Rules: Keeping us from 'Unleashing our Imagination'?

 Fanfiction Rules and my opinions.

Normal Type: Rules

Italics: Me

Here is a list of conducts that should always be observed:

Spell check all story and poetry. There is no excuse for not performing this duty. If you do not have a word processor that has the spell checking feature, use a search engine such as Google.com to find one.

This is understandable. You wouldn't want to look like an idiot. I use a spell check for almost all my things. Firefox has a built in spell check, which comes in handy.

Proofread all entries for grammar and other aspects of writing before submission. 'Hot off the press' content is often riddled with errors. No one is perfect but it is the duty of the writer to perform to the best of his/her ability.

This is also understandable. Read through it several times, fix your mistakes and if necessary, get a Beta. 

Respect the reviewers. Not all reviews will strictly praise the work. If someone rightfully criticizes a portion of the writing, take it as a compliment that the reviewer has opted to spend his/her valuable time to help improve your writing.

Of course you should respect them. But what happens if they don't respect you? Should you still respect their opinions? We have tried very hard to be civil, but if we don't get their respect, why do they deserve ours?

Everyone here is an aspiring writer. Respect your fellow members and lend a helping a hand when they need it. Like many things, the path to becoming a better writer is often a two way street.

These...reviews these people have been giving are anything but a helping hand. They call things toxic waste, and swear a million times a review. If they were simply just trying to help that would be fine, but I'm afraid to say that they aren't being very...helpful. 

Use proper textual formatting. For example: using only capital letters in the story title, summary, or content is not only incorrect but also a disregard for the language itself.

WELL OF COURSE THIS ISN'T CORRECT! IT WOULDN'T LOOK RIGHT IF I PUT CAPS LOCK ON AND TYPED MY WHOLE STORY LIKE THIS; WOULD IT?

  The chapter system is not to be used as placeholder for non-story content such as author notes. You can add short author notes to the beginning or at the end of stories but never as individual chapters.

I'm guilty as charged for this one. Every once in a while I have to add one. 

Entries not allowed:

Non-stories: lists, bloopers, polls, previews, challenges, author notes, and etc.

I can understand this one. FanFiction is meant for stories. 

Stories with non-historical and non-fictional characters: actors, musicians, and etc.

So uh...Why is there a Big Time Rush or Jonas Brother section?

Any form of interactive entry: choose your adventure, second person/you based, Q&As, and etc.

Then why is it 'Unleash your Imagination' If you can't Unleash it?

Chat/script format and keyboard dialogue based entries.

 Again? Why Can't you unleash your imagination?

Actions not allowed:

Multiple entries of the same material. There can only be one copy of any unique story on the entire site. No exceptions.

Rewriting names of characters/locations of one story in order to upload to multiple categories.

That's cheating. Write your own stories and put a different idea in each one. 

Copying from a previously published work (including musical lyrics) not in the public domain.

So...sonfics? Again, what happened to 'Unleash your Imagination'?

General rules:

Entry title and summary must be rated K for all audience. No exceptions.

'Kay, I guess that's fine. I mean personally I don't believe in swearing or M rated content.

Entry must be given the proper rating. No exceptions.

Well if something is rated K but it's really M content and a heavy Christian 13 year old starts reading it...well...

Entry must be placed in proper category. No exceptions.

I've seen Glee stories placed under a Percy Jackson category. Please place your stories right.

Chapters of the same story are not allowed to be submitted as separate entries. All chapters/segments must be grouped together using the 'edit/upload chapter' feature in the left menu.

*Winces* I did this accidentally, when I was a newbie to the site. 

I think they should be less...strict about these rules. It might be a mistake. It might be a newbie thing. And we might be trying to, 'Unleash our Imagination'.

Thanks.