I've been rejected!

[JaxRhapsody]

Just put the shit in order.

Or call "chapter 3"; Chapter 2(3).

Either way it's not gonna be posted how you want it.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I once had that problem: I had a story where I didn't have a chapter ready so I just went ahead and posted the next one - but the numbering system remained intact. (Chapter 7 was actually 6 or some such thing.)

I told the readers what I had done. No one complained. But this was a big if - it was on another site and I got away with it. It probably wouldn't fly here. My excuse - to myself anyway - was that I was impatient and the story was kind of episodic anyway.

One exception perhaps: if you have a series and much later you want to add a chapter in the middle - well, don't worry about the numbering. Just give it a new name and tell the readers where it goes. You probably will get away with that. Poor planning, I admit, but these things happen.

 

[KeithD]

It is incomprehensible that anyone would have any problem in comprehension of what I wrote, merely by calling it Chapter 3. The very idea is absurd.

Calling it a "writer game" is condescending, which is your right to do - but it shows the arrogance of your ways. Your argument is based on two dubious claims - your view requires readers to be slow-witted and bamboozled by calling something chapter 3. And second your view requires what I was writing to be just a trivial game - not worth paying attention to.

Pretty weak.

In this case I think your "it's all about me" deserves the condescension. You got your answer from the owner of the site. Tough cookies.

 

[TQM]

Just put the shit in order.

Or call "chapter 3"; Chapter 2(3).

Either way it's not gonna be posted how you want it.

But why?

 

[RejectReality]

Reminds me of an old skit.


Act 1: A man leads his donkey across an arid land.

Donkey: Water, Master. Water.

Man: Patience, jackass. Patience.

Act 2:

Donkey: Water, Master. Water.

Man: Patience, jackass. Patience.

Act 4:

Donkey: Water, Master. Water.

Person in the audience: What happened to act 3?

Donkey and Man: Patience, jackass! Patience!

 

[Blind_Justice]

(sob)

I just wrote a very long story - COVID Conquests Chapter 3 and submitted it a few days ago. It was sent back to me. Why, you ask?

(Thanks for asking, by the way) Because I had previously published here COVID Conquests Chapter 1. Confused yet?

The rejection said I had to submit Chapter 2 first! Now that is actually funny.

For the record there is a time gap between chapter 1 and 3. That time gap represents chapter 2, but I left that unsaid - it was perhaps my literary device - and maybe a bad one at that. But my idea was to pick up the story again and call it chapter 3, leaving the reader to imagine what he/she wanted for chapter 2.

I was actually thinking about writing a chapter 5 too.

Anyway - even if there was a chapter 2, surely it is up to me - the author - to decide the order of which I want to present them? Movies don't always present themselves in a linear timeline. Novels aren't always in a linear timeline.

It's not really a big deal. It just wasn't what I was expecting, I guess. It caught me by surprise. I understand that one should follow the rules of the place, but surely there is room enough to allow one to label the chapters as he/she wishes? No? Surely there is no rule that chapters must be put forward in numerical order?

Amusing. I've resubmitted. With an explanation. I'm all kinds of stubborn here.

Dude, you are not George Lucas.

 

[TQM]

In this case I think your "it's all about me" deserves the condescension. You got your answer from the owner of the site. Tough cookies.

Take a step back for a moment. A story I wrote violated no rules posted here was rejected by a "moderator" because I added to the story name "Chapter 3" When I had not written a story called Chapter 2.

The Moderator said I needed to post Chapter 2 first.

And at this point, I ask why?

One answer is that it is "confusing." This seems a pretty stupid answer. The International Airport in Toronto has a Terminal 1 and a Terminal 3, but no 2. No one gets confused there. No one spends hours trying to figure out where the missing terminal went. But at least it is an answer.

There are a lot more confusing stories published here every week than any confusion there would be with this particular issue. Yet - they get published.

The second answer seems to be - because the owner said so. I don't know the owner, and he/she can do what he/she wants. That's not in question. I'm just asking why? Telling me the owner said so is a non sequitur.

Now - we can go back to your comment. There is nothing I've said of the tone "it's all about me." I've explained why I gave the story a chapter 3 listing. Just like the Toronto Airport there is a reason for why I did it.

