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[Tag_Johnson]

Okay, I don't know what the problem is but I would appreciate some help. How do you publish a story? I've submitted two stories twice apiece and had them all rejected for three times a piece. Huh?

 

[Weird Harold]

Okay, I don't know what the problem is but I would appreciate some help. How do you publish a story? I've submitted two stories twice apiece and had them all rejected for three times a piece. Huh?

Why were they rejected? (There's an explanation in the link under "rejected")

 

[Cathleen]

There'll be a reason given for the rejection. Maybe check that area again for info.

 

[SweetErika]

Were you given a reason for the rejections?

The site owners and story editors want to put new stories up, so they really only reject stories that violate the site's rules. Do you recall reading the submission guidelines prior to submitting your work? Either way, I'd suggest going back through that page and then looking for violations in your stories.

Did you edit your stories carefully and work with a volunteer editor? If not, those would be your next steps. Clean it up as much as possible, then hand it over to a seasoned volunteer editor for further review and correction. Remember that editors are giving their time to help you improve your writing, and you'd do well to take most, if not all, of a good editor's advice. Once you've done that, you can even find some beta readers in Story Feedback to see how your work might go over with your audience.

If you follow the advice above, your stories will almost certainly get approved the first time you submit them. It's more of a time investment up-front, but you won't waste weeks submitting and having your work rejected, and your readers will appreciate the time you spent to make your stories the best they can be. There's little worse for a reader than getting excited about a story, only to have to press the Back button in the first page because the author failed to invest some time in good editing.

 

[LWulf]

My first story was rejected twice for different reasons. The first answer to the rejection was simple, but the second was more profoundly mind-boggling. Mostly because I didn't understand the site's terminologies.

I reposted that two more times before I hit on the proper classification to list the story under.

My point is, with a bunch of ????????? and no direct explanation as to why it was rejected, nobody will be able to help you much.

If you are embarrassed about what reason was given, then I don't know how help can be given to you...

Not trying to be cold, but...

If you simply resubmitted it three times without correcting the problem, then the answer is obvious. Fix the problem and resubmit again.

If you made the changes to correct the reasons that were given yet it still got rejected for the same reason, then like sweeterica said, consider using an editor. However, what I will tell you is to talk to the editor (remember, they are voluntary) and discuss how and when they will review it. I went through ten editors before I got a response, and three editor's responses before I found one who would actually edit/review my work (the first two I waited two months after they said they would do it and ... nothing. I sent emails and humble requests for status on when they would get back to me. I was given a hissy fit by one saying that they would get back to me when they were dang ready (paraphrased). The second one never responded). Sometimes it can be an uphill battle, but try to keep cool and you will persevere.

It's aggravating, and frustrating, but talk about what the problem is (with an editor if not the forum), and I think you will get back better responses of how to resolve it.

Note: Editors will not look up site rules of what conforms or doesn't conform to site rules (no editors mentioned they would do it for me). They will just fix the arrangement of words, if that's what you both agree on as what they will do.
You don't HAVE to do their changes, but it is best to follow their suggestions until you get a better feel for how to get stories to pass rejection.

 

[Hypoxia]

OP: If you don't tell us the reasons, we can't help you. Look at your VIEW SUBMISSIONS page. Click on the REJECTED- REASON links. Copy the reasons and paste them into a post here. My most recent rejection (issued AFTER the story was approved) says:

. Report ID: 8291 Title: Other (please list below): Details: Murder story in Loving Wives category. Disgusting. Submission: Under His Eyes. Submission Author: Hypoxia.

That rejection came from reader complaints. The death wasn't murder, it was accidental. I did a slight rewrite to lampshade the circumstances, and resubmitted under a different name in a different category. The new version, RIGHT UNDER HIS EYES (linked in my sig), is up and running.

Anyway, show us your rejections, and maybe we can advise you.

 

[SweetErika]

If you made the changes to correct the reasons that were given yet it still got rejected for the same reason, then like sweeterica said, consider using an editor. However, what I will tell you is to talk to the editor (remember, they are voluntary) and discuss how and when they will review it. I went through ten editors before I got a response, and three editor's responses before I found one who would actually edit/review my work (the first two I waited two months after they said they would do it and ... nothing. I sent emails and humble requests for status on when they would get back to me. I was given a hissy fit by one saying that they would get back to me when they were dang ready (paraphrased). The second one never responded). Sometimes it can be an uphill battle, but try to keep cool and you will persevere.

It's aggravating, and frustrating, but talk about what the problem is (with an editor if not the forum), and I think you will get back better responses of how to resolve it.

Note: Editors will not look up site rules of what conforms or doesn't conform to site rules (no editors mentioned they would do it for me). They will just fix the arrangement of words, if that's what you both agree on as what they will do.
You don't HAVE to do their changes, but it is best to follow their suggestions until you get a better feel for how to get stories to pass rejection.

If an author wants to find an editor and/or beta readers, s/he should create a thread in the Editors' Forum that includes the category (or categories, especially if it's something like gay incest or loving wives with BDSM that might be foreign or offensive to some editors), a brief synopsis of the story, type of help sought and length. Once an editor or three has had a chance to look at the story and see how much help is needed, an author can request a general timeline (of course they should make allowances for life getting in the way) and communication if it's pushed back more than a week or three.

It's absolutely wise to ask an editor for what you need. If you need an overall read for mistakes, suggestions on improving the story and flagging of anything that might prevent the story from being approved, you should say that (vs. "let me know what you think" or "I just need it checked for mistakes" when the reality is that the story is a mess, both grammar- and plot-wise). I don't know of a seasoned editor who WON'T alert authors to potential reasons for rejection. If your editor doesn't have a good understanding of Lit's policies, writing and editing, you probably shouldn't use them as an editor, you should MAYBE ask them to serve as a beta reader once you and your sharp editor feel the story is ready for an audience. However, I feel the best beta readers are both great authors and Lit readers who can give really good constructive feedback.

 

[LWulf]

If an author wants to find an editor and/or beta readers, s/he should create a thread in the Editors' Forum. ...

...It's absolutely wise to ask an editor for what you need.

I think you may have misunderstood my intent. I wasn't whinging about my ailments, but trying to give an allegory of potential pitfalls when trying to resolve a rejection to the OP.

I know that the editor's forum is one place to find editors, I tried to find someone there by posting a request for help, without luck. I tried to find someone using the available editors' list (in the website but not in the forum) which was disastrous. I then used the available editors' list in the editors' forum to finally find someone who helped.

 

[MyRubiLips]

In Story Ideas he mentioned writing about celebrities having sex with their under-aged children. That may have something to do with his rejections.

 

[SamScribble]

I'm trying to be polite here, but what kind of question is 'Huh?'? Laurel will have given you a hint as to why your stories were rejected. If you'd like to share the reasons, we might be able to help.

 

[Biker_Type]

check (several time) for correct spelling and punctuation. maybe have some one else proof read for you? and then let it sit a day or two before you try to proof it again yourself. then resubmit? i've NEVER had a story be approved on a first submission, and those suggestions usually get them cleaned up and approved. or try one of the editors they suggest.