The Maybe "Create Your Story" feature is a platform for writers to tell their stories.
Your stories are yours alone and your unique voice is what will make the Maybe "Create Your Story" feature a rich and worthwhile place for readers to find their next favorite story. We want you, the writer, to be able to tell your story as you see fit with few limitations. We are a 17+ app, so we welcome adult stories with adult themes, whether those be sexual, intense, dramatic, or thrilling, and love that those can live right alongside the romcoms, YA, fantasy, and fluff.
That being said, we do have a list of content guidelines below. Please use your best judgement in deciding whether or not something can be included in your story. Maybe does reserve the right to remove stories that violate our guidelines from the platform, but we do not anticipate this being a problem, especially if you follow the general guidelines below.
AVOID
1. Racial and Sexual Slurs
Racial and sexual slurs should be avoided as much as possible. Exceptions can be made for stories that are using the slurs to express a particular reader experience, such as a LGBT reader coming out to a homophobic family, but these should always paint the words in a negative light and be accompanied by the appropriate episode or novel content warning, as these words can be very upsetting to readers. Please avoid typing out the full slur. Use an asterisk for the leading vowel, so that readers don’t have to read the upsetting word.
2. Gratuitous Physical Violence
If your story contains violence, make it purposeful. Don’t include violence for shock factor or for the glorification of the act of harm. It is best to avoid intense physical harm to the MC, as readers will be putting themselves in your protagonist’s shoes and will not want to imagine themselves being harmed unless it serves a story purpose. Exceptions are made for genres and storytelling styles that require violent acts. If you are telling a spy thriller or a mystery, that violence makes sense. Just don’t hurt MC or innocent characters for the fun of it.
3. Depictions of Sexual Assault
Unwanted and unwelcome physical touch can be disturbing to many readers, especially if it is happening to the MC. We should avoid putting readers in situations where they are forced to experience such a situation first-hand. Consent is incredibly important to us. Consensual non-consent (CNC) can be tackled as long as consent is clearly established and the proper warnings are given to readers who might wish to avoid the topic.
4. Depictions of Self Harm
Like sexual assault, putting readers in the position of having to experience self-harm first-hand can be very upsetting to reader. Be very cautious and mindful if you wish to include it in your story. Use the proper content warnings and make sure you are conveying the healing and recovery, not glorifying or normalizing the act itself.
5.Content that Violates Copyright Law
You are legally responsible for your writing. If you violate intellectual property rights or portrait rights, you and you alone are responsible for the legal issues that ensue.. If you publish something on Maybe that is found to be plagiarized, in violation of an existing copyright, or that infringes on third party rights in any way, it will be removed without warning.
Please see the appendix below for more information on Maybe’s policies around in-app fanfiction.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
1. Graphic Depictions of Sex Acts
We love a good sex scene, but sex should not be the whole story. Make sure your story contains a strong plot, not just a list of connected sex scenes. When talking about sex, you can use erotic language but be cautious about being too graphic, too often. Just one continuous sex scene without any story surrounding it may draw our eyes, and not in a good way. If you do depict sex acts, make sure to mark your story as such with tags (steamy, sexy, etc.) and put a warning in your novel description.
If your sex is fade-to-black, a content warning is not required, though you can still include one if you wish.
Whenever you are writing about sex, make sure it is legal and consensual. Remember that age of consent is different in different countries, so make sure whatever you are writing is legal where you live.
2. Vulgar Language
Swearing is a great way to express anger, excitement, fear, or frustration. Vulgar language can also be a great way to establish character. That being said, overuse of such words can be seen as gratuitous and therefore might be flagged. Make sure your words have purpose and that your story is marked as adult if you use such language.
3. Depictions of Mental Illness or Physical Disabilities
It’s important when we create characters that we create them in a way that allows for all readers to enjoy them. Mental illnesses are already stigmatized enough. Do not use them as a scapegoat for your villians. Don’t depict them in a way that adds to negative attitudes. Tackling mental illness in a respectful and understanding way is welcome here.
The same applies for physical disabilities. Having characters with unique circumstances is wonderful, but be sensitive in the way you speak about such topics. Don’t “other” characters simply because of their disabilities or ailments. Make sure your characters have depth.
If you are worried about the way you are speaking about a specific character’s circumstances, consider using the Writer’s Room in the forum to find a sensitivity reader.
4. Drug and Alcohol Use
Know what is legal in your region. The message generally should never be that illicit drug use is good. Alcohol should only be consumed by those legally allowed to do so. You are okay to discuss the effects of consuming such things, but not in a way that glorifies the consumption.
NO CONTENT WARNING REQUIRED
1. Romantic Situations
You can speak about romantic situations, even physical ones, in a way that isn’t graphic without issue. Kissing, touching, and other intimacies, if they happen above the clothes, require no content warning.
2. Common Swear Words
Minor swear words are fine without a warning. Consider how upset someone might be to hear the word. This is simply a matter of using good judgement. If you are at all worried, consider using an asterisks (sh*t, *b*tch, etc.).
3. Descriptions of Light Violence
Characters can slap someone, tackle a bad guy and hold them down, or kick a friend under the table without any issue. Consider how serious an injury would be from the violence to decide if you need a content warning.
Reasons Your Story Could Be Flagged
Readers are able to report stories they feel violate our story guidelines. Within the app, there is a button on your story page that launches a pop-up where readers can express what violation exists in the story. These possible categories are:
Mistagged Sexual Content
Slurs / Harassment
Violent Content / Hate Speech
Spam / Advertising
Copyright Infringement / Others
If your story is flagged too many times, it will be taken down. Your story can be reinstated if you have made the necessary edits to bring it to a place where it does meet the content guidelines. It will then be your responsibility to reach out to Customer Service to see your story restored.
Use Your Best Judgement
When in doubt, ask yourself: Is it safe? Is it legal? Does it do harm? If it is unsafe, illegal, or will cause harm, do not write it or post it to Maybe.
If you have any more specific questions, you can ask on the Forum or reach out to the Maybe team through CS.
<Fanfiction policy>
While art from many of our Maybe stories exists in the UGC library, not every story can have fanfiction written about it.
You cannot write fanfiction about the following stories:
Walk on Water
Where Death Meets the Devil
Since I Saw You
Tools of Engagement
Throwback
Cutie and the Beast
Downtown Devil
Sugar Baby Beautiful
Action
Loving the Mountain Man
All stories with the following description: "Original Novels from NAVER SERIES" or "Original Comics from WEBTOON™"*
*You will find that characters from these stories are not included in the Create Your Story feature. To see a full list, please visit this post.
If you write fanfiction about the stories listed in the post and thread, or any other content that violates intellectual property rights, you and you alone are responsible for the legal issues that ensue.
If the Maybe team discovers any works that violate intellectual property rights, including, but not limited to, fanfiction about the above stories, said works will be removed without warning.
Creating fanfiction pertains only to in-app visual and text novels. We are not giving permission to create derivative works outside of the app.