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It has been more than a year since we implemented the Greenlight Policy.
Many questions have been asked.
Here are the answers.
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Table of Contents
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What is the greenlight policy?
The Greenlight Policy is a process that applies to all first-time authors.1 All first-time authors must get their concepts reviewed and "greenlighted" by two experienced reviewers before the authors may request feedback on a full draft in the Drafts and Critiques forum.
Why was this policy put into place?
The Drafts Critique forum was constantly flooded with low-quality drafts. Reviewers would often find that most drafts failed at the conceptual level, which would result in them asking the author to visit the Ideas Critique forum to rework the concept into something draft-worthy.
Since this was a frequent occurrence, staff saw fit to implement a process that required first-time authors to start at Ideas Critique to maintain standard of quality and reduce the mountain of work dropped on the Forum Criticism Team.
Who is able to greenlight my concept?
Site members who can greenlight concepts are those who fulfill one or more of the following criteria:
- They are on the Butterfly Squad Roster list of reviewers.
- They have an entry in the Authors' Pages list or they qualify2 for an Author Page.
- They have been featured in the Reviewers' Spotlight.
- They are a staff member.
What if I have an article on the site already?
If you already have a successful article3 on the site, then this policy does not apply to you. Note that artwork pages and hub pages do not count.
I want to use the Drafts Critique forum, but I don't have two greenlights. Can I use it anyway?
No.
Is there a way that I can bypass the Greenlight process?
Actually, yes. The greenlight policy only applies to being able to use the Drafts Critique forum. There is no greenlight requirement for seeking review through our IRC chatrooms. The one typically used for seeking critique is #thecritters.
Keep in mind, however, that some reviewers may still ask that you get your concept checked through the Ideas Critique forum.
I don't have two greenlghts, but I want to post my article to the main site. Is that okay?
To be clear, you don't need greenlights to post to the main site. You can post whatever you want to the site without having a reviewer go through it first. However, keep in mind that no one is obligated to justify their votes on posted work. You may ask for users to explain themselves, though they withhold the right to decline.
Though the process can be perceived as a chore, we believe it is within your best interest to seek review before posting.
What's the TL;DR on greenlights?
Here you go:
Draft Critique Forum: You need two greenlights before posting here.
Main site/SCP slot: You don't need greenlights to post here.
Idea Critique Forum: You need a thread here with two greenlights to move onto the Draft Critique Forum.
IRC Chat: You don't need greenlights to seek draft crit here. You can also use this for idea critique.
