Geek Pride Day! Official Support Thread

[Etaski]

Weighing in.

TANSTAAFL58,

Star Trek is for certain one of the many heights of Geekdom (I have a Pon Farr story myself on my story list ), but this topic is quirky on Lit.

If you're including famous characters created by someone else, they have to be 18 or older in the source material, and it will be put in Celebrities/Fan-Fiction.

Even if you are using the universe but no famous characters, it will probably still end up in Celebrities. This was the case for my story--all original characters, no famous ones, the only key Star Trek words being "Vulcan" and "Pon Farr". I tried for Sci-Fi; it was moved to Celebrities and my request to change it denied.

This does not mean you can't enter your story for Geek Pride Day. We all aimed for Sci-Fi/Fantasy because that was the only way to keep the stories together on that day, but that will matter less by the end of the first week, and not at all past that point. If we have a few outliers in other categories, no problem. That's why I have my List here as a back-up.

So...

Go ahead and submit the story for the event by May 22nd if you want to contribute.

Put "Geek Pride" both as a tag and in the "Notes Field" for the admin. You can even select "Sci-Fi/Fantasy" for the category and see what happens.

Regardless of where it goes, if there's a Geek Pride tag I can search for, I can find the stories for my Final List to be posted here at this thread. It will have all authors/titles/descriptions and links to the stories.

This will make it easy for authors to post a link on their Author Bio page or other platforms where they might like to direct readers to this Anthology of Geek Celebration.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Regardless of where it goes, if there's a Geek Pride tag I can search for, I can find the stories for my Final List to be posted here at this thread. It will have all authors/titles/descriptions and links to the stories.

This will make it easy for authors to post a link on their Author Bio page or other platforms where they might like to direct readers to this Anthology of Geek Celebration.

My understanding, right from the start, is that Laurel will publish all stories simultaneously, and bundle them in a list on its own page, same as for Contest entries, so for a month or so, they'll all be together (huddled together for comfort and warmth). I guess we'll find out soon enough.

 

[Etaski]

My understanding, right from the start, is that Laurel will publish all stories simultaneously, and bundle them in a list on its own page, same as for Contest entries, so for a month or so, they'll all be together (huddled together for comfort and warmth). I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Trust me, I'd love them to be huddled together for comfort and warmth. I'll see if I can clarify.

Talking with PuckIt at the beginning in March, he told me he "wanted it to run itself" and wouldn't be pestering anybody or pressuring them to commit. That was why he wanted it in one category, because otherwise the stories could be spattered through the categories like gunshot and not really a noticeable event.

Back in April, I inquired with blackrandl1958 how those "contest/event" pages are made. It requires someone first asking Laruel very nicely, pestering authors to confirm/commit to a list (corresponding regularly, following up, sending reminders of deadlines, etc.), and then back-and-forthing with Laurel concerning the topic and entries quite a bit leading up to the day of it.

PuckIt didn't have the time or interest to do that; he was honest and said so from the start. I am not been able to see this happen, either.

But, for all we know, there are other stories that will show up from authors with whom we've had no contact. Some might not add the Geek Pride tag because they never visited the forum. And from what I've heard, we should expect no such page to be created by Laurel on this event.

So this year, I'm going to look carefully to try to compile a complete list the meticulous way. Perhaps we can make that Geeks-Only page next year, with revived interest and a different plan.

 

[weftandwarp]

Sci fi / fantasy is very restrictive and to restrict it further with geek pride makes it difficult. Then, to restrict everyone to one story reduces the volume again. To submit with no further reason than as an act of solidarity is also asking a lot.

It isn't a contest. So what is it? There should be a name for what it is and I hope it isn't called an exhibition or some thing equally arrogant.

I'm hoping it will be more difficult to manipulate the response to it. I'm wondering what would happen for one person to turn off the votes or for everyone to turn off their votes. Would there be more comments?

In a way I'd have liked it if there was an issue based topic, like feminism and blokeism, misogyny and misandry, glass ceilings and chipboard ceilings, conservation, climate change, there are so many. I think dropping Earthday was a tragedy. Earthday gave the site credibility and presented it as caring when it had a contest devoted to it. The contest gave insights as to how people dealt with the issues, not just the raw power of the issues.