And more to the point, it is possible to write a story where you start with the last chapter and work your way backward in time to the first. I'm sure I'm not the first to think about such a narrative. It's the author's goal - so be it.

In short, your condescending tone was inappropriate. It is a device you use when you want to be rude but can't think of anything clever to say. I asked a question. You couldn't think of a reasonable answer. We can leave it at that.

 

[TQM]

Dude, you are not George Lucas.

Back to you Blind. Seriously, I wouldn't want to be George Lucas. Stan Lee I could handle, mind you.

I'm not saying anything I've written is good. I'm saying there is no good reason to reject a piece because of the title including Chapter 3 when there is no chapter 2.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

But why?

Because the rejection notices are automated.

Laurel doesn't have a team of readers, and she doesn't have time to personally read every word of every story. There's some sort of algorithm that scans the stories, and under certain parameters, issues a rejection notice. There are only a few, and they're essentially generic.

I'd not heard of your particular rejection before, but it stands to reason that an automated scanbot noticed the absent chapter number and assumed you had made a mistake.

If you really want to stick to your guns about omitting a second chapter, then either PM Laurel and tell her so, or resubmit your story with a note in the submission file that you are intentionally numbering it as the third chapter. It wouldn't surprise me if your submission was then accepted. But if you do skip chapter 4, then you'lll need to tell her that's on purpose too.

And if your "but why" is less a technical question and more a philosophical one, then you've been given the answer already, you just don't like it. i.e. It's easier on the readers to know that each chapter has the expected correct chronological designation. And Laurel's job is to make things easier on the readers, or at least that's more than half her job.

 

[KeithD]

Take a step back for a moment. A story I wrote violated no rules posted here was rejected by a "moderator" because I added to the story name "Chapter 3" When I had not written a story called Chapter 2.

I only read this far. No "moderator" has anything to do with story selection (or rejection) here. There is one submissions editor, Laurel, who also is a site owner.

Your "discussion" is with her and only her. You can only reach her through the Private Message system (upper right of this page if you have PMs turned on).

This is your issue and I don't have sympathy for either your issue or your thread tantrum.

 

[SisterJezabel]

I honestly don't know why I continued to read this thread, but I have worked out there's no point giving the OP advice as they are just going to argue that I am wrong and they should be allowed to do as they please because, art.

If they were looking for advice there is plenty here already, but as a reader I would ignore chapter 3 and be waiting a long time it would seem for chapter 2. If this was not planned to be a chapter story, or had one of those amazing literacy devices seen in these parts where the story ends 'Tell me what youse think and I'll possibly write another chaptr (sic)' then, meh.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Take a step back for a moment. A story I wrote violated no rules posted here was rejected by a "moderator" because I added to the story name "Chapter 3"

This is as big an injustice as that time I got kicked out of a restaurant for shoving bread rolls up my nose even though they didn't say anywhere that it was against the rules to shove bread rolls up my nose.

One answer is that it is "confusing." This seems a pretty stupid answer. The International Airport in Toronto has a Terminal 1 and a Terminal 3, but no 2. No one gets confused there. No one spends hours trying to figure out where the missing terminal went.

Unless you're in the habit of stroking your dick at the airport, we shouldn't really have to explain that airports and erotic stories are not the same thing. You can stroke your dick while reading Part 3 of a Literotica story, but you can't stroke your dick in Terminal 3 at Toronto Airport.

But Toronto actually did have a Terminal 2, and if you're determined to treat your story like an airport, you can do what Toronto did. Write a Part 2 and post it. Write a Part 3 and post it. Then take Part 2 down.

And more to the point, it is possible to write a story where you start with the last chapter and work your way backward in time to the first. I'm sure I'm not the first to think about such a narrative. It's the author's goal - so be it.

Plenty of authors on Literotica have told stories in non-chronological order. Probably half the people in this thread have done it; I know I have. But that doesn't mean we need to count "one, three", because chapter numbering is about what order the chapters are to be read in, not the order they happened in.

 

[jaF0]

Every time I see one of these threads, I'm reminded of the movie 'Leonard, Part 6'.


" According to the opening sequence of the movie, the title refers to the idea that this film is actually the sixth installment of a series of films featuring the adventures of Leonard, as parts one through five were locked up in the interests of world security. In actuality, there are no known films preceding this one."

