Story verification times

Quote by MicaMeesha

currently ben waiting a week for a story to be approved. As a new author to the site this does not encourage me to want to publish here. Also add the fact that to improve my approval time seems to require me to buy a platinum membership. Really? I effectively have to pay to get my stories published?

I understand your frustration. But, no matter what site you post on, there will be a wait. I've posted on many and it's just the way it is because every site has to screen them before they can risk allowing them to be seen.

If I may give you a reason to stay, it's this.

The other sites I've been on lack the community we have here. Yes, you can post there but you likey won't get many comments and feed back for your effort. Our two largest competitors will offer more recorded views because we don't record the views of non-members, but their readership rarely if even leave any kind of comment letting you know they appreciate your work. And the truth is you are more likely to get trolled than any other response to your work.

Also, while both of those sites have a forum, they are not well connected to your profile page and this creates a disconnect between you as a writer and the posts you make.

Our membership is a community. That is and has always been a strength of Lush and why I've been here for so long. You will make friends here, friends whose work you will look forward to reading and who will also do the same for yours. No other site compares to our memberships community and believe me, I've looked.

So, please be patient. And yes, a Platinum or gold will help, after all, membership has its privileges.

In the meantime, make some friends. Engage in the forums or post pics on your profile. When you do, your friends will see them and it's a great way to make new ones. I hope you stick it out. You won't regret it

Couldn’t agree more. Ive made lots of interesting friends from across the globe. I have had masses of support and advice, mainly from patient, always encouraging moderators. I am sure I am notorious for my incorrect use of commas. They probably groan when they see a submission from me in the never ending queue. 🤣 I’ve NEVER had a bitchy, or unpleasant comment from anyone. That is precious !

I've only started submitting stories on LushStories kind of recently. And honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started putting my stories on here. Definitely wasn't expecting to receive any comments or feedback. I think I submitted a story, and then forgot that I did. And so you can imagine my surprise when I logged back in one day, and saw so many positive comments. Which was and is very much appreciated. But because of that, there was about a month between my stories.

I apologize to any of the mods or whoever I've interacted with, when I asked how long it generally took for stories to be published. Maybe I came across as a little too gung-ho, as well as impatient

Quote by Hughtheman

I've only started submitting stories on LushStories kind of recently. And honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started putting my stories on here. Definitely wasn't expecting to receive any comments or feedback.

Welcome to the wonderful writing world of Lush. Like you when my first story came out I was buzzing and thrilled with the response. That feeling has never left. I never take it for granted and try to respond to everyone. I too didn't fully appreciate the dedicated work the Mods do. I will make a point of looking for your story. May you continue to polish your skills .

Quote by MicaMeesha

currently ben waiting a week for a story to be approved. As a new author to the site this does not encourage me to want to publish here. Also add the fact that to improve my approval time seems to require me to buy a platinum membership. Really? I effectively have to pay to get my stories published?

No you don't need to pay to get your stories published, but this is a moderated site that has some standards, so it's gonna take a while—too long in my opinion. There are other sites that'll give you that instant gratification, with no mods that review your story. Yeah blowing money on a membership here, will expedite your approval times, if it's that important. But it's not a race, there's no real benefit to how fast a story goes live and the only folks who'll know exactly how long it took, but you and the mods. You just gotta be patient. Us peasants get our turn eventually.

My last approved story was in July 2024 and there are two later submissions that are flagged with "you already have submitted a story". Is there a way to see which story is causing the backlog?

Quote by rdodger
My last approved story was in July 2024 and there are two later submissions that are flagged with "you already have submitted a story". Is there a way to see which story is causing the backlog?

You submitted Missionaries today, so the system won't allow you to submit another until that one has been moderated.

Quote by wxt55uk

Thank you for taking the time to answer WW.

Not expecting an answer, just throwing this idea out there for thought...

Rather than the admin approaching and searching for new moderators, why not do the reverse?

Have keen LS members (not just authors) answer a well-worded LS forum advert. Doing it this way may unearth new talent. After all, you don't have to be a fantastic writer to be a good, well-balanced, thick-skinned moderator. 🙄😊

I agree with you. Being a decent writer doesn’t automatically make someone a good editor or story moderator. I actually hate the editing part. By the third read-through, my patience is gone and I don’t even notice the mistakes anymore, so I usually ask people for help. A good editor or moderator needs strong language skills and a solid backbone, the ability to not take things personally. People aren’t happy when their work gets rejected, and some of them aren’t exactly kind about it.

