Advice

[nosliwec]

I recently sent my second submission in, which was rejected. The reason stated was:

"Was there an underage (under 18 years old) sexual relationship in my story?"

I know for a fact that I hadn't had underage sex in this installment of a continuing story. (I know in a different part of the story, that I haven't yet submitted, had mentioned having some sex happening to characters while in high school, but no details were ever mentioned until they were all 18.)

So my first question is how do I fix my current problem?

I know the category I decided to write in might not be everyone's cup of tea. This series involves lesbian incest. So a quick note on the story in case you don't wish to read the whole thing, one of the girls is in high school and, as stated in the previous submission, as 18. I didn't include ages in this chapter. Would a simple disclaimer at the beginning be sufficient?

As for dealing with high schoolers, in a retelling of one character how she discovered her sexuality, she does admit to having sex before 18. But it isn't detailed. (Which I thought was okay per the guidelines, but figured I'd get help on this before having to go into damage control.)

Any and all help would be most welcome.

 

[Serafina1210]

Some stories have a note at the top saying that all characters are 18 or older. Or you can write in some allusion to the characters' age.

The site's policy says it's okay to allude to underage sex but not to depict it. Your character has got to be 18, but she can tell us she lost her virginity at her sweet sixteen party.

 

[nosliwec]

These two excerpts are from my next submission. Do these fit the guideline or do they need to be edited down?

"The first time started on a cheerleader competition. We got to pick who we were going to bunk with. So naturally, I had my best friends in the room with me. I had never told them about my lesbian desires. I wasn't 100% sure if I was a lesbian or if I just didn't like the immature boys in high school. We'd done things like practice kissing with each other, but it all seemed so harmless.”

“But at the competition, things changed. Naomi and Paige slept in one bed together. Marissa and I in the other. One night, after a stressful day or rehearsals, we started just massaging each other's sore muscles. One thing led to another that changed our relationship. We were still friends and we would never reveal the depth of our friendship. So we felt safe to explore without judgment."

"When we each had our 18th birthdays, after the main celebration ended. We would pick up the trash and straighten the house. Then had a sleep over, just the four of us.” A twinkle in her eye gave away there were secrets, juicy secrets, but she was just going to keep those for herself to remember.

As always, thanks for the help.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

As Serafina says a note, not only at the beginning of the story but, in the notes box when you submit the story again. Laurel will read both and make the decision as to allow your story or not.

Now as for an 18 year old high school student...

Unless she/he flunked two grades somewhere along the way...there are none. Even I graduated at 17 and I flunked fifth grade. (it was an eyesight thing, I needed glasses, did fine after getting them)

We authors all know that making students eighteen is just a way around writing about underage sex.

Yes even I had sex when I was underage, but truly have no desire to write about it, I do however write about things that happened after graduation, after I turned 18, even though at the time it happened I was underage according to the law...she wasn't, but I was.

If you really want to write about underage sex go somewhere else...ASSTR comes to mind, there you can write about whatever you please.

 

[sr71plt]

If you're sure it's not underage and the story is rejected, you just respond to Laurel in the notes column that, no, there's no underage in it. Maybe Laurel would let you know why she thought there was then.

I've known of instances that this is all it took. If the story truly reads like it's underage, though, just putting an author's note in front of it saying there's no underage is just working the system (but, then. so is trying to sneak in an underage story anyway).

You might ask yourself why the story won't work with a college setting. They have cheerleading competitions there too, and college-age students are still young. What is your motivation for playing close to the 18 age limit?

 

[nosliwec]

So those two excerpts aren't in this submission that was rejected, but in the next one. As for the excerpts, themselves, that was the entirety of the sex depicted.

One person, now aged 20, relaying to another, aged 18, when it started (cheerleader competition) no details: some kissing, some muscle massage and basically a yadda yadda fill in the blanks.

Same person relaying to same person one other (implied to be after some months later) incident when all were over 18, but still in high school.

So based on that, knowing the excerpts don't delve any deeper than I stated, it falls too far over the underage sex?