 

[MsNatalie99]

Back to you Blind. Seriously, I wouldn't want to be George Lucas. Stan Lee I could handle, mind you.

I'm not saying anything I've written is good. I'm saying there is no good reason to reject a piece because of the title including Chapter 3 when there is no chapter 2.

I understand your frustration. Me personally, I would just sequence them based on how they should be read, and btw, at least Lucas gets published.

 

[MsNatalie99]

Every time I see one of these threads, I'm reminded of the movie 'Leonard, Part 6'.


" According to the opening sequence of the movie, the title refers to the idea that this film is actually the sixth installment of a series of films featuring the adventures of Leonard, as parts one through five were locked up in the interests of world security. In actuality, there are no known films preceding this one."

I effing love that movie. It was my dad's all time favorite movie. For obvious reasons I still wouldn't eat a pudding pop from Bill Cosby, but awesome flick. That and Ghost Dad.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Well, here's an idea the next time you want to play games with readers minds.

Title Ch. 01-02
Title Ch. 03
Title Ch. 04-05
etc.
And it doesn't matter with this if you don't number the chapters in the story, just have breaks without a chapter heading.

Just make them Parts...

Title Pt. 01
Title Pt. 02
etc.

Same here.

 

[TQM]

Because the rejection notices are automated.

Laurel doesn't have a team of readers, and she doesn't have time to personally read every word of every story. There's some sort of algorithm that scans the stories, and under certain parameters, issues a rejection notice. There are only a few, and they're essentially generic.

I'd not heard of your particular rejection before, but it stands to reason that an automated scanbot noticed the absent chapter number and assumed you had made a mistake.

If you really want to stick to your guns about omitting a second chapter, then either PM Laurel and tell her so, or resubmit your story with a note in the submission file that you are intentionally numbering it as the third chapter. It wouldn't surprise me if your submission was then accepted. But if you do skip chapter 4, then you'lll need to tell her that's on purpose too.

And if your "but why" is less a technical question and more a philosophical one, then you've been given the answer already, you just don't like it. i.e. It's easier on the readers to know that each chapter has the expected correct chronological designation. And Laurel's job is to make things easier on the readers, or at least that's more than half her job.

Thank you. That actually makes sense. I don't buy the "reader confusion" explanation. The bot explanation is much better. I had no intention of causing problems for anyone. But my move was very deliberate - I was moving forward in time, leaving some things (basically chapter 2) unsaid.

 

[TQM]

I only read this far. No "moderator" has anything to do with story selection (or rejection) here. There is one submissions editor, Laurel, who also is a site owner.

Your "discussion" is with her and only her. You can only reach her through the Private Message system (upper right of this page if you have PMs turned on).

This is your issue and I don't have sympathy for either your issue or your thread tantrum.

Hi - that may well be true. I'm only stating what the rejection said - namely that a moderator rejected it for the reason I've stated. I'm not making this up.

I have no "beef" with anyone. I disagree with the decision and I'm asking why it was made - there can be many reasons to publish something out of order. All the message said was to publish chapter 2 first. Given there is no chapter 2, I can't comply.

 

[TxRad]

Hi - that may well be true. I'm only stating what the rejection said - namely that a moderator rejected it for the reason I've stated. I'm not making this up.

I have no "beef" with anyone. I disagree with the decision and I'm asking why it was made - there can be many reasons to publish something out of order. All the message said was to publish chapter 2 first. Given there is no chapter 2, I can't comply.

You disagree with the decision and you're asking why it was made.

To make it simple, you are asking the wrong people or in this case, person. You need to be talking to Laurel, the one person who takes care of all the submissions on this site. We can give you information we, the collective we, have found over the years of answering questions about things we have no control over. Only she can do anything about your problem.

 

[TQM]

I honestly don't know why I continued to read this thread, but I have worked out there's no point giving the OP advice as they are just going to argue that I am wrong and they should be allowed to do as they please because, art.

If they were looking for advice there is plenty here already, but as a reader I would ignore chapter 3 and be waiting a long time it would seem for chapter 2. If this was not planned to be a chapter story, or had one of those amazing literacy devices seen in these parts where the story ends 'Tell me what youse think and I'll possibly write another chaptr (sic)' then, meh.

