So...is it a bot?

[PlasticMage]

The second part of my story keeps getting sent back and I don't know why. I have made adjustments at least four times.
The issue cannot be the spelling because of spell check, also nothing sexual has even happened yet so that's not the problem. I have fixed every grammar problem I could find and after the fourth ( or was it fifth?) send back I rage deleted entire chapter.

My last story was flagged for underage but again nothing sexual has even happened even in the characters minds, plus I made it clear that everyone was over eighteen.
Some are saying a bot reads these, that would make sense and would explain why promising authors keeping dropping out before finishing stories

 

[KeithD]

What did you note, if anything, in the notes box when you sent it back? You need to communicate with Laurel on it, not just fire off in the dark.

 

[ElectricBlue]

We think initial screening is done by a bot, yes, looking for key words, word connections. So you need to think like a word bot might.

As a suggestion, try reading each paragraph in reverse order, so your mind can remove itself from the story you think you've written, and read the words that are actually there. If it's been flagged as underage, there must be a phrase, a sentence, that has an unintended meaning, some inadvertent "age" flag. It might only be a single phrase, or a sentence.

Otherwise, resubmit it with a note to the editor, saying what you've done, what the theme of the story is.

This illustrates that an age disclaimer is pointless - there must be something in your text that you can't see for looking. Have another look, and hopefully you'll find it.

 

[NotWise]

As Keith said, when your story is sent back it should come with a note indicting the reason. Check that before you do anything.

I read your first story. It's short and reads easily, but punctuation is clearly not your forte. Given the story, underage doesn't seem like it should be a problem.

The first thing I have to ask is, was your second part over 750 words? If not, then it was rejected for being too short.

Your punctuation could be a problem. I'd recommend getting some help with that, possibly in the editor's forum. Complete sentences are good. You should get some.

Finally--and this is a stretch--you cite your character's under-eighteen age several times in the first chapter. If you keep citing ages under eighteen in the second chapter then they might possibly trigger a bot. The other thing to keep in mind is that Lit uses the widest possible definition of sexual activity. Any arousal counts.

 

[PlasticMage]

As Keith said, when your story is sent back it should come with a note indicting the reason. Check that before you do anything.

I read your first story. It's short and reads easily, but punctuation is clearly not your forte. Given the story, underage doesn't seem like it should be a problem.

The first thing I have to ask is, was your second part over 750 words? If not, then it was rejected for being too short.

Your punctuation could be a problem. I'd recommend getting some help with that, possibly in the editor's forum. Complete sentences are good. You should get some.

Finally--and this is a stretch--you cite your character's under-eighteen age several times in the first chapter. If you keep citing ages under eighteen in the second chapter then they might possibly trigger a bot. The other thing to keep in mind is that Lit uses the widest possible definition of sexual activity. Any arousal counts.

There's no children whatsoever in this story, not even in a periferil role. I never said anyone was under eighteen, however the main character refers to the first character he meets as looking like a young Cindy Crawford and having to stop himself from kissing her hand.
This means of course, young like her supermodel days ( she's like sixty) not young like a child, however like I said, nothing sexual had even happened in the first chapter.

Chapter one, part one, was about twenty two hundred words, so obviously that's not the issue either.

I enjoy writing and expressing myself in this format but I no longer care about this platform, if you do then I would recommend letting them know the bot needs fixing.

 

[lovecraft68]

All kidding aside, do you have a line in there about something being x-years old, even a car or a wine or anything? If the bot sees "13 year old dog" it can get kicked back. The bot has no context, it looks for words, especially 'ages'

 

[NotWise]

I enjoy writing and expressing myself in this format but I no longer care about this platform, if you do then I would recommend letting them know the bot needs fixing.

Short fuse? You haven't been around for two weeks yet.

 

[PlasticMage]

All kidding aside, do you have a line in there about something being x-years old, even a car or a wine or anything? If the bot sees "13 year old dog" it can get kicked back. The bot has no context, it looks for words, especially 'ages'

Seriously?!? He's talking with some guys about being in the Army for four years, if the bot that is running the show can't handle time period vs total age, then I'm even happier to walk away.

 

[lovecraft68]

Short fuse? You haven't been around for two weeks yet.

Silly OP, comes to a site and expects it to run professionally. What's wrong with kids these days?

 

[lovecraft68]

Seriously?!? He's talking with some guys about being in the Army for four years, if the bot that is running the show can't handle time period vs total age, then I'm even happier to walk away.

Not saying it is the reason but its happened. How long is the story?

 

[ElectricBlue]

I enjoy writing and expressing myself in this format but I no longer care about this platform, if you do then I would recommend letting them know the bot needs fixing.

You're either giving up too easily, or you're protesting a little too much.

The rest of us can get our stories posted, which means we've all figured it out. You've been given some guidance, so you can figure it out, too. Under age rejection (you're not clear on the second story rejected if that's what it was) - it's always In the content, somewhere, an innocuous little sentence.

That little bot doesn't bug out for the other several thousand writers who get stuff published here, so maybe it's not the bot. I'd suggest you look again, without the emotion, and you might find something where you could say, "Oh, I guess you could read it that way..."

