Question about underage characters that don't have sex

[MrIllusion]

Hello,

One of my story got rejected because of underage characters and I'm puzzled about what I should correct.

The POV character's age isn't specified, but I mention that he's starting a Ph.D. (The two other main characters are 30 and 32. No other character in the story does anything remotely sexual.) Did the story get rejected because he could be a genius and start his Ph.D. before 18?

The other possibility is this: the main characters, who are all 18+ in the story's "present", reminisce about the fact that the guy tried to spy on his sister taking a shower while he was 15 and she was 19. There was no contact, no sex of any kind whatsoever. Is that the cause of the rejection?

Thanks.

 

[oggbashan]

Hello,

One of my story got rejected because of underage characters and I'm puzzled about what I should correct.

The POV character's age isn't specified, but I mention that he's starting a Ph.D. (The two other main characters are 30 and 32. No other character in the story does anything remotely sexual.) Did the story get rejected because he could be a genius and start his Ph.D. before 18?

The other possibility is this: the main characters, who are all 18+ in the story's "present", reminisce about the fact that the guy tried to spy on his sister taking a shower while he was 15 and she was 19. There was no contact, no sex of any kind whatsoever. Is that the cause of the rejection?

Thanks.

Probably yes. Trying to spy on an under 18 character is a sexual act.

 

[SimonDoom]

Hello,

One of my story got rejected because of underage characters and I'm puzzled about what I should correct.

The POV character's age isn't specified, but I mention that he's starting a Ph.D. (The two other main characters are 30 and 32. No other character in the story does anything remotely sexual.) Did the story get rejected because he could be a genius and start his Ph.D. before 18?

The other possibility is this: the main characters, who are all 18+ in the story's "present", reminisce about the fact that the guy tried to spy on his sister taking a shower while he was 15 and she was 19. There was no contact, no sex of any kind whatsoever. Is that the cause of the rejection?

Thanks.

This is clearly a no-no, under this Site's own peculiar rules on this subject.

You cannot write in any detail about an underage character having sex OR having a sexual experience or sexual thoughts of any kind.

You might be able to get away with something like "When I was 15, I noticed how sexy my sister was." But that's about it. You cannot specifically relate an incident involving an underage character that was sexual in nature, BROADLY DEFINED. Reminisces like this will get the story rejected just as surely as sex acts will.

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

A helpful prior discussion of site rules and 15-year old voyeurism.

As oggbashan pointed out, Voyeurism is a sex act and per site rules would be underage sex.

Per the prior thread and discussion of that OP’s rejection notices, it seems the example rewrite of “When I was fifteen, I noticed how sexy my sister was” might not make the cut either.

 

[SimonDoom]

A helpful prior discussion of site rules and 15-year old voyeurism.


Per the prior thread and discussion of that OP’s rejection notices, it seems the example rewrite of “When I was fifteen, I noticed how sexy my sister was” might not make the cut either.

You might be right. This site is rigid about this. Probably safer to say something like "When I was fifteen, I noticed how cute my sister was." That would be OK.

 

[MrIllusion]

Thanks for the very quick replies! I'll correct the story and send it again!

 

[TarnishedPenny]

You could try to argue it, adding your thoughts and explanations in the Admin box, but unless it’s key to the story, it’s easier to amend. Good luck.

 

[NotWise]

Thanks for the very quick replies! I'll correct the story and send it again!

Something as simple as "There was always something very attractive about my older sister" -- no ages, no mention of sex or arousal -- might get through.