Is it ok to write about the childhood of a character?

[sporkfina]

There wont be any sex or anything related to sex of course, but can we write something about a character that describes her childhood?

 

[LexxRuthless]

You've got to be careful, though. It isn't just sex. Underage characters also cannot view nudity, have sexual thoughts, masturbate or admit to being aroused. Also, the mention of an underage character shouldn't appear too close in the story to where a graphic sexual act occurs. If Laurel sees something like "my thirteen-year-old sister" and then two paragraphs later sees "It felt incredible when I slid my cock into her" you're likely to face a rejection.

The site is staunchly opposed to even the appearance of kiddie porn, and I completely support that decision. However, it does make it difficult for us to write believable "coming of age" stories or to have detailed character backstories sometimes.

Good luck!

 

[EmpressV]

Sure, with the caveats already given by LexxRuthless and RubenR. Backstory enriches and deepens your characters. That's a good thing.

 

[SimonDoom]

Lexx said it well. The "no underage sex" rule at this site interprets "sex" broadly: no actual sex, no fantasizing, no spying on sister nude in the shower, no masturbation, etc.

Think of it from the Site owners' point of view. They're trying to avoid problems by making a bright-line rule that saves them the trouble of making a lot of tricky distinctions. It may seem odd at first but it makes sense on its own terms.

 

[ElectricBlue]

There wont be any sex or anything related to sex of course, but can we write about a character describes her childhood?

Yes, you can. I have a prologue in a novelisation of an ancient myth which features a fifteen year old girl. The nearest sexual content is five years further on, in the next chapter, where it clearly establishes she is older. I have several stories and chapters where babies are born and there are young children - but never within five-hundred words of adult sex scenes.

 

[Bramblethorn]

What everybody above said, but also, I would recommend using the Notes field to say something like "this story begins when Jo is a child, but nothing sexual happens until adulthood". This reduces the risk that your story will accidentally get rejected because Laurel misses something while skimming.

My current WIP begins with one of the characters tutoring her future lover as an adolescent, and I had no problems with moderation.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

Recently there was a thread by an author whose story kept getting rejected for underage content. I read the story for him and there was nothing underage.

The story had two references to when the MC was 8 and one to when he was in kindergarten. These references happened nowhere near any sex acts.

The only sex act occured at the climax (pun intended) of the story well after the reveries.

So when you do post this story, make sure to include a note to mod that there is no underage sex in the story.

 

[LexxRuthless]

I just had another story rejected for "underage sex," where there was no underage sex. To be fair, I half expected that result, and I'm not upset about it. What I would like to do is post the first bit of that story, because I think it is a good example of where the line is drawn:

I think most guys have had this same nightmare. You’re in school, and get called up to the front of the classroom to work a problem on the board. Then you get a hard-on and everyone can see it. The entire class erupts in laughter, and people are pointing and laughing, just making the embarrassment worse. The teacher gives you a dirty look, like you were doing it on purpose to disrupt class. Then you’re being sent to the principal’s office. As if things couldn’t be any worse, they’re calling your mother in because you’ve been “disrupting class again.”

That nightmare was my life back in sixth grade.

Puberty hit me hard that year, and I would get these random erections all the time. It wasn’t like I was turned on—if anything, I was horrified by the way my body was suddenly betraying me. I have to wonder in retrospect why Ms. Harrison kept calling me up to the board in her class. To the best of my recollection now, I don’t think she called everybody up in front of the class. It really seemed that she was upset with me when I would pop a boner and the class would descend into chaos, but she called me up to the board almost every week.

I didn’t get a hard-on every time, but I think I wound up in the principal’s office twelve or thirteen times. My parents were just as embarrassed as I was, I think. They had no clue what to say to me after the third or fourth time it happened. By then they knew I wasn’t doing it on purpose and that I was just as upset as they were that it kept happening. It got so bad at my school that I earned the nickname “Boner Boy.” I never answered to it, but I heard people say it and knew they were referring to me.

* * *

I want to be perfectly clear about this: I don't question the story getting rejected. In fact, I appreciated the prompt, clear response. This was a new rejection notice as well.

"Hi! We don't post stories that involve characters under the age of 18 in sexual situations, even if these are underage remembrances of physical development and other people's reactions to it."

So there you go. Knowing where the line is drawn is helpful. I have no plans to re-write that story so that it will meet the site guidelines. Without that character background, the rest of the events simply don't make sense. HOWEVER, I figured that might be the case when I first started writing it, so that rejection is on me, not the site. I will toss this story into my "rejected" subfolder, where it will be the fifth or sixth such story. None of those stories are "wasted" though. I have taken some of the scenes and ideas and incorporated them into other stories that have made their way onto the site.

