My story is sent back over and over again

[DB86]

I've sent a new story 4 times, and every time it was sent back because according to the bot who reads it (I can't believe it's actually a human who read it) there is "underage sex", which is NOT the case at all. I write romantic stories. I already wrote to mails to the info@literotica address with no response.

I modified some parts of the story, trying to make more clear that my characters are +18, with no result. I have no clue whcih is the supposed part in my story that triggers that response.

I'm about to give up and stop sharing my stories.

Any suggestions?

 

[NotWise]

I've sent a new story 4 times, and every time it was sent back because according to the bot who reads it (I can't believe it's actually a human who read it) there is "underage sex", which is NOT the case at all. I write romantic stories. I already wrote to mails to the info@literotica address with no response.

I modified some parts of the story, trying to make more clear that my characters are +18, with no result. I have no clue whcih is the supposed part in my story that triggers that response.

I'm about to give up and stop sharing my stories.

Any suggestions?

The stories are reviewed by one person, though she might have some screening software.

The "underage" rejection can be triggered by backstory or by character's recollections, and any kind of potentially arousing behavior is considered to be sex: masturbation, voyeurism, thoughts of sex, etc. It can also be triggered by a character who's behavior is immature, even though you describe their age as over eighteen.

I you don't have any of those items in your story then it must be something similar for the site to consistently reject the story. Your best solution might be to go to the editor's forum and ask for someone with more experience to review your story, specifically for underage content.

 

[KeithD]

When you resent the story did you address the "no underage" in the Notes box? That's where you discuss the issue with the submissions editor. Yes, sometimes stories are sent back that don't have what is claimed in them. Ask the editor to point out what's wrong with yours--but do that in the Notes box when you send what you think is an acceptable version back. Every time I've had one sent back for that reason it ended up being posted without change.

 

[Blind_Justice]

I've sent a new story 4 times, and every time it was sent back because according to the bot who reads it (I can't believe it's actually a human who read it) there is "underage sex", which is NOT the case at all. I write romantic stories. I already wrote to mails to the info@literotica address with no response.

I modified some parts of the story, trying to make more clear that my characters are +18, with no result. I have no clue whcih is the supposed part in my story that triggers that response.

I'm about to give up and stop sharing my stories.

Any suggestions?

You might try one or both of the following:

a) when submitting your story, there is a Notes section for the moderator. Put in a message stating your story does not portray underage sex.

b) using the PM system here in the forum, try contacting Laurel, the person who vets the stories. State your case politely and you should get an answer within a few days.

Also, make sure to keep children (anyone under 18) as far away from sexual situations as possible. No flashbacks to seeing mom and dad do it, no fond memories of fooling around in a car's back seat or even masturbation before turning 18. You might be okay with very broad strokes as in "I lost my cherry at 16", but it could trigger a rejection.

Hope that helps somewhat.

 

[DB86]

Hi, thank you for your suggestions.

I did, put a message stating that all my characters were +18. I also asked if this person could indicate in which specific part he/she/it considered that the supposed underage sex was happening. All i got back was the same automatic message with no clues or indications.

I wrote to info@literotica mail. How do I contact Laurel here?

I'm sorry but I'm new and still learning how everything works.

 

[MissMandy86]

I started writing a bunch of true life stories but then read about the rejections and sort of gave up .. my grammar and punctuation isnt great ..

 

[NotWise]

Hi, thank you for your suggestions.

I did, put a message stating that all my characters were +18. I also asked if this person could indicate in which specific part he/she/it considered that the supposed underage sex was happening. All i got back was the same automatic message with no clues or indications.

I wrote to info@literotica mail. How do I contact Laurel here?

I'm sorry but I'm new and still learning how everything works.

From here, the best way to contact Laurel is by PM. Personal messaging is off by default. If you haven't turned it on, go the the User CP (link) to the top left of the screen and scroll down to the setting.

An even better way to communicate with Laurel is through the Notes section of your story when you submit it.

The email link is not useful. She doesn't respond to email, probably because of the amount of spam.

 

[Rustyoznail]

DB, if you want someone to give it a quick look over, I’ve flicked you a PM.

 

[Emirus]

I also asked if this person could indicate in which specific part he/she/it considered that the supposed underage sex was happening. All i got back was the same automatic message.

Due to the enormous amount of submissions every day on this site you won’t get a personal and specific answer to why the rejection.

I had a story rejected, regarding the death of a character, for gratuitous violence. I resubmitted it saying without that particular part the whole story was a waste of time because it all built up to the inevitable conclusion. The story was published.

An explanation, after carefully going through your story again, and if possible find an experienced writer who is prepared to read it, in the notes section is the best way to go.

I suggest you take up Rusty’s offer. He fits the requirements I stated.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I started writing a bunch of true life stories but then read about the rejections and sort of gave up .. my grammar and punctuation isnt great ..

