I'm getting close to the end of my rope with this site!

[Reefkeeper]

Yesterday was the third time I've had a story rejected for no good fucking reason. I've reread it twice and nowhere does it state or even allude to the protagonist's being under 18. In fact it doesn't talk about her age at all, which could be a problem if she was in middle school, but she's in college for Christsake!

Once before they did to the same sort of thing to a story in which it's clearly stated that the girl's over 18 but in the body of the story she mentioned having flashed her friend's father when she was 15. That was the only reason I can figure for its rejection. It's a stupid reason in my opinion but it's their playground.

It's frustrating enough that they never tell you the reason for the rejection but for them to allude that it was because of an underage situation when it so clearly isn't! Am I being unreasonable or is this all as cosmically stupid as I think?

 

[oggbashan]

I'm sorry that you are irritated by our rejection but one of the major rules of this site is that nothing sexual happens before an 18th birthday.

Breaching that rule, even by implication, will get a story rejected.

It is the owner's decision and their rule that no sex happens before age 18.

It is a sensible precaution that protects this site from the people who would want to close down all erotica sites, particularly those based in the US.

There are other places that will accept under-18 sexual activity, but not here, please.

On a character's 18th birthday they can emerge as a sexual athlete but not a day beforehand.

I hope that you can accept the rule and edit your story to fit the restriction.

Og

PS. Most Lit authors have had a story rejected that we thought was OK. In my case it hasn't been for sex under 18 although I came close in a first draft that I had to recast substantially. in the UK, where I live, the age of consent is 16 and people can get married at that age, but when I post on Literotica I accept their age limit.

 

[Reefkeeper]

I'm sorry that you are irritated by our rejection but one of the major rules of this site is that nothing sexual happens before an 18th birthday.

Breaching that rule, even by implication, will get a story rejected.

It is the owner's decision and their rule that no sex happens before age 18.

As I said in my posting, it's their playground and I'll play by their rules but this is a college age girl where no mention (or even allusion) that she might be under 18 is made.

 

[jomar]

So the rejection message made it seem it was because of underage sex?

 

[Vermilion]

As I said in my posting, it's their playground and I'll play by their rules but this is a college age girl where no mention (or even allusion) that she might be under 18 is made.

Best way to remedy this is to stick a disclaimer at the top stating that all characters are of legal age of consent or above.

x
V

 

[Mac98]

Could the "approvers" (It's a word!) of submitted stories at least give us a very brief reason as to why our story was refused or denied? It would help a whole lot and would probably avoid misunderstandings like this...

 

[Yourneighbor]

It sounds like you found the reason for the story rejection here:

Once before they did to the same sort of thing to a story in which it's clearly stated that the girl's over 18 but in the body of the story she mentioned having flashed her friend's father when she was 15.

I can't speak for the editors, but if I were to guess, I'd guess this would be the reason for the "underage" rejection (if indeed, as you seem to allude, the story was nixed due to the underage thing).

 

[Reefkeeper]

It sounds like you found the reason for the story rejection here:



I can't speak for the editors, but if I were to guess, I'd guess this would be the reason for the "underage" rejection (if indeed, as you seem to allude, the story was nixed due to the underage thing).

that was the previous rejection of a different story, not this one! But I like the idea of a disclaimer. Fitst I'll try to slip in a line of dialogue, if I don't like that I'll add the disclaimer.

Thank you all.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I have to invent euphemisms to pass the gate-keepers.

A century ago writers couldnt directly speak of sex, so the lead female character usually announced she was pregnant or her father and brother made a visit to the lead male character, poked his ribs with the barrel of a shotgun, and infiormed him he was guest of honor at an impromptu wedding.

 

[Yourneighbor]

that was the previous rejection of a different story, not this one!

Ack! Sorry I didn't read your OP closely enough. My apologies.

 

[Reefkeeper]

Well I added a 5 word clause to the 9th paragraph. I hope this does it!

Lisa sat up like a shot. "Mother I hereby retract every bad thing I've said about you for the last three weeks. When I had to give up on going to Cozumel with all my friends just so I could do the family thing <addition>to celebrate my 18th birthday</addition> at the cabin I really wanted to trade you in for another mother but to summer in the most beautiful city on Lake Como? Trust me, all is forgiven!"

 

[TheeGoatPig]

One of my first stories was rejected for age. I thought it quite funny as I was picturing all of them to be in their early twenties when I wrote it. I think it was the term "older boys" that did it. "Boys" was being used for their maturity level, not denoting a young age (it was mentioned that they had graduated school before the girls that was out of high school, it was silly). Of course I had to resubmit it another time anyway, as I had forgotten to finish the ending (I hadn't written a few paragraphs that I thought I had...), but that is besides the point. A few edited sentences and it was all good. Frustrating, but good

 

[3113]

You insist that it's been rejected on age basis, but are you absolutely sure? Send a PM to Laurel and ask why. There are other reasons for having a story rejected, though not many. For example, bestiality, really bad grammar/spelling, a brutal rape scene, etc. So maybe it's not what you assume.

Also, mistakes happen. You may not need to put in that additional sentence at all. Send a PM and find out. Sometimes a single word has gotten the flag and it's been taken out of context. Finding this out will get the story right back into the queue.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Crimonie! Youre in good company with your rejection. ROMEO & JULIET and LOLITA and SUMMER OF 42 and BLUE LAGOON would be squished, too.

