Terms of Service

Please note that by participating in our First Line Reading process, it assumed that you have read and understand our Terms of Service.

What is a First Line Reader?  FLRs are given access to DreamForge Submissions, where you will be able to read, rate, and comment on incoming stories submitted for publication. Working together with the DreamForge Editorial Team, you will help select outstanding stories for future issues. 

Rewards Commitment

We welcome anyone who can help us, even by reading just a few stories. If you’d like to earn some reader rewards— you can do full reads on 25 stories and partial reads on an additional 25 stories over the course of our submission period. Our current plan is to be open for submissions from October through December, 2025.

How does that work in practical terms? 

• While you are taking a look at 50 stories, 25 are light touch evaluations and 25 are possible full reads, but you can stop when the story loses your interest.
• The light touch evaluations involve making a decision based on the author’s log line and/or reading first-page, middle-page, end-page before recommending a return or advance to full read.
• A “full-read” does not obligate you to read every word of the story; only that you read as far into the story as needed to make a definite “recommend” or “pass” decision.

In addition to using a 5 star rating system and pre-assigned status tags, you’ll have the opportunity to add notes clarifying your opinion. You can keep it short; just a sentence or two.

For “discovery readers” who just like to dive in and read stories without participating in the filtering process, your minimum reward level is 30 stories.

You can, of course, read and rate as many stories as you want beyond the reward level.

Each commitment is for a single reading period. Every reading period, we’ll check with our FLRs to see if they want to participate again or open their FLR positions to someone new.

If you find you cannot continue reading, just let us know. We have a limited number of positions, and we’ll offer the opportunity to someone new.  If you can only read a few stories, don’t worry! Have fun.  Any and all assistance you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Rewards

For meeting your reward commitment, you’ll receive either a current year digital subscription or download codes for all of our past issues. Hang in there with us until the end of the reading period and you’ll receive both rewards.

Dos and Don’ts

PLEASE DO

• Understand the DreamForge Theme
  • Our 2025 focus: “Open Channel: The Art of Connection.” In a world increasingly divided by algorithms and "us versus them" narratives, the theme explores connection as the ultimate form of resistance. Rather than fighting division with more division, the stories focus on opening hearts and minds through unexpected forms of communication.
  • Core theme: Stories of "endurance, hope, and the triumph of the human spirit.” Stories that actively resist despair and offer constructive alternatives to dystopian futures, focusing on what builds rather than what destroys.
• Rate Stories using our Star System and provide a comment or two for each story.
  • 1 Star: Does not meet theme or market requirements, bad formatting, etc.
  • 2 Stars: Recommend return
  • 3 Stars: Recommend full read
  • 4 Stars: Recommend multiple reads
  • 5 Stars: Recommend editorial decision
• Speak up for the stories and authors you come to appreciate.
• Be truthful but encouraging. Many stories will be unacceptable, but a thoughtful comment from you may help the author improve for next time.   (Editor’s judgment in returning stories on providing comments.)

PLEASE DON’T

• Don’t feel obligated to read every story all the way through. As you gain practice, read just far enough to make a decision. The best stories will pull you through to the end.
• Never be cruel in your comments, even though they are internal system notes. The worst story was submitted on wings of high hopes.
• Please be respectful of other FLRs. Everyone is not going to agree. Everyone is not from the same background, stage of life, or belief systems. Be kind.
• NEVER (this is a big one), please never share these stories on Social Media, the web, or with friends who are not DreamForge FLRs. The authors do have Copyright to these stories, and posting or sharing them without permission could lose the author a sale and expose you to possible civil legal action. Certainly, it will get you booted out of our First Line Reader group.

DreamForge Magazine does reserve the right to cancel your participation and in our First Line Reader program at any time and for any reason.