Privacy Policy
- For The Writers | Official · Authenticated & Thoughtfully Reviewed
- Jul 24, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 14
Effective Date: July 24, 2024
At For The Writers, we take your privacy seriously. This policy explains how we—and trusted partners—collect, use, share, and protect your personal information through our website, apps, newsletters, submission portals, events, and other services (collectively, the “Services”).
What We Collect and How
When you engage with For The Writers, we collect both the information you choose to share with us and some data that’s automatically gathered through your use of our services. This helps us deliver a more personalized, secure, and seamless experience.
Information you share with us includes your name, email, mailing address, phone number, and any additional details you provide when submitting work, such as a pen name, biography, or photograph. We also collect the creative content you provide, which may include essays, stories, and media uploads such as images, videos, or audio. Your interactions with our platform—such as entering contests, responding to polls or surveys, registering for events, or subscribing to newsletters—help us understand what matters most to you.
You may also choose to share optional information like your demographics, professional background, or social media handles, especially if you’d like to be tagged or credited when featured.
Information collected automatically includes basic technical details such as your device type, browser, IP address, and operating system. We also monitor how you use our site—like which pages you view, what you click on, and how long you stay—so we can optimize the experience. We use cookies, pixels, SDKs, and similar tracking technologies (including location data, if permission is granted) to better understand and improve how our content is accessed and shared.
From time to time, we may work with trusted implementation partners who help us combine your profile data with the usage insights collected automatically. This allows us to refine and enhance your experience with greater relevance and intention.
How We Use Your Info
We use your data to:
Deliver and improve our Services (submissions, content, support);
Communicate with you—newsletters, confirmations, updates;
Tailor your experience and content recommendations;
Organize events, contests, and surveys;
Market For The Writers offerings and measure ad effectiveness; and
Ensure site security, comply with law, and assist with legal matters.
How We Share Your Info
We may share information with:
Publicly, if you choose to publish (e.g., social media shoutouts);
Third-party providers who support our operations (e.g., hosting, payment, email services);
Advertising and analytics partners for marketing insights and targeted content;
Promotional collaborators (e.g., contest sponsors, event partners);
Legal authorities, when required by law or to enforce rights; and
Corporate partners or acquirers, if we merge or reorganize.
We may also share aggregated, non-identifiable data without restriction.
Your Privacy Controls
You have the right to:
Access, correct, or delete your personal data;
Opt out of marketing emails and promotions;
Manage cookies and tracking preferences via your browser or device;
Exercise rights provided under relevant laws (e.g. GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
To exercise these rights or update preferences, contact us at outreach@forthewriters.com.
Media Uploads & Rights
When you upload photos, videos, or audio with your submissions, you confirm:
You own or have permission to use this content;
You grant For The Writers the right to publish or share it in connection with your work;
You may request removal or retract your permission at any time before publication.
Data Security & Retention
We implement reasonable measures to secure your personal data. We retain your information only as long as necessary to provide our Services or meet legal requirements.
How We Protect Personal Information
We take your privacy seriously and maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the information you share with us. This includes data encryption, secure submission portals, access controls, and good-faith policies regarding how your content and identity are handled.
Still, no digital platform is completely immune to risk. While we work hard to keep your data safe, we cannot guarantee full protection against all unauthorized access, cyber threats, or unforeseen breaches. By using our Services, you acknowledge this risk.
If you discover a potential vulnerability or concern related to the security of our platform, please notify us immediately at privacy@forthewriters.org.
Third-Party Links & External Sites
Some of our articles, resources, and submissions may contain links to third-party websites or services. These properties operate independently of For The Writers and may have their own privacy policies and practices. We encourage you to review their terms before engaging. We’re not responsible for the privacy, content, or conduct of these external entities.
Children’s Privacy
For The Writers is not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we discover that information from someone under 16 has been submitted through our Services, we will promptly delete it. If you believe a child’s information may have been provided, please contact us at outreach@forthewriters.com.
