EDITORIAL TRANSPARENCY & CREATIVE ACCESS POLICY
Official Policy · Version 1.2 · November 1, 2026
On the Use of Artificial Intelligence
OUTPOST 27 uses artificial intelligence as part of its creative and publishing process. These tools may assist with brainstorming, manuscript development, editorial review, visual design, and production.
Our use of these tools varies by project. Some illustrations and cover elements are created using generative AI under human direction and revision.
We believe that the opportunity to create should not depend entirely on financial resources, formal education, technical knowledge, or access to traditional publishing institutions. Many people have stories worth telling but lack the means or support to bring them into the world. Emerging technologies can help remove some of those barriers. We believe that opportunity is worth protecting, while recognizing that access to better tools does not replace the care, judgment, and responsibility required to produce meaningful work.
We also believe readers deserve an honest account of how the work they purchase is made. AI involvement does not remove the responsibility of the author or publisher for the finished work.
Each publication remains subject to human editorial judgment, revision, and final approval.
We recognize that reasonable people disagree about the place of artificial intelligence in creative work. We take those concerns seriously and intend to remain transparent about our practices.
Creative Access & Community
OUTPOST 27 seeks to make room for creators who have been excluded, discouraged, or limited by cost, disability, education, technical barriers, or lack of professional connections. We welcome people who use different methods to develop and complete their work, including assistive and generative technologies.
We believe creative work deserves to be considered on its merits, and that the circumstances or tools behind its creation should not determine whether someone deserves to be heard.
This commitment does not promise publication, endorsement, or freedom from criticism. Honest editorial feedback is part of taking creative work seriously. Contributors should be able to discuss their process without ridicule while remaining open to questions, revision, and disagreement about the work itself.
AI Use in Submitted Work
OUTPOST 27 welcomes submissions from writers who use artificial intelligence as part of their creative process. These tools may help develop ideas, overcome technical limitations, or prepare work for publication. Their use does not automatically disqualify a submission.
Contributors must exercise meaningful creative control over their submissions and accept responsibility for the accuracy, originality, permissions, and final content of their work. AI-assisted brainstorming, outlining, editing, and visual development are permitted. Substantially AI-generated text or artwork may be considered when the contributor discloses its use and demonstrates significant original creative involvement.
Contributors must disclose substantial generative AI involvement at the time of submission, either through a designated submission field or in their accompanying pitch or cover note. This disclosure should identify the tools used and their specific roles in the project. This includes substantive AI-generated prose, imagery, or translation. Routine spelling, grammar, and editorial suggestions need not be itemized unless specifically requested. OUTPOST 27 may ask follow-up questions about production methods and rights before accepting material.
Substantial AI involvement means using generative AI to produce significant passages of prose, complete scenes, primary visual assets, or other material that forms a meaningful part of the finished work. Routine brainstorming, editing, and organizational support are treated separately.
Every submission is reviewed for editorial quality, originality, suitability, and compliance with applicable rights and publishing requirements. We may request revisions or decline material that does not meet our standards, including mass-produced or minimally reviewed output.
Assistive Technologies
OUTPOST 27 recognizes that creative work can involve dictation software, accessibility tools, transcription, organizational assistance, and other technologies that help creators express their own ideas. These tools do not diminish a contributor's authorship and do not require individual disclosure when used solely for assistance rather than substantive content generation. Substantive AI-generated translation or other generated content remains subject to the disclosure expectations above.
Our Editorial Commitments
We will evaluate the work and the contributor's actual involvement rather than treating a tool as a substitute for editorial judgment. We will communicate honestly about our publishing practices and the role of AI in our work, expect comparable candor from contributors, and make final publication decisions ourselves.
We will describe substantial generative involvement accurately when it is relevant to how a work is presented. We do not promise acceptance merely because a submission aligns with our approach to creative access.
Respect for Creative Work
OUTPOST 27 believes that all creative work deserves respect, regardless of the tools or methods used to produce it.
We value originality, artistic integrity, and the contributions of creators across every discipline. Inspiration and influence are natural parts of the creative process, but they should never be used as excuses to misappropriate another person's work.
We encourage responsible use of creative references, proper attribution where appropriate, and respect for intellectual property rights. These expectations apply equally to our own publications and to work submitted by contributors.
We believe that making creativity more accessible and respecting the work of others are commitments that should go hand in hand.
Creative Ownership
OUTPOST 27 respects the creative ownership of its contributors. Submitting work for consideration does not transfer ownership or grant permission for publication. Any publication rights or licensing arrangements will be discussed and agreed upon separately before work is published.
Contributors are responsible for ensuring they have the rights and permissions necessary to submit their work for publication. OUTPOST 27 may request additional information about authorship, licensing, or third-party materials before accepting a submission.
Submission Privacy
OUTPOST 27 respects the confidentiality of unpublished submissions. We do not use submitted manuscripts or artwork to train AI models, and we will not share unpublished contributor materials with external AI services for editorial processing without the contributor's permission.
Scope & Application
This policy applies to all OUTPOST 27 projects and submissions, including contributions to The Margins. Specific contracts, platform rules, or legal requirements take precedence over this general policy. OUTPOST 27 may update this policy as creative tools and industry standards evolve.
OUTPOST 27 · Independent Publishing & Creative Works
