Can I stop a story that's already scheduled for publication?

[RemoteShadeofGreen]

Hello! Good evening!
Yes, I did hit the delete button, far more times than a sane person probably should. Alas, nothing happened. Is it locked in? Do I need to DM someone or will it resolve in the system later?

For context, I submitted four chapters of a series at the same time, and they've been scheduled for publishing a day apart. But after experiencing how short the first one feels today (they're all about 5,000 words, barely 2 lit pages), I decided to combine the last two chapters. I don't think I should try to combine chapters 1 and 2 at this point, but maybe later? (The flow would be WAY better.)

Anyhow, thanks for any guidance on deleting a "published" work, pre-publication.

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

I haven't done this before but can you just make an edit to it, so that it goes back to draft?

 

[ElectricBlue]

Hello! Good evening!
Yes, I did hit the delete button, far more times than a sane person probably should. Alas, nothing happened. Is it locked in? Do I need to DM someone or will it resolve in the system later?

For context, I submitted four chapters of a series at the same time, and they've been scheduled for publishing a day apart. But after experiencing how short the first one feels today (they're all about 5,000 words, barely 2 lit pages), I decided to combine the last two chapters. I don't think I should try to combine chapters 1 and 2 at this point, but maybe later? (The flow would be WAY better.)

Anyhow, thanks for any guidance on deleting a "published" work, pre-publication.

I wouldn't do anything, because you'll be wasting your time and the site's time. 5000 words isn't too horrendous for a chapter length - sure, they're short, but not worth worrying about.

Since you've got the chapters with a scheduled release, I'd let them go as is, and readers will tell you if you've got it wrong. Edits are low priority, 2 - 4 weeks, so by the time you've "fixed" what might not be a problem, your time on the category front page is over.

 

[RemoteShadeofGreen]

I haven't done this before but can you just make an edit to it, so that it goes back to draft?

I just tried and whew, it's out of the mix. Thanks, I'm an idiot for not attempting that earlier. "Delete" is a cruel tease.

 

[RemoteShadeofGreen]

I wouldn't do anything, because you'll be wasting your time and the site's time. 5000 words isn't too horrendous for a chapter length - sure, they're short, but not worth worrying about.

Since you've got the chapters with a scheduled release, I'd let them go as is, and readers will tell you if you've got it wrong. Edits are low priority, 2 - 4 weeks, so by the time you've "fixed" what might not be a problem, your time on the category front page is over.

You are probably right!

Now it's going to be an experiment - two short chapters, one long one - the voters will decide!