Looking for advice on the content policies.

[cheeksarerosy]

Hey everyone,

I've got a story in the works - a long one, a doozy. It hits a lot of themes - harem, love, incest, and interracial sex among others.

One of the story arcs is about a woman who had been abused in the past. I do not describe any of the acts - more just that they happened, and repeatedly. It is, of course, completely fictional.

It touches on non-consent of a minor - not to glorify, not to approve, but to describe why her character is what she is. No underage sex depictions, just that it had happened. No rape depictions - just that it happened.

She does get revenge on her attackers - and it's a little intense.

Can anyone tell me if this kind of thing is against what is allowed on the site? Or is there a way to contact the admins/moderators so I can give more detail?

Thanks!

 

[ElectricBlue]

A single sentence or two, zero sexual description, is about it. Repeated mentions of under eighteen activity, however brief, might get a cumulative no-no.

PM Laurel for advice.

 

[sirhugs]

lately, any hint of underahe interest ior involement in sex seems to be resulting in rejection.

 

[Bramblethorn]

This kind of content has been allowed before, but several people have mentioned moderation getting a little stricter on that kind of thing, so seconding EB's advice to PM Laurel beforehand. (Laurel is the story moderator.)

 

[oggbashan]

I suspect, but of course don't know until there is a statement from Laurel, that they are trying to avoid confrontation, particularly from political parties and militant religious groups, many of which would want ALL porn of any sort removed from the internet. If a story triggered a campaign against Lit could be a financial disaster.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I've mentioned underage sex having happened many times, consensual or not, and never had any rejection from having one dispassionate sentence explaining the facts.

More tricky can be the fact that Lit counts any thoughts about sex as being 'sexual activity'.

If in doubt, a note to Laurel in the Notes field, with the relevant paragraph, should work - most rejections seem to be automated but if there's a note then a human will take a look.

 

[cheeksarerosy]

Thanks everyone. That's some great advice, and knowing who to send a message or a note to about it I think will make all the difference.

 

[NotWise]

Laurel may not respond to an unsolicited message, and she probably won't give you a go-ahead without having the whole story anyway.

I'd suggest you submit the story and deal with the rejection if it happens.

I have similar situations in two stories. One case was never questioned. The other was rejected, then accepted after I cited what I thought was the offending passage and explained why it was important.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Agreed with most of the above and EB66 has hit it on the head.

[MFC talking to new boyfriend] “Sam, I’m sorry if I seem to be distant. I like you, but you’ll have to be patient, please. I was sexually abused as a child, repeatedly raped by my uncle over a period of three years.”

That would probably get through. BUT, as EB suggests, a PM to Laurel in advance would be advisable AND there could be no reflection of how it felt or any further detail.

 

[cheeksarerosy]

Fantastic advice everyone. I may just skirt the issue and make the abuse start when she turned 18, to just not even deal with the underage issues. Because it's nonconsent, it will still be only referred to and not described.

I'll keep an original version around anyway. I don't feel as if it's any kind of illegal at all, but I want to be cognizant that this is someone else's playground, and honestly it won't really change the story at all.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Fantastic advice everyone. I may just skirt the issue and make the abuse start when she turned 18, to just not even deal with the underage issues. Because it's nonconsent, it will still be only referred to and not described.

I'll keep an original version around anyway. I don't feel as if it's any kind of illegal at all, but I want to be cognizant that this is someone else's playground, and honestly it won't really change the story at all.

Good move. Legality has nothing to do with the issue on Lit. It's a private business, and the owner's rules apply.

 

[NotWise]

Fantastic advice everyone. I may just skirt the issue and make the abuse start when she turned 18, to just not even deal with the underage issues. Because it's nonconsent, it will still be only referred to and not described.

To me, the case of a woman (18+) accepting a risk of repeated sexual abuse reeks of developmental and/or psychiatric disability. Maybe you can skirt that or maybe it won't be an issue for readers.

 

[cheeksarerosy]

To me, the case of a woman (18+) accepting a risk of repeated sexual abuse reeks of developmental and/or psychiatric disability. Maybe you can skirt that or maybe it won't be an issue for readers.

Very interesting feedback, and something I'd have to take into account. If it can be written in such a way that it makes sense, then so be it. If not, more reworking will be required.

 

[SimonDoom]

To me, the case of a woman (18+) accepting a risk of repeated sexual abuse reeks of developmental and/or psychiatric disability. Maybe you can skirt that or maybe it won't be an issue for readers.

That ignores the experience of millions of adult women in abusive, manipulative relationships. I don't think it would be a problem to age up the character but maintain the abusive background.

It may be an issue for some readers, but so what? He doesn't have to write to please every reader. It almost certainly will NOT be a problem for getting the story accepted by the site.

The problem of having the abuse take place when she's under 18 is the author can't go into any detail and if the author can't go into any detail it will be harder to make the revenge as interesting or as compelling. Aging up would be a way to do it.

 

[NotWise]

That ignores the experience of millions of adult women in abusive, manipulative relationships. I don't think it would be a problem to age up the character but maintain the abusive background.

It may be an issue for some readers, but so what? He doesn't have to write to please every reader. It almost certainly will NOT be a problem for getting the story accepted by the site.

The problem of having the abuse take place when she's under 18 is the author can't go into any detail and if the author can't go into any detail it will be harder to make the revenge as interesting or as compelling. Aging up would be a way to do it.

The OP did not give me the impression we were talking about an abusive, manipulative relationship. It gave me the impression that it was abuse of a young girl that the author decided to age up to pass the under-eighteen rule.

It probably won't bother the readers. Most of them don't expect, and may not want, realistic female characters anyway.

I don't think the author would need to go into detail to make the revenge compelling. It is more than sufficient to describe its emotional impact on an appealing character. The author would only need to go into detail to titillate readers with underage sex. But yes, the writing problem is more difficult.