Editorial Guidelines

Our Editorial Standards at Speculative Chic

Speculative Chic is committed to honest, thoughtful, and expert coverage of speculative fiction. These guidelines govern all content published on our platform — by staff writers and contributors alike.

Mission

Our mission is to be the most trusted and readable destination for speculative fiction coverage. We believe in books, in stories, and in the readers who love them. Our reviews, essays, and features are written for curious people who take the genre seriously.

Independence

Speculative Chic maintains full editorial independence. Publishers, authors, and publicists do not influence our review coverage. Receiving a review copy does not guarantee a positive review or a review at all. Sponsored content is clearly distinguished from editorial content and never influences our independent coverage.

Accuracy

• All factual claims must be verified before publication.
• Author names, book titles, publication dates, and series information must be checked against reliable sources.
• Corrections are issued prominently and promptly when errors are identified.

Review Ethics

• Reviewers must have read the complete work being reviewed.
• Reviews reflect the honest opinion of the reviewer, not editorial direction.
• Conflicts of interest (personal relationships with authors, financial ties to publishers) must be disclosed.
• We do not remove or substantially alter published reviews due to author or publisher complaints. Factual corrections are the sole exception.

Voice and Tone

• We write for readers who are intelligent and engaged, not for search engines.
• Avoid condescension, unnecessary jargon, and plot spoilers without warning.
• Critical opinions should be substantiated with evidence from the text.
• We welcome diverse perspectives and actively seek voices from underrepresented communities in the genre.

Disclosures

• Review copies, ARCs, and publisher-provided materials are disclosed.
• Affiliate links and sponsored posts are clearly labeled.
• Staff bios are available to readers who wish to know who is writing.

Corrections Policy

Errors of fact will be corrected as soon as they are identified. Corrections are noted at the top of the affected article with the date of correction. We do not silently alter published content.

Contact the Editorial Team

For editorial inquiries, pitch submissions, or corrections, contact us at contact@speculativechic.com.