Stardust Literacy, operated at stardustliteracy.com.
Author
Any individual who submits original written content to the Platform.
Content
Stories, novels, chapters, or any written works submitted by the Author.
Audio Adaptation
A narration of Content produced using AI text-to-speech technology and hosted on the Platform.
Audiobook
A full-length produced audio version of a submitted work, which the Platform may create and distribute at its discretion.
Licence
The non-exclusive permission granted by the Author to the Platform as described in Section 3.
02
Eligibility
To publish on Stardust Literacy you must:
Be at least 18 years old, or have documented parental consent if between 13 and 17
Register an account using accurate, up-to-date information
Comply with all applicable laws and Platform guidelines
Not have been previously banned from the Platform without formal reinstatement
You are responsible for the security of your account and must notify us immediately of any unauthorised access.
03
Content Ownership & Licence
You retain full ownership and copyright of your Content at all times. Submitting to Stardust Literacy does not transfer ownership to the Platform.
By submitting, you grant Stardust Literacy a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to:
Publish and display your Content on the Platform and associated digital channels
Format, excerpt, and adapt your Content for platform presentation
Promote your Content through Stardust Literacy's marketing, social media, and advertising channels
Produce Audio Adaptations and Audiobooks of your Content (see Section 4)
Sub-licence these rights to service providers acting directly on behalf of the Platform
This licence remains in effect for as long as your Content is hosted on the Platform. Upon removal, the licence terminates except for content already distributed or cached by third-party services beyond the Platform's reasonable control.
You are free to publish your work elsewhere unless you have entered into a separate exclusive arrangement with Stardust Literacy in writing.
04
Audio & Audiobook Adaptation
Stardust Literacy produces audio content as a core part of the platform experience. By submitting your work, you expressly grant the Platform a non-exclusive licence to create, host, and distribute audio versions of your Content to subscribers.
Audio Stories
Your story may be converted into an Audio Adaptation using AI text-to-speech technology and made available on the Platform's audio page as part of the standard subscription experience.
Audio Adaptations reflect your original text faithfully, without editorial changes to the writing
Audio is distributed exclusively within the Platform's subscription environment, not sold or licensed separately
You may request removal of an Audio Adaptation independently of your text content by contacting us at any time
No additional compensation is paid for Audio Adaptations under the standard author agreement unless separately negotiated
Audiobooks
Your work may be selected for full audiobook production. Based on internal factors — including reader engagement, completion rates, editorial quality, and platform strategy — Stardust Literacy may produce a full-length audiobook version of your submitted work. Selection is at the Platform's sole discretion and is not guaranteed for any submission.
Audiobook production is currently a platform-funded initiative. We are actively developing a monetisation model for audiobooks and intend to introduce revenue-sharing arrangements for authors whose works are selected, once that model is in place.
Authors will be notified by email if their work is selected for audiobook production
You may opt out of audiobook production within 14 days of notification by contacting us — no opt-out is required to keep your text on the platform
Any future monetisation arrangements will be communicated directly to affected authors and formalised in a supplementary written agreement
Until a separate monetisation agreement is in place, no royalties or earnings are owed for audiobook production or distribution
In plain terms: we may turn your book into a full audiobook because we believe in your work and want to grow its reach. We're still working out how to pay authors for this fairly — and when we do, you'll hear from us first and will have the choice to participate.
05
What Authors Can Do
As an author on Stardust Literacy, you can:
Publish: Upload, edit, and publish stories, chapters, and series through the author dashboard
Promote: Share your work externally, create reading lists, and engage directly with your readers
Collaborate: Co-author works with other verified authors on the Platform
Access analytics: View insights on reads, engagement, and earnings through your dashboard
Remove your work: Delete your books at any time, though residual data may persist in backups for a limited period
Pursue outside adaptations: Pursue film, stage, or other adaptations of your work independently, provided they do not conflict with rights already granted to the Platform
Authors are encouraged to update their books regularly, reply to reader comments, and engage with the Stardust community — active engagement improves your visibility and earnings on the Platform.
06
Elite Program
The Elite Program offers enhanced visibility and monetisation for high-performing, high-quality books on the Platform.
Applying for Elite
Submit your book via the author dashboard with at least 5 chapters and 10,000 words
Your work is assessed on originality, writing quality, and engagement potential
Review typically takes 7–14 business days
Automatic Elite Designation
The Platform may designate a book as Elite without prior application if it demonstrates sustained high engagement over 30 days. You will be notified and may opt out within 7 days of notification.
