Rejecting for... spelling?

[Cyberweasel89]

I submitted a story and it was sent back with the only reason given being "did you check the spelling?"

But I did. As far as I can tell, there's nothing misspelled... And I've seen stories submitted that had FAR worse spelling, grammar, syntax, or wording that were approved for this site.

So how am I supposed to correct the spelling when they won't tell me what was misspelled and have approved stories that are nearly illegible before? What's going on here?

 

[AlinaX]

Can't really comment without seeing the text.
It's unusual to see that as a reason, though.

 

[drobert44]

I submitted a story and it was sent back with the only reason given being "did you check the spelling?"

But I did. As far as I can tell, there's nothing misspelled... And I've seen stories submitted that had FAR worse spelling, grammar, syntax, or wording that were approved for this site.

So how am I supposed to correct the spelling when they won't tell me what was misspelled and have approved stories that are nearly illegible before? What's going on here?

You can't.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I would run it through a spell-check programme of some sort, even if only putting it into MS Word and doing a spell-check with that. If you don't use Word, go to the submissions page, enter the story into the Story Text box. That has its own spell-check feature.

If there are no errors identified, I'd resubmit and include a note in the Note to Admin box saying you've checked (and how) and can't see any spelling errors. That note will ensure human eyes look at it, vice an automated computer programme.

Good luck.

 

[RowanWrites]

I would particularly check the spelling on any descriptions of age

Anywhere "eighteen" was misspelled as "sixteen" might not be caught by the spellchecker...

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I would particularly check the spelling on any descriptions of age

Anywhere "eighteen" was misspelled as "sixteen" might not be caught by the spellchecker...

Possibly, but I suspect that sixteen, whether in letters or numerals, would get an ‘underage’ rejection, not a spelling one.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Can't really comment without seeing the text.
It's unusual to see that as a reason, though.

I've never seen that on this site but I've seen it on another one. They actually proofread everything submitted (which really delays things), and at one point they told me that they wouldn't accept my story again until I got Grammarly and used it. So I did, and they haven't bothered me since then.

 

[KeithD]

Can't really comment without seeing the text.
It's unusual to see that as a reason, though.

This. Need to see the exact wording of the rejection and at least a three-paragraph sample of the content to be clear on the actual issue.

 

[Cyberweasel89]

You can't.

I can't what?

Can't really comment without seeing the text.
It's unusual to see that as a reason, though.

This. Need to see the exact wording of the rejection and at least a three-paragraph sample of the content to be clear on the actual issue.

Hang on... I went to go copy-paste the first three paragraphs and saw the moderators added some suggestions that weren't there before. That's strange... It's almost like they sent it back saying to check for spelling and then realized later they forgot to actually specify, so went back and edited their rejection message.

Still, rejecting it for only a scant few typos (like, not even double-digit number of typos) is just bizarre when I've seen stories accepted that were nearly illegible... :/

 

[drobert44]

I don't see how you can argue with them. As for Spellcheck, it is a curse!

 

[Cyberweasel89]

I don't see how you can argue with them. As for Spellcheck, it is a curse!

Oh, I didn't wanna argue! Sorry that I gave the impression. I just wanted to ask why, is all. I like to know the reasons that people do things, since that helps me understand them. I believe in empathy, compassion, and understanding. If I know the reason someone did something, it helps me understand them, then correct myself to become a better person. It's all about improving myself, not excusing myself.

 

[Agiel]

I submitted a story and it was sent back with the only reason given being "did you check the spelling?"

But I did. As far as I can tell, there's nothing misspelled... And I've seen stories submitted that had FAR worse spelling, grammar, syntax, or wording that were approved for this site.

So how am I supposed to correct the spelling when they won't tell me what was misspelled and have approved stories that are nearly illegible before? What's going on here?

I’ve just read eight stories by a writer who began submitting a few months ago. The stories are basically well written and enjoyable for the category for which they were submitted. But the spelling and grammar is pretty bad.

It is difficult to understand why some stories get through with a multitude of all types of errors and others get rejected. But, as already been said, if you could post an actual copy of the rejection notice a more accurate opinion could be given.

