House Rules

Guidelines and expectations for members to follow, to keep our chapter a safe & productive space!

Community Expectations

---

Active Participation

Our chapter space is not simply a fantasy fan group, but a community of friends aiming to support each other and our fantastical efforts — participation is key in both fostering that environment, and benefiting from it. Members of the chapter should be active participants, both within the chapter space and the broader WorldAnvil community and platform. Make an effort to get to know one another over time, and make friends outside of the chapter when you can!
We require new members to have the Denizen role in the WorldAnvil Discord server before joining.
We will not expect anyone to be present every day; we all lead busy lives! Effort is what matters most, and it's noticed when you make time for interacting with the chapter.

---

Activity Requirement

In order to keep our space productive and maintain its collaborative nature, members are required to participate in at least one chapter activity every six months. This goes beyond simply chatting, but involves active participation and collaboration with your fellow Tomies!
We encourage more participation than that, but the six month window allows for breaks from writing for those who need it. More information on this in the Inactivity Notice section further down.

What is considered a chapter activity?

• Contributing to chapter event hub articles, like this one
• Participating in cross-chapter collaborations
• Collaborating on projects with chapter members
• Writing articles for the chapter world (coming soon)
• Joining chapter chats (Discord stages/Twitch streams)
• Joining watch parties in chapter voice chat

How else can you contribute?

• Chatting casually with chapter members
• Sharing updates during regular chapter check-ins
• Offering feedback or thoughts on work shared
• Presenting your work for feedback or discussion
• Sharing new ideas with the chapter
• ... and more!

Respect and Reciprocity

Mutual support and a friendly atmosphere is the goal for the chapter space. Treat one another with kindness and respect, and reciprocate the effort of your fellow chapter members by giving as much support as you receive.
All feedback and critiques given should be constructive and well-intentioned. We're here to help one another grow and nurture our passion for worldbuilding — any ill-mannered or destructive criticism will not be tolerated.
Critique and feedback should only be given when requested, or with permission from the poster. A simple, "are you looking for feedback?" can let you know if it's all right! Some writers simply create for the joy it brings them, and aren't seeking technical feedback.

Follow WorldAnvil's Rules

As we are a subgroup of the larger WorldAnvil community, chapter members must adhere to all of WorldAnvil's community and Discord rules and policies, in addition to the House Rules of the chapter itself.
You can read up on WorldAnvil's etiquette policy here:
Community Etiquette
I think it goes without saying that if you frequently break community rules, or are banned from the WorldAnvil community completely, you will no longer be welcome in the chapter.

Inactivity Notice

If you expect to be away from the chapter or WorldAnvil community for an extended period of time, please let the chapter leader know, either directly or by sharing your plans with the channel. If you are inactive for longer than six months without notice, the chapter leader may reach out to you regarding your inactivity, and you may be asked to step down to open a slot for prospective new members.
If you are removed from the chapter due to inactivity, or otherwise step away from the chapter on good terms, you will be welcome to return to the chapter when your availability picks up again, space permitting.
You don't need to let us know if you won't be around as much for a few days, or even a couple weeks, but do keep us informed if you know you won't be around much for longer than that! Formalities aside, we'll also just miss you if you disappear!

Creative Expectations

---

Building on WorldAnvil

Members of the chapter should have an active worldbuilding project hosted on WorldAnvil. Whether it's one world or many, this chapter's aim is to help your world(s) grow by supporting your creativity and helping you make the most of the platform!
Creatives of all kinds are welcome here, be they pure worldbuilders, novelists, artists, or more. Whatever your medium, you must still have a world actively in the works on WorldAnvil.

Fantasy Worldbuilding

Your primary project should be a world in the fantasy genre. All flavors of fantasy are welcome; anything from high fantasy and its sword and sorcery, to low fantasy and its hidden myths and mysteries are welcome in the Tomes.
Some examples of fantasy subgenres can be seen in the list provided. This is not an exhaustive list, as there are many subgenres and niche labels out there. The list should simply give you an idea of what types of worlds might make the best fit for the chapter!
Tooltip information in the list is sourced from Wikipedia descriptions of each genre.
You can have all sorts of side projects outside of the fantasy genre, and we'd be happy to hear about them, too! Just make sure fantasy is your main focus while in the chapter spaces.

Example Fantasy Subgenres:

• High/Epic Fantasy
  • Sword & Sorcery
• Low Fantasy
• Contemporary Fantasy
  • Urban Fantasy
• Dark Fantasy
• Grimdark
• Cosmic Horror