The Official Authors' Hangout Summer Lovin' 2025 Contest Support Thread

[Voboy]

Question on the timeline.

I have a new story that fits the category. If I put the SUMMER LOVIN 2025 note to Admin in the right place, does that mean they won't start looking at them to publish until August 15?

I've been lurking around here for a bit and haven't submitted before, so I'm not sure how these contests go. Thanks for any clarification.

They'll look at them to publish as soon as you submit, approve them in the usual fashion, and then hold them for actual publication until the 15th.

If you're ready to go, and interested in posting as quickly as possible, then NOW is the time to submit. WITH the note to admin.

 

[GaryDickins]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have submitted with the note to admins, especially after reading the recent pinned post that they are sometimes running 15 days behind on reviewing submissions to publish. I don't want to miss the 9/1 cutoff because the site editors got too busy to get through everything.

If they approve it will be posted as "White-Hot Boom Boom Boom" -- a story about a chance encounter to watch Independence Day fireworks that later turns into making fireworks of their own. Semi-autobiographical with names and locations changed to protect innocent (?) or at least preserve their reputations...

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have submitted with the note to admins, especially after reading the recent pinned post that they are sometimes running 15 days behind on reviewing submissions to publish. I don't want to miss the 9/1 cutoff because the site editors got too busy to get through everything.

If they approve it will be posted as "White-Hot Boom Boom Boom" -- a story about a chance encounter to watch Independence Day fireworks that later turns into making fireworks of their own. Semi-autobiographical with names and locations changed to protect innocent (?) or at least preserve their reputations...

Congrats on submitting! I believe contest submissions are reviewed in a much quicker fashion. Assuming your story doesn’t raise any flags, you should be good to go.

 

[Voboy]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have submitted with the note to admins, especially after reading the recent pinned post that they are sometimes running 15 days behind on reviewing submissions to publish. I don't want to miss the 9/1 cutoff because the site editors got too busy to get through everything.

Historically, such delays haven't applied to contest entries. Many posters, including me, have had entries approved and posted in hours, not days.

Which implies that the contest entries are probably part of the reason for the delays... We've discussed that here frequently.

 

[Jorunn]

I extracted some lines from my upcoming sensual story, "Love Blooms in Monet's Garden", and decided to write this poem. Prose Poetry has many poetic characteristics, but without stanzas. As background, Victor Hugo proclaimed Rouen to be the 'city of one hundred spires."

One day, on a Lit forum board, chimed Melissababy, "Prose Poetry", she said, "few can do well." Why not, I thought, give it a go? Just maybe...

A late night stroll, the perfect muse, searching for words I might infuse. The City of Rouen, transformed by darkness. The Ordinary, overlooked in day, now painted with intriguing patterns of light and shadow. Simple things, devoid of competition, caught my eye. A lighted fountain, illuminated rooftops, neon lures beckoning, the aureate glow of iconic iron street lamps. Faint sounds tugged my ear. A train's distant rumble, ship's horns passing on the Seine, echoes of street performer applause, far away laughter, strolling accordion airs, and the clatter of heels on cobblestone, hastening to a romantic encounter. Passing a flower bed, drooping petals revealed their acquaintance with night. Both intoxicating, they beckon you, inviting a sensual touch, creating moments to be savored. Yet each ephemeral, for when one awakens, the other sleeps.

Passing by the Abbey of Saint Ouen, high above, part of Hugo's tally, rising spires bathed in light. Set aflame by Viking hordes, little was spared in century nine. Yet the old church's Gothic mantle, rose again as heavenly shrine. The Abbey grounds, abaft the church, a green oasis amidst the bustle. A rabbit cowered beneath thicket, frozen by unexpected approach. Two steps further, a scamper to safety. Within dense trees, the hoot of an owl, announcing an intruder, as unseen wings fluttered away. Not ten paces further, a blur of motion, a furry tail darts away in hustle. Perhaps a squirrel? Perhaps a fox? My night vision paled next to that of my lucifugal kin. Wild and free in newfound darkness, my long hidden spirit emerged. Arriving home, I shunned all light. Undressing in darkness, a naked reveal, through half-open curtains, a flicker too bright. Fleeing nocturnal interloper, daring to threaten my lair, I leaped into bed, beneath a thin blanket, safe from would-be predators. Drifting into slumber, a silent prayer, to remember my Poetry of the Night, so when I awaken, come morning's light, I shall write.

 

[PapaRomantic]

My story "County Fair" has been accepted and will be published on the 15th.

 

[getnakedgoswimming]

Just submitted mine as well. Inspired by John Cheever’s “The Swimmer” and a recent trip to Fire Island. Titled “The Cherry Grove Swimmer”. I’m excited for people to read it (as long as it’s accepted!)

 

[Trionyx]

Is it too early to submit my Halloween story?

 

[BryanRichardson]

Is it too early to submit my Halloween story?

Probably? Submit it and let us know what happens…
8^)

 

[FrancesScott]

I’m hoping to submit something and to find out what all this competition fuss is all about. I’m about 7,000 words into what will be my longest story here. Hopefully I get it finished in time.

 

[mrs_mackenzie]

I'm somewhere about halfway through an Erotic Horror effort for this contest. I haven't tried that category before so we'll see how it comes along.

 

[PapaRomantic]

Just submitted mine as well. Inspired by John Cheever’s “The Swimmer” and a recent trip to Fire Island. Titled “The Cherry Grove Swimmer”. I’m excited for people to read it (as long as it’s accepted!)