I hope the concept is developed further and the insecurities are removed. Perhaps I just don't understand.

 

[SimonDoom]

Sci fi / fantasy is very restrictive and to restrict it further with geek pride makes it difficult. Then, to restrict everyone to one story reduces the volume again. To submit with no further reason than as an act of solidarity is also asking a lot.

It isn't a contest. So what is it? There should be a name for what it is and I hope it isn't called an exhibition or some thing equally arrogant.

I'm hoping it will be more difficult to manipulate the response to it. I'm wondering what would happen for one person to turn off the votes or for everyone to turn off their votes. Would there be more comments?

In a way I'd have liked it if there was an issue based topic, like feminism and blokeism, misogyny and misandry, glass ceilings and chipboard ceilings, conservation, climate change, there are so many. I think dropping Earthday was a tragedy. Earthday gave the site credibility and presented it as caring when it had a contest devoted to it. The contest gave insights as to how people dealt with the issues, not just the raw power of the issues.

I hope the concept is developed further and the insecurities are removed. Perhaps I just don't understand.

I don't really get what the objection is.

This may just be a one-off. We'll have to see what gets submitted before we know. It struck me as a great idea. Sci Fi isn't restrictive at all -- one can put a sci fi spin on just about any type of erotic story.

I sort of like the idea of having a few contests remain the same every year but otherwise trying new things as well to spice things up.

 

[Etaski]

Indeed, there is a name for this, both in the Event Announcement:

https://www.literotica.com/s/the-literotica-geek-pride-story-event

And in the OP. This is a "fun, themed writer's event."

In the case of the Geek Pride Event, think of it like an anthology without an editor. It is wide-open to anyone.

That is its greatest strength, and its greatest weakness. Nothing is guaranteed. This is a first-year attempt. We only say, "Good luck!!"

As it says in the Event Announcement:

If you've got an idea for a fun themed writers event, feel free to contact us anytime!

There is a link there which bring you directly to send a private message to Laurel, the admin of the site, to submit your own proposal.

If you have some great ideas and would like to see this concept developed further with your own preference for a theme, I urge you to step up and organize whatever is to your taste. I'm sure writers will respond well to someone standing at the helm, on whatever topic you wish.

This can be placed directly into your hands, if you but wish it and take the hilt of the sword, pulling it from the stone.

 

[Blind_Justice]

I tend to disagree. Sci-Fi and Fantasy have often enough been used as an allegory for real-world problems, going all the way back to H.G. Wells. It's an easy vehicle to use, replacing real nations with stellar empires or depicting the atrocities of war and imperialism in a medieval setting. As such you are free to put as much of a "message" into your story as you wish.

As for what this here is - it's not a competition, there are no prizes to be had except for some extra eyeballs, a clap on the shoulder by your peers and the warm and fuzzy feeling that you've written a cool story. As far as I know, this is NOT a/the replacement for Earth Day. It's just a celebration of Nerd and Geek culture, a lighthearted bit of fun. God knows, with all the very real shit hitting the fan, between corrupt politicians, seemingly neverending school shootings and environmental disasters, we have earned a bit of escapism.

 

[weftandwarp]

I don't really get what the objection is.

This may just be a one-off. We'll have to see what gets submitted before we know. It struck me as a great idea. Sci Fi isn't restrictive at all -- one can put a sci fi spin on just about any type of erotic story.

I sort of like the idea of having a few contests remain the same every year but otherwise trying new things as well to spice things up.

OOOOOOOOOOO

It isn't an objection. It is about why there may not be many entering it. I wish it well. I too like it that there are different ideas. I find it difficult to do some of the contests because, we don't do halloween, we have our winter in your summer and our summer in your winter. It adds a degree of difficulty. As well, to claim a prize one has to be in America, so, I support the idea because it is fairer. I want it to succeed. Sci fi isn't something I've had any interest in. I find too often the scenario presented takes so long before the story makes sense and I'm too impatient.
Thank you for explaining.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I tend to disagree. Sci-Fi and Fantasy have often enough been used as an allegory for real-world problems, going all the way back to H.G. Wells.

