Standing On Boxes
just over there...


 

 

Fanfic Ratings Guide

Note: I'm an adult. Honest. So I write things that are potentially for adults. While I don't plan on putting anything here that is overly/gratuitously violent or heavy on the sex or slash (aka fanfic sex between characters of the same gender) I've decided to use a rating system for my stories so people know what they are getting into.

Any fanfic posted to any of the fanfic archives requires it so I'll just use here what I use when I post something there.

There isn't any way to enforce such things in a reasonable manner (until I implement a software based archive system). So at this point I'm not going to block access to these fics, like LiveJournal and a few other sites do. I'm just using them for those who insist on knowing before they read something


There are assorted rating systems in widespread use. Here are a few:


I'd originally planned on using the MPAA ratings system but that was before they started sending out Cease and Desist letters to some fanfic sites.

Also, most rating systems don't really provide enough info. My system is more of a content info/warning rating. I'll eventually use both my own system (as I refine it) and whatever my favorite fic archive sites use.

My rating system - subject to change at any time.

RatingDescription
A Good enough for anyone. No sex, no violence, no subtext. Only canon relationships among the fic characters (aka - no character gender preference changing.)
15C Non-graphic violence. Subtext. Possible adult situations. Any sex happens off-screen.
C = Canon pairings, if any (Yes, that does mean that a Willow/Tara or Willow/Kennedy pairing would get this rating if all the other pairings are canon. The rating isn't about gender preferences.)
15U Non-graphic violence. Subtext. Possible adult situations. Any sex that might occur happens off-screen.
U = unconventional/non-canon pairings (includes non-canon m/m or f/f)
18V Adult situations. This includes graphic violence or possible character death.
+U = unconventional/non-canon pairings (includes non-canon m/m or f/f)
+C = canon pairings (includes canon m/m or f/f)
18S Adult situations. This includes non-graphic sex.
+U = unconventional/non-canon pairings (includes non-canon m/m or f/f)
+C = canon pairings (includes canon m/m or f/f
M Adult situations. This includes graphic sex and violence. None of my stories should ever have this rating.



All original material © Copyright 2009 Andy Stoffel.
Last update: 10/30/09; 12:36:17 AM.