When I saw the title of the thread, I expected there to be something in here about ... ah ... attempting to use proper English. <_< *ducks*

Anyway, I don't think I've violated any of these rules, so I'll just be on my merry way. =3

uh...got a question, in a fanfic, how far could i go with....some stuff relating to...uh...(god how do i wanna say this)...homosexuality without breaking the rules and by that i mean like can i still just treat it like basic relationships in other fanfictions, or should it just be a miniscule hint toward it

Well, i am guessing you could describe the persons feelings to the other. You know the whole cheesy, i feel like i have butterflies in my stomach when ever i am around you. Or how the persons smell appeals to who ever is that is in love. Their feelings basically.

By the way, this is a good thread, should be very helpful to others beginning to write.

ok, wasnt specific enough i guess, could i go far enough as a kissing thing happening, or would i have to have an interruption

I don't have any authority in this forum, but I've talked with those who do, and in order to keep this environment friendly, clean, and free from drama and arguing, this is basically when homosexuality is allowed in stories:

-Homosexuality is not treated as a theme in any sense (example: stories about how the other pets conspire to keep a same-sex couple apart are not allowed; if the story would still work if the characters were of opposite genders, it's okay)
-It stays appropriate and unoffensive (even if the works are not remotely pornographic, it's still possible to squick people)
-It is done without breaking character any more than necessary (all of the characters are straight; if you're going to break this aspect of a character, you'd need to do your best to make them act like themselves in other ways)

This is not a place to paste Housepets! characters into your cookie-cutter gay romance stories. This is a place to post fan fiction (and other fan works) based on Housepets! But if you insist on having characters of the same gender romantically involved, we can't stop you as long as you stick to the guidelines provided.

I have a question.

I've decided to rate my fanfic PG. However, since I'm a foreigener, I don't know what exactly I should avoid to not break the rating. I understand that there cannot be any blood, excessive violence, swears, but I don't know am I missing something. Can you please bring me closer the exact description of PG rating. I will be really greateful and it would help me a lot to avoid unintentional mistakes

Housepets is a REALLY good peg on PG, if too good. PG implies that while there won't be any explicit content that would offend someone at any level, there may be implications.

Language and sex cannot be any worse than what Rick does with Housepets! Violence you're given a little more leeway on, though gore and more than a little blood (small, nosebleed-level wounds that aren't described in detail are presumably fine) are not allowed.

http://www.mpaa.org/ratings/what-each-rating-means

That should give you an idea on ratings, karlos. I hope it helps, anyway.

does this cover my-level nose bleeds? (I get really bad, violent nose bleeds)

It is hard for anyone to get nosebleeds that break the PG barrier, though I think my brother once had one that counted (woke up with his pillow soaked in blood . . . freaky)

So we can use nosebleeds in the same context as Japanese media thattotallywasn'taroundaboutwayofsayingthat?

Actually... that is the kind of nose bleed I'm talking about. I get those regularly.

Well, I understood that parewnts should see it and decide is it ok for their child or no and violence is not intense... but there's one thing I still don't know.

Wording. I understand swearing is absolutely forbidden. But such words like heck or darn are acceptable for PG rating or it's better if they won't appear?

And thanks Brawler and Sleet for your advices They are helpful and I'll try to stick with them.

Other than one or two exceptions, the words allowed on this forum are perfectly within the PG range. The only exception I can think of is "Hell", which, used excessively as a curse word, might push you higher in rating.

But yes, words in the "goshdarnit" family are all perfectly fine.

Heck and darn are fine. Use the comic as a rough guide for language.

Thank you Your answers took the weigh off my chest. Now I won't be afraid to use those words in my work.

This is why I don't do fanfic's, they have too many rules, and are too complicated! I'll try to do one, but will fail more epicly than that time I tried soccer.
Ya know what, I'll do one, just to see how it goes... Wish me luck

The storyline of Rick's comic does not have to be perfectly followed (only Rick could do that). It is up to you how canon you want your story to be. So taking a point in time and spinning an alternate reality from that point is totally cool.

As for drama: just don't put drama inducing subjects into your work. (See homosexuality reference above)
Another example: Your characters can follow a religion, they can practice their religion; however, if it starts becoming a focal point of the story or the story becomes a soapbox from which to preach, it will alienate readers who do not follow this religion (and even some who do). When people feel alienated, bad emotions start flowing around and the drama begins.
So while your characters might go to church and some scenes might take place there, don't start "preaching" to your readers.
Also note: if your characters do a lot of religious practices "on screen", you might want to question if the religion truly is not a focal point.

Really the rules can be boiled down to: "Always Do What's Right!" with the sub rule: "If you're not sure, it's probably not right."
But then people start looking for loopholes and hitting all the moral grey areas just cause they can. So we have rules.

There really aren't THAT many rules. They're more guidelines (per the title), and they're also fairly common sense. It shouldn't really become a big deal for most of the fanfics people make. A couple will skirt the borderline, but that's bound to happen regardless.

Just don't do something that wouldn't be appropriate in public and you'll be fine!

Umm... Define "Innapropriate" By public standards.

Basically, follow the PG -- or PG-13 if you label your fic in the title-- rating, and be careful around topics that are inflammatory, like religion and politics. Mind the forum rules, and you're pretty well good to go.

And if you aren't sure about something? Ask. You won't be burned at the stake for it.

I sill feel nervous asking for help.

And it's fine to be. What I recommend to you is to just do the story within the rules to the best of your ability. If there is something wrong with it, the problem will be politely pointed out to you and a suggestion may be offered as to what you can do instead. The guidelines in this thread are excellent, and I think that you will do great. Just remember the obvious stuff.

If you are worried, i can beta read for you. There are mods here for a reason.

I would love to see anything you write. It is great to hear that there will soon be more fics to read! And yes, the rules are not overly complicated. No need to make them so. If you are still nervous, just read a few fanfics, get an idea of what is the norm. That's what I did.

Was locking him away to come up with these rules really needed?

probably not, but it's fun.

So true.

*shivers* It was dark and damp, and they gave me a quill pen but no ink. I had to use crimson ink I made to write those rules!!

Why do you think there were so few of them...

one of you is lying. or you just didn't see the ink they gave you.

But Brent what if they are both lying?

I know for a fact that Copper was indeed put in the basement to write these. I don't know the specifics. their statements are in such a way that one has to be true. either he got ink, or he didn't.

Ok so I think I got the hang of it. Now I just need to proofread it, then make a topic. Hey was it ok I used OC's in the first chapter, and am waiting to start showing people from housepets in the second chapter?

The first chapter of my story wasn't even set in the Housepets universe - You're just fine. (As a matter of fact, a fan-fic doesn't even have to follow characters of the story, though the vast majority do.)

Oh that's good to hear.

What if I have a fanfiction currently in progress, but also have finished a one-post story unrelated to my fanfiction's plot and theme? Would it be acceptable for me to make another thread about that short story, or should I incorporate it into my original fanfiction thread?