I knew this submission I would have to be careful the way I worded it, so I am just trying to make mention she had sex with her friends, but give no details. These excerpts are from my upcoming story I hadn't even submitted yet. Just trying to get advice before I submit this.

I am not trying to circumvent the age. I am trying to figure out the line. You can say they had sex (which I did) and you can't go into detail (which I didn't). Based purely on the excerpts.

But if it needs to be changed, I could just do something like:

"It all started..." Kaitlin then told me, in quite some detail, how here friends had sex for the first time.

 

[nosliwec]

You might ask yourself why the story won't work with a college setting. They have cheerleading competitions there too, and college-age students are still young. What is your motivation for playing close to the 18 age limit?

College aged sister who is helping her younger, although 18 year old, high school sister discover her sexuality. College sister lives in California and visiting over Christmas break. The college sister was depicting a single time with no details of the sex while she was in high school with her friends. I figured advice from an older sister to a younger one would, realistically, depict encounters in high school when it wasn't that long ago. But I also am trying to make sure it's not against the rules here.

 

[sr71plt]

It's Laurel, the editor, who needs to be convinced. If she doesn't believe in a high school senior being 18 at Christmas break, I can understand that. Again, you could try the straightforward route of declaring the characters in sexual situations are all over 18 in the notes field in sending the story back to Laurel.

 

[PayDay]

A simple disclaimer would be perfect. I would think in your circumstance that noting the ages once per chapter would be best, but rather than be redundant in the body of each chapter (since it would all be one story) use the disclaimer at the beginning of each chapter.

Author's note: All characters in this series are 18 or older when engaging in sexual activity

...or something like that.

The disclaimer would shut down any confusion, as long as the allusion to previous sexual encounters is basic and not descriptive. Asin: "I did it before when I was younger."

When alluding to underage activity, less is more, or you could be rejected.

Worst case, send a PM to the Laurel and ask if what you want to post in the allusion is acceptable.

 

[PayDay]

It's Laurel, the editor, who needs to be convinced. If she doesn't believe in a high school senior being 18 at Christmas break, I can understand that. Again, you could try the straightforward route of declaring the characters in sexual situations are all over 18 in the notes field in sending the story back to Laurel.

I turned 18 before Christmas my senior year, and I was never held back

 

[sr71plt]

I turned 18 before Christmas my senior year, and I was never held back

How were you at math? What percentage of your senior class had their eighteenth birthday before Christmas?

Doesn't this all come down, though, to trying to circumvent the rule--trying to play the underage card with your story if you can? A disclaimer slapped on the front of the story is just a cynical fig leaf.

 

[nosliwec]

Obviously, not many are 18, without being held back. But I have known a few people who were 18 the summer before their senior year (my sister being one because for whatever reason wasn't able to start Kindergarten until she turned 5 and her birthday happened to fall a few weeks after school started.) I turned 18 just after Christmas. A set of twins were born on Christmas Day so turned 18 then during their senior year.

Doesn't this all come down, though, to trying to circumvent the rule--trying to play the underage card with your story if you can? A disclaimer slapped on the front of the story is just a cynical fig leaf.

But by this standard, anything in high school is circumventing the rule.

Rejected story? What does it mean? What now?
"Make sure that your characters are over 18 or at least a senior in high school to fix the problem."

Not trying to argue the point here, just trying to get a clear understanding.

 

[sr71plt]

But by this standard, anything in high school is circumventing the rule.

Pretty much Bingo--trying to circumvent the rule. Can't say you've done so yet, as thus far your effort has been rejected. There is nothing in your scenario that couldn't just as well apply to a first-year college student--other than your need to cut as close to underage as you can get away with--whether you are conscious of that or not.

 

[patientlee]

We have 18 year old seniors at my school. The admission age for kindergarten changed awhile back, and a lot more parents are keeping them home for that extra year.

My own daughter will be 18 early in her senior year without having repeated a grade.

I taught a cyberstudent that was 18 last year. She and her buddies had a tradition of dancing at amateur night at a club about 50 miles away on their 18th. All before graduation.

