review work written by the poster before you, and in return, you'll get a review yourself!
- The Weekly Prompt Thread is updated every Monday with a prompt you can incorporate into your own writing!
- The Workshop Writing Academy has many lessons for writers who are looking for tips on different aspects of writing, including worldbuilding, description, or characters.
- Bulbagarden's public Discord chat has a #writing channel for discussing the writing craft, sharing short excerpts of your writing to get feedback, offering and asking for fic recs, hosting word wars—all in real time!
1) Can I still participate in the section even if I don't write?
Sure! You're welcome to comment on stories and join in discussions in the Written Word.
2) What's the Written Word, exactly?
The Written Word is where you can discuss all aspects of writing, ask for help with your writing, or to talk to other users about anything else in the General Chat Thread.
There has been some confusion in the past about keeping anything worldbuilding-related to blogs only, but we welcome you to share your world by making a thread for it in the Written Word labelled with the WORLDBUILDING prefix. One thread per setting is allowed.
3) What's the Workshop Archive?
The Workshop Archive is where completed and abandoned works are stored, so have a read of some great work from the past! You can use the COMPLETE prefix as a filter if you're specifically looking for one-shots, poems, and completed chaptered fics.
4) Do I have to review?
Reviewing is not required, but we do encourage it so that writers can get feedback, improve, or at least know someone is reading. You don't even have to write a lot. Just letting the author know you are reading can make a world of difference! For advice on reviewing, click here and here.
5) I've already finished my story. Can I post it all in one go?
You can update your thread as regularly as you want, but we recommend waiting for a day or two between each chapter/installment. This gives your fellow users more time to read your story and share their thoughts.
6) I'm still confused about a few things. Who can I talk to?
You can talk to the mods! We'll answer any questions.
No problem! If you have any questions, contact a moderator or post in this thread. We won't bite! Also, if you believe another user has broken the rules, feel free to use the Report button so that the moderators can discuss and take action accordingly.
Forum Moderators: @LightningTopaz, @Beth Pavell, @Cresselia92, @namohysip, @Torchic W. Pip, and @lisianthus
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