Help:Contribute

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How to Contribute

Welcome to the Spectrology.org contribution guide. This page explains how you can join the project, create pages, and help preserve stories, places, and artefacts linked to haunting, folklore, and memory.

Spectrology.org is a non-commercial, collaborative archive. All contributions are reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and respect before publication.

1. Who Can Contribute

Anyone with an interest in haunted heritage, folklore, or cultural memory is welcome to contribute, you just need to create an account!. You do not need to be an academic — careful local historians, artists, and storytellers are all valued here.

Contributors are referred to as Spectrologists. By adding to the archive, you help safeguard knowledge that might otherwise be lost.

2. What You Can Contribute

There are several main ways to participate:

  • Create a new page – a documented haunting, relic, place, theory, or creative experiment.
  • Expand existing entries – add reliable sources, background information, or context.
  • Upload media – photographs, scans, or recordings (where rights and permissions allow).
  • Fact-check or format pages – improve readability, spelling, and citations.
  • Share links and references – connect folklore with historical or archival sources.

If you’re unsure where your idea fits, see the Spectrology Index for an overview of the site’s structure.

3. Getting Started

Step 1: Create an Account

1. Click **Create account** at the top right of the page.

2. Choose a username (this will appear publicly with your edits).

3. Confirm your email (required for editing privileges).

4. Log in... you’re ready to start exploring.

Step 2: Find the Right Category

Before creating a new page, decide where it belongs:

  • Hauntings – reports and folklore of presence.
  • Relics – physical or digital artefacts.
  • Places – haunted or historically charged locations.
  • Doctrine – essays or theoretical material.
  • Experiments – interactive or creative projects.

Each page should include the appropriate category tag at the bottom, for example: 

[[Category:Hauntings]]

Step 3: Start Your Page

1. Type your intended page title into the search bar.

2. If it doesn’t exist, click **Create the page “YourTitle”**.

3. Add a clear opening sentence explaining what the page is about.

4. Structure the entry using standard headings (see below).

5. Add your sources or references where possible.

4. Suggested Page Format

Below is a basic outline you can copy when creating a new entry: 

= Page Title =

== Overview ==
A short summary describing what the page covers.

== Description or Account ==
Write a clear, factual account of the event, place, object, or idea.

== Historical or Cultural Context ==
Explain where it comes from, why it matters, and any related folklore or sources.

== Sources ==
* Author or source name (Year). ''Title of work.'' Publisher or Archive.
* Web link if available.

[[Category:Hauntings]]

This format keeps entries consistent and easy to read.

5. Writing Guidelines

  • Keep tone factual, neutral, and respectful.
  • Avoid sensationalism or unverifiable claims.
  • Where quoting witnesses or folklore, mark these as quotations and cite sources.
  • Add links to related pages to help readers explore connected material.
  • Respect copyright, only upload media you have permission to share.
  • Use British English spelling for consistency.

6. Uploading Media

You can upload files via Special:Upload. Please include:

  • A clear description of the file.
  • The date and creator (if known).
  • The licence (e.g. “CC BY-NC-SA 4.0”).
  • The category tag, such as or .

High-resolution images are preferred, but please keep file sizes under 50MB.

7. Attribution and Licensing

All written work on Spectrology.org is published under the Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 International Licence. This means:

  • You retain copyright of your own writing.
  • Others may share or adapt it with attribution.
  • All derivative works must carry the same licence.

By contributing, you agree to these terms.

8. Review and Moderation

Spectrology.org uses a light curation system. All edits are monitored by curators to maintain accuracy and tone. Pages that contain offensive, copyrighted, or unverifiable content may be edited or removed.

Edits made in good faith are always welcome.

9. Ethical and Cultural Considerations

  • Treat all subjects — living or deceased — with respect.
  • Do not publish personal data, addresses, or private information.
  • Be sensitive when writing about trauma, death, or sacred spaces.
  • Do not promote trespassing or unsafe investigation practices.
  • When in doubt, choose restraint.

10. Need Help?

If you have questions about formatting or submissions, you can:

Spectrology.org is a non-commercial, collaborative archive dedicated to preserving haunted heritage and the unseen traces of human culture.

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