Help With Story Rejection?

[Sanzas]

I have a story (Tales of DunnisUrom Pt. 02) that has gotten like 4 rejections. It was originally published, got three comments and a few thousand views. Then it got rejected for "under age" so far as I can tell there are no under-age characters or situations. I've been through it for what could be triggering filters and have included questions in feedback to the moderators--but I'm not sure what would be causing it. I can post a share-link if anyone is wiling to help me figure it out.

Thanks

 

[Sanzas]

I think I got it. There's a reference to the character at a younger age. I removed it entirely. We'll see if that works.

 

[tnhardon]

I have a story (Tales of DunnisUrom Pt. 02) that has gotten like 4 rejections. It was originally published, got three comments and a few thousand views. Then it got rejected for "under age" so far as I can tell there are no under-age characters or situations. I've been through it for what could be triggering filters and have included questions in feedback to the moderators--but I'm not sure what would be causing it. I can post a share-link if anyone is wiling to help me figure it out.

Thanks

I’ve had this happen before. I think I left a note to the mod the next time I submitted it asking what specifically needed to be changed and they were able to let me know.

It can definitely be frustrating not knowing how to fix some thing like that.

 

[tnhardon]

I think I got it. There's a reference to the character at a younger age. I removed it entirely. We'll see if that works.

That was what happened with mine. Have to be very careful with age stuff because they will kick it out, even when it isn’t sexual.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I had about 15 rejections of my first submission here. I had two other pieces published before it finally got accepted.

My issues were:

1. Attempting to write it just in the Lit story pane (I now use Word on my phone) - schoolgirl error
2. Writing grade school when I meant high school - just a brain freeze, not trying to push any limits, a genuine mistake
3. Inadvertently implying that I had masturbated before my 18th birthday - while true I hadn’t meant to draw attention to it
4. A plot point being that the FMC (aka me) was insecure about her appearance and worried that she looked younger than her years - all true, but I can see why they thought it sketchy
5. Over use of the word young

I really didn’t know how things work round here, but I picked it up. Have only had one rejection since and that was for admittedly appalling spelling. Something I dashed off quickly.

I now have 23 stories published here. So don’t give up.

My one piece of advice is to positively engage. Be polite and PM Laurel (who is perfectly nice and reasonable in my experience) if you are struggling.

Em

 

[Sanzas]

Oh, for sure. I'm not angry with Laurel. Over-use of the word 'young' might be bad. But I think I've got it sorted. We'll see. I appreciate the feedback here. Thanks.

 

[MrPixel]

... Over-use of the word 'young' might be bad. ...

A probable trigger. In my own travels around the Internet these past couple of decades it became quite clear that "young" was frequently a euphemism for child porn. As in "don't click on that link!" kind of stuff.

 

[tnhardon]

I had about 15 rejections of my first submission here. I had two other pieces published before it finally got accepted.

My issues were:

1. Attempting to write it just in the Lit story pane (in now use Word on my phone) - schoolgirl error
2. Writing grade school when I meant high school - just a brain freeze, not trying to push any limits, a genuine mistake
3. Inadvertently implying that I had masturbated before my 18th birthday - while true I hadn’t meant to draw attention to it
4. A plot point being that the FMC (aka me) was insecure about her appearance and worried that she looked younger than her years - all true, but I can see why they thought it sketchy
5. Over use of the word young

I really didn’t know how things work round here, but I picked it up. Have only had one rejections one and that was for admittedly appalling spelling. Something I dashed off quickly.

I now have 23 stories here. So don’t give up.

My one piece of advice is to positively engage. Be polite and PM Laurel (who is perfectly nice and reasonable in my experience) if you are struggling.

Em

I think point number 3 is what got me on my story. I hadn’t intended on pushing the limits, just neglected to realize that I had made the mistake.

It can be awkward writing as if characters don’t have their sexual awakening until they turn 18, but I understand why the rule is in place.

 

[SimonDoom]

My one piece of advice is to positively engage. Be polite and PM Laurel (who is perfectly nice and reasonable in my experience) if you are struggling.

