Why should you rate your works? A few reasons...
Reason number 1: It'll show up on the front page
Reason number 2: Rated works get more reviews on average than unrated works
Reason number 3: It's good for the environment.
As long as your work does not deserve an R rating, then you do not need to rate it! However, if you don't, it won't show up on the front page and you do get fewer reviews.
Difference In The Ratings
Note that the YWS ratings are not the same as movie ratings. The bar for an R rating is much lower than it is for movies. In fact, most PG-13 movies would probably be rated as R on YWS.
G: Appropriate for everyone!
PG: Appropriate for ages 8 and up.
PG-13: Appropriate for ages 13 and up.
R: If it contains any more than mild swearing (the 'd' word is quite mild. The 's' word is mild, but only if used sparingly), then it must be rated R. For instance, just one instance of the 'f' word gets a work an R rating.
An R rating should also be given to works containing innuendo as well as lewd conduct. Extreme violence should also get an R rating. Sex scenes if done tastefully may be PG-13, but if explicit, should be R.
