My rejected sci-fi/celeb story...

[Et2bruttus]

I recently submitted the first part of a series that I've been writing which was rejected. The story was basically an Alien vs Predator series inspired by the movies and the 2010 video game. The reason for the rejection was "copyright characters being involved in nonconsensual/reluctant situations are prohibited" or something along those lines.

To provide some clarity into my story a little, the sex in question is between a male alien (the Predator) and a human female marine (whom is not a copyright character but my own creation). While the sex initally starts off as "nonconsent," this changes shortly into it as both parties involved in the sex start to enjoy it.

I understand the need to protect against potential legal reprisals in the event that copyright characters are falsely portrayed. However, I have read other stories in the Celebrities section involving reluctance that haven't been rejected. I'm just confused as to why mine was.

On a side note, I'd also like to add that I put "reluctance" as one of my story tags. Is this what caused the rejection or was it the subject matter of the story in particular? In addition, would simply moving the story to another story section solve the issue or must I go through and remove any and all subject matter that has to do with "reluctance" in order for the story to be accepted?

Thank you for your time.

 

[lovecraft68]

I recently submitted the first part of a series that I've been writing which was rejected. The story was basically an Alien vs Predator series inspired by the movies and the 2010 video game. The reason for the rejection was "copyright characters being involved in nonconsensual/reluctant situations are prohibited" or something along those lines.

To provide some clarity into my story a little, the sex in question is between a male alien (the Predator) and a human female marine (whom is not a copyright character but my own creation). While the sex initally starts off as "nonconsent," this changes shortly into it as both parties involved in the sex start to enjoy it.

I understand the need to protect against potential legal reprisals in the event that copyright characters are falsely portrayed. However, I have read other stories in the Celebrities section involving reluctance that haven't been rejected. I'm just confused as to why mine was.

On a side note, I'd also like to add that I put "reluctance" as one of my story tags. Is this what caused the rejection or was it the subject matter of the story in particular? In addition, would simply moving the story to another story section solve the issue or must I go through and remove any and all subject matter that has to do with "reluctance" in order for the story to be accepted?

Thank you for your time.

I'm not sure if it would work but try re-posting it into the non human category. Pretty much anything goes over there.

 

[Darkniciad]

Moving the story isn't really an option. While it might be possible to sneak the story past the moderators, if anybody ever reported it, it would get taken down. Anything that features real people or recognizeable franchises has to go in the Celeb category, or at the least, have the disclaimer present on all stories in that section attached to it.

There's no way of knowing without reading it, but I suspect that the build-up to the sex probably crossed a line of physical/mental cruelty.

You said that this was to be the first part of a series. Does the "they both end up liking it" part happen in this first part of the series? If not, then this is a fairly common rejection.

When you're writing something like this that starts off one way, and changes in later chapters, the first one doesn't have any context of the way the story is going to eventually go.

One possibility might involve writing the part where the interaction between the two characters changes. Submit that as well ( Make sure you re-submit Part 1 first, so it is in the queue ahead of Part 2 ), and utilize the "notes" section of the submission form on chapter 1 to point out the second chapter to the moderators. With the additional context, it might pass.

 

[Et2bruttus]

Honestly the build up to the sex isn't exceptionally violent or cruel. I will say that there is minor bondage involved but it's not like she is crying or he is beating her or anything like that. Not to be judgmental, but I have seen much worse in terms of nonconsent on this site.

The "liking" part does actually occur within that first chapter, not a later chapter. Do you think it simply comes down to the fact that I openly specified that there would be reluctance by making that one of my tags?

Thanks for the quick reply by the way.

 

[lovecraft68]

You said that this was to be the first part of a series. Does the "they both end up liking it" part happen in this first part of the series? If not, then this is a fairly common rejection.

You should take this over to the "give the authorities the finger thread." in the AH from a couple of weks ago

It turned into a rape discussion and me insisting that there was a rule similar to what you just mentioned about the characters having to enjoy it. I went round and round with Pilot and Pure both who denied it existed yet Pure came up with a statement from Laurel stating that characters cannot really be abused during sex. Pure then insisted it was not a real rule even after she was the one that found it.

 

[Et2bruttus]

Yeah, I love how the submission guidelines say nothing about this until one tries to submit it and it's rejected. *sigh*

 

[lovecraft68]

Yeah, I love how the submission guidelines say nothing about this until one tries to submit it and it's rejected. *sigh*

On something like this it kind of comes down to luck of the draw. There are some pretty graphic rape stories that find there way on here and others that do get rejected. The rape rule is a soft rule and they have wiggle room with it.

The only "real" rules are under age and bestiality (although non human is the easy end around for that one)

 

[PennLady]

The only "real" rules are under age and bestiality (although non human is the easy end around for that one)

You know, I wish you'd stop saying that. Because it's not true. For one thing, not every nonhuman story involves a person that can turn into an animal. For another, in most of the ones I've read, the sex takes place with both partners in human form, even if both are shape-shifters. If there's sex and one is an animal, then the other is as well.

If what you're talking about is the occasional story where one of the characters (usually a guy) goes in to a "hybrid" human animal state, well I guess you can make that argument. I'd disagree.

But this is tiresome.

 

[Darkniciad]

It's possible that the tag might have triggered a knee-jerk reaction. When approving upwards of 70 stories a day, it's necessary to make snap decisions and move on to the next.

Which is how some of the more rule/guideline pushing stories and the ones with poor grammar slip through, BTW.

You can always remove the tag, and resubmit. Or, perhaps contact Laurel via PM ( you can find her profile easily enough in the contest section of the forum ) and ask for some clarification. So long as you're polite and she doesn't believe that your question is answered in the FAQs, she's good about responding.

 

[sr71plt]

I posted two points on that other thread. (A) that no ban on rape is listed in the official submissions rules (which it isn't) and (B) that the Web site owners can (and do) reject whatever they please as they please (which is obviously true).

Lovecraft is challenged on "getting it" and "stop bellyaching over it" issues.

 

[Dazzle1]

<y second attempt to do a celebert mind control story was rejected even though it does not break the rules.

Can someone tell me how to see a PM I am being rejected because of options, but there is no way to change

 

[sr71plt]

<y second attempt to do a celebert mind control story was rejected even though it does not break the rules.

Can someone tell me how to see a PM I am being rejected because of options, but there is no way to change

The rejection notice is on the author's submission page, not in a PM. There will be a "rejected" in the space that usually has "pending" changed to "approval." Clicking on the "rejected" will get a canned, sometimes hazy explanation of why--usually in the form of a question: "Does your story have . . .?"

That's the selection computer program responding. To get it reviewed by a human editor, you have to include your discussion in the "Notes" box when you resubmit.

 

[Dazzle1]

Someone suggested I send a PM to Laurel.

I resubmitted with the reason and it was rejected again

 

[sr71plt]

Someone suggested I send a PM to Laurel.

I resubmitted with the reason and it was rejected again

Then I have no idea what you are asking in your original question. You see your PMs by opening them up--top right of this page. Click on "Private Messages," if there is a number showing behind "Unread." Although I don't know how you sent a PM if you don't know how to receive one.

 

[lovecraft68]

Judging by another thread that is currently running-one about cat woman from DC comics being raped- it appears Lit is tightening the noose around copyrighted characters. Whether they were contacted over a story at some point or just "saw it coming" only they know but it seems as if they are getting stricter with these things.

Remember things like the Predator and Aliens are not "celebrities" they are licensed creations owned by someone.