The Creative Exiles is an independent writing community created to give writers a place to publish and share their original work. Writers are encouraged to contribute as often as they choose and to express themselves in their own voice and style, subject only to the requirements established in our Terms of Use.
Writers may also publish work that has previously appeared on another website, in print, in a book, or through another medium, provided they own the work or otherwise have the legal right to publish it on The Creative Exiles. Authors retain ownership and copyright of the work they publish on The Creative Exiles.
Post Review
Posts submitted to The Creative Exiles may be reviewed by site management. The purpose of this review is not to rewrite, edit, or change an author’s creative work. The author’s words, style, formatting choices, and creative decisions remain their own. Review may include checking categories, tags, images, basic post formatting, and SEO information associated with the post.
When a problem involves the actual content of an author’s work, the author may be contacted rather than having the work changed without their knowledge.
Yoast SEO
The Creative Exiles uses Yoast SEO to help improve the search visibility of individual posts. Authors are encouraged to complete the Yoast SEO information for their posts, particularly the focus key words or phrase, SEO title, and meta description. When reviewing a post, management may complete or improve SEO information that has been left blank or is clearly incomplete. This may include adding or adjusting a focus key words or phrases, SEO title, meta description, categories, tags, or other information associated with how the post is presented to search engines. SEO changes will not be used as a reason to rewrite the creative work itself.
Authors should remember that Yoast is a tool designed to provide SEO guidance. A poem or work of fiction does not need to be changed simply to achieve a green Yoast score.
Categories
Authors should select the category that best represents their work. If a post has been submitted without an appropriate category, one may be assigned during review, so the work appears in the proper area of The Creative Exiles. Categories help organize the site and allow readers to find the types of writing that interest them.
Tags
Tags may be used to identify important subjects, themes, people, places, or ideas contained in a post. Tags should be relevant to the individual work. Adding large numbers of vague, repetitive, or unrelated tags does not improve a post and should be avoided. When appropriate, relevant tags may be added or adjusted during post review.
Images
Authors may include images with their work provided they own the image, have permission to use it, or the image is available under terms that permit its use. AI images are allowed.
Do not assume that an image found through Google, Bing, social media, Pinterest, or another website is free to use. The person who created the image generally owns the copyright unless those rights have been transferred, licensed, or the work is in the public domain. When an image requires attribution under its license, the appropriate attribution must be provided. Images may be resized, repositioned, compressed, or otherwise technically adjusted when necessary for proper display, site performance, or formatting.
The expected format for all main images is 840 x 840 pixels – square format.
Image Alt Text
Meaningful images should have appropriate alternative text when applicable. Alt text should briefly and accurately describe the image and its purpose. It exists primarily to make web content more accessible to people who cannot see the image. A focus key word or phrase should not be inserted into alt text merely for SEO. It should appear only when it naturally and accurately describes the image.
Grammar and Spelling
The Creative Exiles respects the individual voice of its writers. Creative work will not be rewritten to correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, dialect, or stylistic choices. Poetry and fiction frequently use language in ways that intentionally depart from conventional grammar and writing rules.
When an apparent error seems unintentional or significantly affects the presentation of a piece, the piece will be unpublished, and the author contacted with the opportunity to correct it.
Profanity and Mature Content
Profanity is not automatically prohibited simply because it appears in a creative work. Language should be considered within the context of the piece in which it appears. Content must nevertheless comply with The Creative Exiles Terms of Use and any other applicable publishing guidelines.
Your Work Remains Your Work
Publishing on The Creative Exiles does not transfer ownership of your writing to the website or to R.J. Schwartz. Authors retain ownership and copyright of their submitted work. By publishing on The Creative Exiles, an author grants the site permission to publish, display, and distribute that work for as long as it remains published on the website.
The Creative Exiles exists to provide writers with a place to be read, not to take control of their work.
Questions or Assistance
Questions concerning publishing on Creative Exiles, post formatting, SEO, images, or use of The Creative Exiles may be directed to site owner R.J. Schwartz at poet@gmx.us.