Story not accepted

Joined
Jun 2, 2021
Posts
22
I submitted a story on 6 March. When I pushed the button to submit it, I didn't notice any error message, but I suspect it was rejected and I didn't notice. About a week later, the story was still pending so I investigated. I thought perhaps I hadn't submitted it properly, so I published it again. This time, I noticed an error message. I didn't copy the exact message, but it was short and said something generic like "can't be published" and to send an email to support and include the URL of the story.

Well, I tried to send an email, but I couldn't find an email address. The Contact page doesn't have one. Instead, it has links to a page where you submit a form. Given that's the only way I could find to contact support, that's what I did. I have not heard back.

The "can't be published" story was submitted to the non-erotic category. It's a 750-word story about adults with no explicit sex so it shouldn't run afoul of the under-18 rules. No ages are included, but the three characters are described as working together, one character takes a weekend trip to visit parents, it's clearly not about young love. Perhaps I should have included an author note at the top stating there were no under-18 characters in the story?

Also, it's an original story and hasn't been submitted anywhere else.

It's only been a couple days since I contacted support, but I am not sure if I used the right medium for that.

if you have any comments or advice, I am all ears.
 
Sounds convoluted enough that the only way to get it unraveled (there may be two versions floating in submissions now, which would muck up the process) is to directly message ("conversation" envelope at the top right of this page now, I think) the sole submissions editor, Laurel, and lay out the problem. The minimum wordage permitted is 750 words, so that may be the problem. Maybe your entry doesn't make the minimum wordage in the Web site's count.
 
If a story is reviewed and rejected then it appears in your "sent back" page. What you're describing sounds like a technical problem with the submission, not a problem with content.

Email contacts to the site generally don't work. Use the "Conversations" link (envelop icon, top right of this page) to send a message to Laurel. Give her the details of what you've done and the response.
 
Re: the right Laurel. Never mind! I missed the "Laurel" entry. It looked like my input, not a choice.

Not having the best luck with this site, I guess.
 
... which there should not be. I find it baffling that contacting the freaking site admins has been such a headache for years.
Yep. It's beyond tiresome that the users are left so largely to guide other users on this--and have been forever.
 
It normally takes a few days. If the story suddenly has a future date while in the 'pending' that means they will post it on that future date. I made the mistake of submitting weeks before a contest, it sat in 'pending' the whole time but with a future post date. It is possible the same happened with your story, it got approved to post the next time they do the 750 word event, in about ten months.
 
It is possible the same happened with your story, it got approved to post the next time they do the 750 word event, in about ten months.
No, the 750-word event is not a site contest. There's no reason to hold up a story at that length until the next such privately scheduled exercise pops up.
 
I never heard from Lauren, but the story is now published. I know she is a busy person and I don't need a reply. I am curious why it happened but I can live with it.
 
it's Laurel. She often won't reply if she can just get the job done without it.
 
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