And even earlier! Gulliver's Travels was basically end-to-end political satire, though much of that isn't easily recognisable to modern readers.

 

[SimonDoom]

OOOOOOOOOOO

It isn't an objection. It is about why there may not be many entering it. I wish it well. I too like it that there are different ideas. I find it difficult to do some of the contests because, we don't do halloween, we have our winter in your summer and our summer in your winter. It adds a degree of difficulty. As well, to claim a prize one has to be in America, so, I support the idea because it is fairer. I want it to succeed. Sci fi isn't something I've had any interest in. I find too often the scenario presented takes so long before the story makes sense and I'm too impatient.
Thank you for explaining.

Ah. I didn't understand your situation, but that clarifies things for me. I'm in the US, and those issues did not occur to me.

The prize doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I can't imagine being motivated to write a story for the uncertain prospect of getting the prize money offered here. It's a tiny amount of compensation for a story. It's the recognition that counts, and that's available to anyone, anywhere.

 

[weftandwarp]

Indeed, there is a name for this, both in the Event Announcement:

https://www.literotica.com/s/the-literotica-geek-pride-story-event

And in the OP. This is a "fun, themed writer's event."

In the case of the Geek Pride Event, think of it like an anthology without an editor. It is wide-open to anyone.

That is its greatest strength, and its greatest weakness. Nothing is guaranteed. This is a first-year attempt. We only say, "Good luck!!"

As it says in the Event Announcement:

If you've got an idea for a fun themed writers event, feel free to contact us anytime!

There is a link there which bring you directly to send a private message to Laurel, the admin of the site, to submit your own proposal.

If you have some great ideas and would like to see this concept developed further with your own preference for a theme, I urge you to step up and organize whatever is to your taste. I'm sure writers will respond well to someone standing at the helm, on whatever topic you wish.

This can be placed directly into your hands, if you but wish it and take the hilt of the sword, pulling it from the stone.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I thought it was a description rather than a name. Sorry. I want it to succeed.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Submitted mine just now. Phew. Glad that's over with. Now, the unbearable agony of waiting until the first votes come in. *sigh*

On the bright side, now I can turn off my brain for a few days and procrastinate until I have to pick up either Book 2 of this new series or continue writing "Fading Stars".

Just a shameless plug and FYI: My Geek Pride Day story and my recent "Fading Stars" series take place in the same universe. So, if you want a head start or just something fun to read, try it!

Also, has anyone seen WhimsicalRepertoire recently?

 

[weftandwarp]

I tend to disagree. Sci-Fi and Fantasy have often enough been used as an allegory for real-world problems, going all the way back to H.G. Wells. It's an easy vehicle to use, replacing real nations with stellar empires or depicting the atrocities of war and imperialism in a medieval setting. As such you are free to put as much of a "message" into your story as you wish.

As for what this here is - it's not a competition, there are no prizes to be had except for some extra eyeballs, a clap on the shoulder by your peers and the warm and fuzzy feeling that you've written a cool story. As far as I know, this is NOT a/the replacement for Earth Day. It's just a celebration of Nerd and Geek culture, a lighthearted bit of fun. God knows, with all the very real shit hitting the fan, between corrupt politicians, seemingly neverending school shootings and environmental disasters, we have earned a bit of escapism.

ÒOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I agree except that adding geek/ nerd to the allegory makes it more difficult. One has to establish the story scenario then the geek scenario and then the story. Perhaps I'm not so clever.

I'm Australian. There are never prizes. It has never been a concern.

Yes, there is a need for a little bit of fun. World politics is very disconcerting at present. How people actually live in the midst of school shootings has always bewildered me. Escapism is useful.
I hope this thing will succeed so there can be more that will exercise fun and compassion. My thought is if this goes well there will be more. I'm hoping. I thought feedback is the vehicle to that.

