I would have thought the subject matter banned from entering the contest would be incredibly obvious and understandable to everyone, but that has apparently not been the case. Let me review them in greater detail:

(1) No pedophilia. It's banned on Wattpad regardless.

Though I didn't state it directly, I should hope it's obvious that things like necrophilia and bestiality are not allowed either. Being that they are illegal and not allowed on Wattpad, that's perfectly reasonable.

(2) No blood relative incest.

I am not trying to be insulting, but I'm not interested in debate.

(3) No SENSATIONALIZED rape, abuse, or mental health problems.

This is the final time I will address the concerns regarding #3:

Sensationalize:

-to cause (events, esp in newspaper reports) to seem more vivid, shocking, etc, than they really are.

-(especially a newspaper) presenting information about (something) in a way that provokes public interest and excitement, at the expense of accuracy.

Sensationalism:

-subject matter, language, or style producing or designed to produce startling or thrilling impressions or to excite and please vulgar taste.

-the use of or interest in this subject matter, language, or style. (e.g. 'The crappy tabloids relied on sensationalism to increase their circulation.')

Elaboration:

*In this context, I am talking about the cheap use of very serious issues to add easy drama to a story, in lieu of coming up with legitimate plot points.For example:

-It is acceptable if your character has major depressive episodes, dysthymia, paranoid schizophrenia, or has been sexually assaulted in the past, etc.

-It is not ok if she cuts herself, is abused/raped by her parents, runs around having unprotected sex and doing drugs {all with unnecessarily tasteless detail), until she is 'saved' by her brand-new romantic interest, and all her problems are magically solved, through no character growth or learning process of her own. It is not the role of a romantic partner to 'save' anyone, every individual needs to grow their own spine and make their own choices.

*It has been shown that stories that specifically detail the method of suicides & attempts, use graphic images, descriptions, titles, sensationalize a death, or glorify the victims of suicide, have the potential to increase the risk of future suicides in readers. Self harm is a similar phenomenon.

When people talk about subject matter being 'triggering,' this is what they mean. It brings back bad memories and impulses, while at the same time carrying an element of suggestibility, especially for younger readers.

Suicide is not the result of a single life event, and is not an escape from a painful present. It is the end of everything, erasing the possibility that anything better will ever come to be, and destroying the lives of friends and family.As someone with severe mental health issues, who has previously attempted suicide, and who has had close friends commit suicide, I do not think it is tasteful to tell stories that rely on abuse, rape, and/or self-harm to drive a story. It is my prerogative to feel that way.

If you must write about something so ghastly and potentially profoundly offensive and upsetting, you need to do your research. It's not unlike writing about murder or genocide- it's not hip, not cool, not tragically goth, and should never be easy to write about. You need to do your research. In order to cover that kind of material ethically and tastefully, you need to have studied materials on mental health and psychological trauma in depth, forming a diagnosis and reasoning behind your character's decisions. You also need to come up with a good path for her recovery. (The role of a romantic partner on the road to good mental health is passive/supportive in a healthy relationship.) It is not possible to do justice to the horror of self-harm, rape, or a suicide attempt in a oneshot, I do not want to see this in any entry.

So- to address everyone's statements that I do not accept entries with mental health issues-> you were not paying very close attention, and I have lost my patience. I do not accept entries that romanticize/glorify mental health issues.

I seriously do not have time to read potential entries to screen them. You should have more than enough information in this chapter to determine whether or not your work is prohibited from entry. Please use your judgement and make the decision on your own (i.e., don't ask me please!). If, during judging, it is determined by myself or the judges that you were mistaken in your assessment and that the entry contains unacceptable material, it will be disqualified.

If you disagree with my decision on what to allow into my contest, I suggest you try and do a better job, with a contest of your own. I do not care to hear you complain, and I will mute you.

Addendum: It is hilarious how many people have submitted entries to the music-related categories, while stating that they are free of 'band' topics. Guys, that does not bode well for your prospects in a writing contest if you don't know the difference between 'banned' and 'band.'