Terms of Use

Welcome to Novelizing. This site aims to be:

  1. Non-predatory.
    • This means your content is always your own, we assert no ownership over it.
    • You can delete or stub your work at any time.
    • We are non-exclusive. You can cross post your work. It's your novel, do as you see fit.
    • We don't sell your data to third parties.
    • We don't use your content to train AIs or machine learning models.
  2. Friendly and welcoming.
    • We want to foster a community of writers and readers who are supportive and kind.
    • Remember there's a person on the other side of the screen.
    • This is not a place for hate speech, harassment, or bullying.
    • NSFW content is allowed, but must be clearly marked as such.
  3. A place where new authors can get a start.
    • Anyone can post.
    • Content becomes eligable for monetisation once certain threshholds are reached.
    • 70% of premium subscription money is redistributed to authors, based on chapter view count.
  4. Literary
    • Main lists are scored on reader engagement, style, and grammar.
    • We maintain links with print and audio publishers, and trad-pub deals are possible.

Rules on Welcoming Speech

  1. We strive to remember that there is a person on the other side of the screen.
  2. We strive to be inclusive and welcoming to people fom other walks of life.
  3. This is not a forum to talk about US politics. Not everyone agrees with you, and that's okay. Also, it's super boring for non-Americans. Political discussions are welcome though.
  4. If someone wants you to use their pronouns, be nice and use them, or don't engage. Is someone forgets to use your pronouns, please forgive them and move on.

Rules on NSFW

Use the rule of Marvel. When deciding if something is SFW, ask yourself whether you'd find it in a Marvel movie.

  1. NSFW content must be flagged.
  2. Explicit sexual content is considered NSFW.
  3. Excessive gore may be NSFW. It's a judgement call.

Your relationship to the site.

Content creators (authors) are treated as independent contractors. As such, you are responsible for managing your own taxes on payouts.

Legal Yada Yada (Sorry)

Last Updated: 19 Dec 2024

I've read the below BS pretty carefully and can't see anything egregious. Let me know if you spot something and we'll amend it. It basically says, you own your content, you won't do anything illegal, you'll pay your taxes, and if anything bad happens, it's not our fault and please don't sue us.

The Novelizing Constitution is the lodestone of these terms. In all cases, it takes precedence over the terms. If a term is in conflict with the constitution, the constitution wins. Where we have asserted rights in the terms, we have done so to protect ourselves from legal implications should we need to act quickly for any reason.

There's a bit about deleting accounts. This is a nuclear option, we don't plan on doing this unless absolutely necessary and we will strive to always be fair.

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of Novelizing (the “Platform”), operated by Novelizing Ltd (“we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing, using, or registering an account on the Platform, you (“User” or “Author” if applicable) agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you may not access or use the Platform.

These terms should be interpreted in the context of the Constitution. They do not override rights granted in the Constitution, specifically article four.

  1. Overview of the Platform

    1. The Platform enables Authors to upload literary, artistic, or other creative works (“Content”) and allows Users to subscribe to premium services to access certain restricted chapters or materials (“Premium Content”).
    2. We provide payment processing and may distribute subscription revenue to Authors based on the consumption of their Premium Content, subject to these Terms.

  2. Eligibility and Account Registration

    1. To become an Author and monetize your Content, you must register for an account, provide accurate and complete information, and keep this information updated.
    2. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account.

  3. Author Content and Responsibilities

    1. As an Author, you retain all rights to your Content, except as limited by the licenses granted herein.
    2. By uploading Content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, reproduce, and distribute your Content via the Platform for the purpose of providing Services to Users. This includes promoting the Platform and making excerpts of your work available to potential subscribers. In short, we can put your book on the website, the app, and can use little snippets in adverts, up until you ask us not to.
    3. You may remove your Content from the Platform at any time, subject to any rights granted to Users who have already accessed your Content.
    4. You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights to upload, display, and monetize the Content and that such Content does not violate any applicable law, infringe the rights of others, or contain illegal material.
    5. You are solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining any rights, licenses, or consents required to publish and monetize your Content, including compliance with intellectual property, privacy, and publicity laws.

  4. Premium Content and Subscriptions

    1. We offer paid subscriptions that grant Users access to Premium Content.
    2. Authors may designate certain chapters, episodes, or other portions of their Content as Premium Content, accessible only by subscribers with an active premium membership.
    3. We reserve the right to determine subscription pricing, terms, and payment methods and to modify these at our sole discretion. Any changes will be communicated to Users and Authors as required by law.

  5. Revenue Sharing and Payments

    1. We will track subscription revenue and allocate a portion to Authors based on the consumption or popularity metrics of their Premium Content. The exact allocation formula is at our discretion and may be adjusted from time to time.
    2. Authors must provide accurate payment and tax information to receive payouts. We are not responsible for any bank fees, transaction costs, or exchange rate fluctuations.
    3. We may withhold taxes or other amounts from payments to Authors as required by applicable laws or regulations.

  6. Taxes and Compliance

    1. You are responsible for understanding and complying with all tax obligations that apply to your earnings from the Platform.
    2. Depending on your jurisdiction, we may be required to collect certain tax information (such as Form W-9 or W-8 series in the United States) and issue related tax forms, such as Form 1099-NEC, as required by law.
    3. We may, at our sole discretion, implement withholding measures or remit taxes on your behalf if legally required. You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless for any claims related to your personal tax liabilities.

  7. Intellectual Property

    1. All fictions and works are the property of the respective Authors.
    2. Users may not use another Author's work without written permission from that Author.
    3. All Novelizing trademarks, service marks, logos, and platform materials are our property. Your use of the Platform does not grant you any rights in or to these intellectual property assets.
    4. Your intellectual property remains your own. We will not use your work to train AIs or machine learning models, or for any other purpose without your explicit permission.

  8. Content Restrictions and Enforcement

    1. You may not upload Content that is illegal.
    2. We reserve the right, but have no obligation, to review, remove, or refuse to display any Content that violates these Terms or applicable law, at our sole discretion.

  9. Termination and Suspension

    1. We may terminate or suspend your account and access to the Platform at any time, with or without notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms or any applicable law. However, we will treat this as an absolute last resort.
    2. You may terminate your account at any time by following the instructions on the Platform. Termination does not relieve you of obligations to pay any outstanding fees or taxes.

  10. Limitation of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranties

    1. The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.
    2. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
    3. We shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of the Platform, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

  11. Indemnification

    1. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold us harmless from all claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to (i) your Content, (ii) your use of the Platform, (iii) your violation of these Terms, or (iv) your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.

  12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

    1. These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom, without regard to its conflict of law principles.
    2. Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the Platform shall be resolved through binding arbitration/courts of the United Kingdom, as agreed upon by the parties.

  13. Miscellaneous

    1. If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, that provision shall be severed, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
    2. Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.