FAQ

 

• MEMBERSHIP
Can I join even if I don't plan to write any stories?
Why do I have to join to read the Explicit-rated stories? Other archives don't require this.
How do I sign up?
What are the benefits of registering for membership?
What are the rules of membership?
Can I sign up for more than one (1) account on Nine Lives?

• ADDING A STORY
What kinds of stories are allowed?
How do I submit stories?
I just posted my first story and it isn't showing up on the site. Help!
I just submitted a story, but it says that the story needs to be validated. How long will that take?
When will I be able to load stories without them having to be validated first?
How do I know when my account has been fully validated?
Where can I find a beta to help review my writing?
How do I add a banner or image to my story?

• READING A STORY
Why can't I access Explicit or RPF material?
How does the ratings system work?
The text for the stories is too small for me to read. How can I make it larger?
I see that there are ePub downloads for ereaders, but I have a Kindle and it doesn't accept ePub files. What can I do?
How do I mark a story or author as a Favorite?
How do I add a story to my Bookshelf?
What's the difference between my favorites and my bookshelf?
How do I know when a story has been updated?
What sort of content can I include when I review a story?

• TECHNICAL QUESTIONS/PROBLEMS
I can't log in even though I'm a member and have my correct penname and password. What should I do?
When I try to update a new story/chapter, I get an error message. What can I do?
What do I do if I forgot my password?
What do I do if I don't remember my penname?
How do I delete my account?
How can I change my password?
Why do I keep having to log in to the site? When I am reading a story or inactive for a short period of time, the site logs me out and I lose my place.
I requested a new password but I haven't gotten an email. Why?
I'm not getting my emails that my favorite stories/authors have updated!
How do I send a private message (PM)?
An author/story I was reading has disappeared. What happend?

• GENERAL QUESTIONS
Who are the site administrators?
What are those little blue and red ribbons that some stories have?
What is Featured Story of the Week?
How do I nominate a story for Featured Story of the Week?
I nominated a story for FSOTW but it hasn't been featured. What gives?
I don't really like the colors/banner/look of the site. Are there other options?
I have an idea/suggestion/feedback for the site/a challenge/event. How can I submit my idea?
Are there rules for posting in the shoutbox?
Can I post in the shoutbox if I am not registered for Nine Lives?
What is the Nine Lives chat room for?
Where is the chat room?
What are Writers' Chats?
Are there rules for posting in the chat room/participating in the Writers Chats?
What is the Member of the Month?
I heard about a Caryl challenge/event/activity another online group is putting on. Can I announce that on Nine Lives?

 

MEMBERSHIP

Can I join even if I don't plan to write any stories?
Yes! What would stories be without people to read them? As long as you're at least 17 years old, feel free to sign up and be sure to review and let the authors know you're out there enjoying their work.

Why do I have to join to read the Explicit-rated stories? Other archives don't require this.
This is a preventive measure Nine Lives takes to ensure young readers don't access stories with mature themes. It is in NO WAY fool-proof -- we understand this, and believe the bulk of our readers do, as well. However, by signing up for an account, readers acknowledge and accept responsibility for what they read. This site is and will remain a haven for writers wishing to explore mature themes, but we must also try to be responsible -- or as responsible as an archive can feasibly be.

We are aware of the loopholes young readers can take to get around these roadblocks. We are merely taking an extra step -- a step other archives may not choose to take. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes, but really, signing up is not that difficult. It takes under a minute and we won't ever use your email address without your permission or spam you.

How do I sign up?
Click here and enter the required information.

What are the benefits of registering for membership?
There are lots of reasons to register for a membership at Nine Lives! Only registered members can read from the McReedus (RPF) category of stories available. Registered members can review stories, post stories, participate in the fanfiction challenges, post in the shoutbox or partake in any other site activities that may occur. There are lots of reasons to sign up!

What are the rules of membership?
Upon registration, all members of Nine Lives agree to abide by our code of conduct. This is shown during the registration process and can be found in full on our Terms of Service page.