Elite Benefits
Priority placement in recommendations and search results
Higher earnings potential through premium reader engagement
Exclusive Elite badge and promotional tools
Increased likelihood of selection for audiobook production
Elite Earnings
Elite books earn at a higher rate from paid views. Free views on Elite books do not count toward earnings — readers can access 3 chapters before a subscription is required. Free views still appear in your total view count for engagement tracking. Elite status may be revoked if engagement drops significantly or guidelines are violated.
07
Earnings & Engagement
Earnings are calculated monthly based on engagement metrics designed to reward content that readers genuinely value.
Metric
How it affects earnings
Reading Progress
Higher chapter completion rates increase your earnings multiplier
Comments & Interactions
Volume and quality of reader comments, likes, and shares
Author Replies
Responding to reader comments boosts your engagement score
Paid Views
Count fully toward earnings
Free Views
Count at a reduced rate on standard books; excluded on Elite books
Retention & Bookmarks
Readers saving and returning to your work signals quality and boosts earnings
Earnings are calculated using a proprietary algorithm that may be updated over time. The minimum payout threshold is R100.
08
Payments
Standard timeline: Payments are processed within 3 business days of a payout request
Minor delays: Verification issues may extend processing to 7 business days
Extended delays: Disputes or compliance reviews may extend to 30 days; you will be notified in advance
Payment methods: PayPal, bank transfer, or other approved methods listed in your dashboard
Taxes: You are solely responsible for reporting and paying any applicable taxes on your earnings
Fees: The Platform does not retain commission on author earnings; payment processor fees may apply
The Platform reserves the right to withhold payments pending investigation of guideline violations or suspected fraudulent activity.
09
Content Standards
All submitted Content must meet the following standards. The Platform may remove non-compliant content without notice.
Originality: Content must be your own original work. Plagiarism, AI-generated text presented as human-authored, and copyright-infringing submissions are strictly prohibited
African literary focus: Stardust Literacy is a platform for African fiction and stories rooted in African experience. Submissions should align with this editorial identity
Age appropriateness: Content must not contain explicit sexual material, gratuitous violence, or material harmful to minors
Legality: Content must not be defamatory, discriminatory, or in violation of South African or applicable international law
Authenticity: Non-fiction and hybrid content must be factually accurate and not misleading
10
Author Responsibilities
As an author on the Platform, you agree to:
Maintain high-quality, original content and update your work regularly
Engage respectfully with readers and other authors
Disclose any sponsored content or commercial affiliations
Report bugs, policy violations, or issues to the Platform promptly
Not manipulate engagement metrics through fake accounts, bots, or coordinated artificial activity
Comply with all applicable laws, including copyright and defamation law
Failure to meet these responsibilities may affect your earnings, Elite status, or continued access to the Platform.
11
Platform Rights
Stardust Literacy reserves the right to:
Feature, promote, or editorially highlight your Content across the Platform and marketing channels
Implement new platform features or adjust monetisation models with reasonable notice
Collect anonymised usage data for platform improvement and research
Enforce content standards through moderation, formatting edits, or removal
Share aggregated, anonymised insights with partners and investors
The Platform is not liable for lost earnings resulting from platform changes, scheduled downtime, or technical failures outside its reasonable control.
12
Termination
Author-initiated: You may request removal of your Content or deletion of your account at any time by contacting us. Removal is processed within 14 business days
Platform-initiated: The Platform may suspend or terminate your author access for guideline violations, sustained inactivity, or at its discretion with reasonable notice
On termination: Outstanding earnings will be paid subject to the minimum payout threshold; previously distributed content may remain in circulation unless removal is explicitly requested
Licences granted to the Platform for existing Content survive termination to the extent necessary for content already in circulation.
13
Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any disputes shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the South African courts, with informal resolution preferred as a first step before any formal proceedings.
Contact us first to resolve any issues informally before initiating formal proceedings
The Platform is not liable for indirect or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform
If any provision of these terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force
14
Changes to These Terms
Stardust Literacy may update these terms from time to time. When material changes are made, authors will be notified by email with reasonable advance notice. Continued submission or publication of Content after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
The effective date at the top of this page will always reflect the most recent update.