International Users
If you are located outside the United States, please note that your information may be stored, processed, or transferred to servers in the U.S. or other countries where our team or partners are based. These locations may not offer the same legal protections as your home country. By using our Services, you consent to this transfer, in accordance with applicable laws.
Regional Disclosures
Depending on your location, you may be entitled to specific privacy rights. We honor applicable data protection laws and provide tailored notices as required.
U.S. Residents: See our U.S. State Privacy Notice for information specific to California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Virginia, and others.
EEA, UK, or Switzerland Residents: Please see our European Privacy Notice for GDPR-related rights and lawful bases for data processing.
Your Privacy Rights (U.S. State Residents)
Depending on where you live, state privacy laws may grant you certain rights regarding the personal information we collect. Here’s what that means, in plain terms:
The Right to Access
You can ask us if we’re collecting your personal information, and if we are, we’ll tell you what we have. In most cases, you also have the right to receive a copy of that data in a format that’s portable and easy to understand, unless it’s technically not feasible.
If you live in California, this right also includes a breakdown of:
The specific pieces of personal information we’ve collected about you,
The categories of information and where they came from,
Why we collected or “shared/sold” it, and
Who we may have disclosed it to.
The Right to Deletion
You can ask us to delete the personal information we’ve collected from you. We’ll honor that unless a valid exception under the law applies (for example, legal compliance or ongoing account needs).
The Right to Correction
If any of your information is inaccurate or outdated, you can ask us to correct it, and we’ll do our best to fix it based on the data and the purpose for which it was collected.
The Right to Opt Out
Under state privacy laws, you may opt out of the following:
The “sale” or “sharing” of your personal information;
The use of your data for “targeted advertising”; and
The collection or use of certain “sensitive” personal information
To exercise these rights, visit our Your Privacy Choices in My Account Center where you can customize your data preferences. We may disclose select categories of information (e.g., identifiers, geolocation, browsing activity, and limited sensitive data) to our advertising and analytics partners, always in accordance with legal allowances.
We do not knowingly “sell” or “share” personal information of users under the age of 16.
How to Submit a Privacy Rights Request
You can exercise your rights to access, delete, or correct your data by contacting us directly.
To opt out of “sales,” “shares,” targeted advertising, or sensitive data use, simply visit Your Privacy Choices in our footer or activate the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal in your browser. Learn more at www.globalprivacycontrol.org.
Please note: In most cases, we’ll need to verify your identity before we can fulfill your request. This may include confirming details such as your email address, phone number, or most recent activity on our site. If we can’t verify you or find your record, we may not be able to fulfill the request, but we’ll let you know why.
Appeals & Non-Discrimination
You won’t be penalized for exercising your rights, but please understand that limiting our ability to use your information (e.g., deleting it) may affect your experience or our ability to provide services to you.
If we deny your request and you believe we got it wrong, you have the right to appeal. Just send an email to outreach@forthewriters.com with a copy of our decision and the word “Appeal” in the subject line.
Using an Authorized Agent
In some states, you can appoint someone to submit a request on your behalf. If you’re doing so, we may need documentation, such as:
A valid power of attorney; or
Signed permission authorizing the agent, along with a direct confirmation from you
We may also ask the agent to verify their identity and authority before processing the request.
On Deidentified Information
If we process information in a way that legally qualifies it as “deidentified,” we commit to maintaining its deidentified status. We won’t attempt to reidentify it unless legally required to test or validate our methods of deidentification.
Changes to This Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, or legal requirements. When updates occur, we’ll revise the “Effective Date” at the top of this page to let you know. For significant changes that materially affect how your information is used or shared, we’ll make reasonable efforts to notify you—whether through email, a banner on our site, or other direct communication. We encourage you to review this policy regularly so you remain informed and empowered in how your personal data is handled.
Contact Us
Questions? Concerns? Requests to access or delete your data? Reach out anytime.
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