New GA writer's questions...

[Guest kayden]

I recently began writing and posting my first story for GA, and I had some questions to ask with regards to posting it on this website. I'm not entirely sure if this is the right forum to be posting these questions in, so I apologize in advance if I'm mistaken. Also, I apologize in advance if these questions are answered somewhere else on the site, either in other threads or in a Terms and Conditions file that I was unable to find. (The only T&C's I could find were the ones at the top of the story posting application...)

 

 

1. What exactly is the difference between an "M" rating and an "MA" rating?

 

2. What qualifies a story as "XXX" and therefore unpostable in eFiction? (Not sure if this can even be answered without violating rules of the forum, but I'm aware of certain things that the MPAA has deemed only appropriate for an NC-17 rating that I thought were ridiculous, and I want to make sure I don't cross any lines...)

 

3. What are the rules for starting a thread in eFiction Story Announcements? (I saw the rules for authors posting at the top of the forum, but the button for starting a new thread says "You're not allowed to start a new thread", or some such truck...)

 

4. What are the rules for starting a thread in the eFiction Discussion forum? Is the author supposed to assume shameless self-promotion is okay, or are we supposed to wait for a moderator or something to start a thread for us or tell us to do so?

 

5. I read on a thread somewhere that we were encouraged to post on GA first, and then allow a "grace period" of sorts before posting our stories on other sites such as Nifty. What is an appropriate grace period? A day? A week? A month? A year?

 

6. EDIT to add: Is there any chance of adding an additional genre, maybe "Drama" for example? I had to choose "Romance", which is only a very small part of my story. Not really sure people looking in the "Romance" genre will be looking for a story like mine, but it was the most relevant choice.

 

 

7. EDIT to add: Is there anything against use of drugs in stories? The only thing I saw that was strictly forbidden was adult/minor relationships, and I want to make sure that I don't put drug use in my story if it's going to cause trouble. (It will be a shame if it's not allowed, because drugs are a very real part of many peoples' lives and deserve to be a part of a story about real life, in my opinion...)

 

 

 

 

Thanks for any and all help. I hate making it obvious I'm as green as a brand new dollar bill, but I gotta do what I gotta do!

Edited December 18, 2009 by kayden

[Graeme]

Hi, Kayden,

 

I can't give definitive answers to all of your questions, but I can give it ago

1. What exactly is the difference between an "M" rating and an "MA" rating?

I've never looked into it, but in Australia an "M" rating is saying it's for mature audiences (eg. 15+) though younger people can view it. An "MA" rating means it should ONLY be viewed by someone 15+. I don't know if that's the case here, though.

2. What qualifies a story as "XXX" and therefore unpostable in eFiction? (Not sure if this can even be answered without violating rules of the forum, but I'm aware of certain things that the MPAA has deemed only appropriate for an NC-17 rating that I thought were ridiculous, and I want to make sure I don't cross any lines...)

If a story is 'porn', then it's XXX. That doesn't mean sex can't be included, but a story that is based on sex, and otherwise doesn't really have a point or a plot is generally considered to be porn.

3. What are the rules for starting a thread in eFiction Story Announcements? (I saw the rules for authors posting at the top of the forum, but the button for starting a new thread says "You're not allowed to start a new thread", or some such truck...)

You need to be a member of the Author group to be able to post eFiction story announcements. Send a PM to JSmith and ask to be put in the Author group. Once he's done that, you'll be able to post announcements in that forum.

4. What are the rules for starting a thread in the eFiction Discussion forum? Is the author supposed to assume shameless self-promotion is okay, or are we supposed to wait for a moderator or something to start a thread for us or tell us to do so?

You can create a thread to discuss your story. Please only create one thread per story, not one per chapter. Shameless self-promotion is definitely okay, but only in that forum. Don't post announcements or pointers to your story in other forums unless it's appropriate. eg. if a topic is about people wanting to read about vampire gay whales, and your story is about vampire gay whales, then it's appropriate to post in that thread with a link to your story. If the topic is about the liberation of underprivileged rich kids, then a link to your story would be inappropriate.

5. I read on a thread somewhere that we were encouraged to post on GA first, and then allow a "grace period" of sorts before posting our stories on other sites such as Nifty. What is an appropriate grace period? A day? A week? A month? A year?

That's for hosted authors While it would be nice to do so for all stories, it's not a requirement.

6. EDIT to add: Is there any chance of adding an additional genre, maybe "Drama" for example? I had to choose "Romance", which is only a very small part of my story. Not really sure people looking in the "Romance" genre will be looking for a story like mine, but it was the most relevant choice.

Sorry, but I don't think the list of genres is likely to change. Just pick the most appropriate one

7. EDIT to add: Is there anything against use of drugs in stories? The only thing I saw that was strictly forbidden was adult/minor relationships, and I want to make sure that I don't put drug use in my story if it's going to cause trouble. (It will be a shame if it's not allowed, because drugs are a very real part of many peoples' lives and deserve to be a part of a story about real life, in my opinion...)

Drugs and drug use in stories are not prohibited, but stories that glamourize drugs are generally frowned upon and may be removed.

