It is my goal to create a fun and educational environment. While I know many of us love Worldbuilding and want to talk about it at length, I require you adhere to a few rules.
1. Stay on Topic Unless the post you're in is about something else, try to keep all conversation related to Worldbuilding. I can understand that sometimes people get involved in a conversation that leads them off topic, but I ask that you try to maintain Worldbuilding as much as you can.
2. Be Civil We are likely passionate people who love to build worlds and people. I ask that we all maintain respect for one another. We might differ in opinion, but they are our opinion at the end of the day, and we should respect your opinion, and you should respect that others will have different opinions than you.
3. Spoiler Warnings Especially in discussing Worldbuilding, spoilers for a book, story, or movie might be revealed. If you start a topic and know there will be spoilers, please put that in the title. If you are writing in a post, mark the spoiler with html code:
To hide a spoiler using HTML: [spoiler] place text here [/spoiler] Replace [ ] with < >
4. DO NOT Manipulate Nominations and Polls From time to time we may have Polls or Nominations. This is something fun for all of us to engage in. I can understand wanting to win, but we ask members to keep it friendly and don't cheat.
Do not create sockpuppet accounts just so you can vote for yourself. Do not invite friends to this account, just so they can vote on your behalf Do not urge/manipulate others to vote for you *EXCEPT* There is a post where you can discuss your entry
Any violation determined by the leadership will result in a forfeit of that entry.
For any important poll or nomination, we will set the group to private for the duration of the event.
5. Advertisement We all want to post our information about our works as much as possible. The more we post, the greater chance of sales. I understand that. However, if everyone does it to an excessive amount, then it will be nothing but spam with no discussion being had. Below are guidelines to advertising your book.
What is considered advertisement? Mentioning one’s books by title Linking to one’s books, either here on Goodreads, or on other sites, either via text or image Linking to one’s website, including blogs Advertising for Goodreads or Blog hosted giveaways, promotions, free books, or sales
You are allowed to do all of this, so long as you follow the guidelines. You are an active and participating member in the group. There may well be a specific place to post your book, but anywhere else, we ask that you keep that as much as a minimum unless specific to the topic. However, you can only do that if you are active on the site with a minimum of 25 posts (all advertisement posts will count as 1 post all together).
The follow is considered span, and will not be tolerated Author marketing discussions, including tips & tricks Author stats (anything from Amazon sales rank to NYT Bestseller List placement) etc Using any banners or signatures Phishing or other generally recognized spam (Any user caught phishing etc will be deleted and blocked immediately.) Linking or embedding videos pertaining to one's books, including in the videos section of the group.
With three exceptions (below), ALL advertising or promotion must be posted in the "Advertising and Promotions" folder, in one of the three available threads. Choose the one that is closest to the purpose of your post: • Contests & Giveaways - Advertise blog contests or GR giveaways • Deals & Discounts - Amazon discounts, reduced rate e-books, discount codes, sales, etc. • News & Upcoming Releases - Advertise when we can expect a new book release or other news, etc.
Exceptions: A. When you introduce yourself in the introductory comment, which states who you are and your love of Worldbuilding; you are allowed to mention you are a writer and that you've published. Not a place to showcase your work.
B. If your book is specifically relevant to the conversation. This can be as a request for recommendation, or nominations. Otherwise, you can just say 'my book'. If after saying this someone asks what your book is or wants more information, you can post a link to where to find it (1 link per book) with no pictures.
Failure to follow this will result in deletion of post as it is considered SPAM.
C. Discussions mentioning your own books in the Author Zone folder will not be deleted as a general rule, unless the thread or post contains spam that we do not permit in the group - see below.
How To Tell How Many Comments You've Made in The Group: 1) Find yourself in the member list (located in the menu at the top right of the group homepage). You will see how many comments you've made, which is also a link that will take you to your group comment history. 2) Find a comment you've posted in a thread in the group, and hover your mouse over your picture. You will see a popups with a link to your comment history in the group.
6. Authors in the Group Authors in the group have a folder for their use, the Author Zone. This will be a place for you to discuss your research, Worldbuilding, events, or topics related specifically to your work. You can also advertise here, but only if you continue to use this post. Any posts that only have advertisement in it with nothing else will be deleted (usually check once every few months).
We allow advertisement here, even for new members, but this is a place to discuss your work and Worldbuilding.
The following is not allowed in this section: marketing, how to improve sales, or author stats, or services you offer, requesting reviews, or review swaps.
7. Add Books The only books added at the bottom of the group should be those books that specifically used Worldbuilding to develop the story and is therefore, and example of Worldbuilding in fiction.
