The now fully official Author’s Hangout Halloween 2025 competition support thread

[IndigoWylde]

I'm going to try something this year. I know I always promise myself I'll write, but I almost never do. I was all spit and vinegar, but then I messed up my submission for the 750 word contest. Well, let's see if I can last 10 rounds with the old inner critic!

 

[BryanRichardson]

Yeah, but now it has been most of two whole days.

One accepted for 10/2!

The other was rejected for violating guidelines. I sort of expected that it would be rejected, but I had hopes. Now to rewrite it…

And finish the other story I want in for Halloween…

 

[EmilyMiller]

Sure did. It was already most of the way there. I just had to make a few minor Halloween tweaks. Just doing the final edits now.

Just as I was asked…

It’s totally fine to repurpose an earlier work. And - as I said above - it doesn’t have to be set on Halloween. It doesn’t even have to be supernatural, so long as it’s spooky.

 

[Duleigh]

It’s totally fine to repurpose an earlier work. And - as I said above - it doesn’t have to be set on Halloween. It doesn’t even have to be supernatural, so long as it’s spooky.

*trying desperately to add spooky into a Discwold fanfiction*

I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I'm going to try something this year. I know I always promise myself I'll write, but I almost never do. I was all spit and vinegar, but then I messed up my submission for the 750 word contest. Well, let's see if I can last 10 rounds with the old inner critic!

That’s the spirit

 

[WittyUserName]

Just as I was asked…

It’s totally fine to repurpose an earlier work. And - as I said above - it doesn’t have to be set on Halloween. It doesn’t even have to be supernatural, so long as it’s spooky.

Mine will be supernatural, but it won't be set on Halloween. I'm hoping to submit on the third since I'll be on vacation for a couple weeks. Bad timing for this one.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Mine will be supernatural, but it won't be set on Halloween. I'm hoping to submit on the third since I'll be on vacation for a couple weeks. Bad timing for this one.

Good luck with the approval process

 

[WittyUserName]

Good luck with the approval process

I did have a story post a couple of days ago, but I've definitely noticed all the threads about the issues. That worries me.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I did have a story post a couple of days ago, but I've definitely noticed all the threads about the issues. That worries me.

The majority of stories are fine. The issue is that recently a more significant minority have got stuck and stayed stuck.

 

[UntoldDepths]

Looks like mine has passed the test. In for posting on the 2nd.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Looks like mine has passed the test. In for posting on the 2nd.

Yay

 

[Duleigh]

It doesn’t even have to be supernatural, so long as it’s spooky.

Does Eerie count? If not, I can do Spooky/Eerie or even Erie/Eerie

 

[EmilyMiller]

Does Eerie count? If not, I can do Spooky/Eerie or even Erie/Eerie

If it’s Superior Erie

 

[WittyUserName]

If it’s Superior Erie

I've never done a supernatural story before, I'm nervous about this one! We'll see how it goes.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I've never done a supernatural story before, I'm nervous about this one! We'll see how it goes.

Me neither, then I wrote Off The Shoulder and here we are 13 stories later, plus some others in the genre.

 

[Duleigh]

If it’s Superior Erie

Hmmm... In that case I have to Huron up and get writing!

 

[DEFCOM5]

Quick questions for the seasoned authors:
1) For a newbie like me (7 stories published, 1 in limbo, 2 more in the wing one the one in limbo is published), is it worth it to publish a contest story? I know the plus is added exposure but I have no illusions about my writing skills. There are tons of better and experienced writers on this site. I am afraid of making a fool out of myself, to get negative exposure.
2) Does the story need to be published as a Sci-fi/supernatural story? I have never written such a story.
3) Will it fly if it not related to Halloween but is supernatural/magical?

Sorry for the newbie questions

 

[Trionyx]

Quick questions for the seasoned authors:
1) For a newbie like me (7 stories published, 1 in limbo, 2 more in the wing one the one in limbo is published), is it worth it to publish a contest story? I know the plus is added exposure but I have no illusions about my writing skills. There are tons of better and experienced writers on this site. I am afraid of making a fool out of myself, to get negative exposure.
2) Does the story need to be published as a Sci-fi/supernatural story? I have never written such a story.
3) Will it fly if it not related to Halloween but is supernatural/magical?

Sorry for the newbie questions

1) Yes.
2) No.
3) Yes.

 

[NuclearFairy]

Soo, my entry for the contest got submitted today, but, I have contest aversions, and social anxieties, and I already want to delete it, also, I just cannot seem to stop using commas...

