MOD POST: On Ratings & Betas.
Okay, boners.
So I've noticed a bit of a phenomenon going on lately in the comm regarding ratings on fics. I will put it rather bluntly because it's been popping up a lot: There are standard ratings on fics for a reason. It's so that everyone knows what to expect in your fic, so making up your own ratings undermines this entire concept. There's even a link to the Motion Picture Association of America's rating guide in the sidebar because, uh, everyone watches movies so I thought that would make it easier. NC-11 is not a thing. PG-22 is not a thing. I'm totally just making these up here, but... It doesn't make sense, right? You see what I'm saying? Please read the rating guide because it is really helpful and it explains things so much better than I can.
I really don't want to be a nag here or rain on anyone's parade, but... It makes it so much easier and it makes your fic look so much more appealing if you use ratings that everyone can understand. And if you're unsure of whether you should use one rating or the next heavier one, it's a pretty safe bet to say you should put the stronger rating on it just in case.
Here's a brief, brief rundown of the ratings* and what content falls under them:
- G: Bedtime stories for very, very young children. So sweet it will rot your teeth. Unicorns.
PG: Puppies and kittens. Stuff Matt Flyzik likes to watch on a regular basis while sitting in his nightmarish Mickey Mouse-themed living room.
PG-13: There might be some OMG!KISSING and teen sleepover movie shenanigans. This is, like, the minimum rating you should use if you accidentally drop an F-bomb or something but there's no sexually explicit stuff or anything.
R: This is like... Superbad territory? I guess... sex isn't the focus of this stuff. Like, drinking and all that, yeah, but it's more like Superbad/American Pie, etc. but in fic format. Also, I'm stupid and forgot that this rating exists. Soz.- NC-17: Sex. Drinking. Drugs. Any Millionaires song in fic format. Also anything that involves forms of abuse, mental disorders with graphic descriptions of self-harm or other related behaviours.
*In Canada we have this rating called 14-A, which is kind of a gap between PG-13 and NC-17, so if you're really not sure then you can throw that in and I'll take it.
As an aside, I've noticed a lot of people looking for betas lately so I'm wondering if it would be helpful for you guys if I made a separate entry on beta-ing and how to find a good beta and be a good beta? You could just, like, comment on the post and some wonderful soul could volunteer their services or something... I don't know. You guys tell me if that would be helpful because I really do want you guys to succeed in your writing goals and to get honest, constructive feedback instead of just "LOVED THIS~!!!!!!!" or whatever. Let's get some dialogue going on what you guys want to see happen on the comm in the next few weeks.