Claiming a Series
Instructions on how to claim a series to write.
Last updated
Instructions on how to claim a series to write.
Last updated
Once you have decided on a series that you want to claim, visit the Synopses Tracker and search both the Synopses in Progress and Archive sheets for the name of that series. If it exists in either sheet, then it is no longer eligible to be claimed. If the series—or that specific adaptation—is on neither sheet, then you can go ahead and claim it.
The titles of some database entries may change over time, so it may be appropriate to search both sheets with the alternative titles found in the Synonyms section as well.
In the example below, the synopsis was written when the entry was titled Resetting Lady; but following the manhwa's English licensing in 2023, the database title was changed to The Crimson Lady.
Two examples of series with multiple adaptations that should receive a different Rewrite synopsis per title are listed below.
Please note that you must have personally watched at least THREE episodes or read at least THREE chapters of a series before you can claim it. For a series with three or fewer episodes or chapters, you must watch or read it in its entirety.
However, if the preliminary episodes of an anime or chapters of a manga are solely comprised of flashbacks or standalone events, then the synopsis should focus on the main events of the series. In these cases, knowledge of three episodes/chapters may be insufficient to write an apt synopsis. Ultimately, strive for accuracy while avoiding spoilers.
You cannot claim an unreleased series. Any and all series claimed before three episodes/chapters have even been released can be reported for violating our club's rules, and you will have to remove your claim.
Anthologies and OVAs are special cases, in that you cannot claim them until they are marked as Finished on MAL.
Opportunities to write synopses for ongoing seasonal anime are assigned by lottery on a quarterly basis. Sign-ups for the seasonal lotteries will be announced on the Discord server and in the discussions of the MAL club.
Writers and editors of ongoing seasonals are subject to stricter deadlines for working on these synopses. For writers, these synopses must be written within one week, particularly in the time between the airing of the third and fourth episodes. Please consider whether you will have sufficient free time before making a commitment.
Anyone who claims an ongoing seasonal not assigned to them will have their claim removed from the tracker. Any ongoing seasonals that were not raffled away are free for all. The rules for claiming anime from previous seasons are no different from claiming non-seasonal anime.
Even if an ongoing seasonal has been assigned to someone, it may not appear in the tracker immediately. Lottery winners may not enter their claim into the tracker until the third episode airs. However, lottery winners must enter their claims by the airing of the fourth episode, which is their deadline. If in doubt whether an ongoing seasonal is available, view the Selected Seasonal Writers spreadsheet posted in the announcements Discord channel or in the discussions of the MAL club (a link of which is posted above). You may also ask complexities.
Now, read about the writing process to learn how to enter your claim into the Synopses Tracker.
After that, go ahead and copy the document template in which you will write your synopsis.