Can I sign up for more than one (1) account on Nine Lives?
Multiple accounts are allowed for people who want to explore writing RPF/other genres but are uncomfortable publishing under their regular handle. Secondary accounts found to be created for the sole purpose of self promotion (reviewing your own stories, nominating the primary account for Featured Story or other NL events) will be deleted, and the primary account temporarily banned for 15 days on the first infraction. Repeated infractions will see the primary account permanently banned and the IP address blocked from accessing the Nine Lives Archive.

ADDING A STORY

What kinds of stories are allowed?
Please read our Submission Rules and Terms of Service to see all story requirements.

How do I submit stories?
If you have not already done so, please register for an account. Once you've logged in, click on Account Information and choose Add Story. The form presented there will allow you to submit your story. All required fields have to be filled out for the initial submission to be completed and sent to the submissions queue.  Click here for tips on posting your story to Nine Lives.

I just posted my first story and it isn't showing up on the site. Help!
Every new author goes through administrative review for their first few chapters. Each new author will receive a message after clicking 'Add Story' that their submission must be validated, but sometimes you might miss it if you're in a hurry.  Your uploaded chapter landed in our validation queue, where it will stay until it is reviewed by an admin. This process is to ensuire that new authors are complying with the Nine Lives submission rules. Most authors who comply with the rules without an issue have their accounts fully validated after 3-4 chapters, but it can vary depending on admin discretion. 

I just submitted a story, but it says that the story needs to be validated. How long will that take?
It depends. Our mods are spread across the globe in different hemispheres, and we all have lives, families, jobs, etc... We do this on a volunteer basis in our free time. We try to look over and validate new stories/chapters as soon as possible, but sometimes it does take a few days. We are pleased that you chose to publish here and will get to your work as soon as possible. Please be patient.

When will I be able to load stories without them having to be validated first?
Established authors can be validated so that their work does not need to be approved first. An author needs to show reasonable proficiency in proper spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure in order to be given full validation. When we feel confident in your writing and are comfortable letting you post on your own, we will validate you.

How do I know when my account has been fully validated?
You will receive a message from one of the site admins letting you know your account has been fully validated. This usually is sent in the form of an onsite private message, since that's the easiest and fastest way for us to communicate with our members.

Where can I find a beta to help review my writing?
If you feel like you could use some help working though a story, or your submission gets denied, please go to a beta for help. Click here to find members who are interested in betaing. Please do not ask the admins to point out what specific things in your story need work. A beta reader can help you identify and correct the problems.

How do I add a banner or image to my story?
Load your banner or image to an image sharing site (imgur.com, photobucket.com, etc...) . Make sure your image isn't wider than 920px, or it won't display correctly. Place the cursor where you want your image and click the button that looks like a picture of a tree in the text editor. Enter the image URL/direct link into the top line of the pop-up window, fill in any other information that you would like to enter about your image and click Insert.

 

READING A STORY

Why can't I access Explicit or RPF material?
If you really are over 17 and you're a registered member, go to Account info and then Edit Preferences. Towards the bottom, you will see an option that says, "I am of the age of consent in my locale to view materials with adult content. I realize that by agreeing, the normal warnings for stories with adult content will be by-passed." Click the Yes button and then hit submit to save the change. Once this is done, you may need to clear out your internet history and cookies.

How does the rating system work?
Stories are rated in the following manner:

The text for the stories is too small for me to read. How can I make it larger?
At the top of each chapter, you'll see - Text Size + . To make the text bigger, simply click the + . Each time you click, the text size will increase. If you click too many times, it may scrunch up the text, so if you need the text significantly bigger, you may be better off increasing it by simultaneously pressing the ctrl button and the plus button on your keyboard. Each time you press the buttons together, your text size will increase.

I see that there are ePub downloads for ereaders, but I have a Kindle and it doesn't accept ePub files. What can I do?
It's easy to convert the ePub file into a MOBI file, which is compatible with the Kindle. To convert the file, you can download a program such as Calibre (this is also a handy program for storing and keeping track of your saved stories), or you can convert online with a site like this one: http://ebook.online-convert.com/convert-to-mobi. Also, if you have a Kindle Fire, you can download apps such as Overdrive or Adilko, which allow you to read ePub files.