(Things have changed a little bit since you were in school, Zeb. .)

As Serafina says a note, not only at the beginning of the story but, in the notes box when you submit the story again. Laurel will read both and make the decision as to allow your story or not.

Now as for an 18 year old high school student...

Unless she/he flunked two grades somewhere along the way...there are none. Even I graduated at 17 and I flunked fifth grade. (it was an eyesight thing, I needed glasses, did fine after getting them)

We authors all know that making students eighteen is just a way around writing about underage sex.

Yes even I had sex when I was underage, but truly have no desire to write about it, I do however write about things that happened after graduation, after I turned 18, even though at the time it happened I was underage according to the law...she wasn't, but I was.

If you really want to write about underage sex go somewhere else...ASSTR comes to mind, there you can write about whatever you please.

 

[SandraMustard]

Trying to circumvent the rule

This:

...other than your need to cut as close to underage as you can get away with--whether you are conscious of that or not.

Almost every week an author comes here arguing about real life and a need to win this point to tell their story. Literotica is not about real life. The ultimate judge (Laurel) has seen the same arguments more often than we have and knows there can be 18 year old high school students but most aren't. To avoid any hint of underage, directly or on the fringe, she decisively rejects anything involving high schoolers, period. You have only two choices. Change your story. Post to another site. Your ideas are nothing new. We have no power to intervene.

 

[Hypoxia]

Solutions:

* I regularly preface my pieces with a disclaimer like: All depicted sex involves fairly conscious human adults. Or: Nobody under age 18 has sex in this story.

* I dropped out of HS at age 17, wandered around awhile, and graduated from an adult HS at age 19. I should write stories set in AHS. I have some hair-curdling true stories there...

* In the storyline: the HS had a terrible tragedy and was shut for a semester. Everybody was delayed a half-year. (Almost) all the seniors are thus 18. No problem.

 

[nosliwec]

I'm really not trying to argue the validity of no underage sex. I get it, seriously. The excerpts depicted that I put in quotes haven't been added into a story yet posted.

My rejection was on a different chapter And resubmitted with a disclaimer and a note to Laurel.

So my continuation on this thread, is for advice on the excerpts and whether those two examples are over the limit of underage sex? Or not. So I can change them before I submit them for approval.

The rest of my story, doesn't have anything even close to underage sex. I am not trying to get underage sex permitted. I come here because I don't have to run into that. I recall TOTSE had underage stuff and it spoiled it for me.

I suppose when I get my next segment approved, if I haven't gotten an answer I'll just gamble see what is said and try again.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

We have 18 year old seniors at my school. The admission age for kindergarten changed awhile back, and a lot more parents are keeping them home for that extra year.

My own daughter will be 18 early in her senior year without having repeated a grade.

I taught a cyberstudent that was 18 last year. She and her buddies had a tradition of dancing at amateur night at a club about 50 miles away on their 18th. All before graduation.

(Things have changed a little bit since you were in school, Zeb. .)

Oh, I'm sure they have...but both my children graduated when they were 17. It may depend on what state you are in or what country or even what school district.

But if you start in kindergarten at age 5, which is what my grandchildren did, my grandson graduated this year...he was 17, he will be 18 in October, but when he graduated he was 17 and an honor student.

His older sister would have graduated at 17 if she had been capable.

One other granddaughter graduated while she was still 17 and her younger bother is on track to graduate while 17 next year.

My other two granddaughters are on schedule to also graduate while still 17 even though they are currently only in second grade. So, unless they both flunk a year they will only be 17 when in their senior year.

 

[msgrant67]

High school ages

Now as for an 18 year old high school student...

Unless she/he flunked two grades somewhere along the way...there are none. Even I graduated at 17 and I flunked fifth grade. (it was an eyesight thing, I needed glasses, did fine after getting them)




Not always true, many students turn 18 before or during their senior year.
And, sadly, many inner city schools have 16 & 17 year olds in middle school.
I used to substitute teach & it was sad.