Chet, when he's waiting for a new story to get approved: Fer Chrissake, there hasn't been a new story published for hours; what's the holdup? Only 14 stories published yesterday? Sheesh!

Chet, when his story was published last night, North American West Coast time: Sweet, my story was at the top of the main page for 9 hours, and it's still on the main page because there have been only 14 stories published today! 😅

Quote by Chet_Morton

Chet, when he's waiting for a new story to get approved: Fer Chrissake, there hasn't been a new story published for hours; what's the holdup? Only 14 stories published yesterday? Sheesh!

Chet, when his story was published last night, North American West Coast time: Sweet, my story was at the top of the main page for 9 hours, and it's still on the main page because there have been only 14 stories published today! 😅

I believe you found what scientists would call "The LushStories Paradox" lol

On a similar note, there must be a ton of people submitting their stories lately. Plus the advent going on. I'm wondering if I made a "mistake" by submitting one of my own stories recently. Maybe I should've waited until the new year lol

Hey everyone, just a heads up. If you add a cover pic to an existing story, the site does not show the verifiers that no changes were made to the story itself, so we'd have to go over the entire story again as if it's new. As everyone knows, the story queue is insane, so we won't be prioritizing those. They'll get done buuuuuut.... it'll be a bit.

The system only allows for one of your submissions in the queue at a time, so do consider this before you pull an older story to add a cover picture. Thanks for all your patience! ❤️❤️

Quote by Katherine

Hey everyone, just a heads up. If you add a cover pic to an existing story, the site does not show the verifiers that no changes were made to the story itself, so we'd have to go over the entire story again as if it's new. As everyone knows, the story queue is insane, so we won't be prioritizing those. They'll get done buuuuuut.... it'll be a bit.

The system only allows for one of your submissions in the queue at a time, so do consider this before you pull an older story to add a cover picture. Thanks for all your patience! ❤️❤️

Why I always add a note to y'all that I just changed/added the cover image

Quote by MissVixen

Why I always add a note to y'all that I just changed/added the cover image

Def appreciated and literally we have zero problem with it! We just wish it was easier to verify but it's not. :/

Quote by MissVixen

Why I always add a note to y'all that I just changed/added the cover image

to be clear, that's only for the story in the pipeline, not any drafts that are waiting, right?

Quote by Mandapanda2025

to be clear, that's only for the story in the pipeline, not any drafts that are waiting, right?

If you're submitting a full story, we moderate the cover at the same time. Katherine was highlighting how to help us if you are adding or changing a cover to an already published piece.

Things must be backed up more than ever, because I’ve had a story in the queue for two full weeks now, and it’s only for a new cover image. I sure hope I put in the moderator note that that’s the only change, which I always try to do.

I think, given the backup, I’m going to wait a couple of months before updating any more cover images. I only have five left to do anyway, so this is a good pause point.

Quote by joe71

Things must be backed up more than ever, because I’ve had a story in the queue for two full weeks now, and it’s only for a new cover image. I sure hope I put in the moderator note that that’s the only change, which I always try to do.

I think, given the backup, I’m going to wait a couple of months before updating any more cover images. I only have five left to do anyway, so this is a good pause point.

I don't see it in the queue, can you send me the title over PM?

WannabeWordsmith just took care of it, and explained it was due to some bug that sometimes assigns a story to whoever approved your last one; without putting it in the queue. Anyway, to be clear I wasn’t complaining or considering it a serious hardship, but I guess it’s good I said something because no one but me knew the story was “stuck.” Still gonna take a break for a few weeks from updating my covers, to give you all a break.

Quote by David_LeRoy

I understand your frustration. But, no matter what site you post on, there will be a wait. I've posted on many and it's just the way it is because every site has to screen them before they can risk allowing them to be seen.

If I may give you a reason to stay, it's this.

The other sites I've been on lack the community we have here. Yes, you can post there but you likey won't get many comments and feed back for your effort. Our two largest competitors will offer more recorded views because we don't record the views of non-members, but their readership rarely if even leave any kind of comment letting you know they appreciate your work. And the truth is you are more likely to get trolled than any other response to your work.

Also, while both of those sites have a forum, they are not well connected to your profile page and this creates a disconnect between you as a writer and the posts you make.