How do I mark a story or an author as a Favorite?
In the story you're reading, at the bottom of each chapter, just above the review box, you should see these options available:

Select 'Add Story to Favorites' (Or 'Add Author...'). It'll take you to a confirmation page, where you can add any notes you want about the story or author before you confirm to have that title/author added to your favorites list.

How do I add a story to my Bookshelf?
The process is almost the same as adding a story to your Favorites list, except at the bottom of the chapter you're reading, you select 'Add Story to Bookshelf'. The story will be automatically added to your Bookshelf. To go back and view your Bookshelf, go to your Account Info, then scroll down to 'Your Bookshelf'. You'll see the list of stories you've added. Each story will be posted in summary form and look like this:

It will show you the last chapter you read and when you read it, so you can pick up right where you left off! 

What's the difference between my favorites and my bookshelf?
They are pretty similar, and you can choose to use the two features however you wish. However, there are a few key differences: Favorites allows you to write notes on a story and will send you an email when a favorite is updated (if you have this option checked in your Edit Preferences section). Your bookshelf will not email you with updates, but it will keep track or the last chapter and date that you clicked on a shelved story (favorites does not keep track of that information). If the story has been updated since that last click, the Updated! tag will show. Also, your favorites are public and viewable by others, while your bookshelf is not.

How do I know when a story has been updated? 
There are so many ways to track a story that it's kind of ridiculous how easy we have made it. Here are the many ways you can track stories:

What sort of content can I include when I review a story?
We're pretty open minded when it comes to leaving reviews. We definitely encourage that you DO review the stories you read here on Nine Lives. Reviews are an author's lifeblood and pretty much the only way they know if their work has been appreciated. Share the love, what you liked and maybe some things you didn't like or understand, if you feel so inclined. However, keep in mind these restrictions as outlined in our Terms of Service:

No flames allowed. Constructive criticism is welcome, but if a review is found to be pointed with insults and personal statements about the author, it will be removed, and the responsible party will be banned from the site. We encourage growth as authors, but disrespecting another author's work will simply not be tolerated.

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS/PROBLEMS

I can't login even though I'm a member and have my correct penname and password. What should I do?
Clear your internet history and cookies. If that doesn't help. Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc...). Sometimes some browsers like the site more than others.

When I try to update a new story/chapter, I get an error message. What can I do?
Sometimes the site acts up and won't accept a submission for one reason or another. If you're getting the error message after using the story text box, the best thing to try is to use a word processing program to save your work as a .txt file. Then, load your story via the Story Text (file) bar. 

What do I do if I forgot my password?
To recover a lost password, click here and enter the e-mail address with which you registered. Your password will be sent to you shortly. If you don't get an email (check your spam folder), or no longer have access to the email account that you originally registered with, contact us with your penname and email address that is listed in your account, and we can reset your password for you. Please don't create a new account if you don't remember your password; doing so wastes database space. If we notice you have 2 accounts, we will delete one of them.

What do I do if I don't remember my penname?
You can use the lost password link. When you receive an email with your new password, it will contain your penname as well.

How do I delete my account?
Unfortunately, users cannot delete their own accounts. If for some reason you want yours deleted, contact us from the email address that you signed up with and make sure to tell us your penname. We can then delete your account for you. Remember, this is a permanent action and once your account is deleted, it cannot be recovered.

How can I change my password?
In your Account Info, click on Edit Bio and enter your new password at the bottom of the form where is says Password and Confirm Password. Once you click submit, you will be logged out and will need to re-enter the site with your new password.

Why do I keep having to log in to the site? When I am reading a story or inactive for a short period of time, the site logs me out and I lose my place.
The site will automatically log you out after certain periods or inactivity. The length of time is determined by the server, and we can't edit it. However, you can prevent the logout from happening by checking the box titled Remember Me when you log in. This will keep you logged in until you click the Logout link.

I requested a new password but I haven't gotten an email. Why?
Many times email providers put our emails in your junk mail folder. If you should have received an email from us, but didn't, please check your junk mail. Chances are it's there.

