Zoeshire

Zoeshire is a website dedicated to creative writing. Whether you write fiction, narrative nonfiction, or personal essays, Zoeshire is the place for you.

Zoeshire is also a community. Community members are expected to comport themselves in an adult manner. To that end, there are a few guidelines each member is expected to follow.

1. No spam!

   We hates spam. We hates it. Any content that is deemed to be spam will be removed.

2. Avoid ad hominem attacks.

   When critiquing or replying to content posted by others, please do not resort to name-calling, character assassination, or other ad hominem attacks. It's unseemly and immature.

3. Write from the heart, using the brain.

   Zoeshire is about writing. Write the best you can.

4. Be prepared to take constructive criticism.

   Even the best author has room for improvement. When others criticize your work, remember they are not attacking you, unless they ignored rule #2, in which case they are being immature and unseemly. Take suggestions and criticisms as they are intended: as pointers to help you improve as a writer.

   After all, that's why we're here.

5. Do not post content for which you do not own the copyright.

   In general, that means, "Don't post any content you did not write." This is a site about your writing. If you didn't write it, please don't post it.

Writing contest rules

From time to time, Zoeshire will hold contests. Each contest may differ in terms of story length, acceptable themes, or in other criteria. However, each contest will follow these general rules, regulations, terms, and conditions:

1. The decision of the judges is final.

   The funny thing about aesthetics is, every person has a different set. The judges select one piece of writing above another based on certain criteria, but in the end, it is their decision. Some people may not like the decision, but there's no point in quibbling.

   The decision of the judges is final.

2. Submissions that do not conform to contest criteria will be disqualified.

   If the contest specifies a maximum word count, any submission that exceeds that count by even one word will be automatically disqualified. Similarly, if the contest specifies submissions must be fiction that feature the Greenlandic greater glacier vole, the story must feature the Greenlandic greater glacier vole as a major character or plot point, and not just mention the protagonist's love of Greenlandic greater glacier voles.

3. Entries must be submitted via email, as plain text, with a blank line separating paragraphs.

   Please submit all entries to the email address listed in the contest announcement. The submission should be in plain ASCII text only, submitted either in the body of the email, or as an attachment.

   Some formatting hints: use slants ("slashes") to indicate italics, like this: "Elephants are /so/ cool." Use asterisks ("stars," "splats") to indicate bold, thusly: "The computer complained. *Beep*. *Beep*."

   We like plain text. It's simple, it's easy, and it means we don't have to fuss with different document formats. You can usually use the "Save As..." feature of your favorite word processor: choose the format that looks something like, "Text (*.txt)."

   Submissions in any other format will be disqualified.

4. All submissions may be published by Zoeshire.

   All submissions to any Zoeshire contest may be published during that contest's publication period, which is specified in each contest's announcement. By submitting an entry to the contest, you grant Zoeshire one-time online publication rights to that entry, whether the entry wins or does not win the contest. Works published on-line will remain on-line indefinitely.

   If at some future time Zoeshire wishes to include the submission in a Zoeshire anthology, Zoeshire will negotiate compilation rights for the work.

5. All submissions must be unpublished original works of the submitter.

   You must be the sole copyright owner of any works you submit. Further, you must be the original author of any works you submit.

   Also, no previously-published work will be accepted.

6. Submissions must be written in English.

   Not all of the judges read Elvish, Farsi, Aleutic, or Klingon. Please submit only original, unpublished English works. English translations of your own original, unpublished work are also acceptable, if you do the translating.