 

 

And putting on my Anthology Coordinator hat on for a moment, please check out the next GA anthology. Submissions are due 1st March, with the theme being "I'd Never Do That". If you feel inspired, check out the submission guidelines and send in a short story

 

Good luck!

 

Graeme

GA Anthology Coordinator

[Guest kayden]

Hi, Kayden,

 

I can't give definitive answers to all of your questions, but I can give it ago

 

Wow, you didn't answer any of my questions at all with this post. /sarcasm

 

 

I've never looked into it, but in Australia an "M" rating is saying it's for mature audiences (eg. 15+) though younger people can view it. An "MA" rating means it should ONLY be viewed by someone 15+. I don't know if that's the case here, though.

 

I chose "MA" just in case, so I don't suppose I'll be banned any time soon.

 

 

 

If a story is 'porn', then it's XXX. That doesn't mean sex can't be included, but a story that is based on sex, and otherwise doesn't really have a point or a plot is generally considered to be porn.

 

So only boring stories are considered "XXX", you're saying. (Or is it the other way around?)

 

 

 

You need to be a member of the Author group to be able to post eFiction story announcements. Send a PM to JSmith and ask to be put in the Author group. Once he's done that, you'll be able to post announcements in that forum.

 

Hm, sounds like the Author group is an elitist secret society that places itself above the rank'n'file and thinks it's better than us. I'll have no part of it!

 

 

 

You can create a thread to discuss your story. Please only create one thread per story, not one per chapter. Shameless self-promotion is definitely okay, but only in that forum. Don't post announcements or pointers to your story in other forums unless it's appropriate. eg. if a topic is about people wanting to read about vampire gay whales, and your story is about vampire gay whales, then it's appropriate to post in that thread with a link to your story. If the topic is about the liberation of underprivileged rich kids, then a link to your story would be inappropriate.

 

My story is about underprivileged vampire gay whales, so I'll wait until somebody starts a topic about that, I guess...

 

 

 

That's for hosted authors While it would be nice to do so for all stories, it's not a requirement.

 

Oh, I guess I was getting a bit ahead of myself. I'll go post on Nifty and be back in a jiff!

 

 

 

Sorry, but I don't think the list of genres is likely to change. Just pick the most appropriate one

 

Okay I'm back! I really am surprised that there wasn't a genre suitable for my story, though. Am I the only one writing stories that aren't specifically romantic or humorous? Ah, thanks for the reply, anyway.

 

 

 

Drugs and drug use in stories are not prohibited, but stories that glamourize drugs are generally frowned upon and may be removed.

The drug use portrayed in my story will be anything but glamorous, so I guess I should be alright.

 

 

 

And putting on my Anthology Coordinator hat on for a moment, please check out the next GA anthology. Submissions are due 1st March, with the theme being "I'd Never Do That". If you feel inspired, check out the submission guidelines and send in a short story

 

 

No offense, but I don't do deadlines. I also don't think the words "I'd", "never", "do", and "that" should ever be in the same sentence. (Before you ask me to do ANYthing, I was just trying to be funny...)

 

 

Good luck!

Thanks! And thanks for all your answers!

Edited December 18, 2009 by kayden

[NightOwl88]

 

Hm, sounds like the Author group is an elitist secret society that places itself above the rank'n'file and thinks it's better than us. I'll have no part of it!

 

 

 

I really do hope your joking here lol. I enjoy being part of the author group myself. Its easier being part of the group because it lets you post announcements of your stories. A lot of GA members have th E-fic announcment section marked so that they get emails when some one posts, it would be benefical lol.

[Guest kayden]

I really do hope your joking here lol. I enjoy being part of the author group myself. Its easier being part of the group because it lets you post announcements of your stories. A lot of GA members have th E-fic announcment section marked so that they get emails when some one posts, it would be benefical lol.

 

 

Well, if you insist.

[Lugh]

Lugh bops you on the head and bites you on the ass... there you have learned it. Now don't make me get a pin for any swelling heads trust me, there are enough of those around here.

 

No you are not the only author to not write romance or humor, I write neither. There are other choices. Would "modern" fit your story? Seems a lot of the "authors" around here write "modern" dramtic stuff, usually with gary stu's, please tell me there are no gary stu's in your stories.

 

Anyway, I degress. Welcome aboard.

[Guest kayden]

Lugh bops you on the head and bites you on the ass... there you have learned it. Now don't make me get a pin for any swelling heads trust me, there are enough of those around here.

 

No you are not the only author to not write romance or humor, I write neither. There are other choices. Would "modern" fit your story? Seems a lot of the "authors" around here write "modern" dramtic stuff, usually with gary stu's, please tell me there are no gary stu's in your stories.

 

Anyway, I degress. Welcome aboard.

 

"Modern" is not one of the genres. There are only six genres, and they are:

 

 

Action

Adventure

Horror

Humor

Parody

Romance

 

 

My story is filed under "Modern>High School", but in the genre of "Romance" because the others were even less suitable.

 

P.S. I have no clue what "gary stu's" are. Sorry.

 

 

 

[Lugh]

herm that needs be fixed

 

makes a note