Em

I strongly encourage this. I had a story erroneously rejected on grounds of "Bestiality" (Penis Fish). I politely explained that the penis worms were from outer space, not Earth, and that they were imaginary aliens, not terrestrial organisms, and the story got published. Make it easy for Laurel to agree with you.

 

[Zenith77]

"Bestiality" (Penis Fish).

That wasn't a phrase I was expecting to read today.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Oh, for sure. I'm not angry with Laurel. Over-use of the word 'young' might be bad. But I think I've got it sorted. We'll see. I appreciate the feedback here. Thanks.

I wasn’t suggesting you were, hun. But I got a bit frustrated with not being told what the problem was and it was only when I tried being friendly and super polite that it all fell into place.

People other than you might read this.

Sorry if you thought I was having a go at you
.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

I think point number 3 is what got me on my story. I hadn’t intended on pushing the limits, just neglected to realize that I had made the mistake.

It can be awkward writing as if characters don’t have their sexual awakening until they turn 18, but I understand why the rule is in place.

The story was set a bit after my 18th. I said something along the lines of my vibrator having been a comfort “over the years”. I didn’t even think about the implications. I get the rule, but it is weird to think that young adults only start playing with themselves at a certain, pretty arbitrary, date.

I’m not trying to be titillating BTW, just real life doesn’t always line up.

Em

 

[tnhardon]

The story was set a bit after my 18th. I said something along the lines of my vibrator having been a comfort “over the years”. I didn’t even think about the implications. I get the rule, but it is weird to think that young adults only start playing with themselves at a certain, pretty arbitrary, date.

I’m not trying to be titillating BTW, just real life doesn’t always line up.

Em

Same with my story.

Yes, I think we all know that for most of us that exploration begins well before that point, and it can seem disingenuous to try and write as if it doesn’t. They just have to have the rules in place to keep things from getting “icky”. Some people also care about that stuff more than others.

 

[EmilyMiller]

The story was set a bit after my 18th. I said something along the lines of my vibrator having been a comfort “over the years”. I didn’t even think about the implications. I get the rule, but it is weird to think that young adults only start playing with themselves at a certain, pretty arbitrary, date.

I’m not trying to be titillating BTW, just real life doesn’t always line up.

Em

I think I dropped the “over the years” and left the reader to make realistic assumptions.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

Same with my story.

Yes, I think we all know that for most of us that exploration begins well before that point, and it can seem disingenuous to try and write as if it doesn’t. They just have to have the rules in place to keep things from getting “icky”. Some people also care about that stuff more than others.

I realize and don’t even object. It’s just hard if you are relying - to some extent - on your own memory when writing to then apply a filter that is at odds with that memory.

I think we are agreeing with each other.

I’ve just learnt to look out for stuff when proof-reading.

Em

 

[BobbyBrandt]

The story was set a bit after my 18th. I said something along the lines of my vibrator having been a comfort “over the years”. I didn’t even think about the implications. I get the rule, but it is weird to think that young adults only start playing with themselves at a certain, pretty arbitrary, date.

I’m not trying to be titillating BTW, just real life doesn’t always line up.

Em

Take a look at the first few paragraphs of this story to see if it resembles what you describe.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Take a look at the first few paragraphs of this story to see if it resembles what you describe.

Error 404​

This work is not available

 

[Sanzas]

I wasn’t suggesting you were, hun. But I got a bit frustrated with not being told what the problem was and it was only when I tried being friendly and super polite that it all fell into place.

People other than you might read this.

Sorry if you thought I was having a go at you
.

Em

I didn't--it was completely fine. Reading some of the other threads on here, I thought I'd be really clear that I wasn't upset with the rules.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Error 404​

This work is not available

Interesting. It was up at the time that I copied the URL this morning. In fact, it had been up since 2003.

The first several paragraphs centered on the woman recalling her underage masturbation and exhibitionism. Maybe someone finally reported it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Interesting. It was up at the time that I copied the URL this morning. In fact, it had been up since 2003.

The first several paragraphs centered on the woman recalling her underage masturbation and exhibitionism. Maybe someone finally reported it.

Still 404. Maybe you chopped the URL.

Em