Terms of Service

Effective Date: 6th February 2026
Publication Name: Shut Up and Write Community

A Declaration

This publication exists for the written word — for sentences shaped by breath, by doubt, by memory, by lived experience.

By reading, subscribing, submitting work, or participating in this space, you agree to the following terms. They are not only rules. They are commitments.

I. On the Purpose of This Space

Shut Up and Write is a literary community hosted on Substack, we are also on Wattpad, Discord, Threads, Instagram and Facebook.

It is a place for original writing. For language that carries the imprint of the human mind that formed it. For conversation that deepens rather than diminishes.

We reserve the right to curate, edit, pause, remove, or discontinue content or participation in order to protect the integrity of this space.

II. On Authorship

The words here belong to their authors.

Every essay, poem, story, and reflection remains the intellectual property of the person who wrote it. Publication in this space does not transfer copyright ownership to us.

By publishing here, contributors grant the publication a limited, non-exclusive license to display and distribute their work through Substack and related channels. That license exists solely so the work may live here.

No content may be copied, reproduced, republished, distributed, or used elsewhere without the express written consent of its author, except as permitted under applicable copyright law.

Authorship matters. Ownership matters. Voice matters.

III. On Human Creation

This is a space for human writing.

We do not publish work that is generated wholly or substantially by artificial intelligence systems.

By submitting work, you affirm that:

• You are the human author of the work

• The work is your original creation

• It was not generated or materially composed using generative AI tools

Spelling and grammar tools are acceptable. Machine-generated drafts, rewrites, or compositions are not.

If work is found to violate this principle, we reserve the right to decline, remove, or retract it.

This is not a rejection of technology. It is a defense of voice.

IV. On Participation

A literary community depends on mutual respect.

By participating in comments or discussion, you agree not to:

• Harass, threaten, or demean others

• Post abusive, discriminatory, or hateful content

• Infringe upon intellectual property rights

• Intentionally disrupt the integrity of conversation

We reserve the right to moderate, edit, remove content, or suspend access where necessary.

Freedom of expression does not include the freedom to harm.

V. On Submissions

By submitting work, you represent and warrant that:

• You own the rights to the work

• The work does not infringe on the rights of others

• The work does not violate any law

Editorial decisions remain at our discretion.

We may edit for clarity, formatting, or length. We may decline publication. Curation is not censorship; it is stewardship.

VI. On Subscriptions & Exchange

Some writing may be offered through paid subscription.

Payments are processed through Substack and its payment providers. We do not store full payment information. Subscription management is governed by Substack’s platform policies.

Support sustains the work. Participation is voluntary.

VII. On Responsibility & Risk

The views expressed here belong to individual contributors.

Content is provided for creative and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice of any kind.

This publication is offered “as is.” To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect or consequential damages arising from its use.

Participation in any community carries risk. You assume that risk when you enter.

VIII. On Change

Language evolves. Communities evolve.

We may revise these Terms from time to time. Updated Terms will be posted with a revised effective date. Continued participation constitutes acceptance of those changes.