What is WorLDSmiths all about?
WorLDSmiths is an online group of LDS-oriented writers who are helping each other become the best writers we can be. We
critique up to six manuscripts per month with a maximum of 10,000 words each. The manuscripts are LDS literature.
That means at least one of the following three things must be true about them:
- They are written by an LDS member, or someone that claims ties to the LDS heritage.
- They are written for LDS members.
- They are written about something LDS.
Do I have to be LDS join?
No, but to qualify for writing LDS literature, you will need to submit manuscripts that are written for LDS readers or written about something having to do with the LDS religion.
Do I have to write only about LDS things?
If you are an LDS member, you can write about anything you want, because by our definition, whatever an LDS member writes is LDS literature. If you are not an LDS member, there has to be something about your work that is oriented to the LDS religion somehow.
Where does the name "WorLDSmiths" come from?
Authors are in the business of creating little universes in their writings. Science fiction writers often do that literally, but all writers create a world where their story takes place. Therefore we call ourselves "world smiths," because we create worlds for the stories we tell. We capitalize the LDS in WorLDSmiths to indicate that our focus is LDS literature.
What does "LDS" mean?
LDS stands for "Latter-day Saint," which is short for "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." This is the official name of the church which is colloquially called "Mormon." LDS is shorthand for anything which is related to this church, its religious practices, doctrines, and members.
What genres of writing do you accept?
We group the types of writing we accept into the following categories:
- General fiction
- Literary fiction
- Speculative fiction
- Historical fiction
- Romance
- Young Adult
- Nonfiction
- Screenplays
- Poetry
Do you only allow "appropriate" writing?
We are not so arrogant as to believe we have the right to define what is "appropriate" for any writer to write. We treat our writers as responsible adults who are capable of deciding for themselves what is appropriate. Members of WorLDSmiths need to be prepared to read manuscripts that may not agree with their personal standards of appropriateness. There are lots of places where LDS writers can go and find a "safe" or "appropriate" environment. We are providing a badly needed environment where writers can write whatever they feel they need to write without fear of censure or rebuke.
Having said that, we are not likely to tolerate writing that is blatantly pornographic or virulently antagonistic to the LDS religion. But we will allow our writers broad latitude to explore all facets of the human experience.
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