Editing Data
How to edit existing entries and what makes a quality contribution.
What you can edit
Most data on character pages can be edited or added to:
- Character details (gender, species, origin, roles, and aliases)
- Appearances and life events
- Physical attributes (eye colour, hair colour, height, etc.)
- Relationships between characters
- Group memberships
- Abilities and occupations
Relationship tips
When adding a relationship between two characters, you can uncheck the Mutual checkbox if the relationship is one-sided. For example, unrequited romance or a rivalry where only one side sees the other as a rival.
One-sided relationships display "(one-sided)" next to the relationship type on the character's page.
Editing character details
You can edit a character's gender, species, origin, roles, and aliases directly from their page.
- Find the edit icon- On any character page, look for the sliders icon in the hero section at the top (next to the character's name and details). This is only visible when you're signed in.
- Open the editor - Click the icon to open a panel with two sections: basic details (gender, species, and origin) and segment-aware fields (roles and aliases).
- Make your changes- Update any fields you'd like to change. For roles and aliases, you can add new entries with book and chapter references, or edit existing ones.
- Submit for review- Click "Submit for review" and your changes will be sent to our curators. Each changed field is submitted as a separate contribution so curators can review them individually.
Editing other character data
Other sections on character pages (appearances, physical attributes, relationships, etc.) have their own edit controls:
- Look for edit icons- When you're signed in, you'll see small edit icons next to entries in the story arc and other sections.
- Click to edit or add - Click an edit icon to modify an existing entry, or use the + button to add something new.
- 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.
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.
Review process
- Approved- Your contribution goes live on the site. You'll be notified and your contribution count increases.
- Rejected- Occasionally, a contribution might be declined if the information can't be verified. The curator may add a comment explaining why. You can appeal the decision if you believe it was incorrect.
Reviews usually happen within a few days. Check the status of your contributions on your contributions page.