GUILDS.
A coalition of independent magazines, imprints, and writers. Members pledge to keep their work free of AI and to treat writers fairly.
A coalition for independent magazines, imprints, and writers. Writers pledge not to use AI; presses pledge to pay fairly and use fair contracts.
Member-run and dues-light.
Human-made
Members pledge not to use generative AI in their stories or art, not to plagiarize, and not to sell reprints as new work.
Pay & rights
Member magazines pay for accepted work. A market that does not pay may not charge a submission fee. Contracts must meet a fair-terms standard with limited rights and reversion.
For writers
Members get a profile and a badge, nominate and vote in the annual GUILDS awards, and get a free entry to the annual writing contest.
Infractions record
A named board reviews anonymous reports and records only high-confidence findings, with the supporting evidence. Member presses can review each case themselves.
- My reputation, I will honorably guard. My time, I will not refuse. My thought, I will not grudge. My care, I will not deny.
- I will avoid all practices that degrade the safety and quality of honor.
- I will respect the hard-won knowledge of those in whose steps I walk, and gladly share my learning with those who follow in mine.
- I will defend dignity. I will value honor. I will respect all people regardless of their situation or condition.
- I understand that expediency is not an excuse for misconduct.
- I am accountable for my decisions and actions.
Writers
- No AI. No generative AI in my stories or art.
- No plagiarism. The work is my own.
- No reprints as new.I disclose a work's publication history honestly.
Publishers
- No AI prose. We do our best, in good faith, not to publish it.
- No AI art. A hard line — covers, interiors, promotion.
- Fair contracts. Limited rights, reversion, no hidden grabs.
- Pay writers.Or, if we can't pay, we charge no submission fee.
- Open the door. A real effort to publish new, unaffiliated writers.
- Transparency. Pay, response times, and AI policy stated openly.
A human read comes first.When a story is flagged for AI, an editor reads it before any tool is touched. We bring in the writer's past work, and only turn to detection tools like Pangram if the earlier steps warrant it — never on their own.
Every record holds all the evidence, so publications decide for themselves. Oversight rests with a public, rotating board of writers and publications in equal number.
Confidence, not accusation
We record only high-confidence findings. Uncertain or mixed cases are not filed as conclusions.
The record, not a verdict
We don't run a blacklist, and the publications who receive our records vow not to either. They get the full evidence and reach their own judgment.
No single signal
A detector score, a metadata quirk, or a gut read means nothing in isolation. We act only where independent signals converge.
Publishers— AI-screening education and tools, the full evidence-backed infractions record, and a say in the guild's direction and processes.
Writers— membership, voting rights in the annual awards, and a say in the guild's direction and processes.
guild · n. /ɡɪld/
a company of people bound by common craft, sworn to protect their trade and teach the next hands that take it up.
GUILDS · n. pl.
a coalition of independent magazines, imprints, and writers, committed to human-made work and fair terms.