 

[KeithD]

Oh, I didn't wanna argue! Sorry that I gave the impression. I just wanted to ask why, is all. I like to know the reasons that people do things, since that helps me understand them. I believe in empathy, compassion, and understanding. If I know the reason someone did something, it helps me understand them, then correct myself to become a better person. It's all about improving myself, not excusing myself.

We're pursuing this for basically two reasons. First, nine times out of ten the issue hasn't been correctly explained and the problem legitimately was there. But beyond that, your case is unusual and may portend a new line of rejection issues on the site that everyone would be interested in knowing. The site is not very communicative (to be as generous in wording about that as I can), so any strange circumstance is worth pursuing. What you've added in the rejection language having been changed is all new to the rest of us too.

 

[jsmiam]

There’s a human element plus automated screenings in effect.

It’s easy to criticize what I’m about to say, except I’d probably do the same exact thing. The first ever story posted by a new author gets looked at (by the human) more than an established author submitting their 10th story.

Don’t dwell on other stories with mistakes. They slip through all the time, but that doesn’t mean the site doesn’t still try to catch what they can.

And saying “not even double digit errors” implies there are at least several. Run through spellcheck. Fix spelling errors. Resubmit.

Plus, if one of the errors was something along the line of their/they’re/there errors dozens of times, then that’s worthy of even more attention. “Word online” is free. Open office is free. Grammarly has a feee version (and can be used entirely by pasting into their website, app not necessary. )

 

[KeithD]

Run through spellcheck. Fix spelling errors. Resubmit.

Or don't resubmit, please. Messing around with what was originally submitted and trying to make it perfect (both impossible and totally unnecessary at Literotica) just slows down the process for the rest of us. Just learn by what has happened and move on the next, please. This isn't the New Yorker and there are no royalties at stake--and readers aren't going to return to it in the hopes of getting a better version. The author's wad was essentially spent on the first go--getting it in the best possible condition for a one-time-only posting should be the author's goal, I suggest.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I don't see how you can argue with them. As for Spellcheck, it is a curse!

Do you mean MS Word spellcheck? That's not going to be enough if that is all you do. Do you want me to repeat what I said earlier this week in another thread? For an amateur submission on a site like Lit, this should be adequate. If you are reasonably literate and don't rush things, do this:

1. Write the story. Sometimes I run the MS Word spell/grammar checker while still halfway through anyway.
2. When the story is done, run MS Word through the whole thing. It helps at times.
3. Copy the file into Grammarly - the free version will do. (Great thing is that you don't have to keep saving it all the time.) Grammarly will sometimes offer suggestions that are weird or just plain wrong - thus you have to make judgment calls at times. Still worth doing anyway.
4. Copy the file out of Grammarly and create a new Word file, called, say "Miss Lonelyhearts, Ch. 04, Grammarly." I also leave the previous version there, although I don't really have to. Anyway, that way you won't have to go, "Did I run this thing through Grammarly or not?" Memory can be a tricky thing.
5. Copy it into the Lit submission box. Read through it at least once in Lit "edit" mode so you can make any needed changes. Then proofread it again in Lit "preview" mode, in which you can't make changes but you can see what it will look like, especially any HTML you have in there. In fact, proofread it at least twice in that mode. If you have to make corrections at that stage, you can toggle back and forth between the edit and preview modes.
6. Then when you are satisfied, submit it. It will be pending for a while. If you make any changes while it is pending, it will go to the back of the line again.

Makes sense?

 

[jsmiam]

Or don't resubmit, please. Messing around with what was originally submitted and trying to make it perfect (both impossible and totally unnecessary at Literotica) just slows down the process for the rest of us. Just learn by what has happened and move on the next, please. This isn't the New Yorker and there are no royalties at stake--and readers aren't going to return to it in the hopes of getting a better version. The author's wad was essentially spent on the first go--getting it in the best possible condition for a one-time-only posting should be the author's goal, I suggest.

To clarify, unless something changed, the OP’s story hasn’t been successfully submitted. The story’s not on Lit, he must resubmit.

 

[KeithD]

To clarify, unless something changed, the OP’s story hasn’t been successfully submitted. The story’s not on Lit, he must resubmit.

Oh, yes, I see. You're right.