When I submitted it, I did put a note to the moderator. "You might want to take a close look at the first few paragraphs of this story. There is no underage sex, nor any of the other forbidden acts. I would not include these details in the story, but they are important for establishing the character's background."

I hope this is helpful.

 

[sporkfina]

Thanks for all the replies. My story will not be based on any kind of sexual awakening of any sort. I want to create a backstory for that character, just to depict their motivations for certain acts. I hope it will be ok, fingers crossed!

 

[ElectricBlue]

IWhen I submitted it, I did put a note to the moderator. "You might want to take a close look at the first few paragraphs of this story. There is no underage sex, nor any of the other forbidden acts. I would not include these details in the story, but they are important for establishing the character's background."

Your example illustrates how tightly the line is drawn. Your description, however mild it may seem, is sexualising the content, the youthful experience. You might not see it that way, but the site obviously did, and does.

By posting the rejected content here you're just going to get the content removed, because if it's a breach for the site editor in a story, it's a breach for the site editor here. All you're doing by drawing attention to it is drawing attention to yourself - if you weren't on Laurel's radar before, you will be now. It's not hard to stay within the lines, not really. I'd edit your post, if I were you.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Yes.

I did a First Time story, Film Noir, which included this thought during a serious make-out session:

OK, I was still a virgin. I was only 19 years old, but I'd given myself my first orgasm at 12. I knew - well, thought I knew - how good it could be to have my breasts played with in the right way.

No problems.

 

[KeithD]

Yes.

I did a First Time story, Film Noir, which included this thought during a serious make-out session:



No problems.

I'll have to say, I'm surprised that passed. Hope someone doesn't report it now.

 

[SisterJezabel]

In one of my stories it was important that the character's mother had her when she was 16. I included a note to Laurel that explained how important this was and there was never any mention of sex or conception and it got through. I'm writing a story at the moment where the character found herself a sole parent at 17 and the story is about how that impacted her life. When the character talks about her sexual inexperience and how ordinary it was, I make sure I describe it in very vague terms, it helps that the character is shy to begin with 'See, when we, well, you know, it was just, well, like, it wasn't anything to write home about and I really could take it or leave it despite what my hormones were telling me.'

Things have obviously become more structured around the rule in recent times- I was clicking through random stories last night and came across one where the 13yo daughter of one of the characters was kicked out of the other parent's house because she was caught in bed with her boyfriend. The 13yo tries to argue nothing happened, and passed it off as 'fooling around.' I don't think that would pass muster today.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

In one of my stories it was important that the character's mother had her when she was 16. I included a note to Laurel that explained how important this was and there was never any mention of sex or conception and it got through. I'm writing a story at the moment where the character found herself a sole parent at 17 and the story is about how that impacted her life. When the character talks about her sexual inexperience and how ordinary it was, I make sure I describe it in very vague terms, it helps that the character is shy to begin with 'See, when we, well, you know, it was just, well, like, it wasn't anything to write home about and I really could take it or leave it despite what my hormones were telling me.'

Things have obviously become more structured around the rule in recent times- I was clicking through random stories last night and came across one where the 13yo daughter of one of the characters was kicked out of the other parent's house because she was caught in bed with her boyfriend. The 13yo tries to argue nothing happened, and passed it off as 'fooling around.' I don't think that would pass muster today.

I recently wanted to read some stories from the early days of Lit so I started with member number 1 and went through to 500.

I found several Brady Bunch stories with Jan and Peter having sex, and one full house where Michelle was grown and having sex. Those definitelly wouldn't pass today. They were posted in 2000.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

Yes.

I did a First Time story, Film Noir, which included this thought during a serious make-out session:



No problems.

I have a story with a middle school girl getting a putple nurple and having her first O. I thought that would pass but not anymore. Guess I can back burner that one for now.


I was going to update my Agatha series and add more back story so that it explained whey she was so shy and dead set against doing anything but missionary. Guess being bullied after being caught masturbating at summer camp is now a no fly zone too.

Cest la vie

 

[thatsbogus]

I don’t blame the site owners for being cautious to the extreme, but it does limit creativity to some extent. I had an idea for the “music” story contest that involved reminiscing about slow dancing for the first time in the early teens, and then those characters coming back together as adults, but I’m not spending the time writing it to have it rejected. It wouldn’t work without the reminiscing - your first slow dance at 13 is a huge event, two 18-year-olds wouldn’t have the same reaction.

Not upset, I get it. It just kind of sucks sometimes.

 

[KeithD]

Yep, it's limiting. There are other sites that aren't that limiting, though. You don't have to post at just one site.

