Submission Process

[sissyneko]

I was wondering if there was an FAQ anywhere that gave any insight into the behind the scenes process for submissions. I just submitted my second story and was curious about, well the process. If anyone out there can fill me in or point me to where I can read up on it I would appreciate it.

 

[PennLady]

Here is the link to the Literotica FAQ: http://www.literotica.com/faq/

The second topic is Submissions. Be warned that some of this is outdated.

 

[sissyneko]

Yeah I saw those. They answered questions I was more interested in a walk through of the process. Something like it goes from A to B and then C if a problem back to B. I tend to be curious about how things work and was wondering what happens in between a writer hitting submit and readers being able to see the story.

 

[PennLady]

Oh, well, I think the basic answer there is (and I'm guessing, but others have guessed similarly) that unless there is a note in the notes field, the story gets screened by some sort of computer bot. If no red flags are raised, then it gets approved. Usually there is a 72-hr period between submitting and posting, but lately it's been longer. If there is a note for someone to look at, then it will be checked by a person, and should go up in the same amount of time unless there is a problem.

If the story is rejected, you will see that on your View Submissions page and you can click on it to get at least a rough answer of why it was rejected. Hope that helps.

 

[sissyneko]

Yeah that answered my question perfectly. Thanks for taking the time, to answer a new commers question.

 

[Innuendos]

Oh, well, I think the basic answer there is (and I'm guessing, but others have guessed similarly) that unless there is a note in the notes field, the story gets screened by some sort of computer bot. If no red flags are raised, then it gets approved. Usually there is a 72-hr period between submitting and posting, but lately it's been longer. If there is a note for someone to look at, then it will be checked by a person, and should go up in the same amount of time unless there is a problem.

If the story is rejected, you will see that on your View Submissions page and you can click on it to get at least a rough answer of why it was rejected. Hope that helps.

I'm not the poster that requested this, but I'd like to thank you for the insight. As a newbie to Literotica, and one who is eagerly waiting for their first chapters to make it through the screening process, understanding of just how that functions may not be essential, but goes a long way to soothing the first-time jitters.

That said, I do still have a question of my own: It's indicated by the FAQ that views of a pending story/chapter are gauged by changes to the form by the author, or by Lit-Editor opening the submission form. I've noticed that despite only opening it once or twice to make a couple corrections, at least one of my chapters has a -lot- of views, upwards of 60, while the other chapter has only a small number. My impression from your response here is that the process is largely automated, with some checking by Lit-Editors to ensure the story meets other important standards. Are there really that many live editors involved in the process?

 

[_Lynn_]

I'm not the poster that requested this, but I'd like to thank you for the insight. As a newbie to Literotica, and one who is eagerly waiting for their first chapters to make it through the screening process, understanding of just how that functions may not be essential, but goes a long way to soothing the first-time jitters.

That said, I do still have a question of my own: It's indicated by the FAQ that views of a pending story/chapter are gauged by changes to the form by the author, or by Lit-Editor opening the submission form. I've noticed that despite only opening it once or twice to make a couple corrections, at least one of my chapters has a -lot- of views, upwards of 60, while the other chapter has only a small number. My impression from your response here is that the process is largely automated, with some checking by Lit-Editors to ensure the story meets other important standards. Are there really that many live editors involved in the process?

The high number of views appears to be a glitch. Views on pending submissions vary as you've already noticed. Until the story posts, I wouldn't pay much attention to the number of views.

You mentioned opening the story to make corrections and I'm assuming that's done while in the pending status. Each time you do that, your story goes to the end of the submission line. Instead of the normal 3-5 days for posting, your story might not post for a week or more, depending how often you've opened the file.

 

[Innuendos]

The high number of views appears to be a glitch. Views on pending submissions vary as you've already noticed. Until the story posts, I wouldn't pay much attention to the number of views.

You mentioned opening the story to make corrections and I'm assuming that's done while in the pending status. Each time you do that, your story goes to the end of the submission line. Instead of the normal 3-5 days for posting, your story might not post for a week or more, depending how often you've opened the file.

Right, seemed a tad odd. Thanks for the heads-up.

