Why is my story rejected?

[LaurelOneiros]

Hi, I am a complete neophyte to this site so I hope this is the right place to ask this question. If not, I would appreciate guidance to a more appropriate location.

My story was rejected with these notices:

-Was there an underage (under 18 years old) sexual relationship in my story?

-Is there excessive degradation, violence, snuff, or abuse of characters in your submission?

Reflecting on the first notice, I cannot find any instance of sexual activities performed by persons under the age limit in the story, except for an explicit simile in which the word "prepubescent" was used. I would argue that employing the word in a simile implies that the character is in fact not prepubescent, but I would also replace that section if need be.

The second notice was incomprehensible to me. There are no instances of physical or psychological aggression or injury. In comparison, I found the descriptions in the notice to better fit some published stories that I read, in which the idea of dominance and submission between characters is explored. I must not understand the meaning of the notice and hereby ask for explanation.

I am not attaching the story itself here in case it's not allowed, but here is a summary:

The story describes the process through which the protagonist--an effeminate young man--is transformed, as he wished, to a woman via magical means. The story lacks plot and character, partly due to its brevity, and has emphasis on the elaborate use of language.

In summary, please do one or more of the following things if you please:
1: explain the meaning of second notice
2: explain why my story may be rejected, based on given information
3: suggest a method to improve the story to make it merit publication
4: give guidance in terms of using this site and forum

Thank you for reading.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I cannot find any instance of sexual activities performed by persons under the age limit in the story, except for an explicit simile in which the word "prepubescent" was used.

If you're describing a character as appearing "pre-pubescent" or similar, and they're described in sexual terms, your story is likely to be rejected even if you state that they're 18. Too many authors try to slip under-age content through that way.

If that's not the context, it's possible that Laurel was skimming your story, noticed that word, and got the wrong impression. She's the only moderator, so it's unlikely that she has time to read every word of every submission. If you think the story's been rejected by mistake you can resubmit, using the "Notes" field to comment as appropriate; "pre-pubescent" is a big red flag so you might want to explain your use of that word for starters.

 

[OmnislashXX]

The underage issue is a big thing here. Any character involved in sexual situations that may be interpreted as underage will get a story rejected. So if you're describing the character as "prepubescent", that would get a story rejected.

Second line: Anything that involves a character that is violently killed, tortured, beaten, raped, abused will get a story rejected.

I'm sure the more active posters around here can give you some more information, so I'll leave the more detailed explanations to them.

 

[Kantarii]

The underage issue is a big thing here. Any character involved in sexual situations that may be interpreted as underage will get a story rejected. So if you're describing the character as "prepubescent", that would get a story rejected.

Second line: Anything that involves a character that is violently killed, tortured, beaten, raped, abused will get a story rejected.

I'm sure the more active posters around here can give you some more information, so I'll leave the more detailed explanations to them.

In the non human/ erotic horror category, I had no issues describing the graphic details of a transvestite character brutally raped and killed by a character in "My Brother's Ghost". But the category itself probably allowed the flexibility to expand on the graphic nature. Honestly, I couldn't find anything suitable for the storyline to generate hatred for the villain and build sentiment for the main character.
Kant

 

[elfin_odalisque]

If you're describing a character as appearing "pre-pubescent" or similar, and they're described in sexual terms, your story is likely to be rejected even if you state that they're 18. Too many authors try to slip under-age content through that way.

If that's not the context, it's possible that Laurel was skimming your story, noticed that word, and got the wrong impression. She's the only moderator, so it's unlikely that she has time to read every word of every submission. If you think the story's been rejected by mistake you can resubmit, using the "Notes" field to comment as appropriate; "pre-pubescent" is a big red flag so you might want to explain your use of that word for starters.

Bramlethorn is right. By definition, 'prepubescent' puts you out of left field.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

lose the pre-pubescent reference and try it again?

Bramblethorn's second paragraph pretty much nails it.

 

[OmnislashXX]

In the non human/ erotic horror category, I had no issues describing the graphic details of a transvestite character brutally raped and killed by a character in "My Brother's Ghost". But the category itself probably allowed the flexibility to expand on the graphic nature. Honestly, I couldn't find anything suitable for the storyline to generate hatred for the villain and build sentiment for the main character.
Kant

Then, I don't know. Maybe you got lucky and snuck it past Laurel's nose.

I know I've said it before, but the rules are a mess. They're just not descriptive enough and some of the reasons for rejections aren't even listed. (Snuff, Violent death, phone numbers, etc.)

This is also speculation, but maybe the workload is too much for two mods to handle. If she hasn't already done so, maybe Laurel just needs more trusted mods.

Whatever the case, that seems to be the current state of things.

 

[SecondCircle]

Then, I don't know. Maybe you got lucky and snuck it past Laurel's nose.