 

[Cyberweasel89]

I’ve just read eight stories by a writer who began submitting a few months ago. The stories are basically well written and enjoyable for the category for which they were submitted. But the spelling and grammar is pretty bad.

It is difficult to understand why some stories get through with a multitude of all types of errors and others get rejected. But, as already been said, if you could post an actual copy of the rejection notice a more accurate opinion could be given.

What, like a screenshot of the rejection notice? All it said was "check the spelling." If you'd like, I can get you a screenshot, but I'm not sure what difference it would make. You sure?

We're pursuing this for basically two reasons. First, nine times out of ten the issue hasn't been correctly explained and the problem legitimately was there. But beyond that, your case is unusual and may portend a new line of rejection issues on the site that everyone would be interested in knowing. The site is not very communicative (to be as generous in wording about that as I can), so any strange circumstance is worth pursuing. What you've added in the rejection language having been changed is all new to the rest of us too.

Wait, seriously? Rejection for spelling is something new to you guys? Well, okay. I'll attach a screencap of the rejection notice. I should just note that I am 100% positive that they added the "hello and thank you for your work" part later, because I remember searching through that entire rejection notice several times to try and see if I missed something other than "spelling." I'm just disappointed in myself that I didn't think to screencap it, but I didn't think it was that unusual for Literotica.

There’s a human element plus automated screenings in effect.

It’s easy to criticize what I’m about to say, except I’d probably do the same exact thing. The first ever story posted by a new author gets looked at (by the human) more than an established author submitting their 10th story.

Don’t dwell on other stories with mistakes. They slip through all the time, but that doesn’t mean the site doesn’t still try to catch what they can.

And saying “not even double digit errors” implies there are at least several. Run through spellcheck. Fix spelling errors. Resubmit.

Plus, if one of the errors was something along the line of their/they’re/there errors dozens of times, then that’s worthy of even more attention. “Word online” is free. Open office is free. Grammarly has a feee version (and can be used entirely by pasting into their website, app not necessary. )

Yeah, I can understand that. But it's just speculation, and it's strange to me. Especially since there were only seven minor typos that I could find in all. And it took them days after first submissiong to even tell me that much. It's only my second story on Literotica, but my first was submitted years ago. I'm not mad, nor do I think something should be changed about the site. I'm just confused more than anything and didn't think this was as new and unusual as I'm finding out it is.

To clarify, unless something changed, the OP’s story hasn’t been successfully submitted. The story’s not on Lit, he must resubmit.

Sorry, not sure if you were using "he" in the objective sense or not, but I'm actually a girl. :3

 

[gunhilltrain]

If I may qualify what I said above, and based on the post just above - the attachment I mean: if you don't feel confident enough in your own abilities, then getting an editor would be a good idea.

 

[Cyberweasel89]

If I may qualify what I said above, and based on the post just above - the attachment I mean: if you don't feel confident enough in your own abilities, then getting an editor would be a good idea.

Pardon? What do you mean, if I don't feel confident enough in my own abilities? Sorry, I'm just... legitimately confused about where that came up before in the thread.

 

[RowanWrites]

Well they didn't *just* say check the spelling, they gave you specific examples of misspelling, so... while it is still surprising to have a rejection for that reason, it seems pretty clear you do legitimately need to uplevel your spelling.

 

[lovecraft68]

I'd be tempted to resubmit it without changing anything.
Why?
Because this is the system currently in place here

 

[Cyberweasel89]

Well they didn't *just* say check the spelling, they gave you specific examples of misspelling, so... while it is still surprising to have a rejection for that reason, it seems pretty clear you do legitimately need to uplevel your spelling.

Um... did you just skim the thread, misread, or do you just believe I'm lying? I'm sorry, I'm trying to understand how you missed the part about them adding those examples of spelling errors later after I posted this thread, or the fact that I went through it and only found seven typos, total. Sorry, just, if you consider "7 typos in 5,000 words" to be "it seems pretty clear you do legitimately need to uplevel your spelling," then, um... I'm VERY worried about you, because that doesn't sound like a rational thing to say without some absurdly unhealthy standards.

 

[Wifetheif]

I once had one sent back for the same reason. It turned out that I had consistently omitted the dashes in "brother-in-law" and "sister-in-law" Maybe something similar in your case?