The Official Author's Hangout 2013 Winter Holidays Contest Support Thread

[xelliebabex]

moment of magic 2003

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/12/31/article-0-007666231000044C-485_468x300.jpg

Can't have a rugby conversation without some Brit rubbing that moment in Hehehe

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Can't have a rugby conversation without some Brit rubbing that moment in Hehehe

we could always talk about the last game.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

I am an Australian and I have no problem writing a holiday story set in the summer. I have never been rejected for slanting my stories slightly differently for competitions, my Halloween story was far from the typical spooky american type of Halloween story and still managed a red H thanks to the sweeps.

The one competition I won was actually an 8 page story. I think longer stories do well in competitions on literotica. Though 8 pages is a rarity for me. Write whats right for you not what you think the audience wants because you can't make everyone happy. There will always be someone who feels it is their right to complain as if they paid for the story rather than being grateful they got a good read free of charge. You will find there are quite a few of us Antipodeans around so you certainly aren't alone.

My advice is revel in being in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is better in Summer, if the northern hemisphere could afford it they would all come down to have Christmas by the pool

Yes- I don't mind that halloween is celebrated- I feel though that I simply don't relate to it. It's not in my experience. If I were to adopt a new holiday I'd take on the one celebrated in India where people throw dye at each other and colours such as green or blue are added to all those precious in His sight. ..

I too think longer stories have done well in competitions on Lit. I'm not sure it means longer stories are better though. I largely agree with Pilot on that. It is funny that people think they have a right to complain in spite of the fact they are free. I refuse to take them seriously. I know I'll never win a comp- it doesn't worry me who wins, I read this board and am often surprised by the unpleasant desperation people have to win. That the site exists is some thing I'm grateful for and that it has competitions is even more wonderful. It has helped me in my continuing quest for written proficiency.

I suspect you are right that some would like a southern Christmas but I suspect more would want their northern one. Some how, I think it's all geared to the inclemency of the weather and it's disappointing to waste a perfectly good day on it.

The conundrum of which season accompanies Christmas surprised me at first. I wondered whether others shared my surprise. I hadn't thought much about it before. I'd always accepted the artificial snow and sleighs without much thought. It's difficult- different religions and no religion probably determined that it be a winter competition while the hemispheres provide the ambiguity with that. No win really.

I do write what I want. I know it is a rapid spiral inwards to be writing what others want. I like imaginative things. I'm disappointed my proficiency at writing them isn't better but that is why I'm here- to improve it.

 

[oggbashan]

I agree and in fact longer stories often reflect inadequacy in authorship= what happened to the idea of being concise and succinct?

My two entries this year are 5 and 3 Lit pages.

In previous years I have entered 50-word stories for Christmas.

This is the 50-word set for 2005:

http://www.literotica.com/s/pensive-fifties

and for 2006:

http://www.literotica.com/s/christmas-fifties

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

My two entries this year are 5 and 3 Lit pages.

In previous years I have entered 50-word stories for Christmas.

This is the 50-word set for 2005:

http://www.literotica.com/s/pensive-fifties

and for 2006:

http://www.literotica.com/s/christmas-fifties

Well, they are wonderful. Thank you for your generosity in sharing them. One story pricked its pain- number 2- Loneliness. I hate Christmas- I think then too much about my children who I lost a long time ago and my wife who's death was 10 years and one week ago. I loved the story Caroling and remembered the many years when I took people in wheelchairs to carols. It was their moment. My favourite line was "inclusion is not exclusive." You do know, I hope, that generalisations such as I made do have exceptions and that in making them I didn't intend that anyone should wear the badge. I do agree that it would probably help many if they were to write 50 word stories.

 

[oggbashan]

Well, they are wonderful. Thank you for your generosity in sharing them. One story pricked its pain- number 2- Loneliness. I hate Christmas- I think then too much about my children who I lost a long time ago and my wife who's death was 10 years and one week ago. I loved the story Caroling and remembered the many years when I took people in wheelchairs to carols. It was their moment. My favourite line was "inclusion is not exclusive." You do know, I hope, that generalisations such as I made do have exceptions and that in making them I didn't intend that anyone should wear the badge. I do agree that it would probably help many if they were to write 50 word stories.

Thank you for this.

I have written a How-To about 50-word stories: http://www.literotica.com/s/how-to-write-a-fifty-word-story

And a non-erotic version for those who want to share it off Literotica: http://www.literotica.com/s/fifty-words-how-to

And a guide to plotting flash fiction: http://www.literotica.com/s/how-to-plot-flash-fiction

 

[StrangeLife]

I've always had some problem with Christmas- the excessive expense of it and the conspicuousness of the expenditure...

Me too... but try explaining that to the kids

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

Thank you for this.