There has not been "plenty" of advice here. There have been 3 attempts at advice:

1) calling it chapter 3 is confusing.
2)the owner can do what she wants.
3) call it chapter 2.

You say, as a reader, you'd wait for chapter 2. That's your right, as a reader. No one is forcing you to read me! I already know I have a small following here. I know they will want to read me. That's nice in itself. I will survive without you reading chapter 3.

I wasn't looking for advice. I was looking for a reasonable explanation for why I should not be able to publish a further chapter in an actual story when there are other real life chapters I don't want to publish. There can be other literary reasons to - to do this.

 

[MsNatalie99]

Thank you. That actually makes sense. I don't buy the "reader confusion" explanation. The bot explanation is much better. I had no intention of causing problems for anyone. But my move was very deliberate - I was moving forward in time, leaving some things (basically chapter 2) unsaid.

Silly question, but why not just set chapter 2 later in time? I can recognize how it may be something of an artistic move, but it seems unnecessary. If I can be can be perfectly candid, I wouldn't read an incomplete work. In progress is one thing, but missing chapters is another. I have 13 of the fourteen primary Wheel of time books by Robert Jordan. I haven't read any of them because I am still missing book 3, The Dragon Reborn. I just feel that in the long run, you may be doing yourself a disservice by skipping your part 2.

 

[TQM]

I understand your frustration. Me personally, I would just sequence them based on how they should be read, and btw, at least Lucas gets published.

Lucas - very successful guy. No one is debating it. I'm not a Star Wars fan. The technological stuff was great I guess. But Scorcese over Lucas any day. Just my taste in film. I don't like country music either.

I did sequence them based on how they should be read. And I attempted to publish them based on how they should be read. And I deliberately left out chapters of the timeline simply because what I'm writing about is when things get relevant.

 

[missyunderstanding]

Star Wars had it all wrong

The episodes of Star Wars were published in a nonconventional way and therefore the entire movie series and all the spin offs and toys and books are immoral and it should all be banned. Star Wars books should be burned in a public bonfire. Baby Yoda should be deleted from all digital images and the government should set up re-education clinics to help Star Wars fans recover. It is very important that we all think alike and agree about numerical conventions. These, like all conventions, need to be worshipped and serve as the very core of what it truly means to be human.

I have said for years that Donald Trump is behind this mindless effort to block group-think-conformity.

 

[TQM]

Silly question, but why not just set chapter 2 later in time? I can recognize how it may be something of an artistic move, but it seems unnecessary. If I can be can be perfectly candid, I wouldn't read an incomplete work. In progress is one thing, but missing chapters is another. I have 13 of the fourteen primary Wheel of time books by Robert Jordan. I haven't read any of them because I am still missing book 3, The Dragon Reborn. I just feel that in the long run, you may be doing yourself a disservice by skipping your part 2.

I support you in your choice to not read it! Each of my stories can stand on its own. You can read chapter 3 without having read 1.

It's like photos taken months apart. There are no photos of what happened in between. That was the idea (maybe it is a shitty idea) - but it was still the intent and my idea.

No story, by the way, is ever complete, until the author says so. And even then, sometimes, the author changes his/her mind.

 

[MsNatalie99]

There has not been "plenty" of advice here. There have been 3 attempts at advice:

1) calling it chapter 3 is confusing.
2)the owner can do what she wants.
3) call it chapter 2.

You say, as a reader, you'd wait for chapter 2. That's your right, as a reader. No one is forcing you to read me! I already know I have a small following here. I know they will want to read me. That's nice in itself. I will survive without you reading chapter 3.

I wasn't looking for advice. I was looking for a reasonable explanation for why I should not be able to publish a further chapter in an actual story when there are other real life chapters I don't want to publish. There can be other literary reasons to - to do this.

No need to be feisty. You may not have come here for advice, but that's what we do here. You can't get mad at us for doing our function when you're the one that stepped into the wrong room. If you go to the pound asking why your dog was taken away, you can't get mad when you hear barking, it's the pound. If you wanted an explanation about the legality of your dog being removed, you should have gone to the courthouse. There is nothing wrong with going to the incorrect place to ask a question, after all, you didn't know. But you can't very well get mad at us for offering you the answers that we have.