First submission sent back

[Steph70kk]

Hi

My first story and submission has been sent back due to "underage (under 18 years old) sexual relationship", and using Grammarly or other such similar tools.

My story does not have any underage sexual relationship, and yes, I have used spell/grammar checkers. Otherwise, the 70,000 word story is mine.

Any idea what I could or should do next? Re-introduce an earlier version with (spelling/grammar) errors?

Thanks,

Stephanie

 

[Milo9012]

Maybe it was in the words you used to describe or reference your characters themselves, or their place in the social ranks.

Something in the text is making them seem as underage, so read it again with that in mind.

That's my guess.

Good luck,

Milo

 

[IsabellaEmily]

Hi

My first story and submission has been sent back due to "underage (under 18 years old) sexual relationship", and using Grammarly or other such similar tools.

My story does not have any underage sexual relationship, and yes, I have used spell/grammar checkers. Otherwise, the 70,000 word story is mine.

Any idea what I could or should do next? Re-introduce an earlier version with (spelling/grammar) errors?

Thanks,

Stephanie

My first few stories were rejected for underage elements as well, simply because I didn't make it clear that the characters were in college. There weren't any underage characters in any of those first few stories, but I didn't clarify that enough.

I learned to be VERY specific about their ages so as to leave no doubt.

 

[Steph70kk]

OK, thanks. In the first chapter of my story, I write about the childhood of one of the main characters — maybe that’s what triggered the rejection. I don’t mind having policies in place, but spending time on a submission only to have it rejected for unclear or unwarranted reasons just isn’t worth the effort. I’ll publish my stories elsewhere.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I tend to include some indirect clue that a character is a legal adult (like buying a beer in a restaurant) just to avoid any ambiguity about that.

--Annie