The Official Author's Hangout Summer Lovin' Contest Support Thread

[PennLady]

Just a Sunday night bump.

 

[lovecraft68]

Just a Sunday night bump.

Nice grab of the top post. Scummies is out and posting more stupidity.

 

[PennLady]

Nice grab of the top post. Scummies is out and posting more stupidity.

Ah, I hadn't even realized. Well, remember folks -- this is the real AH support thread for the real Lit contest.

 

[YDB95]

Does anyone think there's a threshold length for stories, beyond which most readers stop?

Probably, but it is a tradeoff. As others have said, those who do stick with you all the way through a long story are more likely to like it, which means a high vote among those who do vote. My longest story by far (nine pages) is also my only one that has placed in a contest thus far. On the other hand, my highest-rated story overall (which wasn't entered in any contest - as a chapter in a longer story, it wasn't eligible) was only two pages.

In other words, it's best to just go with what works for you. If it's a good story, it'll be rewarded one way or the other.

 

[MatthewVett]

So far my best contest story score-wise was a Choose Your Own-type story. I've thought about trying that again, but nothing else has inspired me to do the same sort of thing. I was thinking about doing such a story for Summer, but then this new one came along and it's going to be taking up my time and energy until the contest, I think. Still, I'm looking forward to the contest!

One little bit of inspiration that hit me that I don't think I'll be able to work into any stories soon was this neat little photo. It was an above-ground pool that these people were swimming in, but one of the walls was glass, so everyone could see inside. A few people were up against the wall, talking to people outside the pool, and of course the swimmers were skinny-dipping. If someone who unaware of the glass wall, it'd be a nice little bit of unintended exhibitionism to have them convinced to try out skinny dipping, only to get caught and have them carry on a conversation with people outside of the pool like everything's normal, unaware the glass is giving them away. Just a nice thought...

 

[sr71plt]

Unaware that the wall was glass, even. They could be fooling around with each other under water while trying to carry on a conversation above water, thinking they were fooling those lounging on the patio below them. The description of them having one conversation while they were doing something else entirely with each other underwater would make for a great story, I think. I good one, Liquid. You should write it up for the summer contest.

 

[MatthewVett]

Na, I've got my own story to work on right now. But I cast the idea out to the Literotica ocean, in the hopes it gets picked up by someone.

 

[sr71plt]

Well, I can certainly use the idea for a scene in a "next year" anthology story--if you're giving the idea away.

 

[PennLady]

a post-site maintenance bump

 

[_Lynn_]

I've written close to ten thousand words. I'm using not even half of them in this story. That reminds me why I haven't been entering the contests.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

I've written close to ten thousand words. I'm using not even half of them in this story. That reminds me why I haven't been entering the contests.

This is what happened to me last year. What started out as a short little story turned out to be much better as a longer story. I thought about chopping it, then decided against that, and finally just threw up my hands at around 13,000 words with the idea that I'd make it into a chaptered story at some point.

That some point still has not arrived.

It seems to be happening again, and I think I'll end up with a longer story than I'd intended. A much longer story. This time, however, I don't really care, and I'll submit the thing anyway, even though it is probably too long and involved for the category.

 

[_Lynn_]

This is what happened to me last year. What started out as a short little story turned out to be much better as a longer story. I thought about chopping it, then decided against that, and finally just threw up my hands at around 13,000 words with the idea that I'd make it into a chaptered story at some point.

That some point still has not arrived.

It seems to be happening again, and I think I'll end up with a longer story than I'd intended. A much longer story. This time, however, I don't really care, and I'll submit the thing anyway, even though it is probably too long and involved for the category.

I don't have a problem with it as a longer story. That isn't the problem. I just didn't like what I wrote.

 

[MatthewVett]

I have a similar problem. I wrote out a scene that lasted about a thousand words, only to finish it and realize it was pretty out-of-character, but I don't want to just delete it, so I think it's going to end up as a fantasy of his instead. Now I just need to write something more in-character when everyone in the story wants to just hop into bed together instead of being more worried.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

Bump to keep this from falling to page 2.

 

[michchick98]

And even though I'm not participating in the contest, I'll give this thread a "too close for comfort" bump.

 

[estragon]

Another bump from a non-participant (as author; will copy edit for nothing).

 

[lovecraft68]

A bump from some one who is about ready to decide his contest entry on a coin flip. Got two equally good bunnies and the muse is not choosing.

 

[sr71plt]

Why not both?

 

[lovecraft68]

Why not both?

Well because multiple entries aren't allowed that's why!

Oh, wait a minute, this is a real contest, not a fake one.

Hmmm, you pose a good question, why not? Its a ways off, I could do both and keep up with my other crap.

I'll just flip for who's first then.

 

[ILmonamour]

I'm considering entering a short written during a slump, but think it may need far more 'beach' mentions than it already has. Considering it has a summer sunset ending, so well see.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I'm considering entering a short written during a slump, but think it may need far more 'beach' mentions than it already has. Considering it has a summer sunset ending, so well see.

You know, the summer connection can be pretty tenous.

 

[estragon]

I'm considering entering a short written during a slump, but think it may need far more 'beach' mentions than it already has. Considering it has a summer sunset ending, so well see.

Ilmonamour, delighted to hear you'll be entering the Summer Lovin'.

 

[ILmonamour]

You know, the summer connection can be pretty tenous.

Its complete, just needs a bikini here, a sarong there. For the most part should be okay. But I completely agree.

Ilmonamour, delighted to hear you'll be entering the Summer Lovin'.

E~I'll send it your way once I'm done with the touch ups. Its on the same level as a 'beach read' so it'll be über girly and romantic aka chick lit-esque.

 

[TxRad]

An early morning bump

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I came up with a Loving Wives story a couple nights ago that will work great (in my opinion) for the Summer Loving, but it will be slathered with hate mail/comments, so I'm going to triple coat my armor.