 

[lovecraft68]

The above brown noser continues to ignore how many blatantly rule breaking stories are on this site, and how many wrongful kickbacks there are.

 

[PlasticMage]

Short fuse? You haven't been around for two weeks yet.

This was my second attempt at submitting a story on this site.
Like I said, I enjoy writing, I even enjoy it enough to write for free and to put serious time and thought into it . However I can't see any enjoyment to be had here, just frustration.

 

[Voboy]

Seriously?!? He's talking with some guys about being in the Army for four years, if the bot that is running the show can't handle time period vs total age, then I'm even happier to walk away.

...why are you yelling at the people here who are trying to help you?

We've never read this story. You have. We're shooting in the dark, and we're trying to be nice about it and suggest possibilities... which is all we can do. Because we've not read the story.

Figure out your audience, dude. We're not the bad guys here. I'd recommend you tone it down and answer everyone's questions if you want actual answers.

We're on your side.

 

[PlasticMage]

Not saying it is the reason but its happened. How long is the story?

The prologue is still up, I believe it is a little over twelve hundred words. It's called Hard Road to Paradise.
Chapter one,part one ( was ) twenty two hundred word's.

 

[lovecraft68]

If its that short, paste it into a PM and send it to me. I'll see if there's anything that's triggering the rejection.

 

[PlasticMage]

...why are you yelling at the people here who are trying to help you?

We've never read this story. You have. We're shooting in the dark, and we're trying to be nice about it and suggest possibilities... which is all we can do. Because we've not read the story.

Figure out your audience, dude. We're not the bad guys here. I'd recommend you tone it down and answer everyone's questions if you want actual answers.

We're on your side.

When I say "SERIOUSLY!?!" in this context,it implies shock/disbelief,I think he was aware that was not anger.. especially since I have never seen or interacted with the guy before.

 

[NotWise]

This was my second attempt at submitting a story on this site.
Like I said, I enjoy writing, I even enjoy it enough to write for free and to put serious time and thought into it . However I can't see any enjoyment to be had here, just frustration.

Publishing here might require a little more work than you're ready to put into it.

If the rejections are for underage content (you should have a note telling you what the reason is) then you need to resubmit your story with a note to the editor, and an explanation--no-one under eighteen, no sexual situations. Stories do get rejected without much cause.

If the rejection wasn't for underage content, then you might have some work to do.

 

[ElectricBlue]

This was my second attempt at submitting a story on this site.
Like I said, I enjoy writing, I even enjoy it enough to write for free and to put serious time and thought into it . However I can't see any enjoyment to be had here, just frustration.

You've come in with a grievance, folk have said, try this, try that, yet still you persist in pointing at the site as the problem.

This is not new, it happens regularly, and no-one else can get it fixed. Only you can do that. So why don't you put your time into reading your words once again, rather than flap around getting angry?

 

[EmilyMiller]

The second part of my story keeps getting sent back and I don't know why. I have made adjustments at least four times.
The issue cannot be the spelling because of spell check, also nothing sexual has even happened yet so that's not the problem. I have fixed every grammar problem I could find and after the fourth ( or was it fifth?) send back I rage deleted entire chapter.

My last story was flagged for underage but again nothing sexual has even happened even in the characters minds, plus I made it clear that everyone was over eighteen.
Some are saying a bot reads these, that would make sense and would explain why promising authors keeping dropping out before finishing stories

Who are these promising authors who keep dropping out?

I had a nightmare with my first story submission, but there were specific circumstances. Since then? As easy as pie.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

Seriously?!? He's talking with some guys about being in the Army for four years, if the bot that is running the show can't handle time period vs total age, then I'm even happier to walk away.

I think it probably makes sense for you to walk away. There is a need for a certain Zen calmness round here.

Em

 

[Voboy]

When I say "SERIOUSLY!?!" in this context,it implies shock/disbelief,I think he was aware that was not anger.. especially since I have never seen or interacted with the guy before.

I mean, thousands of people have no trouble at all getting stories published here. Most of us that frequent the AH are in that group. And I'm not the only one who's noticed you're high-strung. Emily is right: be zen.

Just listen and do what people are recommending. The problem HAS TO BE in your story, which we've never read and you have. All we can suggest is that you look through it and find your problem.

Someone asked whether you've included a Note To Admin with your resubmissions... did you do that? Because that would be my suggestion. That Note gives you an opportunity to explain, to a human, why there's nothing wrong with your story.

 

[dmallord]

Lovecraft68 made an excellent offer to review your work. Could you take that offer and send the PM? You'll get a veteran writer's help in return. A very generous offer, too.

Send me a copy if you'd like another less prodigious author's take on your story. I have time to look at it. Two extra sets of eyes can detect something that has caused the rejections. I've published several stories referencing earlier ages that were not 'bot' bait. Perhaps, as others have said, it's just a phrase or trigger word that is clogging up your story's acceptance.

Run, rather send the copy, and get an excellent support offer - you have a golden nugget, grab it. Don't run off! Help is on the way!

 

[jsmiam]

OP. Numerous people have offered helpful advice. You’ve done more complaining than thanking, acknowledging, and responding to questions combined.

Here’s a new question for you to not answer. Why should anybody bother trying to help you?

 

[lovecraft68]

Crickets.
Well, we tried.