Privacy Policy
Last updated:
Feb 14, 2026
At Poetess, we care about your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you visit our website, sign up to hear from us, or otherwise interact with our work.
We are based in the United Kingdom, so we handle your information in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Who we are
Poetess is a personal writing project and online publication run from the UK. In legal terms, we are the “data controller” for any personal data collected through this website and related services.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we use your data, you can contact us using the details provided on our website’s contact page.
What information we collect
The information we collect depends on how you interact with Poetess. We may collect:
Contact details – such as your name and email address if you subscribe, comment, or contact us.
Content you provide – such as messages you send through contact forms or replies to newsletters.
Technical and usage data – such as your IP address, browser type, device information, approximate location (based on IP), pages you visit, and how you interact with the site.
Cookies and similar technologies – small files stored on your device that help us remember preferences and understand how the site is used.
We do not intentionally collect sensitive personal data (such as health information, political opinions, or religious beliefs). Please avoid sharing this kind of information with us.
How we use your information
We use your personal data to:
Run and improve the site – including monitoring performance, fixing issues, and understanding which content people read.
Communicate with you – for example, sending newsletters or replying to messages and enquiries.
Keep things secure – such as detecting and preventing spam, abuse, and technical attacks.
Understand our audience – using aggregated, anonymised analytics to see how people find and use Poetess.
We only use your personal data when we have a lawful basis to do so, including:
Consent – for example, when you sign up to receive emails and confirm your subscription.
Legitimate interests – such as improving the site and ensuring security, where these interests are not overridden by your rights.
Legal obligations – where we need to comply with law or respond to lawful requests from authorities.
You can withdraw your consent at any time (for example, by unsubscribing from emails).
Cookies and analytics
Like most websites, Poetess may use cookies and similar technologies to:
Remember your basic preferences (such as language or display options).
Understand how many people visit the site and which pages they read.
Help keep the site secure and prevent spam.
You can usually control cookies through your browser settings, including blocking or deleting them. Please note that some features may not work properly if you disable certain cookies.
If we use third-party analytics tools (such as privacy-conscious analytics providers), they may collect anonymised or pseudonymised usage data on our behalf to help us understand site performance and readership.
When we share your data
We do not sell your personal data.
We may share personal data only when necessary with:
Service providers – trusted third parties who help us run the website, send emails, or provide analytics and security. They can only process your data on our instructions and must keep it secure.
Legal and regulatory bodies – if required by law, to protect our rights, or to respond to lawful requests.
Where possible, we share only the minimum information necessary.
International transfers
Some of our service providers may be located outside the UK. When this happens, we take steps to ensure your data is protected, such as:
Using providers in countries with an adequate level of data protection as recognised by the UK; or
Putting in place appropriate safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses approved under UK data protection law.
How long we keep your information
We keep your personal data only for as long as it is reasonably needed for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including:
For as long as you are subscribed to emails or actively in touch with us.
For a limited period afterwards, where necessary to resolve disputes, enforce our rights, or comply with legal obligations.
For shorter periods for technical logs and analytics data, usually in aggregated or anonymised form.
When data is no longer needed, we delete it or anonymise it.
Your rights
Under the UK GDPR, you have several rights regarding your personal data, including:
Right of access – to ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to rectification – to ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
Right to erasure – to ask us to delete your data in certain circumstances.
Right to restrict processing – to ask us to limit how we use your data in certain situations.
Right to object – to object to certain types of processing, including for direct marketing or based on our legitimate interests.
Right to data portability – to ask for your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format, where applicable.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details on our website. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), if you are unhappy with how we handle your data. However, we would appreciate the chance to address your concerns first.
Children’s privacy
Poetess is intended for adult readers and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us so we can take appropriate steps.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, for example to reflect changes in the law, our services, or the tools we use.
When we make changes, we will update the “Updated Date” in the CMS and publish the latest version on this page. We encourage you to review this policy occasionally to stay informed about how we handle your data.
How to contact us
If you have questions, requests about your data, or concerns about this policy, please reach out using the contact information provided on the Poetess website.