Simple Question Yet Cannot Find the Answer: How to take back a story just submitted.

[SissyBrandi19]

I submitted a story a couple of hours ago and wish to not have it published on here. How do I let the editors know?

 

[ColtonWrites]

Looks like you cant do that directly from a pending story. But if you open the pending story for editing (the little pencil icon) and hit "save as draft" it'll move from "pending" to "drafts". You can delete it from drafts, or edit it until you're ready to re-submit.

 

[SissyBrandi19]

Looks like you cant do that directly from a pending story. But if you open the pending story for editing (the little pencil icon) and hit "save as draft" it'll move from "pending" to "drafts". You can delete it from drafts, or edit it until you're ready to re-submit.

Does that work if what I submitted is a .docx file? I just don't even want it touched. At all. It's not even erotic. Stupid decision. I'm just thinking it would be a waste of whomever's time to look at it. Crap. Shit. Fuck.

 

[SissyBrandi19]

Looks like you cant do that directly from a pending story. But if you open the pending story for editing (the little pencil icon) and hit "save as draft" it'll move from "pending" to "drafts". You can delete it from drafts, or edit it until you're ready to re-submit.

I answered my own question! Ok...thank you because your idea made me poke around...if you click on the settings icon which brings up the voting/commenting screen you can just delete the entire thing. I thought I would tell you as kind of a "resolution" since you were kind enough to respond. Thanks!

 

[ColtonWrites]

Does that work if what I submitted is a .docx file? I just don't even want it touched. At all. It's not even erotic. Stupid decision. I'm just thinking it would be a waste of whomever's time to look at it. Crap. Shit. Fuck.

No pressure if you really dont want to share it but my most popular story to date is non-erotic.

 

[PennyThompson]

and then once you've pushed it back into Drafts, you can click on the gear icon next to the story and there is a delete option!

but also, what @ColtonWrites said. there is an audience here for non-erotic, if it's well written!

 

[SissyBrandi19]

No pressure if you really dont want to share it but my most popular story to date is non-erotic.

It's not that I'm worried about the reactions or anything, I just thought maybe it wasn't the best idea only because my favorite way to write a book (and I just finished my most recent one 10/2/25) is, as a humorist, to write collections. My ADHD doesn't allow for me to stay on topic for more than 5k words. I guess I can ask this to the two of you - the story in question is going to be in the book that will follow the one I just completed. Is it even a smart idea to submit here a piece that is intended as well to be included in a future book?

Alternatively, what is the thinking on this site about featuring a story that is part of my just completed book, for the purpose of giving folks who want a taste of the book? Is this seen as somehow...unethical? That's rather a strong term but you get the idea. Are their spoken or unspoken rules against this and if so, that would it seems also apply to the story I was going to submit, as it will be in my next book. Thoughts?

 

[SissyBrandi19]

and then once you've pushed it back into Drafts, you can click on the gear icon next to the story and there is a delete option!

but also, what @ColtonWrites said. there is an audience here for non-erotic, if it's well written!

I think all my stuff is well written. In fact, my former English teacher called my works "doggerel" which he said is quite a distinction! So I have THAT going for me...Right? Tbh, I'm not sure exactly what that word means...if only there was some kind of...reference manual...or source of information that could be queried. Oh well....what are ya gonna do?

 

[ColtonWrites]

It's not that I'm worried about the reactions or anything, I just thought maybe it wasn't the best idea only because my favorite way to write a book (and I just finished my most recent one 10/2/25) is, as a humorist, to write collections. My ADHD doesn't allow for me to stay on topic for more than 5k words. I guess I can ask this to the two of you - the story in question is going to be in the book that will follow the one I just completed. Is it even a smart idea to submit here a piece that is intended as well to be included in a future book?

Alternatively, what is the thinking on this site about featuring a story that is part of my just completed book, for the purpose of giving folks who want a taste of the book? Is this seen as somehow...unethical? That's rather a strong term but you get the idea. Are their spoken or unspoken rules against this and if so, that would it seems also apply to the story I was going to submit, as it will be in my next book. Thoughts?

As long as the story you submit stands on its own, you can submit it separately here. It just cant be *only* a teaser/"continued elsewhere" deal, according to site rules.