As far as opening my submission is concerned, that was close to the same day or day after that I submitted it, which I think was about three days back. Shouldn't set me too far off course, though I don't remember whether I opened it -after- I submitted Chapter 2 or not. Hope not, it would be awkward having the second chapter roll out first, since it's very much built upon the first.

question 1 - I presume Lit-Editor views don't affect my place in line?
question 2 - Is there a certain time of day that new stories roll out, or is each based on their own automated timeline?

 

[_Lynn_]

Right, seemed a tad odd. Thanks for the heads-up.

As far as opening my submission is concerned, that was close to the same day or day after that I submitted it, which I think was about three days back. Shouldn't set me too far off course, though I don't remember whether I opened it -after- I submitted Chapter 2 or not. Hope not, it would be awkward having the second chapter roll out first, since it's very much built upon the first.

question 1 - I presume Lit-Editor views don't affect my place in line?
question 2 - Is there a certain time of day that new stories roll out, or is each based on their own automated timeline?

1. Correct.
2. That I don't know. Dark might have that answer though, and he pops into the EF at times.

 

[Innuendos]

1. Correct.
2. That I don't know. Dark might have that answer though, and he pops into the EF at times.

Coolio, thanks for the feedback.

 

[_Lynn_]

Coolio, thanks for the feedback.

No problem. And welcome to Lit.

 

[Darkniciad]

Story posting time varies.

Stories "pre-approved" ( Usually following chapters of a story where all chapters are submitted at once, or themed contest entries ) always go live at 12:00 am Easter Standard Time on the date shown on your private author submissions page. You know you've been "pre-approved" when there's a date and the "pending" is no longer a clickable link.

Everything else is up to Laurel's workload. Sometimes, more stories will go live at midnight, or shortly thereafter. Other times, things may not go live until the wee hours of the morning. Other times, it may be 8 or 9 am the next morning before the list starts to fill up, and I've seen it be even later before the final new stories of the day post.

Not very helpful, I know. It used to be that pretty much all the new stories went live at midnight. There's just no way to predict when stories will go live any more. The number of days - once long set at 3 - has likewise grown longer and less predictable of late.

You just have to keep checking.

 

[Innuendos]

Much appreciated on the info, thank you.

 

[_Lynn_]

*chuckle*

I knew Dark would come by with answers.

 

[Darkniciad]

Nothing better to do *laugh*

Can't get in a frame of mind to write or code, latest story dropped off page 1 a couple of hours ago on another site, contest track is done for the night, and there's nothing on t.v.

Suppose I should be making the run responding to the comments on that story, but screw it. I'll do it in the morning.

 

[_Lynn_]

Nothing better to do *laugh*

Can't get in a frame of mind to write or code, latest story dropped off page 1 a couple of hours ago on another site, contest track is done for the night, and there's nothing on t.v.

Suppose I should be making the run responding to the comments on that story, but screw it. I'll do it in the morning.

I should be writing. I'm done with school and have all the time in the world. And my brain won't cooperate.

 

[Innuendos]

I should be writing. I'm done with school and have all the time in the world. And my brain won't cooperate.

Try free association, maybe? Or just blocking?

 

[_Lynn_]

Try free association, maybe? Or just blocking?

I didn't write much at all while I was in school. There's so many ideas in my head right now I can't focus on just one. In the past two weeks I started four pieces, but I don't have enough energy to finish them. The motivation isn't there.

 

[Darkniciad]

I should be working on Sanctuary of the Wood. With my rate of production, Earth Day is coming up way too fast.

 

[_Lynn_]

I should be working on Sanctuary of the Wood. With my rate of production, Earth Day is coming up way too fast.

I have one with a Christmas theme that I started for NaNo--which I didn't complete either. In my defense, I've been sick since about October.

 

[Innuendos]

Couldn't begin to guess what works for you, but what sets my gears spinning is the act of writing. Not necessarily specific to a story, but writing for the sake of writing. I might go to my blog, churn out a few thoughts on politics, or some random and terribly interesting thing I've stumbled across in my internet journeys. Politics kind of sucks right now, because it's an election year and I just can't stand the sight of any of the candidates. Maybe I'd go to one of my roleplaying games instead, where I'll annoy a few members with my rambling style and extended discussion of a few of my non-player character agents' motives. After all, there's so much focus on the primary folks - why is that, when the motivations of the little bastard that stabbed you in the back can be just as interesting?

