Section 01
Overview
Sinister Files is a community for horror fiction, a place where dark stories are told, read, debated, and celebrated. We believe horror is one of the most powerful literary forms, capable of revealing profound truths about fear, mortality, and the human condition.
These guidelines exist not to sanitise the darkness, but to ensure it serves a purpose. We have a zero-tolerance policy on content that causes real harm to real people, and a firm belief that the best horror doesn't need to cross those lines to be terrifying.
By using Sinister Files (whether as a reader, writer, or community member) you agree to abide by these guidelines. They apply to all content: stories, comments, forum posts, fan art, profile information, and direct messages.
These Guidelines Are a Living Document
As our community grows, so do these rules. We will update this page when significant changes are made and notify active members via the platform. The date at the top of this page reflects the last update.
Section 02
Content Standards
Horror lives in extremes. We embrace that, but not everything belongs here. Below is a clear guide to what we welcome and what we won't allow.
Welcome Here
- Psychological horror and slow-burn dread
- Supernatural and paranormal fiction
- Cosmic horror and existential terror
- Slasher and survival horror narratives
- Creepypasta and found-footage style writing
- Gothic and atmospheric horror
- Body horror and visceral terror (within taste guidelines)
- Horror with dark humour undertones
Not Permitted
- Sexual content involving minors — zero tolerance, immediate ban
- Non-consensual scenarios presented approvingly or erotically
- Real-world harassment disguised as fiction
- Targeted content designed to harm real, named individuals
- Hate speech based on race, religion, gender, sexuality, or disability
- Gratuitous gore with no narrative purpose
- Plagiarised work — all submissions must be original
Section 03
Writer Rules
These rules apply specifically to story submissions. Writers bear extra responsibility, your work is the foundation everything else is built on.
Originality Required
Every story submitted must be your own original work. Plagiarism of any kind (including paraphrasing another author's work without attribution) will result in immediate removal and a permanent ban.
English Only
At this time, Sinister Files only accepts stories written in English. We hope to expand to other languages in the future, but for now all submissions must be in English.
Word Count
Stories should be a minimum of 500 words. There is no hard upper limit, but exceptionally long submissions (100,000+ words) may be split into chapters by the editorial team.
Genre Tagging
Accurately tag your story with the appropriate genre(s). Misleading tags, such as tagging a romance story as horror, will result in removal and may affect your standing on the platform.
Content Warnings
If your story contains graphic violence, disturbing themes, or mature content, you must include a content warning at the start of the story body. Readers deserve the right to make informed choices.
Editing After Publishing
You may edit your story after publishing. However, making substantial changes to a story that has already accumulated significant ratings may reset its ranking. Minor corrections are always welcome.
Section 04
Community Conduct
How you interact with other members matters as much as what you post. The Dark Congregation is a community, treat it like one.
Encouraged
- Constructive criticism delivered with kindness
- Celebrating writers you enjoy
- Sharing theories and analysis of stories
- Welcoming new members to the community
- Reporting content that violates guidelines
Tread Carefully
- Debating dark themes in fiction (keep it civil)
- Expressing strong negative opinions of a story (be respectful)
- Horror sub-genre tribalism, we love all kinds of dark fiction
- Graphic descriptions in forum posts (use spoiler tags)
Prohibited
- Personal attacks or harassment of any member
- Doxxing, sharing private information about others
- Coordinated vote manipulation on stories or comments
- Spam, self-promotion flooding, or off-topic advertising
- Impersonating other members or the moderation team
Section 05
Moderation
Violations of these guidelines are handled through a tiered system. We aim to be fair, transparent, and consistent. Moderators are volunteers from the community who are held to the same standards as everyone else.
Warning
First-time minor infractions result in a formal warning. The offending content is removed and the member is notified with the specific rule violated.
Temporary Suspension
Repeated violations or a single serious infraction result in a temporary account suspension ranging from 7 to 30 days depending on severity.
Permanent Ban
Severe violations, including CSAM, targeted harassment, doxxing, or repeated rule-breaking after suspension, result in an immediate permanent ban with no appeal.
Reporting Content
Every story, comment, and forum post has a report button. Use it. Reports go directly to our moderation team and are reviewed within 48 hours. False or malicious reporting to harm other members is itself a guideline violation.
Section 06