I dont think anyone will have a problem with you having a story here that shows the kind of writing you do, though.

 

[SissyBrandi19]

As long as the story you submit stands on its own, you can submit it separately here. It just cant be *only* a teaser/"continued elsewhere" deal, according to site rules.

I dont think anyone will have a problem with you having a story here that shows the kind of writing you do, though.

Good to know! I wouldn't pull the "teaser" trick for many reasons, so okay, I will submit with confidence. Thanks!

 

[ElectricBlue]

It's not that I'm worried about the reactions or anything, I just thought maybe it wasn't the best idea only because my favorite way to write a book (and I just finished my most recent one 10/2/25) is, as a humorist, to write collections. My ADHD doesn't allow for me to stay on topic for more than 5k words. I guess I can ask this to the two of you - the story in question is going to be in the book that will follow the one I just completed. Is it even a smart idea to submit here a piece that is intended as well to be included in a future book?

The site doesn't allow teasers for content published elsewhere, if that's what you mean.

Alternatively, what is the thinking on this site about featuring a story that is part of my just completed book, for the purpose of giving folks who want a taste of the book? Is this seen as somehow...unethical?

Not allowed. No teasers, full stop.

That's rather a strong term but you get the idea. Are their spoken or unspoken rules against this and if so, that would it seems also apply to the story I was going to submit, as it will be in my next book. Thoughts?

It's explicit, in the FAQs. You have to publish the whole thing here, if you want to publish on Lit.

 

[OralAllOver]

answer here

https://www.literotica.com/faq/publishing/remove-published-work

 

[OralAllOver]

I submitted a story a couple of hours ago and wish to not have it published on here. How do I let the editors know?

i linked to an answer (maybe not the answer)

https://www.literotica.com/faq/publishing/remove-published-work

 

[ColtonWrites]

It cant be *just* a teaser or link to elsewhere but as I understand the rules you can post standalone content without sharing the whole work - like something from a book of essays or short stories is fine, a chapter from a novel is not.

 

[SissyBrandi19]

Right. I'm far too ADHD to do novels, so I do "novel length" collections of pieces. Like the one I have coming out very very soon (but TBD as the gubment still has not sent me my copyright as of yet). My pieces are always standalone and can be enjoyed (or ridiculed) on the strength/weakness of the piece, isolated from any others in my "collections". And I agree with the thinking behind NOT allowing a chapter, etc. that to me is not even good for marketing - it will frustrate readers and can viewed as a bit dishonest. Thanks for the input, everyone. And now this question is public and maybe will help anyone in the future.

BTW, it never occurred to me to look in the Frequently Asked Questions, because I only asked once! That's not exactly "frequent"! I said to myself, Brandi...be patient...maybe wait until you ask oh...4 or 5 times THEN look. But y'all beat me to it! Makes me want to beat you all...off...but then what doesn't make me feel that way? Any excuse to touch a cock! Shame on me....(she said, smiling slightly).

 

[SkyBubble]

I submitted a story a couple of hours ago and wish to not have it published on here. How do I let the editors know?

Open your pending story.
Move it to Drafts (by saving it.)
In drafts, find the little wheel icon (Settings) -- upper right
A box will pop up called Edit Submission settings.
There should be an icon for Delete. Click that.

 

[SissyBrandi19]

Open your pending story.
Move it to Drafts (by saving it.)
In drafts, find the little wheel icon (Settings) -- upper right
A box will pop up called Edit Submission settings.
There should be an icon for Delete. Click that.

Yep! And it's good that though I did find the solution that people are putting it on record because now here's another source of the answer! Redundancy in the system is not always a bad thing. I learned that way back, the hard way. Now I have everything critical on my C drive and two separate external HDs. Never Again...and of course by "critical" I mean "pornographic". Well....that's a joke - critical doesn't mean "pornographic", but critical can INCLUDE...porno....

 

[SissyBrandi19]

By the way, everyone who was so helpful - I did end up submitting the story in question and it is in currently in the non-erotic section IF you care to look...the subject: Schrodinger's Cat sits down for an interview. Story based on Actual Events. Well...cats actually exist....that's true.