 

[sr71plt]

They do give an explanation of why a story is rejected, albeit not a specific or always very clear one--usually in the form of a question.

Rather than spinning wheels on this thread, why don't you quote what the rejection notice actually said, and we could work from there on what the issue really is.

I had one story initially rejected with a question and I simply refiled the story as is with a note in the comment section that the answer to the question they asked in rejecting it was "No," which they could see as "no" if they actually read the story. It was posted as originally submitted.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Yesterday was the third time I've had a story rejected for no good fucking reason. I've reread it twice and nowhere does it state or even allude to the protagonist's being under 18. In fact it doesn't talk about her age at all, which could be a problem if she was in middle school, but she's in college for Christsake!

Once before they did to the same sort of thing to a story in which it's clearly stated that the girl's over 18 but in the body of the story she mentioned having flashed her friend's father when she was 15. That was the only reason I can figure for its rejection. It's a stupid reason in my opinion but it's their playground.

It's frustrating enough that they never tell you the reason for the rejection but for them to allude that it was because of an underage situation when it so clearly isn't! Am I being unreasonable or is this all as cosmically stupid as I think?

Just put an "Author's Note" at the top of your story.

Author's Note: All sexually active characters in this story are 18+

Simple! Laurel will see it, and it covers Lit's legal a$$ and saves you the headache of another rejection.

 

[sr71plt]

Well, that don't cover Laurel's ass if such references are actually in the story, Selena. I understand that Laurel doesn't understand this, but I was hoping you did. Any trouble (which is a remote possibility, of course) will be based on it being there, notwithstanding any declarations that it isn't there. And it will be trouble for the writer and publisher alike.

 

[Vermilion]

Well, that don't cover Laurel's ass if such references are actually in the story, Selena. I understand that Laurel doesn't understand this, but I was hoping you did. Any trouble (which is a remote possibility, of course) will be based on it being there, notwithstanding any declarations that it isn't there. And it will be trouble for the writer and publisher alike.

As the OP said, however, there are no actual underage characters in the story. Not much point in a disclaimer otherwise, is there? It is based on this premise that I, and probably Selena, offered the advice of a disclaimer. If the OP *did* have underage sex in their story then he probably wouldn't be so frustrated by the rejection.

 

[sr71plt]

I responded to the OP up the line.

I see no need for a disclaimer on the top anyway. If it's not in there (and we are just assuming that, aren't we?), then all it needs is to point that out in the notes box on a refile. If it's not in there, it doesn't require anything. And I think all disclaimers slapped on stories are lame and a bad starting to a read.

The legal issue Selena brought up is a separate issue. If the material is in there and there's legal problem with such material being in there, the disclaimer is useless false fig leaf for all involved, including the publisher.

 

[DeeZire]

In the absence of a specific reason for the rejection, you might resubmit with some specifics of your own, for example: "The character's age is mentioned in paragraph three." My understanding is that they have bots doing the reading. Bots are easily confused, so if you point out the parts that may be suspect and explain them, that should clear up any problem they have with the story.

 

[3113]

My understanding is that they have bots doing the reading. Bots are easily confused

My point exactly, and this relates to TheeGoat's example. Rather than putting up a disclaimer, simply find out what word or whatever confused the bots and get it cleared up. If all the characters are 18, then there's no problem. The only problem is that some word or other flagged the story and that needs to be cleared up with a live person.

 

[wife2hotblk]

If it puts it into perspective for you, I had a How To article on talking to your children about sex that was rejected here, most likely because it discussed how to handle it if you discovered them masturbating. Clearly, I suppose that violates this rule. BUT I posted it to a mainstream article site under Parenting...and it is one of my most popular articles out of over a hundred. Rules are rules, but good writing is good writing. Look for another venue for this work.

 

[CharleyH]

Breaching that rule (that nothing sexual happens before an 18th birthday), even by implication, will get a story rejected.

Actually, this is not exactly true, Ogg. It seriously depends on the story. I had one whole scene devoted to underage players in one prologue chapter I posted on Lit once upon a time. In the notes portion (when I posted the story) I asked Laurel to pay special attention to this particular chapter and also to note that the remaining chapters were riddled with childhood flashbacks. But, this is another story ...

I am not sure, Reefkeeper, how Laural and Manu weed out potential infractions of the terms and agreements of Lit. Maybe they've devised a computerized system, or maybe Laurel goes through the daunting process herself (and it is exceptionally daunting). As a freelancer, I have many different jobs and one is for a company like Lit. For that company, I scan stories to ensure that there is nothing illegal about them. I am given a list of keywords ... words that throw flags up, and when there are flags, I need to read the story more carefully. You would not believe the lengths some go to in order to get their bestiality and paedophile stories published. It's astonishing and disturbing.

In any case, I am not saying that your story is like this. I can only offer my services. I am not sure how long your story is, but if it is under 10,000 words, then I would be happy to scan it and give you comments on why your story has been rejected and try to give you suggestions so that you can get it published.

 

[CharleyH]

I have to invent euphemisms to pass the gate-keepers.

A century ago writers couldnt directly speak of sex, so the lead female character usually announced she was pregnant or her father and brother made a visit to the lead male character, poked his ribs with the barrel of a shotgun, and infiormed him he was guest of honor at an impromptu wedding.

Interesting and so true. Raises a lot of questions about censorship and more. Intriguing.

 

[sr71plt]

Spinning a lot of wheels here. The OP hasn't posted the text of the rejection yet, as suggested. It's all speculation with nowhere to start.