Contributing Guide
Help build OpenFiction by adding and improving character data directly.
What you can contribute
Character appearances
Track where characters appear in each book - whether they're the point-of-view character, appear on page, or are just mentioned.
Life events
Record key status changes like deaths, injuries, or transformations - anything that changes a character's state in the story.
Physical attributes
Add details like eye colour, hair colour, height, and other physical descriptions with book references.
Relationships and more
Relationships between characters, group memberships, occupations, traits, and abilities.
How editing works
- Find a character page - Browse or search for any character already in OpenFiction.
- Look for edit icons - When you're signed in, you'll see small icons next to entries in the story arc and other sections. Hover over any entry to reveal them.
- Click to edit or add - Click an edit icon to modify an existing entry, or use the + button at book level to add a new appearance or life event.
- Fill in the form - Select the book and chapter, choose the type, and add any notes. You'll need to provide at least one source for your contribution.
- Submit for review - Your contribution is sent to our curators. You'll be notified when it's approved.
The review process
Every contribution is reviewed by a curator before it goes live. This helps us maintain accuracy across the database.
- Approved - Your contribution is added to the live database. You'll be notified and your contribution count increases.
- Changes requested - The curator might ask you to adjust something. This is normal - it's not personal, just part of keeping the data accurate.
- Rejected - Rarely, a contribution might be declined if the information can't be verified. You'll receive feedback explaining why.
Reviews usually happen within a few days. You can check the status of your contributions on your profile page.
Quality guidelines
Always cite your sources
Every contribution needs at least one source - typically the book and chapter where you found the information. This helps curators verify your contribution and helps readers find the original passage.
Be specific
When adding notes, include enough context for someone who hasn't read the book recently. "Fights Szeth" is more helpful than "major battle scene".
Stick to what's in the text
OpenFiction tracks what happens in the published books. Fan theories, author interviews, and adaptations are interesting but generally out of scope unless they clarify something ambiguous.
Don't worry about being perfect
Curators are here to help. If you're unsure about a detail, submit what you know and leave a note. It's better to contribute something imperfect than nothing at all.
Can't find what you need?
If a book, series, or character isn't in OpenFiction yet, you can request it and we'll add it for you.
Browse content requests