Hi everyone. First (long!) post on these forums. Just wanted to make a general comment before diving in.
From what I’ve seen so far, this place – and specifically AH – is full of supportive, open-minded, positive people. Seems rare for such a large group of users on a platform that appears to have very light moderation. It’s been a pleasure reading through the posts.
Now down to business…
I’ve seen a few threads that have tackled the question of non-consent and the, uh, “nuances” of the rules on this site. I thought I’d share my experience with the publication of my story Michael Myers Is Mine. Maybe it’ll help other new writers or shed some light on the perspective of the site’s editor(s).
First thing is, no matter what other story elements it contains, I figured my story (I’ll just call it MMM for short) could only go in one category: Celebrities & Fan Fiction. For anyone not familiar, Michael Myers is the masked killer in the Halloween movie franchise. So, like, horror. Violence and killing and stuff. Plus copyright.
Now, from what I’ve seen of C&FF category, that’s already a challenging mix. I knew I should probably expect a) low readership vs other categories b) the possibility of negative comments for colouring outside the lines vs expectations for the category, and c) the possibility it would never be published in the first place.
My first submission was sent back, with a nice constructive note from the editors. Laurel & Manu’s names were both on the note, but from what I understand reading these forums, Laurel is the sole editor, so I’ll just use her name. I wish I’d captured the exact words of the rationale for rejection, but now that the story is live, that history looks like it’s purged from my author’s account (too bad – that history would be nice to have).
Anyway, Laurel cited the rule prohibiting non-consent and/or mind control in the C&FF category, which I knew and totally get (liability). The notion of consent was pretty murky in my original draft. It’s not technically non-consent – it’s simulated non-consent. Roleplay. I had mentioned that in the note to the administrators, just in case. But it didn’t make it through.
In response to the editorial guidance, I added these two paragraphs:
So that’s how I addressed the consent issue. I did not get an editorial note about the violence in the story, though I read somewhere on the forums there is a prohibition against the association of violence with sexual acts. I haven’t seen that rule myself, or at least I can’t recall seeing it. And to be clear, there is no “onscreen” murder in MMM, just reference to one. Meanwhile, in the main action of the story, our protagonist is only playing dead. Oh yeah – spoiler alert.
Now here’s the interesting part of the editing process. After the story was pending for a few days, I received notice that it had been published, so I knew my addition of the explicit, enthusiastic consent had done the trick.
But Laurel had also added a couple of things to the story. First, she included this at the top of the page: “Editor’s Note: this submission contains tropes and scenes common to horror movies.” Second, she added a tag: “satire”. (The full list of tags is: cumshot; erotic horror; play dead; rough play; strangulation; satire.)
I want to start by expressing my appreciation to Laurel for this attention. This is great evidence that my story was read with care and thoughtfulness and she wanted it to be published.
The additions are interesting to me, especially the tag “satire”. I hadn’t thought of that when writing the story. I was considering my revisionist take on Halloween – all slasher movies, really – to be dead serious. I thought Laurel was adding the tag as a kind of disclaimer for anyone offended by the horror/violence elements, as if to say, “don’t take this too seriously” (and maybe she was).
There’s also the legal angle, because of course writers/cartoonists/humourists are allowed to criticize real people to a degree – as long as the work can be seen as satirical. So I do think Laurel was covering her bases on that point. Regardless, now that I’m looking at the story again, I do get the satire aspect.
All right well I’ve gone on plenty long enough. I do intend to write the further escapades of my First Final Girl in different horror movie settings – vs Freddy, vs Jason, vs Pinhead, you get the idea. My plan is to reproduce Laurel’s editor’s note and the “satire” tag on all the submissions, making sure to include language that conveys explicit consent, and see how it goes.
Thanks for making these forums an interesting, pleasurable and educational (gasp!) experience. Oh, and if you’re a reader, check out my stuff! Feedback always welcome. Got me a thick skin.
From what I’ve seen so far, this place – and specifically AH – is full of supportive, open-minded, positive people. Seems rare for such a large group of users on a platform that appears to have very light moderation. It’s been a pleasure reading through the posts.
