"Availability" Categories

When creating events or concepts for TTU, any work you put here on the wiki is public and available for other authors' use -- the entire point of a shared setting is that all "canon" events and all world history are common to all of the stories. You can "call dibs" on events by requesting that you be the one to write about it, but you can't make restrictions on letting other people use the basic idea of the event itself. What would a TTU story be like if, for example, you couldn't mention TheChanges?

Characters, locations, and groups (CLGs) are another matter; they're unique concepts that exist in the setting but don't guide the setting. When filling out the "Availability" tag for a CLG that you have created, use one of the following categories:


The categories are explained below.

Open - Free for any use

You don't have any particular attachment to the CLG, and you're willing to change your CLG to accommodate other writers' ideas. This is a great category for minor characters you have few plans for, or protagonists of a story you intended to be a one-shot.

A CLG in this category can be modified at will as long as the changes reflect existing canon; new backstory can be added, new stories can be written featuring them, your group can take sides in other people's events, others can visit (and leave marks on!) your location, etc. If there's a disagreement over the direction a CLG should take, seek consensus, and defer to the original author's ideas only if a consensus can't be reached.

Groups and locations in this category can have new members/residents added at will, even pivotal or highly placed ones.

If your CLG is Open, add "CategoryOpen" to the bottom of its page. A list of Open CLGs can be found there.

Public - Ask permission first

This is the default category for TTU characters, locations and groups.

You're willing to let other people use your CLG, but you'd prefer to retain some authority over it. You're open to other people using your CLG -- even writing a story starring that character or centering around the group/location -- but you'd like the ability to keep your vision for the CLG consistent.

Other authors should run their broad vision past you before starting work: "Hey, I'd like to write a story about a student of JE Dyer's, is that OK?" Stories won't be added to canon unless the creator and the author both find the way the CLG was used acceptable, so authors using your CLG should make a strong effort to collaborate with you. If a modification is proposed for a CLG in this category, seek consensus, but give the author's vision extra weight.

Groups and locations in this category can have new members/residents added at will, but any use that significantly affects the visibility or theme should be cleared with the author as above.

Limited - See page notes

You're willing to let other people use your CLG, but others should tread with caution -- perhaps there is hidden backstory that would affect how the character is written, or perhaps if other people use your CLG in certain ways it will disrupt your story arc. If you choose this option, explain your restrictions in the Notes field of your CLG page. If it's only a simple restriction ("this character cannot be on the U.S. West Coast in 1998"), mention it, but the default "public - ask permission" category should give you enough control; use this category for larger restrictions ("I need to be the only person to develop this character's backstory").

Other authors should run their specific plans past you before starting work: "Hey, I'd like to write a story in which Kiasu challenges the main character and beats him in a duel to make him miss his bus to work. Is that OK?" Stories won't be added to canon unless you approve of the way your CLG was used, so authors using your CLG must make a strong effort to collaborate with you. If a modification is proposed for a CLG in this category, the original author has veto power over any changes.

Groups and locations in this category can have new members/residents added only if the creator approves.

Private - For creator's use only

Your CLG is off-limits to other writers. This goes against the spirit of a shared setting and should be chosen as a last resort, but it has acceptable uses. It might be appropriate for a character that has a very specific story arc that can't accommodate any changes, or a character that you take very personally and you'd feel violated seeing xir in someone else's hands. It might be appropriate for a shadowy, little-known group that has a specific membership list and all of the characters have individual story arcs you have plans for, like The Redeemers.

If you choose this option, your CLG must have very little fame or reputation; for example, it would be very hard for other writers to pretend Dennis Redwing didn't exist! If you choose this option, it's polite to explain your reasoning in the Notes field of your CLG page.

Groups and locations in this category have closed membership/fixed population, and will only contain the characters the creator specifically names.

Other authors cannot add works that include your CLG to the wiki or to canon -- unless you have specifically given permission. Any modifications that other people make to your CLG should be treated as suggestions and you have full control to roll changes back. Please note: Since we can't collaborate to keep your CLG in the TTU spirit, if your private CLG has canon issues any admin may tell you to change it or risk removal.

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If you have any questions about a particular item's availability, please contact the individual creator. If you have any questions about this as a whole, visit QuestionsPage.

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