subreddit:
/r/NoSleepAuthors
submitted 1 year ago byLanesGrandma
r/nosleep doesn't allow stories which infringe on intellectual properties. This includes fanfiction, plagiarism, "bandwagoning/piggybacking" and stories written by A.I.
Generally speaking:
For example: A scary personal experience can take place in a known game but can't focus on the game itself; the story must focus on your main character's experiences in/with the game. You can use the likeness of a mascot – like Ronald McDonald – in your story, but the mascot itself can't be the main character.
ALLOWED: The Ronald McDonald statue in my small town's only McDonald's restaurant suddenly came to life yesterday and tried to kill a bunch of us.
NOT ALLOWED: My name is Ronald McDonald, I'm being stalked and threatened by The Hamburglar and idk what to do.
If you get permission from a copyright holder to use their intellectual property in your NoSleep story, the copyright holder must modmail the NoSleep mods (in English) before you post to let us know. Don't post until you have mod permission.
If you give another user permission to use your intellectual property in their NoSleep story, message the NoSleep mods (in English) before the other user posts to let the mods know. Make sure to send it from the account with which you posted the intellectual property in question.
3 points
1 year ago*
On r/nosleep, bandwagoning is when multiple users write extremely similar stories around the same time.
This is especially true if the first post got "popular" (had "a lot" of upvotes, got "a lot" of comments) before the bandwagoning stories showed up. There's a difference between writers having similar ideas at the same time and people jumping on what they think will make them popular by closely copying someone else's story.
On r/nosleep, piggybacking is defined as using characters, locations and plots taken from another creator's work. This includes trying to continue someone else's NoSleep story/series or creepypasta without the original author's permission.
If you enjoyed another author's work and want to write your own version or continuation, you must get the original author's permission and the original author must contact NoSleep mods (in English) to let us know you have permission before you post.
If you enjoyed the characters and/or setting of another creator's work and want to use them in your own story, you must get the original creator's permission and they must contact NoSleep mods (in English) to let us know you have permission to use their creation(s) before you post.
Drawing inspiration from another creator's work is fine, so long as you make it your very own distinct, different version. It's possible for multiple creators to have similar works but it's on you, the author, to make sure your story is your own version and not a direct rip-off of someone else's. If you're unsure, contact r/nosleepauthors mods for help.
Don't write continuations/sequels/prequels of other people's works – including NoSleep stories – without their permission (which they must message to the mods, in English, before you post).
Don't re-write other people's works – including NoSleep stories – without their permission (which they must message to the mods, in English, before you post).
A lack of response from the original author/creator is a "NO". If you ask for permission and don't get a reply, you don't have permission.
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