LGBTQIA+ & Diversity

LSFA is an inclusive community that aims to reflect the diversity of the city it calls home. We actively welcome writers of all ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, disability statuses, neurodiverse experiences, classes, immigration statuses, religions, and backgrounds.

Homophobia, racism, transphobia, xenophobia, ableism, misogyny, or any other form of discrimination or hatefulness will not be tolerated within this community.

As writers of speculative fiction, we imagine futures, worlds, and new possibilities; therefore, we strive to be a forward-thinking community that rejects attitudes which are exclusionary, or divisive. We are proud to be named after one of the most diverse cities in the world, and we want this community to reflect the richness and variety of the people around us.

AI & Creative Integrity

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded within society, there will naturally be differing opinions on its place within the arts. LSFA is an artist-first organisation but not an anti-technology one.

While we neither advocate for nor prohibit the use of AI tools, we believe the decision of how to engage with such technologies ultimately belongs to the individual artist. However, we strongly believe that AI should function as a tool in service of creativity rather than as a replacement for the artist themselves.

We encourage thoughtful and ethical engagement with AI, alongside mindfulness toward the labour, creativity, and rights of other artists and creatives.

Constructive Feedback

Sharing creative work can be deeply vulnerable, and we respect the courage it takes to put work in front of others. LSFA encourages members to share their writing in pursuit of growth and the development of their craft.

Feedback should always be delivered honestly, but also with kindness, tact, and respect. Critique should never become personal, hostile, ego-driven, or intentionally discouraging. The goal of feedback within LSFA is to help one another improve at every stage of the writing process, not to diminish or belittle others.

Mutual respect is paramount.

WhatsApp & Community Spaces

The LSFA WhatsApp community exists to help members connect outside of scheduled events. We encourage active participation across the various channels and welcome members sharing their work, resources, opportunities, achievements, struggles, and general support with one another.

We ask that members familiarise themselves with the various subgroup channels in order to keep discussions organised and avoid unnecessary clutter within the main chat.

General conversation is encouraged, but we ask that members remain mindful of the wider community by avoiding spam, hostility, or disruptive debates and by engaging with others respectfully.

Event Conduct

LSFA aims to maintain a relaxed and down-to-earth atmosphere. Many of our events take place in pubs and informal venues, and while drinking is absolutely welcome, we also expect members to conduct themselves respectfully.

This includes:

• Treating venue staff and hosts respectfully
• Supporting venues through food or drink purchases where possible
• Respecting organisers, facilitators, panellists, and guests
• Arriving on time where reasonably possible, particularly for workshops, panels, and special events

We understand that life happens and lateness can sometimes be unavoidable. However, attendees are encouraged to read event descriptions beforehand and arrive prepared so that sessions can run smoothly for everyone involved.

Harassment & Boundaries

LSFA has zero tolerance for harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation, stalking, discrimination, or sustained unwanted behaviour.

We recognise that personal connections may naturally form within the community, but all members are expected to respect personal boundaries and communicate with one another appropriately.

If a member feels uncomfortable, unsafe, or believes their boundaries have been crossed, we strongly encourage them to speak to a member of the LSFA organising team so that concerns can be handled appropriately and sensitively.

Community Mindset

LSFA is intended to be a community where people both give and receive. At the heart of the group is the belief that writers achieve more together than they do in isolation and that creative communities are strongest when members actively support one another.

There is never any obligation to contribute beyond your personal capacity. We understand that everyone has different levels of availability. However, we do believe that the more members engage with and contribute to the community, the more meaningful and rewarding the community becomes for everyone involved.

Contribution can take many forms: offering feedback on someone's work, volunteering to beta-read, attending critique sessions as a reader, sharing opportunities or resources, supporting fellow writers at events, or simply helping cultivate a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere.

LSFA is not built by a single person or organising team alone but collectively through the generosity, enthusiasm, and participation of its members.