FAQ

General

What is BookSprouting?

BookSprouting is a community dedicated to the positive development of children's literature. Members can share their stories and receive feedback so that their work(s) can develop and grow. You can also participate in our contests, where you submit your story and then users vote on all the stories. The top-voted story wins the prize(s) and is also considered for publication. Our main goal is to make a positive addition to the world of children’s books and we think the community at large has the talent and vision to make that happen. Let us help you on your way to getting published!

Who We Are

Click here to read our 'story'

Using BookSprouting

How do I register?

To get started, click the sign-up link on the user bar.

1. Fill out the form. Create a user-name, then enter your first and last name, a valid e-mail address and a password. The user-name you enter will be your login ID. Select your date of birth and the country from which you will most frequently log in. Finally, fill in the text verification.
2. Verify your account. Go to the inbox of the e-mail you provided. Click on the link in the BookSprouting e-mail to verify your account.
3. Read BookSprouting's User agreement. Take a few moments to read this document in order to understand the guidelines we have for the community as well as the overall safety built within the site. The User Agreement is shown at the time of account creation and is different then the site's Terms and Conditions (found at the Terms and Conditions link at the bottom of every page on the Site).
4. Create a profile and start uploading your stories. That's it! Once you've signed up, personalize your profile and upload your stories to your profile. Utilize the forum and leave feedback on other users' stories! The BookSprouting community is here for you and your contribution to children's books.

I forgot my username or password, how can I log back into BookSprouting?

Go to the user bar at the top of the page and click on the 'Forgot your password' link. Enter the email address you provided upon sign-up and an email will be sent to your inbox giving you your username and a new password that will allow you to get back into the site. You will be able to change your password in your profile options.

How do I delete my account?

Contact support to request your account be deleted.

Why was my account suspended?

Your account was suspended due to repeated or severe violations of our Terms and Conditions. Users with suspended or terminated accounts are prohibited from creating new accounts or accessing BookSprouting’s community features.

Can I change my BookSprouting username?

Currently, you cannot change your username as there is simply too much information attached to each account.

Uploading Stories

How do I upload a story?

To get started, login and click the 'upload your story' link on the user bar.

1. Enter your story's title, some 'tags' that will allow other users to find your story according to its key words, and a brief summary of your story. Also select the category that your children's story falls under. Carefully read through the terms and conditions and type "I Agree" into the text box, followed by the text identification code. Click "Next Step" to continue.
2. When uploading the story, you have the option to enter text only, pictures only (should your text be incorporated into your artwork), or text with pictures accompanying it.
   1. For text only, enter the text for your first page and then click "Save and Add Another Page." When you have completed adding new pages, click "Save and No More Pages."
   2. For pictures only, upload each document as an individual page and click "Save and Add Another Page." When you have completed adding new pages, click "Save and No More Pages."
   3. For both text and pictures, enter the text and accompanying picture for each page and then click "Save and Add Another Page." When you have completed adding new pages, click "Save and No More Pages."
3. Congratulations, your story upload is complete!

How do I edit my story?

Login to your account. Click on the link, "View/Edit your profile." Your stories will be listed on your profile page. Click on the story you'd like to edit. Once you are at that page, click on the "Update your story" link to edit your story.

Is my story protected from other people stealing it?

When you upload your story to Booksprouting, your story enters public domain on an auditable system. This means several things:

1. 1. We can prove by date and time stamp that your material is original to you. Any copyright infringement material published subsequent to that day/time can be proven to be fraudulent.
2. 2. If a publisher is unwitting enough to infringe upon your copyright, BookSprouting may levy suit against the publisher to the full extent of the law. This means that if the infringing author/publisher has materially benefited from the dissemination of your content, we will have strong grounds to win damages against them.
3. 3. Keep in mind that original content is continually published on the web (songs on MySpace, for example) and that infringement suits are rather rare. Most people are smart enough to realize that once you upload it, it'll be hard for them to prove that it's theirs and not yours. And we feel good about that!

Are you going to modify my story in any way once it's uploaded?

We will not edit or format your stories. Stories may be removed due to a violation of our Terms and Conditions. If your story is removed, please consult our Terms and Conditions to make sure you did not violate its terms. (will we send out emails notifying them?)

Can I submit non-English work?

BookSprouting is currently only an English-language content site. Please do not submit non-English content. We have hopes to develop into other languages so if you would like to see BookSprouting in your language, please contact us and let us know.

What should I do if I find inappropriate content in a user's story?

Select the story from the user's profile and click the 'mark story content as inappropriate' link. Select whether the story is 'inappropriate' or a 'copyright infringement' and then enter more specific details into the text box about why you are flagging this story. Fill in the text verification and then submit your comment.

Comments

How do I comment on other people's stories?

Select the story you wish to read within a user's profile and then click on the 'leave feedback' link. Type your comment into the text box and specify whether or not you want your comment to be made 'public' or 'private.' Finally, type in the text verification and submit your comment.

Do I have to be a member of your site to upload stories, leave comments or flag inappropriate content?

We do require all users who wish to upload stories, leave comments or flag inappropriate content to be members. However, you do not need to be a member in order to browse through users' profiles and stories.

What should I do if a user is being abusive?

If a user is being abusive through comments on your story, you have the option to flag that user's comment where it will then be brought to the attention of our administrators. If abuse continues to take place, contact us at --- with details of the mistreatment.

Competitions

What kind of competitions do you hold?

From time to time BookSprouting will hold contests offering prizes and a chance to be published. Winners will be determined by the BookSprouting community where members will be able to vote on their favourite stories. The exact rules and regulations concerning each competition will be posted when the approaching competition is near.

When is the first competition?

Our first competition will begin when we have 3,000 members belonging to the BookSprouting community. The exact rules and regulations concerning each competition will be posted when the approaching competition is near.