Our membership is a community. That is and has always been a strength of Lush and why I've been here for so long. You will make friends here, friends whose work you will look forward to reading and who will also do the same for yours. No other site compares to our memberships community and believe me, I've looked.

So, please be patient. And yes, a Platinum or gold will help, after all, membership has its privileges.

In the meantime, make some friends. Engage in the forums or post pics on your profile. When you do, your friends will see them and it's a great way to make new ones. I hope you stick it out. You won't regret it

Sorry, but I couldn't disagree more. Since I ceased submitting stories here at the beginning of November 2025, I have had a 50,000 word novella published, and twelve 5,000 word stories to boot at the biggest erotic literature site going. There, I have 1026 personal followers who appreciate my work, and cannot wait for more. The submission wait is mostly two or three days, whereas here it is two weeks. Those twelve stories and novella, drafted in seven chapters, are pending here but would probably take many weeks to get published. I like this site but I'm writing 2,000 to 3,000 words a day due to my wild imagination, and seeing my work gather dust is painful.

Quote by moasan
whereas here it is two weeks.

If your own stories are really taking two weeks, fair to point that out, but I hope you are not getting the two-week figure by extrapolating from my above post. That one was due to a glitch and was an extreme outlier. I have NEVER otherwise had any of my 85+ published stories take over a week, and even with the recent slowdown it’s only been taking 2-3 days. If two weeks were typical, I couldn’t very well have published six stories in a 30-day period, as I recently did.

Quote by joe71

WannabeWordsmith just took care of it, and explained it was due to some bug that sometimes assigns a story to whoever approved your last one; without putting it in the queue. Anyway, to be clear I wasn’t complaining or considering it a serious hardship, but I guess it’s good I said something because no one but me knew the story was “stuck.” Still gonna take a break for a few weeks from updating my covers, to give you all a break.

❤️ Joe, could you maybe message the big Cheeto in the big White House about maybe following your lead and doing something for the good of the whole instead of just satisfying the one.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

❤️ Joe, could you maybe message the big Cheeto in the big White House about maybe following your lead and doing something for the good of the whole instead of just satisfying the one.

What! The Flood the Zone strategy isn't good for everyone?

As a mod, based on my experience, I'd like to offer two tips to get your story passed quicker: 1. Proofread it yourself using grammarly or ms word. It costs nothing and saves both you and the moderating team time. 2. Keep stories under 4k words. Moderators have jobs and lives and limited time for a site they volunteer to help on. A 10k word story takes a long.time to read and a mod is more likely to pick up and pass four 3k stories in an evening than one 10k.

Thank you all for your hard work❤️. I sent in a story last Thursday and I was wondering when it might get approved? Thank you again.

Quote by AAnna

Thank you all for your hard work❤️. I sent in a story last Thursday and I was wondering when it might get approved? Thank you again.

I looked in the queue but I couldn't see your story, which means someone has locked it for review!

Quote by MC1982

As a mod, based on my experience, I'd like to offer two tips to get your story passed quicker: 1. Proofread it yourself using grammarly or ms word. It costs nothing and saves both you and the moderating team time. 2. Keep stories under 4k words. Moderators have jobs and lives and limited time for a site they volunteer to help on. A 10k word story takes a long.time to read and a mod is more likely to pick up and pass four 3k stories in an evening than one 10k.

If I could add to this:

Please don't submit a new story immediately after having one approved. It clogs the queue and slows down the moderating process. Give it a couple of days before submitting the next one.

I know people are anxious to get their stories published. But your readers are likely reading more than just your story. You need to give them time to read and appreciate what you and other authors have written. 😎

Quote by MC1982

I looked in the queue but I couldn't see your story, which means someone has locked it for review!

Could you gently nudge them please! Thank you again for your response

Quote by techgoddess

If I could add to this:

Please don't submit a new story immediately after having one approved. It clogs the queue and slows down the moderating process. Give it a couple of days before submitting the next one.

I know people are anxious to get their stories published. But your readers are likely reading more than just your story. You need to give them time to read and appreciate what you and other authors have written. 😎

I admit to being a little gung-ho when I first started on Lush. For some reason, I thought I needed to do that in order to keep readers interested. But I likely just annoyed people instead lol

Quote by Hughtheman

I admit to being a little gung-ho when I first started on Lush. For some reason, I thought I needed to do that in order to keep readers interested. But I likely just annoyed people instead lol

I've also been guilty of that in the past. Once I realized I was bombarding my readers with stories, I eased back. LOL.