Values and Standards
CORE PHILOSOPHY
Story Realm is a family website intended for people of all ages. It centers on the belief that everyone’s story deserves to be told and that stories have the power to bring people together. To create a welcoming and comfortable environment for all our users, we choose content that reflects the following values:
- - Honesty and Integrity
- - Compassion and Generosity
- - Responsibility and Stewardship
- - Tolerance and Equality
- - Respect and Fairness
- - Discretion and Courtesy
At Story Realm, we wholly embrace these values and aim to express them not only through story content and associated materials, but also through the design of our website environment and the support we provide to our members.
OUR STANDARDS
Story Realm uses these age-specific, value-based guidelines to help users navigate the website and to ensure that the appropriate content reaches the right people.
Acceptable Content
This is a family website. Content must not be pornographic, immoral, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate. Content must not infringe, slander, or cause harm to a person or property. Content must not portray a person in a detrimental manner that could defame or reflect poorly on the person.
Contributors must abide by and comply with our website values and standards.
Compelling Voice and structure
Whether you are writing a poem, a nonfiction account, or a fictional story, the theme must be relevant and told in a compelling and consistent "voice" or structure that quickly draws people into your narrative and causes them to keep reading.
Convincing Descriptions
An author must provide good description of both characters and setting. Proper use of descriptors makes the story come alive to the reader, and gives a strong sense of place and colour to the story characters.
Thematic Cohesion
To maintain interest, the author must create a good theme that takes the reader on a journey. The theme contains cohesive elements that tie the story together and create a sense of meaning.
Effective Resolution
All stories, essays, or poems need to create a sense of closure by tying elements together in a meaningful way. Remember, your narrative is taking readers and listeners on a journey of some type, so provide a satisfactory conclusion.
Accuracy
We are sticklers on getting the mechanics of a story right. Review and edit your story before submitting to avoid spelling mistakes, poor grammar, or missing punctuation.
Specific Standards for Written Stories
For Fictional Works
- A gripping beginning
- Believable and well-developed characters
- Effective transitions from event to event
- Consistent voice and point of view
- Discernable audience
For Nonfictional Works
- Relevant subject
- Intelligent, compelling structure
- Good details illustrating the writers main point
For Poems
- Good form that enhances content
- Good cohesion
GENERAL SITE CONTENT AND REFERENCE MATERIAL
All site content and reference material will be appropriate for all ages.