Community Guidelines

Effective 7 June 2026

Our philosophy

Marginalia Club is a space for original writing and genuine literary community. We believe in craft over clicks, honesty over performance, and diversity of voices over uniformity.

These guidelines exist not to restrict creativity but to protect the community that makes the platform worth writing for. They are enforced with good faith and editorial judgement — not automated keyword filters.

What we celebrate

  • Original writing in any Indian language or English.
  • Honest, constructive feedback on other writers’ work.
  • Respectful disagreement and literary discussion.
  • Emerging and first-time voices publishing alongside established writers.
  • Writing that takes risks — formally, emotionally, linguistically.

What is not allowed

AI-generated content without disclosure

Publishing AI-generated text under your name, without disclosing that it was AI-generated, is dishonest and unfair to writers who put their own effort and craft into their work. If AI tools helped you write or refine a piece, disclose that in your author note. Disclosed AI-assisted work may be permitted at editorial discretion — undisclosed AI content will be removed.

Plagiarism

Presenting someone else’s writing as your own — in full or in substantial part — is not permitted. This includes work translated from another language without attribution, and work in the public domain presented as original.

Hate speech

Content that attacks, demeans, or dehumanises individuals or groups based on religion, caste, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, disability, or other protected characteristics is not permitted. This applies equally to fiction — a story can explore dark themes without endorsing them; content that exists primarily to promote hatred crosses the line.

Harassment

Targeting another user — writer or reader — with abusive, threatening, or sustained demeaning messages, comments, or stories is not permitted.

Explicit sexual content

Explicit sexual content is not permitted on Marginalia Club. Writing that explores intimacy, desire, or sexuality in a literary and non-explicit way is welcome.

Spam

Mass posting, repetitive or near-identical content, and promotional content disguised as stories are not permitted. Write something worth reading.

Doxxing

Sharing private personal information about another person — home address, phone number, workplace, or other identifying details — without their consent is not permitted and may be reported to law enforcement.

Impersonation

Pretending to be another writer, public figure, or a member of our team is not permitted. Parody and satire are welcome when they are clearly labelled as such.

How moderation works

We are a small editorial team. Here is how we handle flagged content:

  1. A reader or writer uses the flag button on a story or comment.
  2. The flag enters our editorial review queue.
  3. Our team reviews the content, usually within 3–5 business days.
  4. We decide whether to reinstate the content (if the flag was not upheld) or remove it.
  5. The author is notified of any action taken.

You can also report content directly by emailing support@marginaliaclub.in.

Consequences

We try to be proportionate. For a first or minor violation, we will usually:

  1. Warning — we notify you that a piece of content violated our guidelines.
  2. Content removal — the offending story or comment is removed.
  3. Temporary suspension — your account is suspended for 30 days.
  4. Permanent ban — for severe or repeated violations, your account is permanently closed.

How to report

Use the flag button on any story or comment to report a violation. Alternatively, email support@marginaliaclub.in with a link to the content and a brief description of the issue.

Appeals

If you believe a moderation decision was wrong, email support@marginaliaclub.in within 14 days of the action, with the subject line “Appeal” and a brief explanation. We review all appeals carefully and respond within 5 business days.