The 2026 [lit] 750 Word Project Support Thread

[Duleigh]

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The 8th Annual 750 Word Project Support Thread

In 2019, author jezzaz wondered:

Is it possible to write a complete story in exactly 750 words? That's the minimum limit that Literotica will accept, and after talking among ourselves, some of the writers on Lit decided to see if we could do it. After all, it's 750 words, right? How hard could it be? It's not like editing it is going to take long, after all.
[...]
It turns out it's harder than you might think to tell a story and have it mean anything in 750 words. But you can judge for yourself, when the fruits of our labors will be posted.

And thus, the Literotica 750 Word Story Challenge was born. Write the shortest story that Literotica will accept in the shortest month that Literortica allows, Febuary. It's quite a task to attempt without falling to the temptation of spreading the story over several 750-word entries, so chapters do not fit the spirit of the challenge.

This challenge gives authors a chance to play with ideas, improving their skills and (most importantly) having fun with words. Some of the challenge stories are developed into longer works. (One of mine is now a novel) One of the reasons Laurel and Manu started Literotica is as a tribute to our love of words. To see writers of all skill levels playfully enjoying this challenge (and all challenges, including the challenge of constructing any story!) makes them smile.

To accommodate the large volume of entries, participants may enter their 750-word tale any time in February 2026.

On March 1st, the full list of all challenge stories will be posted under the Literotica account. (Follow Literotica to be notified of that and all other challenges and contests!)

This challenge is open to all - longtime Literotica authors or brand-new writers, in any story category. To be a part of this challenge, you must:

• Write a story that is EXACTLY 750 words by Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Literotica Control Panel Editor count - no more, no less. Story must be 750 words EXCLUDING title, intro text, description, tags, etc. Word count includes story text only.
• Copy and paste this phrase into the Note To Admin section of the submission form: "750 WORD PROJECT". Please copy and paste this so that a typo doesn't keep your story from participating!
• Copy and paste this phrase into the Tags section of the submission form: "750 WORD PROJECT"
• Submit your story in any story category February 1st-28th.

Is it possible to write a story in only 750 words? It's a true challenge that tests your vocabulary skills and once you get the story complete, a second story follows. It's a word puzzle that's a lot of fun to solve, and you have a lot of help here from myself and other authors who have completed the event.

Some readers don't understand the event; therefore It is allowable (and encouraged) to set reader's expectations with an introduction line that reads something like:
This story was written for the 2025 Literotica 750 Word Challenge, below this line are exactly 750 words:

This thread is to reach out to each other for support, suggestions, and good-natured ribbing. Please keep in mind that this is a challenge, it is not a contest.
Please, no wagering.


For more information on Author-Organized Challenges, see this thread.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Is it that time of year again ?

 

[Duleigh]

Yep. I got the go ahead from Mama Chloe!

 

[EmilyMiller]

Yep. I got the go ahead from Mama Chloe!

Have to think about some image prompts again…

 

[iwatchus]

I wrote one for this during the summer to get out of a mini writers block. I have been saving it for this event. Maybe I will write another one or two by the time of the event

 

[ICantLeafYou]

I had a good time doing it this year, I'll definitely do this again.

 

[Omenainen]

I'll probably do one. Then I said that last year, and didn't follow through, so we'll see.

 

[Duleigh]

I'll keep bumping this thread so it will stay visible. Then in January we'll start pushing for writers, especially folks who never wrote before. This is a perfect exercise for new writers.

 

[Djmac1031]

I already have two written.

One of them will be an essay: How To Write A 750 Word Story In 750 Words.

Spoiler alert: My main advice will be the point i always make whenever this one comes around:

A 750 word story still needs to be a complete story and not simply read as the set up to something that should be much longer.

 

[Duleigh]

How To Write A 750 Word Story In 750 Words

Absolutely Perfect! That should be on the top of the list

A 750 word story still needs to be a complete story and not simply read as the set up to something that should be much longer.

Even Perfecter! That's the toughest lesson for some to learn. I don't know if you were here for the "I want chapters" flaming I got a couple of years ago... I need to add that to the instructions above.

 

[Trionyx]

Even Perfecter! That's the toughest lesson for some to learn. I don't know if you were here for the "I want chapters" flaming I got a couple of years ago.