I have written a How-To about 50-word stories: http://www.literotica.com/s/how-to-write-a-fifty-word-story

And a non-erotic version for those who want to share it off Literotica: http://www.literotica.com/s/fifty-words-how-to

And a guide to plotting flash fiction: http://www.literotica.com/s/how-to-plot-flash-fiction

I hope to have a go some time soon. I'm getting through depression at the moment- an annual thing for me. I'm here because I have things to do and I'm not sure how to approach it. I find diversions help.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I tend toward that problem myself at this time of year. I've come to the conclusion that it's driven by a lack of sunlight. I know, that sounds really silly coming from a SoCal bear but there you are. Perhaps if I acknowledged a genetic need to hibernate it wouldn't matter so much but dammit, it's never cold enough here for that. So I go sit under a full spectrum light and increase my intake of vitamin D. It may help you. It does me.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

I tend toward that problem myself at this time of year. I've come to the conclusion that it's driven by a lack of sunlight. I know, that sounds really silly coming from a SoCal bear but there you are. Perhaps if I acknowledged a genetic need to hibernate it wouldn't matter so much but dammit, it's never cold enough here for that. So I go sit under a full spectrum light and increase my intake of vitamin D. It may help you. It does me.

Thank you. I suspect it is more a process of grieving but will get out into the sun tomorrow. I have a suntan already - we are entering summer now. Even the story I submitted to the competition seems depressed I think but hopefully its language is good. It's weird I guess, November I think of my wife and it lingers to Christmas when I think of my children. I wasn't aware of it until the year before last when I was told. I think people don't see their own moods so easily.

 

[TxRad]

Thank you. I suspect it is more a process of grieving but will get out into the sun tomorrow. I have a suntan already - we are entering summer now. Even the story I submitted to the competition seems depressed I think but hopefully its language is good. It's weird I guess, November I think of my wife and it lingers to Christmas when I think of my children. I wasn't aware of it until the year before last when I was told. I think people don't see their own moods so easily.

Been there, done that. Lost my wife number of years ago. Hang in there, time heals all things.

 

[DG Hear]

Have another story at the editor's. First one was Loving Wife, this one is non erotic. Should be different readers but we'll see.

 

[DieselJester]

Quick question on the rules for clarification: can it be a stand alone story within a series you're already writing? In other words you have chapters 1 thru x and you do a side story for the contest only that has little to no bearing on you main plot line.

 

[oggbashan]

Quick question on the rules for clarification: can it be a stand alone story within a series you're already writing? In other words you have chapters 1 thru x and you do a side story for the contest only that has little to no bearing on you main plot line.

If it is truly stand alone, in that you do not have to read anything else, and is NOT a chapter, then my understanding is yes.

Even if it is one of a series, as long as it is stand alone, that should be acceptable. But if the readers think you have bent the rules - your votes could reflect that.

 

[HeyAll]

I don't know about anyone else, but there seems to be a lot of new readers lately.

For the past few weeks, I've been getting Favorited by a lot of people with a November 2013 registration date.

Looks like Lit's popularity is growing, as previously mentioned.

Quick question on the rules for clarification: can it be a stand alone story within a series you're already writing? In other words you have chapters 1 thru x and you do a side story for the contest only that has little to no bearing on you main plot line.

I've asked if "Spin-Off" stories are accepted, and the answer was yes, and my story was accepted.

That seems to be what you're asking, so it would be allowed, as long as the entry is a complete story of its own.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

I don't know about anyone else, but there seems to be a lot of new readers lately.

For the past few weeks, I've been getting Favorited by a lot of people with a November 2013 registration date.

Looks like Lit's popularity is growing, as previously mentioned.






I've asked if "Spin-Off" stories are accepted, and the answer was yes, and my story was accepted.

That seems to be what you're asking, so it would be allowed, as long as the entry is a complete story of its own.

i've noticed a lot of new names on the boards, not too sure about readers. although i too have had a spurt of faves. but that could be because of a spurt of recent submissions. either way, it's all good.

 

[YDB95]

Against all odds, I just finished mine. Some of you will be very annoyed to learn it's five Lit pages. It's also fairly wordy. I can't imagine it's going to place, but it was fun to write. Welcome to Grand Island (that link won't work yet, but that's where it should be once it's approved!).

 

[harding]

Hopeful

I haven't posted in a comp in a few years, and wasn't intending to this time either, except something came to me in a kind of fever and I'm making a big push to get it finished in time to submit.

Incest (surprise, surprise) but gentle too.

 

[HeyAll]

This contest seems slower this time around. Usually there are a lot more people for Christmas.

 

[YDB95]

Perhaps there are a lot still pending (my entry is), or people are still working on them.

 

[StrangeLife]

Perhaps there are a lot still pending (my entry is), or people are still working on them.

Same goes for me... the pending thing. I'm sure there'll be more stories coming up soon.

 

[patientlee]

I'm still working.

 

[oggbashan]

I'm puzzled. I seem to be getting far more notifications of 'favorites' than I'm used to on my Winter Holiday contest entries, and most seem to be from newly-created identities.

Could it be because they are longer stories being bookmarked for a later read?

By comparison with most highly favoured authors, the numbers are very small, but three or four times my usual 1 or 2 favorites.

 

[StrangeLife]

I'm puzzled. I seem to be getting far more notifications of 'favorites' than I'm used to on my Winter Holiday contest entries, and most seem to be from newly-created identities.

Could it be because they are longer stories being bookmarked for a later read?

You shouldn't automatically jump to the least advantageous conclusion. It could also be because your stories are good.

 

[sr71plt]

Maybe there will be a big "dump" of stories in early December, when folks are done with NaNo exercise.