I've written books along those lines, not actual books, but so many reams of material and pieces of text that I might be able to string them into books if people were really interested in reading that kind of literature. They aren't, which is why it's simply recreational writing. I've almost written myself into a circle here, because recreational writing is my trigger, but that's not all the writing I do. Maybe it's simply too easy for me. I've spent decades on the internet, typing, typing, tap tap tapping away on my keyboard, honing my typing to the point where I can now type at 90wpm with only an error or two. Faster, if I want to sacrifice accuracy, faster still if I want to throw my coherence out the window. I'm starting to lose that now, rambling a bit.

So I switch back to the thing that brought me to this thread - my story, my impending deflowering if you will, that will eventually be posted here on Lit. It's a 12-part piece, already framed and the outline written, a beginning, middle and end in mind. Two chapters are completed, one submitted on another forum, but gosh... that other forum. So dark and uninviting, and they post new submissions far less frequently. Right, I was going on about my story. I'm on the third chapter now, got most of it written out, and fumbling on what I want to do with the last part, because what kind of a conversation does a man have with a convicted felon, a vicious murderer in fact, who just happens to be the father of his girlfriend? This is her daddy, the man she wants him to meet, and there are a few important plot points to reveal here, but how to churn them out?

That's where I'm blocking on my own stuff, because I have ideas of what I want to do, and not sure how to reveal the plot points.

Plot points are key for me, revealing the motivations of sexual tropes and situations that many know and love, but don't necessarily make sense for under scrutiny unless you give them context. Just why was his ex such a tool about stringing along a couple of guys who were completely besotted with her anyway? The Ice Queen is a tried and true archetype, but it has no depth. What's her excuse? Can that archetype be sympathetic without it being ugly? My main character's got his shortcomings; maybe her need for control is hers, and maybe she's got a good reason for it. One he'll never know, but is important in understanding just why she treated him the way she did and made him rather bitter.

Thinking about it gave me an idea for a Valentine's Day short featuring her character, but at this point, I really want to get back to the main story. Do I character sketch the convict, get some idea or what I want to do with him, give him more depth, or do I give my main story background and throw out a one-off, and get back to Chapter Three later?

I'm thinking Chapter Three, because gosh, I want this story to come out at a steady pace, not be one of those authors that churns out a chapter once every few months. With twelve chapters, I'd be writing about it for the next two years! Screw that, you know?

So, I've come to a decision and I think it's time to open up Word and start writing, because I'm starting to flow here.

All this writing, and I didn't actually say that much. Hell, it might be kind of useless for you. Just triggered myself by putting my thoughts down on virtual paper and letting them run where they would. It's entirely possible that I would have wandered back over to my game instead, to scribble out the next scintillating installment of my heroic character's adventures.

That's my form of free association. Take it for the $0.02 it's worth, or toss it in the penny jar.

 

[_Lynn_]

Couldn't begin to guess what works for you, but what sets my gears spinning is the act of writing. Not necessarily specific to a story, but writing for the sake of writing. I might go to my blog, churn out a few thoughts on politics, or some random and terribly interesting thing I've stumbled across in my internet journeys. Politics kind of sucks right now, because it's an election year and I just can't stand the sight of any of the candidates. Maybe I'd go to one of my roleplaying games instead, where I'll annoy a few members with my rambling style and extended discussion of a few of my non-player character agents' motives. After all, there's so much focus on the primary folks - why is that, when the motivations of the little bastard that stabbed you in the back can be just as interesting?

I've written books along those lines, not actual books, but so many reams of material and pieces of text that I might be able to string them into books if people were really interested in reading that kind of literature. They aren't, which is why it's simply recreational writing. I've almost written myself into a circle here, because recreational writing is my trigger, but that's not all the writing I do. Maybe it's simply too easy for me. I've spent decades on the internet, typing, typing, tap tap tapping away on my keyboard, honing my typing to the point where I can now type at 90wpm with only an error or two. Faster, if I want to sacrifice accuracy, faster still if I want to throw my coherence out the window. I'm starting to lose that now, rambling a bit.