It is my goal to create a fun and educational environment. While I know many of us love Worldbuilding and want to talk about it at length, I require you adhere to a few rules.
1. Stay on Topic
Unless the post you're in is about something else, try to keep all conversation related to Worldbuilding. I can understand that sometimes people get involved in a conversation that leads them off topic, but I ask that you try to maintain Worldbuilding as much as you can.
2. Be Civil
We are likely passionate people who love to build worlds and people. I ask that we all maintain respect for one another. We might differ in opinion, but they are our opinion at the end of the day, and we should respect your opinion, and you should respect that others will have different opinions than you.
3. Spoiler Warnings
Especially in discussing Worldbuilding, spoilers for a book, story, or movie might be revealed. If you start a topic and know there will be spoilers, please put that in the title. If you are writing in a post, mark the spoiler with html code:
To hide a spoiler using HTML:
[spoiler] place text here [/spoiler]
Replace [ ] with < >
4. DO NOT Manipulate Nominations and Polls
From time to time we may have Polls or Nominations. This is something fun for all of us to engage in. I can understand wanting to win, but we ask members to keep it friendly and don't cheat.
Do not create sockpuppet accounts just so you can vote for yourself.
Do not invite friends to this account, just so they can vote on your behalf
Do not urge/manipulate others to vote for you
*EXCEPT* There is a post where you can discuss your entry
Any violation determined by the leadership will result in a forfeit of that entry.
For any important poll or nomination, we will set the group to private for the duration of the event.
5. Advertisement
We all want to post our information about our works as much as possible. The more we post, the greater chance of sales. I understand that. However, if everyone does it to an excessive amount, then it will be nothing but spam with no discussion being had. Below are guidelines to advertising your book.
What is considered advertisement?
Mentioning one’s books by title
Linking to one’s books, either here on Goodreads, or on other sites, either via text or image
Linking to one’s website, including blogs
Advertising for Goodreads or Blog hosted giveaways, promotions, free books, or sales
You are allowed to do all of this, so long as you follow the guidelines.
You are an active and participating member in the group. There may well be a specific place to post your book, but anywhere else, we ask that you keep that as much as a minimum unless specific to the topic. However, you can only do that if you are active on the site with a minimum of 25 posts (all advertisement posts will count as 1 post all together).
The follow is considered span, and will not be tolerated
Author marketing discussions, including tips & tricks
Author stats (anything from Amazon sales rank to NYT Bestseller List placement) etc
Using any banners or signatures
Phishing or other generally recognized spam (Any user caught phishing etc will be deleted and blocked immediately.)
Linking or embedding videos pertaining to one's books, including in the videos section of the group.
With three exceptions (below), ALL advertising or promotion must be posted in the "Advertising and Promotions" folder, in one of the three available threads. Choose the one that is closest to the purpose of your post:
• Contests & Giveaways - Advertise blog contests or GR giveaways
• Deals & Discounts - Amazon discounts, reduced rate e-books, discount codes, sales, etc.
• News & Upcoming Releases - Advertise when we can expect a new book release or other news, etc.
Exceptions:
A. When you introduce yourself in the introductory comment, which states who you are and your love of Worldbuilding; you are allowed to mention you are a writer and that you've published. Not a place to showcase your work.
B. If your book is specifically relevant to the conversation. This can be as a request for recommendation, or nominations. Otherwise, you can just say 'my book'. If after saying this someone asks what your book is or wants more information, you can post a link to where to find it (1 link per book) with no pictures.
Failure to follow this will result in deletion of post as it is considered SPAM.
C. Discussions mentioning your own books in the Author Zone folder will not be deleted as a general rule, unless the thread or post contains spam that we do not permit in the group - see below.
How To Tell How Many Comments You've Made in The Group:
1) Find yourself in the member list (located in the menu at the top right of the group homepage). You will see how many comments you've made, which is also a link that will take you to your group comment history.
2) Find a comment you've posted in a thread in the group, and hover your mouse over your picture. You will see a popups with a link to your comment history in the group.
6. Authors in the Group
Authors in the group have a folder for their use, the Author Zone. This will be a place for you to discuss your research, Worldbuilding, events, or topics related specifically to your work. You can also advertise here, but only if you continue to use this post. Any posts that only have advertisement in it with nothing else will be deleted (usually check once every few months).
We allow advertisement here, even for new members, but this is a place to discuss your work and Worldbuilding.
The following is not allowed in this section: marketing, how to improve sales, or author stats, or services you offer, requesting reviews, or review swaps.
7. Add Books
The only books added at the bottom of the group should be those books that specifically used Worldbuilding to develop the story and is therefore, and example of Worldbuilding in fiction.