Obviously swimming is an important topic for you, given your Lit handle. Looking forward to reading it!

 

[Actingup]

I submitted mine a few days ago and it was accepted within a couple of days. It's set on the Mornington Peninsula, a summer / Christmas holiday spot south of Melbourne, Australia, over a sixty year period from the 60s until current day. I had fun looking up some historical details - what date AC/DC played a small community hall there in 1976 and the likely setlist - what the weather was like on particular key days - what the cricket scores were for various matches over the Australian summers, and weaving bits into the story. My first male/female incest - we'll see how it goes (and it's not eligible for a prize, so this is 'just for fun').

 

[Norway_1705]

I sent my short and humble tale today. Let's hope it doesn't come out before the 15th! I put SUMMER LOVIN 2025 in the Admin box, I hope that's enough.
Sorry!
Why do I always apologize? My kind and professional petite psychotherapist still can't understand it.

 

[Jorunn]

I sent my short and humble tale today. Let's hope it doesn't come out before the 15th! I put SUMMER LOVIN 2025 in the Admin box, I hope that's enough.
Sorry!
Why do I always apologize? My kind and professional petite psychotherapist still can't understand it.

That’s all I did too. You should be fine. My story went in today as well. Karma?

 

[Norway_1705]

Oh my dear Jorunn! .... Some say that on the night of August 10, there are more shooting stars in the sky (Saint Lawrence/Saint Laurent for the Catholic Church: but also the day Jacques Cartier discovered the great Canadian river).

I don't know if it's true (about the stars, not the river!) because I spent the whole night correcting my text... and yet it is full of mistakes.
Sorry! Now I realize that I'm apologizing all the time. I apologize. Oh, crap...

 

[Jorunn]

Oh my dear Jorunn! .... Some say that on the night of August 10, there are more shooting stars in the sky (Saint Lawrence/Saint Laurent for the Catholic Church: but also the day Jacques Cartier discovered the great Canadian river).

I don't know if it's true (about the stars, not the river!) because I spent the whole night correcting my text... and yet it is full of mistakes.
Sorry! Now I realize that I'm apologizing all the time. I apologize. Oh, crap...

You are quite a funny guy, and I appreciate your knowledge of history, folklore, and geography. Don't apologize, keeping moving forward. I look forward to reading your new story, like the earlier ones. I'll leave you with a sentence from my upcoming story:

"À cœur vaillant, rien n'est impossible. To a valiant heart, nothing is impossible."

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Getting close to Go day, isn't it?

 

[Voboy]

I had fun looking up some historical details - what date AC/DC played a small community hall there in 1976 and the likely setlist - what the weather was like on particular key days - what the cricket scores were for various matches over the Australian summers, and weaving bits into the story.

This is exactly the kind of shit I LOVE to get right. Kudos!

 

[TheLobster]

Submitted mine only about an hour ago and it has already been waved through :O



It's my longest contest entry, at 29k words. Might be like my 2nd or 3rd longest standalone story overall.

Fun fact: when I originally conceived it, I actually thought it's gonna fit into LW and was fully prepared to stir that hornets' nest if it came to it. The plot bunnies led me elsewhere, though (some would say astray), and in the end the LW-worthy aspects were downplayed enough that I felt First Time is an obvious choice.

Hopefully I get enough votes since it seems like a pretty dead category

 

[Actingup]

Submitted mine only about an hour ago and it has already been waved through :O

View attachment 2557621

It's my longest contest entry, at 29k words. Might be like my 2nd or 3rd longest standalone story overall.

Fun fact: when I originally conceived it, I actually thought it's gonna fit into LW and was fully prepared to stir that hornets' nest if it came to it. The plot bunnies led me elsewhere, though (some would say astray), and in the end the LW-worthy aspects were downplayed enough that I felt First Time is an obvious choice.

Hopefully I get enough votes since it seems like a pretty dead category

You shouldn’t have any issue getting enough votes - published at the start of the contest and on the ‘starters’ list. Good luck with it!

 

[dirk2024]

I'm somewhere about halfway through an Erotic Horror effort for this contest. I haven't tried that category before so we'll see how it comes along.

I find that category intriguing since the two terms don't seem to go together. I guess I should read one or two of them.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I find that category intriguing since the two terms don't seem to go together. I guess I should read one or two of them.

Really? Some think Dracula was rather erotic.

Jack The Ripper was a crime story that dealt with some really nasty things, but the victims were sex workers, no?

 

[Voboy]

I find that category intriguing since the two terms don't seem to go together. I guess I should read one or two of them.

They're FUN to write.

 

[Actingup]

I find that category intriguing since the two terms don't seem to go together. I guess I should read one or two of them.

Out of interest, from ‘How to break the literotica top list’ by @Tink4Fairy:

Erotic Horror

A misunderstood category if there ever was one... Perhaps it's a pet peeve of mine, but there should be a sign on the door: No Vampires and Werewolves Allowed. Those should go into the non-human category. But unfortunately, you'll find lots of Anne Rice wannabe's here along with your "I'm not a dog, I'm a werewolf!" stories. True Erotic Horror should encompass both eroticism and horror, in a way that's not always titillating, but should at the very least be shocking and—here's the important part—integral to the story. If you can take the sex out, and still have the horror, it's not really erotic horror. Okay, down off my soapbox. How do you write a toplist story in this category? Make it scary and horrific, make sure the sex and horror are somehow related, and make it a good story. Erotic horror readers are truly looking for a story, not just titillation. A great example of this is Scold's Bridle by BlackShanglan.