Two Stories Stuck In Limbo, Date Changed, Not Sent Back

[BellaWrites234]

Posting this here as I can see some others appear to have similar issues but I don't see how those were resolved and could definitely use the insight:

I now have two stories that I've submitted in the last few weeks that appear to have been approved and have not been sent back, but are stuck in limbo with no indication of ever going live.

I submitted chapter 3 of my ongoing series, "Paige-ing Rachel Ch. 03: Paige's Turf" on May 20th and then yesterday I went to check on it in the early afternoon and saw that the title had been updated to fit the format of the other two chapters with the help of an admin, and that the date for the submission had been updated to about 25 minutes prior. I did not touch, edit, reupload or even preview this submission after I initially submitted it on the 20th so this appears to have been something done on the admin or system side. Has anyone experienced something like this and could anyone who did let me know what finally resolved it?

I have been experiencing the same issue with another story, "Amy's Turn to Turn at a Wedding" for about a month now. I initially submitted it in April, saw the date change but stuck in pending issue happen then, so I resubmitted it after making a few edits and changing the name before submitting as a new story on May 15th. I then witnessed the date for the story change to May 16th where it has sat in pending limbo ever since.

I messaged Laurel about this yesterday and did not receive a response and the stories are still pending. Anything else I should do at this stage?

 

[ragal2]

Unless the administration decides to accept the story AS IS, the original date of submission changes, and the story returns to the pending file. I have no idea if it awaits another reviewer or a final decision to accept or reject it.

 

[BellaWrites234]

Right, I've seen the original date of submission change for all of my other stories, but in all 8 other times, that date then changes to the date and time that the story is set to go active and switch to the "New" or "Published" status. The dates of these stories has changed and then there has been no indication of anything happening to the stories after that, which is why I'm confused. I guess it could be waiting for another reviewer or a final decision, but what would that next review need to do that this first one didn't? And again, my wedding story had this happen multiple times with no further accepting or rejecting happening either.

 

[ragal2]

You are right that sometimes the reviewer's actions are confusing. Is it because he/she is not sure whether it deserves to be accepted and waiting for a second opinion? Is it back at the bottom of the pile? Does the reviewer send it to Laurel (Who is usually very busy) for a final decision?
What bothers me is that I get the impression the process is more complicated and cumbersome, and takes longer, and takes longer than before...

 

[BellaWrites234]

Yeah, I just don't know, especially because I had 8 stories go up before this with no issue, but now these two (which I think are actually better edited and compiled than those previous 8 in terms of formatting and grammar, while also not being any more controversial content-wise than any of my others) are hung up. It's a head-scratcher.

 

[ragal2]

Right now, except for writing to Laurel, there isn't much we can do.
After waiting in vain for 2 weeks to see the fate of chapters 2 & 3 of a story (that it's chapter 1 was published immediately), I wrote a comment here, in the Forum, and what a surprise - The next day these chapters were scheduled for publication (you can see for yourself Oedipus Ch. 2 was published today, and Ch 3 will be available for the readers tomorrow).

 

[BellaWrites234]

Well that's a good sign I suppose. Maybe this post will help these stories get published soon then.

 

[ragal2]

Sometimes, getting published takes time. I am impressed our chat here takes only seconds. LOL.

 

[BellaWrites234]

Ha, for real

 

[ragal2]

Well, good luck with your stories.
BTW, is it you in the picture? You look very cute.
I remember when I was your age. It was when the first pencil was invented, and dinosaurs still roamed the earth.

 

[BellaWrites234]

Thank you thank you.

 

[ragal2]

.

 

[AUWriter]

I am just happy to see it is not me. I submitted my first story, it was up within 24 hours. The next day I submitted another, and then a third the following day, both of these are still sitting in "pending", and both keep having the dates changed. I thought I was going crazy when I saw they had only been up a couple of days when I was sure I posted them a week ago! Okay, if it's not just me I can live with it. Glad I checked here.

 

[ragal2]

I am convinced other writers had the same issue but they didn't notice it, elected to 'wait and see,' or gave up...

 

[Lechedeamor1312]

Late May had about a day or two turn around. Now I'm sitting on the next two chapters submitted June 2nd. Both day pending one says June 4th the other June 6th. But still no approval yet.

 

[ragal2]

It would be nice if Manu or Laurel explain why there are so many issues we do not understand.
Don't misunderstand me - They may have totally reasonable explanations.
However, authors have the right to know what to expect when they send stories.