ABOUT THE CHRONICLES
Creative work deserves a publishing process built around people.
The Chronicles of What?!?!? is an open peer-feedback publishing community for fiction, visual art, illustration, and the people who help creative work become stronger and find readers.
Write something. Make something. Help someone make something. Come be part of this.
WHY WE EXIST
Publishing can be rigorous without treating creators as raw material.
The Chronicles is designed around thoughtful feedback, transparent editorial decisions, creator agency, and a community in which many forms of contribution matter. A reviewer can help a story without owning it. An illustrator can help bring a work into the world while retaining ownership of their art. An author can disagree with feedback and explain why. A supporter can contribute to the conditions that let the work happen.
THE SPARK
The story behind the story matters too.
The Spark records what first set a work in motion: a place, image, conversation, memory, another work, a question, or something unexpected. It is not a plagiarism test. It is a way to acknowledge inspiration, provenance, and the creative path behind the finished work.
AI & CREATIVE WORK
AI can support the process. It should not replace the creator.
Creators may use generative AI as a support tool for activities such as brainstorming, feedback, proofreading, clarity checks, accessibility support, or revision help. Meaningful use is disclosed. The submitted creative work must remain fundamentally the creator’s own, and the creator remains responsible for originality, rights, accuracy, and ethical use.
COMMUNITY, NOT A LEADERBOARD
Every role can matter without turning contribution into competition.
Recognition is milestone-based rather than ranked. Published work, peer feedback, illustration, visual art, service, support, and other forms of participation can all become visible parts of a contributor’s history as the recognition system grows.
TRANSPARENCY
Want the process details?
We make the workflow visible so contributors know what happens to their work, what decisions mean, and where responsibility sits.