Don't give up! The worst failure is in never daring to try.

Grammar and spelling problems are very common since schools stopped bothering to actually teach that sort of thing. Solutions? Many people swear by Grammarly and other similar programmes. Volunteer editors are available.

Another consideration is that you do get better with practice. If you make a mistake, learn from it.

So, c'mon in! The water's a little cool, but you get used to it in a hurry!

 

[SimonDoom]

I started writing a bunch of true life stories but then read about the rejections and sort of gave up .. my grammar and punctuation isnt great ..

I agree with TP. Don't give up. This Site does NOT demand perfect grammar and spelling. There are stories that have very high scores with many mistakes.

There are things you can do to quickly improve grammar. Spelling might be a bit trickier. This Site offers how to guides on things like handling dialogue, common grammar errors, etc. Take a little time to read them. It will make a difference.

 

[SimonDoom]

I've sent a new story 4 times, and every time it was sent back because according to the bot who reads it (I can't believe it's actually a human who read it) there is "underage sex", which is NOT the case at all. I write romantic stories. I already wrote to mails to the info@literotica address with no response.

I modified some parts of the story, trying to make more clear that my characters are +18, with no result. I have no clue whcih is the supposed part in my story that triggers that response.

I'm about to give up and stop sharing my stories.

Any suggestions?

You might take up someone's offer to read the story to see what the problem is.

A few things to know about the Underage Rule, if you don't know them already:

1. Not only can you not write about under 18 people having sex, you cannot write about them fantasizing or thinking about sex or sexual activity. You can't write about spying on your under 18 sister in the shower. That sort of thing. "Sex" is broadly defined. It means nearly any kind of sexual activity or fantasy or thought.

2. You can't get away with calling your characters "under 18" if the way you write them is that they are under 18. If they act too young, you probably won't get away with it. If you write a story about a high school sophomore who is 18, you may not get away with it.

 

[Blind_Justice]

I started writing a bunch of true life stories but then read about the rejections and sort of gave up .. my grammar and punctuation isnt great ..

You could always ask for a volunteer editor to look at your stories. Who knows, you may have an incredible talent for telling stories. Grammar and spelling can be fixed and learned.

 

[Emirus]

I started writing a bunch of true life stories but then read about the rejections and sort of gave up .. my grammar and punctuation isnt great ..

Submit one of your stories and see what happens. You may be pleasantly surprised. You can always have it deleted at a future date if you are unhappy.

Put in a request for an editor in the editor’s forum and please give some information. What category. How many words. Give a reason other than “looking for an editor for my stories.” You’ve got a good reason in your comment.

 

[Soshameless11]

I started writing a bunch of true life stories but then read about the rejections and sort of gave up .. my grammar and punctuation isnt great ..

If you ever want an editor, let me know!

 

[PennameWombat]

I've sent a new story 4 times, and every time it was sent back because according to the bot who reads it (I can't believe it's actually a human who read it) there is "underage sex", which is NOT the case at all. I write romantic stories. I already wrote to mails to the info@literotica address with no response.

I modified some parts of the story, trying to make more clear that my characters are +18, with no result. I have no clue whcih is the supposed part in my story that triggers that response.

I'm about to give up and stop sharing my stories.

Any suggestions?

Offering my experience for you to compare to your story. Others have offered to review your story, but if you want yet another opinion, DM me.

My Summer Lovin' 2020 entry is set at a public swimming pool and the male MC is the maintenance guy (an 18-year old). My original submission was rejected because a minor character was a mother who brings her children to the kiddy pool and she made a pass at the male MC. No sex, no kissing, just her teasing him because a younger friend of hers (female MC) liked the guy and she wanted to shake things up a bit.

I rewrote that section. I had the mother's children off with their grandmother that day and not at the pool. The mother was there with an adult friend and they weren't at the kiddy pool but at the main pool.

My Winter Holidays 2020 entry has children all over the place but no issues (key set pieces are the children's Christmas choir scenes). Sex and children are far apart in clearly different scenes/sections.

But the overlap of "children at the pool" and "adult flirting nearby" was an apparent no-no.

The other change I made in the Summer Lovin' entry was my female MC told the male MC that a boy she had a crush on in high school "was in love with a teacher." I took those six words out as well, but as that snippet has appeared in other stories in this shared universe, I'm 99% sure it was just the kiddy pool setting. (In a related published story that 'boy' as an adult did eventually hook up with his ex-teacher and they discussed their past attraction and how they'd never acted on it 'back then.' But the ex-teacher did admit she'd have "broken a thousand laws and every rule the school district had.")

Approved. It can be that indirect. But I did have to think through as the rejection message didn't specify any specific item.

I was careful that my MCs (male, 18, female, 19) acted 'adultish' enough. It's a First Time story so yeah, they're virgins, but they understood safe sex (both had condoms along) and discussed their college and similar plans and talked about their jobs.