All right. Your stories go in with bbcode, right? In that case, you can write your story in word or notepad or something, go to a regular thread, paste it into a reply on that thread, use the preview buton on the regular thread, edit as necessary, and then copy the adjusted text to paste into the story potal submission. That way, you can get some limited edit and preview abilities, while you wait for it to be put into the main interface, just don't hit submit on your random thread reply, and otherwise use the regular forum interface.

(Sorry if this has already been suggested.)