Effective date: October 9, 2026
Hello and welcome to Ren’s Writing Nest. I’m Ren Maffeo, a writer and poet living in Gainesville, Florida. This page explains what information is collected when you visit renswritingnest.wordpress.com, how it is used, and the choices you have. I’ve kept it in plain language, because you deserve to understand it without a law degree.
If you have any questions, email me at renmaffeo@gmail.com.
The Short Version
- I only collect what you choose to give me: your email address if you subscribe, and your name, email, and message if you contact me or leave a comment.
- My site is hosted by WordPress.com, which is run by a company called Automattic. Automattic automatically collects some technical information, such as your IP address, to run the site, block spam, and count visitors.
- I never sell, rent, or trade your personal information.
- You can unsubscribe from my newsletter at any time, and you can ask me to delete your information.
Information You Choose to Share With Me
Newsletter sign-up. When you subscribe on my Sign Up For Newsletter page or through the Subscribe button, you give me your email address. I use it only to send you my newsletter and new posts. The sign-up runs on WordPress.com’s built-in subscription tool (Jetpack), so your email is stored by WordPress.com on my behalf. If you already have a WordPress.com account and follow my site, WordPress.com shares the email address on that account with me.
Contact form. When you use my Contact Me page, you share your name, your email address, and your message. The form is provided by WordPress.com (Jetpack Forms). Your message is sent to my email inbox and stored in my site dashboard so I can read it and reply. Messages are checked by Akismet, Automattic’s spam filter, which may review your IP address, browser details, and message content to separate real messages from spam.
Comments. If you leave a comment, you share your name, your email address, and (if you choose) your website. Your comment and name are posted publicly; your email address is not. WordPress.com also records your IP address and browser information with the comment, and Akismet checks comments for spam. If your email is connected to a Gravatar (a profile picture service run by Automattic), your Gravatar may appear next to your comment.
Information Collected Automatically
Like nearly every website, mine collects some technical information automatically through WordPress.com. This includes your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, language, the page that referred you, and the date and time of your visit.
- Site statistics: WordPress.com uses this information to show me general visitor counts, such as how many people viewed a post or what country visitors came from. I see totals, not who you are. According to Automattic, the IP address used for these statistics is kept for about 30 days.
- Server logs: WordPress.com keeps standard web server logs for about 30 days to fix problems and protect the site.
- Cookies: WordPress.com places small files called cookies in your browser to keep the site working, remember preferences, count visits, and support ads. You can learn more, and see how to control cookies, in the Automattic Cookie Policy. You can also set your browser to block or delete cookies, though some site features may not work as well.
Ads on This Site
My site uses WordPress.com’s free plan. WordPress.com shows ads to visitors who are not logged in to a WordPress.com account. I don’t choose these ads, I don’t control them, and I don’t earn money from them.
WordPress.com and its advertising partners may use cookies and similar tools to show ads, including ads based on your browsing on other sites. To opt out of personalized ads, visit WordPress.com’s advertising opt-out page, the Digital Advertising Alliance (US), or Your Online Choices (EU).
How I Use Your Information
- To send you my newsletter and new posts, if you subscribed.
- To read and reply to messages you send me.
- To display and moderate comments.
- To understand, in general terms, which posts readers enjoy so I can write more of what you like.
- To keep the site safe and free of spam.
I will not add you to any other mailing list, and I will not use your contact form email for marketing unless you also subscribe to my newsletter.
Who Your Information Is Shared With
I do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. It is shared only in these limited ways:
- WordPress.com (Automattic): my site host, which stores and processes information to run the site, the newsletter, the contact form, comments, spam filtering, statistics, and ads. You can read how Automattic handles visitor information in its Privacy Notice for Visitors to Users’ Sites and its Privacy Policy.
- Public comments: your name, comment, and website (if you add one) are visible to anyone who reads the page.
- Legal reasons: if the law requires it, such as a valid court order.
Social Media
I share my writing and posts on social media. You can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram (@flscribbler22).
When you click a link to one of these platforms, you leave my site, and that platform’s own privacy policy applies. If I embed a post, reel, or video from one of these platforms on my site, the platform may collect information about you and set its own cookies, even if you don’t click on it, especially if you’re logged in to that platform. If you follow, message, or comment on my social media accounts, that information is handled under the platform’s rules, and I can see what the platform shows me, such as your profile name.
You can review their policies here: Meta (Facebook and Instagram) Privacy Policy and LinkedIn Privacy Policy.
Your Newsletter Choices
Every newsletter email includes an unsubscribe link at the bottom. You can also manage all your WordPress.com subscriptions at subscribe.wordpress.com, or simply email me and I’ll remove you myself.
How Long I Keep Your Information
- Newsletter subscribers: until you unsubscribe or ask me to remove you.
- Contact form messages: as long as I need them to reply and keep track of our conversation. You can ask me to delete them at any time.
- Comments: as long as the comment stays on the site. You can ask me to remove your comment.
- Technical data: kept by WordPress.com under its own schedule, generally about 30 days for logs and statistics.
Your Rights and Choices
Wherever you live, you can ask me to:
- Tell you what personal information I have about you.
- Correct information that is wrong.
- Delete your information, including your subscription, messages, and comments.
Just email me at renmaffeo@gmail.com. I may need to confirm your identity before making changes, for example by having you write from the email address you subscribed with.
Depending on where you live, such as the European Union, the United Kingdom, or certain US states, you may have additional rights under local privacy laws. For information WordPress.com controls directly, such as data tied to your own WordPress.com account, you can contact Automattic through its Privacy Policy page.
Children’s Privacy
I write for adults and for middle-grade readers, but this website is not directed to children under 13, and I do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you are under 13, please ask a parent or guardian before subscribing, commenting, or contacting me. If you are a parent and believe your child has shared personal information here, email me and I will delete it promptly.
Do Not Track
Some browsers send a “Do Not Track” signal. Automattic states that it does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals across all of its services, so my site may not respond to them either. You can still control cookies through your browser settings and the opt-out links above.
Keeping Your Information Safe
My site uses a secure (HTTPS) connection, and WordPress.com takes reasonable steps to protect information it stores. No website can promise perfect security, so please don’t send sensitive information, such as financial or health details, through my contact form or comments.
Changes to This Policy
If my site changes, for example if I add a shop, a new email service, or new tools, I’ll update this page and change the effective date at the top.
Contact Me
Questions, requests, or concerns about your privacy? I’m happy to help.
Ren Maffeo, Ren’s Writing Nest
Email: renmaffeo@gmail.com