Basic question on submission guidelines

[RatClown]

I've just gotten the accepted/rejected back on my first story. Most of the chapters were rejected with:

Is there excessive degradation, violence, snuff, or abuse of characters in your submission? If it is submitted as a Horror story, is it more snuff than actual horror?

The submission guidelines don't mention any of these as being problematic for inclusion. Did I simply miscategorize my story as BDSM where it should have been "Erotic Horror" or something? Or is degradation et. al. disallowed and the submission guidelines need to be updated? If it's the prior issue of categorization, is there anywhere which explains what is acceptable for what category?

 

[Vermilion]

If it had been a category issue then the editors would have just posted it into the appropriate category. I think the issue here is the word "excessive'. It's a little subjective, sure, but the chances are, since that's what's been pointed out, that your story is just too 'dark'... Just a guess.

One question - do all your characters enjoy what happens to them? Do they end up having a good time? That tends to be what stops stories getting accepted imho...

Hope this helps...
x
V

 

[Weird Harold]

The submission guidelines don't mention any of these as being problematic for inclusion. Did I simply miscategorize my story as BDSM where it should have been "Erotic Horror" or something? Or is degradation et. al. disallowed and the submission guidelines need to be updated? If it's the prior issue of categorization, is there anywhere which explains what is acceptable for what category?

I suspct you've run into the rather nebulous disction between Rape Fantasy and Rapist Fantasy and/or the site owners' personal interpretation of what is appropriate for a Literate Erotic Stories site. (they don't find gratuitous violence erotic.)

I also suspect that you need to skip over to the BDSM category and run some selcted passages past your presumed target audience. If you're not into the scene, or at least really understand the scene, I suspect you don't want your story in that category.

 

[RatClown]

If it had been a category issue then the editors would have just posted it into the appropriate category. I think the issue here is the word "excessive'. It's a little subjective, sure, but the chances are, since that's what's been pointed out, that your story is just too 'dark'... Just a guess.

Hm, well then it seems like they should update their submission guidelines. At the moment it says no kids, no animals, and everything else is acceptable. From my experience of erotica, I'd venture to guess that in possibly even a third or fourth of everything that's written it's fairly ambiguous that one of the parties is enjoying it, so that's rather a large qualifier to the submission guidelines to not include.

Is there any other site that has an easy interface for posting stories but doesn't require registration to read? I'd like to be able to link to my writing.

 

[Vermilion]

I had a look in the FAQ's and came across this post which might help.

I've copy/pasted the relevant section below.

Was there excessive violence, snuff, or abuse of characters in your story?

Your story was too extreme for our guidelines. These judgments are subjective, and thus we can't give an exact definition of what exactly is "too much". Certain "violence" in a BDSM situation between consenting adults may be allowed, while the same "violence" between strangers in a non-consentual situation will not. Tone and respect for characters, as well as the "violent" scene within the context of the story, are what we make our judgments upon. If your story is rejected for this, feel free to send the story back with a polite request for an explanation and we will tell you why it was rejected. If you disagree with our assessment, you are more than welcome to publish your story elsewhere rather than alter it to our guidelines. We respect your rights as authors to write on whatever you like, however you like.

 

[Vermilion]

Hm, well then it seems like they should update their submission guidelines. At the moment it says no kids, no animals, and everything else is acceptable. From my experience of erotica, I'd venture to guess that in possibly even a third or fourth of everything that's written it's fairly ambiguous that one of the parties is enjoying it, so that's rather a large qualifier to the submission guidelines to not include.

Is there any other site that has an easy interface for posting stories but doesn't require registration to read? I'd like to be able to link to my writing.

Also although it does indeed say that underage and bestiality are not allowed, it doesn't say that anything else goes, which I suppose means they reserve judgement. I'm sorry your story was rejected, it's very disappointing when you're eager to get it online, but like my post above says, there may be a way to fix things so it is considered acceptable. Try and remember that the site owners are just trying to protect themselves legally, rather than place moral judgements on the writers

 

[RatClown]

Also although it does indeed say that underage and bestiality are not allowed, it doesn't say that anything else goes, which I suppose means they reserve judgement. I'm sorry your story was rejected, it's very disappointing when you're eager to get it online, but like my post above says, there may be a way to fix things so it is considered acceptable. Try and remember that the site owners are just trying to protect themselves legally, rather than place moral judgements on the writers

Oh no, I have no issue with the policy. I'm just commenting that it seems like something that should be added to the Submission Guidelines since that's all one has to go on without doing some major diving into the forums.

But so does anyone have any recommendations for an alternate site?

 

[jomar]

...
Is there any other site that has an easy interface for posting stories but doesn't require registration to read? I'd like to be able to link to my writing.

Try storiesonline.net. And anything goes there, btw.