I know I've said it before, but the rules are a mess. They're just not descriptive enough and some of the reasons for rejections aren't even listed. (Snuff, Violent death, phone numbers, etc.)

This is also speculation, but maybe the workload is too much for two mods to handle. If she hasn't already done so, maybe Laurel just needs more trusted mods.

Whatever the case, that seems to be the current state of things.

The extremes (rape, torture, murder, etc.) cannot be written in a way that is titillating. In EH, they can be used as plot devices, such as to horrify.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

All the advice here is good, but in future, note that Laurel (site moderator/owner) is the only person who can answer these questions. That's probably made clear in a Sticky somewhere; when you contact her, let her know that you didn't know the procedure for resolving disputes. She claims the site is good about letting everyone know rules and procedures; but we get someone in here every month or two with some question like this, which is good evidence that the site isn't doing everything possible to explain things, at least not where people look for explanations.

We're just a small subset of authors here. If I remember, you have to look in two different forums to find all the notes on how things work, which isn't sensible IMHO because no one should have to be looking in forums at all for that kind of thing.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

All the advice here is good, but in future, note that Laurel (site moderator/owner) is the only person who can answer these questions. That's probably made clear in a Sticky somewhere; when you contact her, let her know that you didn't know the procedure for resolving disputes. She claims the site is good about letting everyone know rules and procedures; but we get someone in here every month or two with some question like this, which is good evidence that the site isn't doing everything possible to explain things, at least not where people look for explanations.

We're just a small subset of authors here. If I remember, you have to look in two different forums to find all the notes on how things work, which isn't sensible IMHO because no one should have to be looking in forums at all for that kind of thing.

a lot of posters don't seem to bother reading the rules, etc. i'm constantly weeding the garden of under-age references and inappropriate images.

 

[NotWise]

a lot of posters don't seem to bother reading the rules, etc. i'm constantly weeding the garden of under-age references and inappropriate images.

I think there's another batch that doesn't understand (or want to admit) the impression that they're story creates, so they don't see obvious problems.

 

[lovecraft68]

I think there's another batch that doesn't understand (or want to admit) the impression that they're story creates, so they don't see obvious problems.

But an impression and the facts are different. Anyone really wanting to think a character is less than 18 will do so no matter what the author does. On the other hand there are authors who say 18 and do give every reason possible for the reader to think they are underage.

 

[NotWise]

But an impression and the facts are different. Anyone really wanting to think a character is less than 18 will do so no matter what the author does. On the other hand there are authors who say 18 and do give every reason possible for the reader to think they are underage.

My comment was more about the writers who describe an underage character and say they're 18. Maybe I'm cutting them too much slack, but I think some authors don't really realize that--regardless of what they say the age is--they're describing a younger person. The story gets rejected and they can't understand why.

And then there are those who do it intentionally.

 

[Bramblethorn]

The extremes (rape, torture, murder, etc.) cannot be written in a way that is titillating. In EH, they can be used as plot devices, such as to horrify.

Yep. I have an EH-type story (but posted in Text with Audio) where somebody is, uh, dismantled during sex. I specifically PMed Laurel to say "I'm not sure if this is within the rules on violence, is this OK?" and she approved it so I presume it didn't get through by mistake.

 

[lovecraft68]

My comment was more about the writers who describe an underage character and say they're 18. Maybe I'm cutting them too much slack, but I think some authors don't really realize that--regardless of what they say the age is--they're describing a younger person. The story gets rejected and they can't understand why.

And then there are those who do it intentionally.

See my underage thread for those doing it intentionally. Pages of them. This thread spurred me to finally do that, because I've known about that particular 'buzz word' being used all over the place.

I agree with this story being rejected. But I'm also tired of the one rejected for every who knows how many that fly through.

This site has no real screening process other than one person rushing through a pile of stories. This person is new which is why it was caught. New authors do get a closer look. But after that...

This site wants people to believe they have standards, which is part of what drew me here years ago. But now I see the standards are more lip service than an actual effort to not allow what they say they don't want.

LS has a staff of editors and nothing gets through that shouldn't. They also have a hard rape rule and....don't have a non consent section only a reluctance. That's what a real effort looks like. That's a site that decided what they don't want and makes sure it doesn't show up.

 

[lovecraft68]

The extremes (rape, torture, murder, etc.) cannot be written in a way that is titillating. In EH, they can be used as plot devices, such as to horrify.

Issue is...how do you know what's titillating? Some people get 'sick thrills' out of what you just mentioned and you can write it as un-sexy as possible and they will get off you as an author cannot help that. But neither can the site.

One of the most disturbing comments I ever received here was on a rape scene I wrote. It was brief, but brutal and I wrote it at a high cost to myself. One of those suffering for the art examples. I posted a note with the story to the site stressing it was important to the story and not written to be 'exciting' it went through and I got a private feedback telling me how hot it was how they loved the way that bitch got hers and I should write more of that material.

