InnerKiller.com — Writer Guidelines

For iKCreators, iKWriters, and iKEditors

The darkness welcomes discipline. Craft earns its place here.

Who These Guidelines Are For

These guidelines apply to all contributors operating within the InnerKiller ecosystem:

  • iKCreators

    Submit original iKProfiles — fictional female serial killer profiles that serve as the mandatory foundation for all InnerKiller stories.

  • iKWriters

    Write Toe-Tagged Tales (TTTs) — long-form short stories adapted only from approved iKProfiles, either your own or those assigned to you.

  • iKEditors

    Review, refine, and safeguard all content for ethical compliance, narrative integrity, and alignment with InnerKiller’s psychological and editorial standards.

Core Structural Rules (Non-Negotiable)

1. iKProfiles Are Mandatory

  • No Toe-Tagged Tale may be written without an approved iKProfile.

  • Stories do not precede profiles. Profiles do not get retrofitted to stories.

  • The iKProfile is the blueprint — psychology, motive, restraint, and scope are defined.

2. Fiction Only

  • All characters, killers, victims, and events must be entirely fictional.

  • No real-life individuals, cases, or direct analogues.

  • No true crime retellings disguised as fiction.

3. Female Serial Killer Focus

  • All iKProfiles must center on a fictional female serial killer.

  • Mass murderers, terrorists, or spree-kill archetypes are not permitted.

  • InnerKiller prioritizes psychology, ritual, and intent — not body counts.

4. Word Count Requirements

  • Toe-Tagged Tales must fall between:
    1,000 – 9,999 words total

  • Multi-chapter structure is allowed and encouraged when appropriate.

  • Anything under 1,000 words is not a Toe-Tagged Tale.

Content Ethics & Boundaries

InnerKiller does not romanticize violence, abuse, or trauma.

Submissions must not:

  • Glorify real-world crimes or criminal behavior

  • Sexualize violence, assault, or coercion

  • Exploit trauma for shock value

  • Use gore as a substitute for tension or psychology

  • Encourage imitation or instructional harm

Dark themes are allowed. Irresponsible treatment of those themes is not. Subtlety, restraint, and psychological consequence matter here.

Writing Style & Tone Expectations

Toe-Tagged Tales should be:

  • Psychological, immersive, and deliberate

  • Driven by character interiority, not spectacle

  • Atmospheric rather than gratuitous

  • Tense, ritualistic, and emotionally controlled

  • Aligned with InnerKiller’s aesthetic:

    • Gothic

    • Quietly menacing

    • Intellectually unsettling

    • Female-centric where applicable

Shock is never the goal. Impact comes from precision.

Editorial Standards

iKEditors are responsible for ensuring all published work:

  • Adheres strictly to Content Ethics & Boundaries

  • Honors the approved iKProfile without deviation

  • Maintains narrative cohesion, pacing, and POV discipline

  • Meets professional grammar and readability standards

  • Preserves InnerKiller’s voice — not the writer’s ego

Editors may request revisions, structural changes, or rejection where necessary. Approval is earned, not automatic.

Submission & Review Workflow

iKProfile Submissions

  • Submitted via the official Submit Your iKProfile form

  • Reviewed for:

    • Psychological depth

    • Ethical viability

    • Narrative potential

    • Brand alignment

  • Only approved iKProfiles enter the InnerKiller library

Toe-Tagged Tale Submissions

  • Written only from approved iKProfiles

  • Submitted via the official story submission process

  • Reviewed by iKEditors for:

    • Ethical compliance

    • Craft quality

    • Structural integrity

    • Alignment with the source iKProfile

Approval does not guarantee immediate publication. Scheduling is editorially determined.

Credit, Compensation & Recognition

  • Approved iKProfiles receive one-time submission compensation

  • iKCreators are credited when their profile is adapted into a TTT

  • Royalties apply only to printed publications, not online releases

  • Attribution is transparent and intentional

  • Anonymous publication is optional; it is never assumed

Full compensation details are governed by the official InnerKiller framework.

What Makes a Strong Submission

  • Psychological complexity over shock

  • Clear motive, limits, and internal logic

  • Controlled pacing and purposeful scenes

  • Respect for sensitive themes

  • Discipline in language and restraint in violence

If it feels indulgent, it likely doesn’t belong here.

Support & Communication

Primary communication occurs through your assigned InnerKiller workflow tools. If you experience access issues or need clarification:

  • Contact InnerKiller directly using your assigned credentials

  • Do not bypass editorial channels without cause

We are structured on purpose.

Final Reminder

InnerKiller is not a sandbox. It is a psychological playground.

Those who thrive here understand that darkness is earned through controlled chaos, not excessive or recycled content.