So I switch back to the thing that brought me to this thread - my story, my impending deflowering if you will, that will eventually be posted here on Lit. It's a 12-part piece, already framed and the outline written, a beginning, middle and end in mind. Two chapters are completed, one submitted on another forum, but gosh... that other forum. So dark and uninviting, and they post new submissions far less frequently. Right, I was going on about my story. I'm on the third chapter now, got most of it written out, and fumbling on what I want to do with the last part, because what kind of a conversation does a man have with a convicted felon, a vicious murderer in fact, who just happens to be the father of his girlfriend? This is her daddy, the man she wants him to meet, and there are a few important plot points to reveal here, but how to churn them out?

That's where I'm blocking on my own stuff, because I have ideas of what I want to do, and not sure how to reveal the plot points.

Plot points are key for me, revealing the motivations of sexual tropes and situations that many know and love, but don't necessarily make sense for under scrutiny unless you give them context. Just why was his ex such a tool about stringing along a couple of guys who were completely besotted with her anyway? The Ice Queen is a tried and true archetype, but it has no depth. What's her excuse? Can that archetype be sympathetic without it being ugly? My main character's got his shortcomings; maybe her need for control is hers, and maybe she's got a good reason for it. One he'll never know, but is important in understanding just why she treated him the way she did and made him rather bitter.

Thinking about it gave me an idea for a Valentine's Day short featuring her character, but at this point, I really want to get back to the main story. Do I character sketch the convict, get some idea or what I want to do with him, give him more depth, or do I give my main story background and throw out a one-off, and get back to Chapter Three later?

I'm thinking Chapter Three, because gosh, I want this story to come out at a steady pace, not be one of those authors that churns out a chapter once every few months. With twelve chapters, I'd be writing about it for the next two years! Screw that, you know?

So, I've come to a decision and I think it's time to open up Word and start writing, because I'm starting to flow here.

All this writing, and I didn't actually say that much. Hell, it might be kind of useless for you. Just triggered myself by putting my thoughts down on virtual paper and letting them run where they would. It's entirely possible that I would have wandered back over to my game instead, to scribble out the next scintillating installment of my heroic character's adventures.

That's my form of free association. Take it for the $0.02 it's worth, or toss it in the penny jar.

Eh, that's worth at least a dime. Thanks.

 

[Innuendos]

Eh, that's worth at least a dime. Thanks.

De nada, and thanks for the rose. I shall file it under R, for rosemance, because I am free associating like a Rorshach now. Ink blot, ink pot, smoke pot, no not, know what I'm sayin'? Probably not.

Enjoy your adventures in writing!

 

[cocput]

Thank you.

Thank you for the question as well as the responses. I have also been having the same doubts after I submitted my first story here.

I have another doubt.

If I write something in the note, who will read it? What are the things that they will look ? How busy will those people be?

I have a story coming up, where there is a child in the same room as the sex scene. Child is not part of the scene in anyway, except as the fear-of-getting-caught trigger for the participants. I am just worried whether the red flag will be raised by some stupid bot, because the child's name will appear near the act.

 

[Innuendos]

If I write something in the note, who will read it? What are the things that they will look ? How busy will those people be?

I have a story coming up, where there is a child in the same room as the sex scene. Child is not part of the scene in anyway, except as the fear-of-getting-caught trigger for the participants. I am just worried whether the red flag will be raised by some stupid bot, because the child's name will appear near the act.

As far as I can tell, the human component of the editing process does check the notes. My story approved today, and I used the Notes to indicate the use of special formatting that has caused me problems in the past, elsewhere. It was retained here, and in the intended format, so I'm guessing they do read the notes.

It's my understanding that while there is a bot-element to the process, the bot is there largely to catch the obvious. A name isn't very obvious, due to nicknames that adults use for each other and I don't think the bot is quite so... cutthroat.

Still, I'm interested in hearing what a moderator has to say on the subject.