Stories pending for 5 months, sent back for almost random reasons--- what's going on?

[adrija]

Over 5 months ago I wrote my first two stories on this site and they were generally well received. Encouraged by the feedback and how much I enjoyed writing, I sent the next two stories in the series for review. That was July-August. It is now almost 2026.

I can acknowledge that there are areas for growth and everything in regards to my writing. But I have tried to resubmit my stories several times in different categories hoping another admin would be able to explain what the issue is. Instead the only recent response was both stories being sent back because they were flagged as "using AI". Which is interesting considering I wasn't aware it could do that kind of content.

But aside from that reason, I've gotten rejected because of dialogue format, punctuation and probably something else here soon. And I'm fine with taking human feedback, but these were automated responses. Where as if I check the new stories, some people have stories published every day (it seems) with the same or worse issues.

And yeah maybe my stories do need some edits and improvements. But when I see stories of much, much lower quality be published almost automatically, it makes me question what is going on.

More than a few people in the comments said that they thought my writing was at least decent, if not good. And I was genuinely excited to share the next two chapters of my series. Because I know that my first two stories were less than ideal in the sense of length. Instead my submissions are ignored and I am forced to re-submit the stories into different categories just for visibility.

As someone who was excited to grow as an author and start receiving ACTUAL feedback. I am extremely disappointed in how things have transpired. Instead I am forced to write this forum post to try to figure out what is going on and if I even want to continue trying to publish anything. Which is unfortunate because I thought the next two stories were pretty good. Especially since I took the feedback from the first two and how the length wasn't quite enough....etc.

I wouldn't have though that my content was too much for this site (which I don't think it is), but that's my only other conclusion. Or that someone behind the scenes just doesn't like me.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I've had a couple of rejections. Both were invalid. I reposted with an explanation, and the two stories were published.

--Annie

 

[darwin1859]

There's been a lot of discussion about problems with the publication (delays, complaints). Perhaps the most annoying aspect is that the site owners have been quiet. I prefer to think they're doing their best.

There's a lot of speculation about how much automation is involved in processing stories. It's speculation, but I'm confident that there are a series automated checks and some of them seem to be based on an automated check of quotes. Annie from @TheWritingGroup, I believe, mentioned using dialog that included words (Tahitian?) with embedded quotes and that triggered a rejection. She got that reversed by a polite note (as she says above).

The first two parts looked good to me, but if you'd like a second opinion about quotes, etc., DM me.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I wouldn't have though that my content was too much for this site (which I don't think it is), but that's my only other conclusion.

If you've had two stories published, and your later submissions are similar, that's not a valid conclusion. If it was content, the rejection reason would have said so.

You've said your stories have been rejected for punctuation - that's the reason. Fix that and resubmit, don't go looking for new reasons.

Or that someone behind the scenes just doesn't like me.

It's obviously hard not to personalise something happening, but that won't be a factor, at all. The site doesn't know you, it just sees your stories.

 

[adrija]

If you've had two stories published, and your later submissions are similar, that's not a valid conclusion. If it was content, the rejection reason would have said so.

You've said your stories have been rejected for punctuation - that's the reason. Fix that and resubmit, don't go looking for new reasons.

It's obviously hard not to personalise something happening, but that won't be a factor, at all. The site doesn't know you, it just sees your stories.

It wasn’t so much punctuation as it was the structure of dialogue. Which I read up on the guidelines and fixed it.

There has been no consistent or meaningful feedback from the admins. It is usually an automated message or the story just rots in the pending state.

So no, I do not think the punctuation is the issue. I’m not saying my writing is perfect. Especially when I read other published stories with way more of the issues that I’m being flagged for.

I can understand that the review phase can take more than a week (although it doesn’t seem like that for most). But every re-submission addressing the canned response to my story, it just doesn’t get reviewed.

There has been absolutely no consistent feedback the few times I actually get a response from the admin. Which has only been like 3 times since August and over 15 different submission attempts.

It’s all but ruined whatever enthusiasm I had for writing in general. Especially since I had such positive feedback from my first two stories.

 

[princeShaka]

There's been a lot of discussion about problems with the publication (delays, complaints). Perhaps the most annoying aspect is that the site owners have been quiet. I prefer to think they're doing their best.

There's a lot of speculation about how much automation is involved in processing stories. It's speculation, but I'm confident that there are a series automated checks and some of them seem to be based on an automated check of quotes. Annie from @TheWritingGroup, I believe, mentioned using dialog that included words (Tahitian?) with embedded quotes and that triggered a rejection. She got that reversed by a polite note (as she says above).

The first two parts looked good to me, but if you'd like a second opinion about quotes, etc., DM me.

They could do some communication even if just a public post on the chat to let people know what is happening and how we can best work with them. And actions show where you are coming from and they are being jerks.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

@adrija, the lack of communication is definitely a real problem. We (the authors) don't have enough information to know what's behind it. There has been a lot of guessing (for instance, could Laurel have gotten sick?) but we just plain do not know.

--Annie

 

[princeShaka]

Sick does not explain it, my story was removed for no valid reason after getting good reviews.

 

[princeShaka]

That message is just a standard message they give back for rejection - it does not truly tell you anything. When they removed my story, they sent that message which is responding to a submission not the removal of story they posted. And when I responded back asking about it. They gave a reject of submission response to my question! Come do not act like you're not person because this online communication.