Let’s face it, there are way too many websites on the internet that are full of stuff that we don’t want to see.
Problem is, a lot of people will laugh at you for simply wanting to shield your eyes from the trash that’s out there.
With Inklings, that’s not an issue. Why? Because we’ve got a strict set of rules that our authors agree to follow prior to posting. In the event that something slips through, we allow our readers to reach out and report stories that infringe on the rules we’ve set in place.
If you have a story to report, please visit this page here.
The Ten Commandments of Inklings
Thou shalt not swear.
This rule has a bit of leeway as far as “swearing” is concerned, but the gist of it is that authors will keep swear words to an absolute minimum and totally exclude all the stronger swear words entirely. Authors are instructed to use “Christian swear words” or to make up their own set of swear words entirely.
Thou shalt not bear false witness.
Don’t misrepresent Christianity. There’s a ton of “theology” out there that’s preaching counter-scriptural things nowadays. Avoid these super fringy things or risk being reported and being barred from posting additional stories. We’re not here to paint our faith as something that it is not. If you’re vouching for something that isn’t in the Bible and saying it’s God’s word, beware.
Now, I know that there are people that misrepresent the Bible in real life, so you can include that, but don’t pretend like they’re correct. If you do include these false teachings, please have a warning at the start of your story. Some people don’t want to read anything with false teachings, so they wouldn’t enjoy your story anyway. (Plus they’re more apt to report you.)
Thou shalt not steal.
Authors must use photos that are their own, or that they have permission to use commercially. Additionally, all photos should be “clean” and void of any sexual content.
Additionally, authors cannot steal credit for others’ work. All works should be original creations. Sadly, this does exclude fanfiction at this time, but you can easily swap some names around, change a couple other things, and then call it your own!
Thou shalt be kind.
Be kind, we’re all human. This rule applies to readers and authors alike.
Readers, don’t be harsh critics. You can offer pointers and point out errors kindly, but don’t be a poop turd. (A swear word I made up.)
Authors, don’t portray people like they’re demons (unless they’re demon possessed, of course.) Yeah, people can be mean and I get where you’re coming from, but don’t paint people with a broad brush. Essentially, avoid spreading hate about certain groups of people. That’s not something Jesus would do.
Thou shalt write what you will.
The world is a big place and there are many stories to be told. Write what you will and don’t copy someone else’s work! (Doing so means you’re breaking rule number 3 too!)
I provide a bunch of prompts for you to write off of, so there’s no reason to rip off someone else’s work entirely anyways. And, again, that’s stealing and it’s both wrong and illegal. Please note that the prompts I provide are entirely free for you to use as well! Use them in your books and stories! Sell the books some day! I’d love to hear if you do write a whole book that you publish that’s based off one of my prompts!
Thou shalt not murder.
Authors can kill people in their books, but they cannot murder people in the name of doing research for their book. Additionally, other sins are not permitted in the name of “research” for your stories. (This rule is intended to be a joke.)
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Something I have zero patience for is inappropriate scenes in movies and books. I’m not alone in this.
As such, one of the paramount rules in Inklings Fiction is that every story has to be “clean” and have NO “on camera” scenes involving intimate relations between individuals. These moments may be referenced offhandedly in passing within stories, but it cannot be explained in detail.
This is one of the main rules on this site, but I put it this far down to make it rule number seven, just like the adultery rule is number seven in the Bible.
Thou shalt enjoy!
Our authors put in a ton of time. Authors, enjoy your writing! Readers, enjoy the stories!
Thou shalt leave reviews.
This isn’t as much a rule as it is a plea. Authors love getting reviews because it lets them know that people are really reading their stuff and enjoying it! If you liked a story, please be sure to let the author know! Please be sure to be kind in your reviews, you can point out errors, but please be kind.
Thou shalt share InklingsFiction with your friends.
If you share this site with your friends, you help Christian authors succeed, and you get to share some great, clean stories. Additionally, your friend might begin writing their own story that could just change the world!
No, this isn’t a rule either, but I would love it if you could share InklingsFiction with everyone you knew!
Why all the rules?
Rules stand as bumpers to keep everyone on track. Without rules and laws, the world would be an even worse place to live. As such, the rules of this website exist to keep readers safe. The whole world is on the internet, children included, and kids are exposed to enough trash as it is. I’ve chosen to provide at least one site that they can be safe from some of the filth out there.
Additionally, I could never find a webnovel site that had clean stories for me to read exclusively. Sometimes I’d find a site and start reading to my heart’s content when I’d suddenly get “flashed” with a bad one. Or I’d get inappropriate (or inapro-pro, as I call it) stories recommended to me just because they were “trending”. Inklings Fiction will not do that ever.
But, the internet is a big place.
There are people who like spreading bad stuff.
As such, I need the help of the readers and authors alike to help me keep Inklings Fiction safe for years to come. If you find a bad story, please copy down its title and author and report it. Help be the peacekeepers that will keep Inklings on the straight and narrow.