‘Perfect’ is perfect and there can be no degrees of perfection. If something is ‘perfecter’ or ‘more perfect,’ then the perfect item to which you are comparing clearly wasn’t perfect. I realize your use of this term was in jest, but I had to mention this to keep my father from turning in his grave.

The US constitution uses ‘a more perfect union’ in its preamble to the screams of horror from language purists.

Another term which should not have comparative modifiers is ‘unique.’

OK, I’ll get off my grammar-Nazi soap box now before the rotten tomatoes fly.

 

[Duleigh]

‘Perfect’ is perfect and there can be no degrees of perfection.

I should have said Gooder?

 

[Omenainen]

‘Perfect’ is perfect and there can be no degrees of perfection. If something is ‘perfecter’ or ‘more perfect,’ then the perfect item to which you are comparing clearly wasn’t perfect. I realize your use of this term was in jest, but I had to mention this to keep my father from turning in his grave.

The US constitution uses ‘a more perfect union’ in its preamble to the screams of horror from language purists.

Another term which should not have comparative modifiers is ‘unique.’

OK, I’ll get off my grammar-Nazi soap box now before the rotten tomatoes fly.

Add a few more word like that and you’ll have a 750 ready to post.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I've got one bebopping around in my noggin. I'm in.

 

[IWroteThis]

I'll keep bumping this thread so it will stay visible. Then in January we'll start pushing for writers, especially folks who never wrote before. This is a perfect exercise for new writers.

I created my account in February 2024 specifically to participate in the 750 Word Project.

One story from that project still carries the HOT icon. Unfortunately, another from that project continues to be my lowest rated story by a wide margin. I would delete it and/or rewrite it, but I rushed it for the project and it deserves that low rating, so I keep it around to remind me to slow down and do it right.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Another term which should not have comparative modifiers is ‘unique.’

You can be almost unique. If there is just you and another person who share a characteristic and they are seriously unwell .

 

[Aoife_from_Ulster]

I am thrilled to see this post this morning. Personally ihd a wonderful time writing the 750:challenge last year. It was my first year participating but definitely not my last. Thank you cal.

It’s time to pour another coffee and start thinking

 

[Duleigh]

I realize your use of this term was in jest

I like to think that I am merely following in the footsteps of George Orwell when he brilliantly summed up socialism with the words:

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others

The word equal should never have a comparative modifier. George Orwell uses it to drive home a bitter truth, I on the other hand will use something like that as a punchline because I love wordplay. I have a huge volume of the fun Terry Pratchett had with the English language. I have to avoid using Sir Terry's punes [SIC] or my story ends up on the back of a sea turtle flying through space.

 

[lovecraft68]

Going to be unpopular here but...

Considering the site is already having publishing delays can something be put in place to limit the entries or are people going to be flooding the site as many as they can write? The fact that in general readers reaction to them has been less than stellar further makes the case for a limit.

People padding their story file is unfair to the other folks trying to get actual stories out

 

[iwatchus]

My vote would be no. I think encouraging people to write for this is good for the new writers (like me). Hopefully the publishing delays will be minimal by then -- or the site has bigger things to worry about.

And I have no idea how to differentiate padding their story list from trying to get actual stories out.

I guess I could imagine encouraging only a single submission per writer, but I would vote against that as well.

 

[Duleigh]

Considering the site is already having publishing delays can something be put in place to limit the entries or are people going to be flooding the site as many as they can write?

I take it that you are volunteering to be the arbitor of who can post a story and who can't. Fine. Give me your email address and I'll make sure all writers who want to participate send you their stories so you can review them and determine if they are worthy of being published

The fact that in general readers reaction to them has been less than stellar further makes the case for a limit.

Looking at the scores coming out of LW, your words are actually making a better argument to close down Loving Wives. I think that's a great idea. Do you want to tell Laurel or should I?
This is a WRITERS exercise, not an appeal to readers. If anyone, we are writing for other writers.

People padding their story file is unfair to the other folks trying to get actual stories out

I'm not sure that you've ever read a 750-word story, but padding is not the object. 750-word stories tend to be lean. Padding would drive them over the 750-word target
I take it you have decided that you are the mediator of all that is fair also. This is an exercise to give new writers a chance to exercise their skill. 750 words looks like an easy target for a new writer. For the experience writer it gives them a worth while exercise to make their dialog crisp and their graphical descriptions to be lean.

And honestly, you're complaining about a publishing slowdown, so you complain about the very shortest stories that can be written? Seriously?