 

[EmilyMiller]

Quick questions for the seasoned authors:
1) For a newbie like me (7 stories published, 1 in limbo, 2 more in the wing one the one in limbo is published), is it worth it to publish a contest story? I know the plus is added exposure but I have no illusions about my writing skills. There are tons of better and experienced writers on this site. I am afraid of making a fool out of myself, to get negative exposure.
2) Does the story need to be published as a Sci-fi/supernatural story? I have never written such a story.
3) Will it fly if it not related to Halloween but is supernatural/magical?

Sorry for the newbie questions

What @Trionyx said

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

Quick questions for the seasoned authors:
1) For a newbie like me (7 stories published, 1 in limbo, 2 more in the wing one the one in limbo is published), is it worth it to publish a contest story? I know the plus is added exposure but I have no illusions about my writing skills. There are tons of better and experienced writers on this site. I am afraid of making a fool out of myself, to get negative exposure.
2) Does the story need to be published as a Sci-fi/supernatural story? I have never written such a story.
3) Will it fly if it not related to Halloween but is supernatural/magical?

Sorry for the newbie questions

1.) It might be a rollercoaster, but rollercoasters are fun!
2.) Nope. Any category is fine.
3.) Opinions vary, but I think you’ll be okay. Readers looking for a Halloween connection may rate accordingly, but I think your concept matches the spirit of the season.

 

[DEFCOM5]

Thank you for the feedback.

I guess that I will try to convince myself to humiliate myself and submit a Halloween 2025 story. May be I won't finish last. One can dream.

I have several ideas swirling in my head but none of them feel good enough based on what I have read on this thread.

 

[BryanRichardson]

Quick questions for the seasoned authors:
1) For a newbie like me (7 stories published, 1 in limbo, 2 more in the wing one the one in limbo is published), is it worth it to publish a contest story? I know the plus is added exposure but I have no illusions about my writing skills. There are tons of better and experienced writers on this site. I am afraid of making a fool out of myself, to get negative exposure.

“As Ogg always told us, there is an advantage to entering stories in one of Literotica's themed contests. Apart from the possibility of winning, your story gets far more exposure and attention than it would normally do.”
There are lots of worse writers who have published stories on this site, too.
Those more experienced writers were once newbies.
Unless your real name is DEFCOM5, who cares about negative exposure? It it all goes bad (and it won’t) just create a new profile.

2) Does the story need to be published as a Sci-fi/supernatural story? I have never written such a story.

“scary stuff, costumes, Halloween traditions (trick-or-treating, etc.), etc.”
“Bring out your masks, candies, and creepy accessories, and prepare to put a spell on your readership.”
If you want to do sci-if/fantasy, do that. Erotic horror would work great, too. Every category fits. How-to: carve a fancy pumpkin. Essays and Reviews: your favorite scary movie, or RL Stine kids book.
Stretch yourself. Write outside your comfort zone.

3) Will it fly if it not related to Halloween but is supernatural/magical?

I’ve got a CrossDressing story publishing on 10/2, and the only magic that happens in that story is in the bedroom.
Look at previous years stories, lots of them are neither supernatural nor magical.

Just write your story, tie it into the theme somehow, and run with it.

 

[BryanRichardson]

Thank you for the feedback.

I guess that I will try to convince myself to humiliate myself and submit a Halloween 2025 story. May be I won't finish last. One can dream.

They only publish the top three, so you will tie with me for fourth place. No humiliation involved.

I have several ideas swirling in my head but none of them feel good enough based on what I have read on this thread.

Just write the story you want, it will be fine.
People will read it, some people will vote for it, and some people will comment on it. Some of those comments will even be supportive and helpful. The ones that aren’t can be ignored.

 

[Duleigh]

Quick questions for the seasoned authors:
1) For a newbie like me (7 stories published, 1 in limbo, 2 more in the wing one the one in limbo is published), is it worth it to publish a contest story? I know the plus is added exposure but I have no illusions about my writing skills. There are tons of better and experienced writers on this site. I am afraid of making a fool out of myself, to get negative exposure.
2) Does the story need to be published as a Sci-fi/supernatural story? I have never written such a story.
3) Will it fly if it not related to Halloween but is supernatural/magical?

Sorry for the newbie questions

Don't overthink it, and don't stress yourself. We're all here to have fun. Draw up something that YOU are happy with. EM is asking for spooky. Who's to say what spooky is? Supernatural/magical sounds like a good story. The only thing you have to worry about is getting the Notes to Admin right. That's the only thing that gets you into the contest.