Now down to business…
I’ve seen a few threads that have tackled the question of non-consent and the, uh, “nuances” of the rules on this site. I thought I’d share my experience with the publication of my story Michael Myers Is Mine. Maybe it’ll help other new writers or shed some light on the perspective of the site’s editor(s).
First thing is, no matter what other story elements it contains, I figured my story (I’ll just call it MMM for short) could only go in one category: Celebrities & Fan Fiction. For anyone not familiar, Michael Myers is the masked killer in the Halloween movie franchise. So, like, horror. Violence and killing and stuff. Plus copyright.
Now, from what I’ve seen of C&FF category, that’s already a challenging mix. I knew I should probably expect a) low readership vs other categories b) the possibility of negative comments for colouring outside the lines vs expectations for the category, and c) the possibility it would never be published in the first place.
My first submission was sent back, with a nice constructive note from the editors. Laurel & Manu’s names were both on the note, but from what I understand reading these forums, Laurel is the sole editor, so I’ll just use her name. I wish I’d captured the exact words of the rationale for rejection, but now that the story is live, that history looks like it’s purged from my author’s account (too bad – that history would be nice to have).
Anyway, Laurel cited the rule prohibiting non-consent and/or mind control in the C&FF category, which I knew and totally get (liability). The notion of consent was pretty murky in my original draft. It’s not technically non-consent – it’s simulated non-consent. Roleplay. I had mentioned that in the note to the administrators, just in case. But it didn’t make it through.
In response to the editorial guidance, I added these two paragraphs:
“I flash him my widest and wickedest smile. The one that says, ‘Bring it cowboy.’ The one that says, ‘Do it. I dare you.’
“In other words, I just gave Michael fucking Myers my enthusiastic consent to do… whatever it was he was going to do. To take his pleasure. Because I knew sure as shit I’d be taking mine. We are willing participants in this game. Now it’s time to play.”
“In other words, I just gave Michael fucking Myers my enthusiastic consent to do… whatever it was he was going to do. To take his pleasure. Because I knew sure as shit I’d be taking mine. We are willing participants in this game. Now it’s time to play.”
So that’s how I addressed the consent issue. I did not get an editorial note about the violence in the story, though I read somewhere on the forums there is a prohibition against the association of violence with sexual acts. I haven’t seen that rule myself, or at least I can’t recall seeing it. And to be clear, there is no “onscreen” murder in MMM, just reference to one. Meanwhile, in the main action of the story, our protagonist is only playing dead. Oh yeah – spoiler alert.
Now here’s the interesting part of the editing process. After the story was pending for a few days, I received notice that it had been published, so I knew my addition of the explicit, enthusiastic consent had done the trick.
But Laurel had also added a couple of things to the story. First, she included this at the top of the page: “Editor’s Note: this submission contains tropes and scenes common to horror movies.” Second, she added a tag: “satire”. (The full list of tags is: cumshot; erotic horror; play dead; rough play; strangulation; satire.)
I want to start by expressing my appreciation to Laurel for this attention. This is great evidence that my story was read with care and thoughtfulness and she wanted it to be published.
The additions are interesting to me, especially the tag “satire”. I hadn’t thought of that when writing the story. I was considering my revisionist take on Halloween – all slasher movies, really – to be dead serious. I thought Laurel was adding the tag as a kind of disclaimer for anyone offended by the horror/violence elements, as if to say, “don’t take this too seriously” (and maybe she was).
There’s also the legal angle, because of course writers/cartoonists/humourists are allowed to criticize real people to a degree – as long as the work can be seen as satirical. So I do think Laurel was covering her bases on that point. Regardless, now that I’m looking at the story again, I do get the satire aspect.
All right well I’ve gone on plenty long enough. I do intend to write the further escapades of my First Final Girl in different horror movie settings – vs Freddy, vs Jason, vs Pinhead, you get the idea. My plan is to reproduce Laurel’s editor’s note and the “satire” tag on all the submissions, making sure to include language that conveys explicit consent, and see how it goes.
Thanks for making these forums an interesting, pleasurable and educational (gasp!) experience. Oh, and if you’re a reader, check out my stuff! Feedback always welcome. Got me a thick skin.