 

[sr71plt]

I don't need to do the "at what high school point could they be 18" math, because I've yet to read a high school setting story at Literotica where what was being delivered up wasn't the thought of age 15 tops. Otherwise, none of what I have seen--including the plotline given on this thread--couldn't have been written with a college setting--junior/community college is not much of a step up from high school, and the maturity of a 19-year-old is not much of a step up from an 18-year-old.

The 18-year-old high school setting on Literotica is just a cover for "she's really 15," *wink, wink*, IMO. And a declaration up front that all characters having sex are 18 or over is just a cynical fig leaf.

If anyone can cite a high school story here that necessarily is high school and isn't playing the underage card, I'd like to see it.

 

[nosliwec]

Perhaps, in hindsight, I would have done so, but in order to do it now, would mean I have to edit my previous story and resubmit it.

Also, I would have to rethink my protagonist and alter her.

So not really an option in my mind.

 

[JKendallDane]

If anyone can cite a high school story here that necessarily is high school and isn't playing the underage card, I'd like to see it.

Just a few off the top of my head:

http://www.literotica.com/s/timber-pack-chronicles-ch-01

http://www.literotica.com/s/high-school-romance

http://www.literotica.com/s/a-prom-worth-remembering

 

[Hypoxia]

...none of what I have seen--including the plotline given on this thread--couldn't have been written with a college setting--junior/community college is not much of a step up from high school, and the maturity of a 19-year-old is not much of a step up from an 18-year-old.

Maybe you've seen JC/CC settings that mimic HS. I have not - many JCs I've seen out West are substantial enterprises, some almost overflow campuses for the nearest university. Main difference between HS vs adult HS and JC/CC is the age mix. Adult-school student bodies contain a large portion of... adults, duh. I didn't notice juvenile cliques; I sure noticed that everyone was there voluntarily, not required by law. Who is more mature, an unwilling 18-yr-old or a willing 19-yr-old?

The 18-year-old high school setting on Literotica is just a cover for "she's really 15," *wink, wink*, IMO. And a declaration up front that all characters having sex are 18 or over is just a cynical fig leaf.

For some authors, maybe. Except for my satirical (and LIT-approved) BIG BANANA, I don't try to juvenate characters. If anything, I write young people as too mature. See my comment below.

If anyone can cite a high school story here that necessarily is high school and isn't playing the underage card, I'd like to see it.

I don't think I played any underage card in my DEXTEROUS DEXTER series. As I alluded above, I probably wrote these (admittedly smart) HS seniors as mostly too mature and stable. They aren't hormonal / psycho enough. Damn, I know too many normal people.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Just a few off the top of my head:

http://www.literotica.com/s/timber-pack-chronicles-ch-01

http://www.literotica.com/s/high-school-romance

http://www.literotica.com/s/a-prom-worth-remembering

I've got one that's based in a primary school. But the action is between the teacher and a class visitor, so I'm guessing that doesn't count

About half of my classmates were 18 by the time we finished school; I think most kids started kindergarten at 5, and if they had their 6th birthday during that kindergarten year, they'd be 18 by the end of grade 12.

Made for some trouble planning the end-of-year bash - from memory I think the tickets were $60, which might be a good deal if you were old enough to make use of the open bar, but not very appealing when all that gets you is a lemonade in Chez Sleaze.

 

[NaokoSmith]

I am sure pilot is right and there are a lot of *wink wink nudge* they were all eighteen really, they just looked like jail bait stories on here, which is a drag.

However Huck Pilgrim's Rainbow Party is one that is a genuine high school story with excellent discussion of coming of age sex. My review, which I give the link to instead of his story cuz I am a shameless self advertiser and also because in the review I use the story to talk about coming of age sex.

And this is my review of Bramblethorn's hot story in which the school is entirely appropriately used as background detail.

For a bonus, my review of glynndah's story in which grown-ups go back to a high school reunion, reminisce about their high school sex in an appropriate manner, and then have hot sex of the kind we wish we had the experience to enjoy in High School.