I'm not getting my emails that my favorite stories/authors have updated! 
If you’re not getting an email, check your spam filters. 98% of the time, the email notifications are going into your spam folder because of how your filters are set up.  Make sure you add ninelives@ninelivesarchive.com to your trusted contacts for your story updates! If you’re still not getting email updates for your favorites, send a PM to Fairies Masquerade, Ikkleosu or subversivegrrl and we’ll take a look. (Do not try to reply directly to that email address if you have a question. That email is the system’s auto-update email – please don’t try to talk to us via that email, because it’ll come right back. Use the PM system or the contact options via the website)

How do I send a private message (PM)? 
When you click the envelope icon in a user's profile, it will allow you to send a private message. The message will be stored here, and will not force you to include your email address. When you receive a private message, you will be sent an email notification with a link to the PM (don't reply to the email because the PM sender won't see your reply). Also, you'll know you have a new PM because there will be a little envelope icon in the top menu (the envelope wont be there if you don't have any unread messages):

If you hover over the envelope, it will tell you how many new private messages you have, and if you click on it, it will take you to your inbox. There is also a link to your inbox on your account info page. Once you're at the inbox you can view and reply to messages.

An author/story I was reading has disappeared. What happened?
If a story has vanished, most likely it's because the author deleted it for one reason or another. Authors can delete their own stories for whatever reason they chose or an admin may have deleted the story if it didn't fit within the Nine Lives guidelines.

If an author has disappeared, they either requested that an admin delete their account or their account was deleted by an admin for repeated warnings/rule breakings. Removing an author deletes all the stories and reviews they have posted on the archive. 

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Who are the site administrators?
Your Nine Lives administrators are Fairies Masquerade, subversivegrrl and Ikkleosu. All 3 admins live in different time zones and countries, so at least one administrator is usually online at any given time to help out, answer questions and so forth. 

FM, Subs & Ikkles are assisted by Tech Guy, our wily techno-whiz, and meeshie, who serves as the site's coder in addition to being the Chat Administrator. 

What are those little blue and red ribbons that some stories have?
These are featured stories that we feel are deserving of your attention. Current featured stories have a blue ribbon next to the title and previous ones have a red ribbon. You can view all the past and present featured stories here.

What is Featured Story of the Week?
Featured Story of the Week is something we do to give a special shout out to the authors who have chosen us to host their stories. Every Monday, we present a new story to be showcased in the Featured Story box on the main page sidebar. As of February 15, 2016, the author will also be presented with a special banner to include on their Featured Story.

Featured Stories can be nominated by the registered members of Nine Lives and/or selected by the administration staff. Ideally, the story selected should exemplify the qualities we admire most on Nine Lives: characterization, storytelling and compliance with the Submissions Guidelines.

A story can only earn FSOTW once, unless a particular themed challenge (such as our Awesome AU's or Featured Flashbacks months from 2015) that allows for previously Featured stories to be spotlighted again. You can view all the previously Featured Stories here.

How do I nominate a story for Featured Story of the Week?
Nominations for FSOTW can be submitted via PM to Fairies Masquerade.

I nominated a story for FSOTW but it hasn't been featured. What gives?
Dude. Chill. Just because you send in a nomination doesn't mean it's going to be featured right away. Sometimes we get dozens of nominations a week, sometimes we don't get any. It varies. Remember tht a story can only be Featured once, unless a challenge comes up that allows for an exception, so if you nominate something that's already been Featured, that story obviously won't come up. (Check the full list of previously Featured stories here.) Fairies Masquerade keeps an Excel spreadsheet of all the FSOTW nominations submitted and goes down the list accordingly every week.

I don't really like the colors/banner/look of the site. Are there other options?
Yes! We have a number of skins, which control the appearance of the site. The current skins are Mobile, Simple, Night and custom skins Nine1 - Nine14, each with it's own header and theme. The 'Mobile' skin is specifically created for use on mobile devices. The 'Night' skin is a dark background with white text, patterned after our 'Simple' skin. To make sure your skin preference is saved, make sure to change it under your Edit Preferences section.

I have an idea/suggestion/feedback for the site/a challenge/event. How can I submit my idea?
Your idea/suggestion/feedback should be submitted to Fairies Masquerade, Ikkleosu or subversivegrrl via private message (PM). We will not longer be taking suggestions/feedback posted in the shoutbox, primarily because the shout box can move so quickly it's easy for us to miss things and we want to ensure that everyone's opinion is heard and noted by the admin team. 

