Story rejected

[8inthebox]

So I had my first attempt at submitting a story rejected for not reaching 750 words in length. While I understand that lit wants to have a minimum length, when I read some of the unintelligible garbage that makes it through the approval process, I can't help but feel a little discouraged with how they choose which stories are good enough to make the cut.

 

[oggbashan]

So I had my first attempt at submitting a story rejected for not reaching 750 words in length. While I understand that lit wants to have a minimum length, when I read some of the unintelligible garbage that makes it through the approval process, I can't help but feel a little discouraged with how they choose which stories are good enough to make the cut.

Some readers think they have been cheated by the author if the story isn't close to a Lit page of 3,700 words. 750 words is a very short story by Literotica norms.

But I have written sets of fifty-word stories. The set has to be fifteen stories to reach the 750 word minimum.

The approval process does not filter out rubbish stories - only ones that don't meet the site's rules as set by Laurel. But you might be surprised how many people like stories that you or I might consider as 'rubbish'.

 

[Kantarii]

Rubbish he says? One man's trash is another man's treasure. What constitutes as rubbish? LW? Incest? The General Board? Or, something just as equal in title?Kant.

 

[PennLady]

So I had my first attempt at submitting a story rejected for not reaching 750 words in length. While I understand that lit wants to have a minimum length, when I read some of the unintelligible garbage that makes it through the approval process, I can't help but feel a little discouraged with how they choose which stories are good enough to make the cut.

There's one person who vets the stories on this site, and it seems to me the vast majority of them get through, including ones that shouldn't. And yes, plenty contain spelling and punctuation and other errors.

Your story, though, was rejected on objective grounds -- it wasn't long enough. I don't know how long it is, but perhaps you can add some to it and reach the minimum. Flesh out a character or a situation, or add a little bit of description somewhere, something like that.

Good luck

 

[autoplot]

Sometimes standards are arbitrary because a line has to be drawn somewhere. That doesn't mean it's a value judgment on you or your work.

 

[8inthebox]

There's one person who vets the stories on this site, and it seems to me the vast majority of them get through, including ones that shouldn't. And yes, plenty contain spelling and punctuation and other errors.

Your story, though, was rejected on objective grounds -- it wasn't long enough. I don't know how long it is, but perhaps you can add some to it and reach the minimum. Flesh out a character or a situation, or add a little bit of description somewhere, something like that.

Good luck

I wasn't blaming anyone. Obviously its a tall order to have to approve every story. My only issue is that so many stories here lack proper grammar or punctuation. Not to mention many of them read as though they were written by a 14 year old kid with his first boner. I guess I just didn't like the minimum word requirement. I thought the story worked the way I wanted as constituted and I didn't want to now bastardize it by trying to add words or description which dont naturally flow.

 

[sr71plt]

You can find most any kind of story--and most any literary level--you want here. You just have to put a little effort into it yourself. Sample until you find authors you like and continue to follow them. Look at who they have favorited and sample some more. Really, the only excuse to not finding stories here to satisfy you, given that you came to look on an erotica site, is that you haven't made a good enough effort yourself.

 

[ThisNameIsntTakenYet]

Oh, how I wish I would have to worry about the minimum word count requirement. I tend to ramble and write so many things, I can't imagine telling a story below 750 words. I usually need at least that to set the scene or establish some kind of beginning.

But my personal problems aside, I don't think Laurel has actually looked at your story. I read somewhere they have a little program that counts the words for them, so if that count is lower than 750 I don't think she will even open the story to begin with and just reject it.

If you don't want to lengthen your story you can do what oggbashan does: submit several shorter stories together as one. Maybe you can write a second story with the same characters or universe?

 

[sr71plt]

I'm failing to see a relationship between a story not meeting minimum wordage requirements and the perceived quality of other stories.

 

[8inthebox]

I'm failing to see a relationship between a story not meeting minimum wordage requirements and the perceived quality of other stories.

I am just stating that number of words seems like a strange reason to reject a story submitted. Especially when stiries are making it to the site which are horribly written. I don't know. I'm not trying to judge. Just disappointed I guess

 

[lovecraft68]

Especially when stiries are making it to the site which are horribly written.

Well that's the problem right there! People are submitting stiries to a Story site. The nerve!

Okay, sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

[sr71plt]

A 750-word minimum for archiving a file (or writing a short story) isn't too short at all. And going after stories already here for another reason altogether is sort of petty.

But if you like, you could PM me for an e-mail address where you can send your shorter-than-750-word story and I'd be happy to give a consult on whether it is a story and if it's superior to the technical norm of stories here that you slam.

