Content Guidelines

Scienda is a family-friendly place, but for the grownups in the family.

In terms of mainstream content, we avoid reviewing artistic work (music, visual arts or reading) involving blatant sexuality or gratuitous violence, though we freely discuss sexual politics and violence as social issues, at our discretion. That’s about it.

In terms of religious-market content, we believe art is more than entertainment, it’s also message. As such we use the blog’s faith statement as an elimination factor in what we promote, but not in what we discuss. Make sense? If a work goes explicitly against the faith statement, it won’t receive a blissfully uncritical commentary.

If you are looking for general promotion opportunities for your religious work, and don’t agree with this blog’s spiritual orientation, this is not the place for you. Having a so-called “cheerleading section” (AKA fans) is incredibly important in becoming known as an artist, and we encourage you to find the right channels for you. Other than that, if you’re looking for honest discussion of your work, it’ll depend on our time and interest.

Interviews

Scienda has very specific content. We don’t talk much about being a writer here; this blog is not about writing, it is writing. Similarly, it’s highly likely we don’t really care how you got published or what your “writing journey” is, but we probably care quite a lot about the informational value you bring as a person with cool ideas and perspectives.

If you’d like to be considered for an interview, email me with your nonfiction topic and/or the compelling theme of your novel (fictionistas* have nonfiction platforms too, so whichever) and give me two or three specifics on the value for readers.

Please be aware that our readers are not interested in romance novels for their own sake, but if you have something really cool and relevant to say under “theme” or “nonfiction platform,” that’ll make the difference.

Reviews

1) Scienda does not accept gift books from publishers for review at this time.

2) Scienda is not part of any mutual support networks for increased web exposure through reciprocal reviews between authors, nor am I considering joining such a network. Scienda’s niche is extremely discerning content curation, and generalized cross-promotion is not suitable for the trust factor ye local readers rely on.

Any reviews posted will be entirely independent and out of personal rather than directed or cross-promotional interest.

Guest Posts

Generally, guest posts are by invitation only. But I may not know you exist, and in that case there’s certainly no way I can invite you. You’re welcome to remedy that.

If you have a great topic and the right tone, and you’d like to pitch it, by all means email me. As with the previous two items, content curation is king, and I don’t promise to accept all offers. Please browse the blog and see if it feels like a fit.

(Leaving a comment on this page will not get me to visit your site and invite you–I know, I am such a curmudgeon. Send an email pitch using the form below, please. If you have any questions, go ahead and use the comment form for that. Somebody else probably wonders the same things as you do.)

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*From The Encyclopedia of Cat’s Writerly Friends: Fictionista–see Nike Chillemi, crime writer.