Editorial Policy

All published content is reviewed by the Thanet Writers Editorial Team according to the following order:

  1. Submitted content is reviewed in the first instance by the relevant Editor of that section to determine whether the content has educational and/or artistic merit, whereby edits or alterations may be made by that Editor to bring the content in line with the overall standard and quality of Thanet Writers. If these edits are major in nature, or are for a different purpose other than to ensure the content adheres to this policy or to facilitate clarity of reading, the Editor will contact the writer to discuss edits, on an individually assessed and ad hoc basis. If the Editor deems the submitted content does not have educational and/or artistic merit, at their discretion, or does not meet the overall standard and quality of Thanet Writers, as per the Terms and Conditions of Submission, they will reject the submitted content and offer feedback to be included in the rejection email. Otherwise, once any edits are completed, the Editor will accept the content for publication.
  2. Accepted content is reviewed in the second instance by the Managing Editor. If the Managing Editor deems the content does not meet the overall standard and quality of Thanet Writers, as per the Terms and Conditions of Submission, they will return the content to the relevant Editor of that section for a second review, whereby it will be considered for a second time and may be referred to a different Editor for an alternative opinion, before the process will continue as required. Otherwise, the Managing Editor will schedule the content for publication.
  3. Scheduled content is reviewed in the third instance by the Editor-in-Chief, whereby edits or alterations may be made by the Editor-in-Chief to bring the content in line with the overall standard and quality of Thanet Writers. If these edits are likely to be major in nature, or if the Editor-in-Chief deems the content does not have educational and/or artistic merit, at their discretion, or does not meet the overall standard and quality of Thanet Writers, as per the Terms and Conditions of Submission, they will return the content to the relevant Editor of that section for a second or third review, whereby it will be considered for a second or third time and may be referred to a different Editor for an alternative opinion, before the process will continue as required. Otherwise, the Editor-in-Chief will approve the content for publication.

All published content should abide by the following:

  • All content is to be in English and follow UK grammar and spelling rules, with exceptions made for artistic effect, particularly for poetry and fiction.
  • Single spaces are to be used after full stops or periods.
  • The Oxford Comma is preferred.
  • Consistency of quote marks is essential, with one type (UK standard single or US/International standard double) to be used for dialogue/speech and the other type to be used for any other uses, with the choice of type and whether to use any at the writer’s discretion for poetry and fiction.
  • Major titles are to be capitalised only, including book and film titles, publishers, and companies.
  • Minor titles, where used within body text, are to be in quote marks, including short story and poem titles, song titles, and chapter titles.
  • Publication titles, where used within body text, are to be in italics, including newspaper and magazine titles.
  • Numbers are to be written as words, with the exception of times, days within dates, years, monetary amounts, word counts, and complex numbers, where commas are to be used after three digits, with exceptions made for artistic effect for poetry and fiction.
  • Quotes and extracts of work currently in copyright under UK law will only be included in non-fiction if Fair Use can be justified at the discretion of the Editorial Team, and will not be considered within fiction or poetry.
  • A disclaimer within the preceding summary will be issued for content which may offend, at the discretion of the Editorial Team.
  • A disclaimer within the preceding summary will be issued for content which may be upsetting, at the discretion of the Editorial Team.

In addition, all published non-fiction content including essays, reviews, and features, should abide by the following:

  • Gender-neutral pronouns are preferred, particularly when being used in an abstract sense.
  • Double quote marks are to be used for extracts and quotes, with the exception of large extracts.
  • Large extracts are to be placed in a separate block-quote paragraph without surrounding quote marks.
  • Quote marks within extracts should appear as originally published.
  • Single quote marks are to be used in all other cases of quotation.
  • Thought-style asides and non-English languages are to be italicised.

The Editorial Team reserve the right to bring content in line with this policy at their discretion.