 

[8inthebox]

Well that's the problem right there! People are submitting stiries to a Story site. The nerve!

Okay, sorry, I couldn't resist.

Typo. Good call. Certainly a strike against my credibility. But of course the story was proofread to avoid those.

 

[lovecraft68]

Typo. Good call. Certainly a strike against my credibility. But of course the story was proofread to avoid those.

Typos in posts happen all the time. Fortunately for me there are enough typos in my stories that I maintain a consistent balance.

 

[8inthebox]

A 750-word minimum for archiving a file (or writing a short story) isn't too short at all. And going after stories already here for another reason altogether is sort of petty.

But if you like, you could PM me for an e-mail address where you can send your shorter-than-750-word story and I'd be happy to give a consult on whether it is a story and if it's superior to the technical norm of stories here that you slam.

Think I'll spare myself from your arrogance. But thanks for the offer. My statement was simply that I didn't think length should be forced when proper grammar is not.

 

[sr71plt]

Think I'll spare myself from your arrogance. But thanks for the offer. My statement was simply that I didn't think length should be forced when proper grammar is not.

My arrogance? I assure you that I'm a professional editor and would give you an objective review. Perhaps we should take a vote on this thread on who is being arrogant.

 

[8inthebox]

My arrogance? I assure you that I'm a professional editor and would give you an objective review. Perhaps we should take a vote on this thread on who is being arrogant.

If it's me, I'll be more than happy to apologize. But I'm fine with that. I'm not the one telling you I'd be more than happy to judge you. That implies a feeling of superiority where I come from. Maybe others see it differently.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

Why does anyone think the author's forum is the place to go when a story is rejected? We don't reject them.

 

[8inthebox]

Why does anyone think the author's forum is the place to go when a story is rejected? We don't reject them.

I actually posted this somewhere else. It was moved here by moderator I assume.

 

[ThisNameIsntTakenYet]

Think I'll spare myself from your arrogance. But thanks for the offer. My statement was simply that I didn't think length should be forced when proper grammar is not.

Well, they need to draw the line somewhere, right? I mean, you don't want people submitting a "story" of just 10 words, so you need to pick some number of words as the minimum. You need a hard and clear rule like this for a site this big.

In fact there are rules that require each story submitted to have at least decent grammar and proper punctuation. With the amount of stories submissions Laurel has to work through on a daily basis this rule doesn't seem to be enforced as often as it should be, allowing for poorly written stories to slip through. I have seen several posts about stories being rejected for poor grammar or punctuation though, so apparently it's still a chance stories will be rejected for this reason. It's a shame so many stories that should be rejected on this ground do get through though.

 

[oggbashan]

If you entered a writing contest for a 750+ word story and you wrote 700 words your entry would be considered ineligible.

It is the same for Literotica. Stories must be 750 words or more.

But all is not lost. If your story is less than 750 words you could submit it as 'Poetry'. Poetry on Literotica has no minimum word limit. I posted my first fifty-word stories as Poetry before I started writing them in sets of 15 stories.

 

[8inthebox]

Well, they need to draw the line somewhere, right? I mean, you don't want people submitting a "story" of just 10 words, so you need to pick some number of words as the minimum. You need a hard and clear rule like this for a site this big.

In fact there are rules that require each story submitted to have at least decent grammar and proper punctuation. With the amount of stories submissions Laurel has to work through on a daily basis this rule doesn't seem to be enforced as often as it should be, allowing for poorly written stories to slip through. I have seen several posts about stories being rejected for poor grammar or punctuation though, so apparently it's still a chance stories will be rejected for this reason. It's a shame so many stories that should be rejected on this ground do get through though.

I'm definitely not blaming her at all. If it appears as though I am, I apologize. That definitely wasn't the intention. I understand your point about ten word stories. Anyway, I now know the rule. I should've looked closer and having not done that, it's my own fault. Just disappointed when I see some of the other stories deemed good enough.

 

[NotWise]

Maybe others see it differently.

You aren't going to get very many offers for free editing from a professional editor. Even targeted feedback from experienced authors can be hard to come by. I would have jumped at the chance to have Pilot review my first story.

 

[lovecraft68]

You aren't going to get very many offers for free editing from a professional editor. Even targeted feedback from experienced authors can be hard to come by. I would have jumped at the chance to have Pilot review my first story.

Yeah, right? He's never offered to edit for me. I don't blame him. I'd make his eyes bleed.

 

[sr71plt]

Yeah, right? He's never offered to edit for me. I don't blame him. I'd make his eyes bleed.

You've never said you had a story under 750 words. Piece of cake in editing time required.