Limitations on the nonconsent/reluctance category

[_Allure_]

Hey y'all. Not sure if this is the right section to put this in, but figured I'd ask. If it'd be better suited for the Editor's Forum or somewhere else, please do let me know.

I'm currently writing a few stories I plan to put on Lit. One of them would be firmly in the nonconsent category and revolves around a stalker who finally kidnaps the object of his obsessive desires. By the end of the story the woman who was taken ends up becoming equally enthralled with her kidnapper and very willing to do whatever he asks. However, my original plan was a pretty intense and nonconsensual opening scene.

I've read over the criteria and limitations to this category, and I'm trying to figure out how far is "too far". I definitely don't want to write the whole thing only for it to get rejected, and I want to make sure I'm following guidelines all the way through. I'm just having some difficulty determining where the line is between "this is rape and not allowed" and "it's okay because she ends up liking it". Mostly because in the first scene of the story, I didn't intend for the character to be happy with the situation at all.

Any clarity on this would be really helpful. Thank you in advance!

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Rule #1 is ‘It’s OK if Laurel says it’s OK’. In other words, there’s a certain amount of fuzziness in the rules. And that cuts both ways, with writer’s sometimes complaining of stories being rejected when they shouldn’t have been. But it’s her site.

Based on what you have said, it sounds like it should go through, but Rule #1 always applies. In any case, rejection is not final. You can make some changes and resubmit.

Welcome to our world, BTW. Let us know when it’s posted.

 

[SimonDoom]

This is an excellent question. I don't know the answer. The site's guidelines regarding this particular story category have always puzzled me.

It sounds like your story satisfies the category criteria by the end of it. You'd probably be better off submitting it as a single long story than in chapters, because the first chapter may not satisfy the criteria.

 

[johncbb]

This is an interesting question because, from a reader's point of view, there definitely seems to be a trend within the noncon section of the stories being less, well, noncon. I assumed this was because of the writer's personal interests changing, but now wondering if Laurel's acceptance criteria has changed...

 

[KeithD]

Is this going to be in one entry, with the "enjoyed it in the end" coming in the same take as the "nonconsent" scene(s)? If so, maybe Laurel will pass it, depending on where she comes down on the nonconsent scenes going too far (which is subjective--Laurel's subjective). If you have heavy, violent nonconsent in one chapter and "enjoyed it in the end" isn't coming up until a later chapter, the earlier chapter may not make it through.

 

[_Allure_]

Thank you, everyone. It looks like y'all are at the same conclusion that I came to. After reading the responses, I've decided to just finish writing it as I intended. We'll see what happens.

Thank you! I'll give an update on how it went once I've submitted it.

 

[Hypoxia]

Thank you, everyone. It looks like y'all are at the same conclusion that I came to. After reading the responses, I've decided to just finish writing it as I intended. We'll see what happens.

Thank you! I'll give an update on how it went once I've submitted it.

Good. My suggestion would have been to write and submit it and see if Laurel approves. If rejected, rewrite and try again. Some of mine needed 3+ rewrites and resubmits. I found that Laurel doesn't consider mayhem, committed or only suggested, to be sexy. Also any creature that appears as an underage human, even if an immortal spirit or ancient alien, is disallowed.

LIT's limits can be brushed and not broken. Be circumspect -- and flexible and persistent. All my submissions eventually made it.