 

[NotWise]

I don’t blame the site owners for being cautious to the extreme, but it does limit creativity to some extent. I had an idea for the “music” story contest that involved reminiscing about slow dancing for the first time in the early teens, and then those characters coming back together as adults, but I’m not spending the time writing it to have it rejected. It wouldn’t work without the reminiscing - your first slow dance at 13 is a huge event, two 18-year-olds wouldn’t have the same reaction.

You could write that scene. You just couldn't make it erotic. Neither dancer could get aroused.

I mostly remember that my first slow dance was awkward.

 

[thatsbogus]

You could write that scene. You just couldn't make it erotic. Neither dancer could get aroused.

I mostly remember that my first slow dance was awkward.

Slow dancing that young is awkward but it's also the first steps of sexual awakening, and to fit the music theme of the contest you'd have to show that the characters liked each other then. I can definitely remember slow dancing at 13-14 and concealing an unwanted erection, or being enchanted by a partner's boobs pressing into me for the first time.

I'd just be too worried about spending hours writing something not knowing if it was going to be publishable. It's just easier to stick to writing about adults.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

Slow dancing that young is awkward but it's also the first steps of sexual awakening, and to fit the music theme of the contest you'd have to show that the characters liked each other then. I can definitely remember slow dancing at 13-14 and concealing an unwanted erection, or being enchanted by a partner's boobs pressing into me for the first time.

I'd just be too worried about spending hours writing something not knowing if it was going to be publishable. It's just easier to stick to writing about adults.

I think you can do it without violating lit's rules.

I put my hand on her back, my finger tips passed the edge of the bodice and I felt the warmth of her naked back....

Whne our fingers intertwined I had to close my eyes and swallowed hard, I was so nervous...

Her perfume lavender, vanilla, I wasn't sure but the sweet enticing scent wafted into my nose....

Her body pressed into mine, as the song ended. Her head moved toward me and I gulped thinking she wanted to kiss. "Tahnk you for the dance," she murmured in my ear before she brushed her lips against my cheek then scurried back to the safety of her friends.

The frist steps we took were as awkward and unsteady as a toddlers first steps, but as the song went on we continued to move awakwardly to the beat. My eyes were locked on hers, my heart fluttered in my chest, I had goosebumps all over. I could see her breathing was rapjd and her eyes wide as we danced. I had several pleasant but unfamiliar sensations throughout my body, the entire experience was heady and embaressing and wonderful. Something I'd never forget.


Feel free to use any or all of that. I have no use for it.

 

[NotWise]

I'd just be too worried about spending hours writing something not knowing if it was going to be publishable. It's just easier to stick to writing about adults.

You complained earlier that the under eighteen rule limits creativity. I look at it differently. I think it challenges your creativity. You need to find a way to write the scene so that the essential elements come through without crossing the line.

I don't know what exactly you need to get out of that scene, but unless you really can't think around the arousal, there are ways to get it done. In my most recent story, I needed to make it clear that the two main characters had a long-standing sexual relationship. I didn't really need to say how old they were when it started, and I didn't even have to say they had sex. That was easily implied.

 

[thatsbogus]

I think you can do it without violating lit's rules.

I put my hand on her back, my finger tips passed the edge of the bodice and I felt the warmth of her naked back....

Whne our fingers intertwined I had to close my eyes and swallowed hard, I was so nervous...

Her perfume lavender, vanilla, I wasn't sure but the sweet enticing scent wafted into my nose....

The frist steps we took were as awkward and unsteady as a toddlers first steps, but as the song went on we continued to move awakwardly to the beat. My eyes were locked on hers, my heart fluttered in my chest, I had goosebumps all over. I could see her breathing was rapjd and her eyes wide as we danced. I had several pleasant but unfamiliar sensations throughout my body, the entire experience was heady and embaressing and wonderful. Something I'd never forget.


Feel free to use any or all of that. I have no use for it.

Perhaps I've been misunderstanding the rules, but I would have believed that the above wouldn't be published.

 

[Abbafan]

Yes.

I did a First Time story, Film Noir, which included this thought during a serious make-out session:



No problems.

I agree. Seems like you can still reference events that happened pre - 18 as long as you don't get descriptive at all. "I first made out with him three years ago," from an 18 year old character, that kind of thing. Only mentioning something that happened shortly before legal adulthood won't get your story rejected.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

Perhaps I've been misunderstanding the rules, but I would have believed that the above wouldn't be published.

My understanding is blantant references to unwanted erections and the like are verboten. Awakward teens dancing without blantant references to no fly zones should be okay.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Perhaps I've been misunderstanding the rules, but I would have believed that the above wouldn't be published.

I agree. I think that example pushes the line, and I'd expect push back if it was submitted. It's gone beyond a simple statement and is going towards a detailed description of a sexualized incident. If their ages are already established as teens, I don't think that would fly.