They included and e-mail, but I didn't reply because what I would have sent would have been pretty...bad.

A week later they contacted me again offering to pay me a small amount per story and gave me several scenes they wanted written. They wee cringe worthy even to a friend of mine I showed that writes and reads non consent. That time I responded with describing pretty much how I'd like to eviscerate them with a dull butter knife and never heard from them again.

Point is no matter how just 'wrong' you intend a scene to be some sick piece of human feces will be jerking off to it.

 

[SecondCircle]

Issue is...how do you know what's titillating? Some people get 'sick thrills' out of what you just mentioned and you can write it as un-sexy as possible and they will get off you as an author cannot help that. But neither can the site.

One of the most disturbing comments I ever received here was on a rape scene I wrote. It was brief, but brutal and I wrote it at a high cost to myself. One of those suffering for the art examples. I posted a note with the story to the site stressing it was important to the story and not written to be 'exciting' it went through and I got a private feedback telling me how hot it was how they loved the way that bitch got hers and I should write more of that material.

They included and e-mail, but I didn't reply because what I would have sent would have been pretty...bad.

A week later they contacted me again offering to pay me a small amount per story and gave me several scenes they wanted written. They wee cringe worthy even to a friend of mine I showed that writes and reads non consent. That time I responded with describing pretty much how I'd like to eviscerate them with a dull butter knife and never heard from them again.

Point is no matter how just 'wrong' you intend a scene to be some sick piece of human feces will be jerking off to it.

Yes, but is that not true everywhere? That's the issue of the individual.

The issue with approval is whether or not one can look at the story and tell what the author's intentions were. If I write a Halloween horror story based on a stalker that includes suspense and fear, and put it in the EH category, that's meant to scare someone. It's true that with any horror you do it for the thrills. But that's not the same as writing a rape story that just fully focuses on punishing a helpless victim and graphically depicting a character's arousal of that violence.

There's wierd fucks on the deep web that get off on crush porn -- watching people crush things. That could mean fruit or puppies.

But I don't think a story should be considered for rejection, if say there's a werewolf eating a person, just because there's random sickos that beat off to people being eaten. If the story is framed that way, then sure. But you can't ban the sale of bananas because the guy down the street sticks them up his ass.

 

[lovecraft68]

Yes, but is that not true everywhere? That's the issue of the individual.

The issue with approval is whether or not one can look at the story and tell what the author's intentions were. If I write a Halloween horror story based on a stalker that includes suspense and fear, and put it in the EH category, that's meant to scare someone. It's true that with any horror you do it for the thrills. But that's not the same as writing a rape story that just fully focuses on punishing a helpless victim and graphically depicting a character's arousal of that violence.

There's wierd fucks on the deep web that get off on crush porn -- watching people crush things. That could mean fruit or puppies.

But I don't think a story should be considered for rejection, if say there's a werewolf eating a person, just because there's random sickos that beat off to people being eaten. If the story is framed that way, then sure. But you can't ban the sale of bananas because the guy down the street sticks them up his ass.

I wasn't lobbying for banning anything, simply pointing out what you just reinforced. Its hard to say what is titillating when some people can get turned on by pretty much anything.

I guess the best one can hope for is "Okay, normal people would not get off on my stalker doing....whatever." but knowing, someone, somewhere, will.

In NH and EH everything is fair game as you can incorporate 'mythical things' and circumvent any rule. In the erotic categories the issues are how vague the rules are and...again very lax to non existent enforcement.

My theory is that many here don't read the rules because...let's face it, can you easily find them? So they look around. If they see X in a story, they will think X is fine.

Then they get rejected, come here, get told X is not fine, then they say "But look at all this X" and the sycophants sit here and give them the "you have to obey the rules"

Truthfully I'm just in the mood to stir the pot on the sites half ass way of running things. Most days I leave these threads with a simple eye roll.

 

[SecondCircle]

I wasn't lobbying for banning anything, simply pointing out what you just reinforced. Its hard to say what is titillating when some people can get turned on by pretty much anything.

I guess the best one can hope for is "Okay, normal people would not get off on my stalker doing....whatever." but knowing, someone, somewhere, will.

In NH and EH everything is fair game as you can incorporate 'mythical things' and circumvent any rule. In the erotic categories the issues are how vague the rules are and...again very lax to non existent enforcement.

My theory is that many here don't read the rules because...let's face it, can you easily find them? So they look around. If they see X in a story, they will think X is fine.

Then they get rejected, come here, get told X is not fine, then they say "But look at all this X" and the sycophants sit here and give them the "you have to obey the rules"

Truthfully I'm just in the mood to stir the pot on the sites half ass way of running things. Most days I leave these threads with a simple eye roll.

But it isn't so much that people are actively circumventing any rule, it's just that they are submitting content to scare, shock, or horrify. As is the point of the category. That's inherent. That isn't letting things fly. You still don't just get to post anything in EH.