We track every idea/suggestion/feedback comment received and all are discussed at the administration meetings. Receipt of your comment is not a guarantee that we will be using your idea/suggestion, but we do take note of everything and that is a consideration in the future events and changes for Nine Lives.

Are there rules for posting in the shout box?
Yes, there certainly are! The Shout Box Code of Conduct is as follows:

Can I post in the shout box if I am not registered?
Sorry, but you need to be a registered member in order to have shout box privileges. 

What is the chat room for?
The chat room is a place for people to hang out, talk about all things TWD and get to know one another. It's open 24/7 for the use of our members. Our chat room administrator is meeshie and our chat moderators are jaibhagwan, sweettooth7 and Liddym2113. The chat room is NOT a spoiler-free zone, so if you want to avoid shooting and show spoilers, you may not want to enter, especially during the season. 

Where is the Nine Lives Chatroom?
The NL Chatroom can be found by clicking on the 'Chat' link in the top menu bar of the site. Or, just click here.

What are the Writers' Chats?
The Writers' Chats are something we've set up to discuss issues, questions or general ways for authors and readers alike to discuss writing. Many authors have questions and use the chats as ways to improve their writings skills and also receive valuable feedback from readers. It's also a great chance for our members to get to know one another outside of the story review & shout box options. Writers' Chats are usually held the first Thursday and second Saturday of every month. 

Are there rules for posting in the chat room/participating in the Writers Chats?
Yes there are, courtesy of our spiffy chat team! The Chat rules are in place to ensure maximum fun for everyone involved. By going into the Chat room or participating in the Writer's Chats, you agree to the following:

  1. Respect your fellow chatters. Discussion and differing opinions are welcome, but can always be stated with kindness and respect.

  2. Though spoilers are allowed in the chat room at other times, please refrain from talking about spoilers during official chats.

  3. Stay on topic. Chats will follow this format:

    • We will begin each chat discussing the promoted topic. All questions and discussion should focus on this topic during the first portion of the chat.

    • After the promoted topic has been discussed, chat moderators will open the discussion up to other writing topics. If you have a question about writing that is not related to the promoted topic, this is the time to ask.

    • Once all writing-related topics have been discussed, chat moderators will open the discussion to general conversation. This can be show-related or otherwise.

  4. The official chat timeframe is limited to two hours. After two hours, or after the promoted topic and other writing-related topics have been discussed and general conversation has begun, people may continue chatting for as long as desired, but moderators are free to leave the room.

  5. Be aware that all official writers chats are saved in a transcript available to Nine Lives members. The general discussion portion will not be recorded in the chat transcript. It will show only the promoted topic and other writing-related topics. Transcripts are subject to editing at the discretion of the admins and chat moderators. (No content will be changed, but some may be deleted.)

What is the Member of the Month?
We have so many wonderful authors and reviewers here at Nine Lives, and now you have the chance to help us recognize some of the members who make NL such a great site. Every month we will have two members of the month, one author and one reviewer. So, how are the members of the month chosen? That's where you come in! Starting on the 1st of every month, nominations will open and you can head over to the nominations page to fill in your choices. Not sure who you want to nominate? You have until midnight on the 25th to get your nominations in. Also, if you change your mind, you can change your vote since the nominations aren't counted until after the 25th (your nomination only counts once no matter how many times you change your vote or hit the submit button).

Since nominations are open for most of the month, we're choosing for the following month (for example, votes cast during the month of September will declare the winners for October). After voting is over, the members with the highest number of nominations in each category will be selected. If there's a tie for the highest number of nominations, the tie breaker will be chosen at random. The members of the month will then be displayed for all to see in the Member of the Month section on the main page sidebar, as well as receive a spotlight news article and a custom banner to celebrate their win.

I heard about a Caryl challenge/event/activity another online group is putting on. Can I announce that on Nine Lives?
We already work and support with several well known Caryl-related fandom groups: Carolution, The Caryl Daily and the USS Caryl, among others. Events hosted by any of those are regularly announced by the admins. If its an event hosted by another group, send a PM to Fairies Masquerade first. She will review the group & event and then either give the OK for you to announce it in the shoutbox or post a formal announcement herself.