NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program

We want everyone who uses NaNoWriMo's Young Writers Program website to have a safe, fun experience. Below are some things to keep in mind when using our site.

By agreeing to our Terms & Conditions, you also agree to these guidelines. They apply specifically to forum posts, classroom posts, and profile information.

If you have questions or aren’t sure about something, email a moderator. We’re here to help!

Respect.

No matter what, we expect everyone to treat each other (and themselves) with respect.

We do not allow racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, hate speech, harassment, personal attacks, or bullying.

Keep it clean.

Don’t post things that you wouldn’t want your parents or teachers to see, including bad language, adult content, or criminal topics. This includes links to other websites that feature stuff like this.

Avoid discussions of violence, including self-harm and imaginary violence to others.

Keep it legal.

Only post something if you know you have the right to do so. If it’s not yours, don’t post it! This includes pictures, writing, songs, etc. Only share your own writing and content. If you do have permission, make sure you include credit.

No discussion of illegal activity will be allowed, even jokingly. Don’t encourage anyone to do anything that’s illegal.

Stay safe.

Don’t share specific, personal information. This includes your exact location, addresses, phone numbers, etc. In general, it's best not to get more specific than states or provinces.

Never give your password to anyone. Account sharing is not allowed. Accounts are free, so if a friend wants to use the YWP site, they’ll need to use their own account to do so!

Be polite.

This is a big, diverse community. We have different ideas and different lives. Be polite, even when you disagree. Don’t do things with the intent of upsetting or interrupting other people. Treat others how you would want to be treated!

Because this is primarily a writing website, we do not allow serious political or cultural debates. While you're free to talk thoughtfully about your beliefs, please don't try and convince others that what they believe is wrong.

Be inclusive.

The YWP website is the perfect place to get to know all kinds of people. Whether you're involved in a role-play or a brainstorming session, don’t exclude anyone who is acting in line with these guidelines.

Be nice.

Help others. Be encouraging and supportive.

Be smart.

While we want to believe everyone is telling the truth, some people like to make up things when they’re online. Keep your brain engaged, and be smart about what you read.

How to Report

Forum Posts

To report a forum post that you believe is in violation of our Codes of Conduct, click the flag icon in the bottom right of the post container. This will allow you to report it, plus tell us why you think it’s problematic. Our moderators look at flagged posts several times a day and will quickly address the issue.

Classroom Posts

To report a classroom post that you believe is in violation of our Codes of Conduct, alert your classroom’s educator via direct message. Click their avatar in the “Direct Messages” panel, and copy and paste the entire post so they can see it.

Educators take responsibility for the posts in their classrooms, but can also ask moderators for help.

Profiles

To report a profile that you believe is in violation of the codes of our Codes of Conduct, email a moderator. Include the username associated with the profile, and copy and paste the text so we can review it.

Moderators will edit or remove any post or profile that violates the guidelines above. Continued violation will result in a block from forums and/or a deletion of your YWP website account.