 

[weftandwarp]

And even earlier! Gulliver's Travels was basically end-to-end political satire, though much of that isn't easily recognisable to modern readers.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOPPOPO

My Great Great Grandfather's farm was next to the island mentioned in Gulliver's Travels. His farm was bigger than the island, 70,000 acres. He had 16 strippers..........to reap the crop.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I hope the concept is developed further and the insecurities are removed. Perhaps I just don't understand.

You've over thought this.

Someone said, "Hey, it's Geek Pride day, 25th May, how about we put together an anthology (that's what we're calling this), let's make it Sci-Fi and Fantasy because that's where the geeks and nerds live, open to anybody who wants, no prize, no cigar. Let's run the mechanics like a contest so there's a list of stories all in one place."

The main difference is that all stories go live on the same day, and Etaski is going to make a list.

Why "the concept" (which makes something sound a bit grand when it's not) needs developing is beyond me - it's simple as boiling water, really, just a bit of fun. What insecurities are we talking about, scratches head? Okay, you don't like the genre? So what? It's not about "excluding" anyone, it's saying, "hey, want to join in, see what geeks and nerds get up to in their spare time, have a go if you like."

I mean, Simon's discovered octopuses are fun (might not be an octopus, but something tentacular), Loqui's worked out the orbital mechanics of a sock, and I've figured out how something can fly in a really thick atmosphere, and who knows what the others are up to. Blind Justice has written more words than Chloe, and she's gone off on a complete tangent and got lost in a French cafe.

Just writing stuff, that's all it is, something different from the usual contest cycle - which I've only ever entered twice for a similar reason to yours - they're all ass-about-face for Australia, and I don't care about Halloween or Thanksgiving.

It's a bunch of stories, is all it is, not concept art.

 

[TANSTAAFL58]

Thanks everyone for your help. I will post it anyway in a couple of days, under Sci-fi/Fantasy, with the tags and see what happens.

My story involves Pon Farr, Orions, Klingons, a Starship that was only mentioned a couple of times (the Hood), and a single identified character, from Discovery. I noticed that, so far, no one has gone there before, so to speak. No, not her, the other one. What can I say, RAH would approve of a Redhead. (He also created Tribbles, as Flat Cats).

Yes I am a Heinlein fan. It would be redundant to say I love "Time Enough for Love", or "Stranger in a Strange Land" or "Friday". Of his lesser known works, I really liked "The Door to Summer". A great time travel story, with lots of challenges to it. (Specifically, the reason for the time machine, for example).

My Geek credentials include being a Mechanical Engineer. Which also includes TANSTAAFL. It is the clearest, most succinct expression of the Second Law of Thermodynamics, because there really ain't no such thing as a free lunch in the universe. Bring on the Entropy!

And, I also agree that Sci-fi and fantasy are unfairly dismissed as simple. I remember in my last year of High school, my English class focused on Tragedy. We did "Death of a Salesman", "MacBeth", "Oedepus Rex" and "Julius Caesar". When it came time to do "King Lear", the teacher handed out "Frankenstein" instead.

I thanked him after class. I told him it was nice to skip all that heavy stuff, and read a simple Monster story with no hidden deep meaning. "Really?" He said. "Read it and tell me there's no depth. Sci-fi is almost always very moral literature. Tell me later who the monster is like in the school." (That would be the outcasts, eh?)

Thanks Mr. Grey. You were so right. Every card-carrying Geek needs to read Frankenstein. I can wait.

Thanks again for the welcome. It's good to be around Geeks who love sex in their Sci-fi.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Yes I am a Heinlein fan. It would be redundant to say I love "Time Enough for Love", or "Stranger in a Strange Land" or "Friday". Of his lesser known works, I really liked "The Door to Summer". A great time travel story, with lots of challenges to it. (Specifically, the reason for the time machine, for example).

My Geek credentials include being a Mechanical Engineer. Which also includes TANSTAAFL. It is the clearest, most succinct expression of the Second Law of Thermodynamics, because there really ain't no such thing as a free lunch in the universe. Bring on the Entropy!

By His Bootstraps is the other classic time travel short story, where the protagonist realises he's...

The clearest, most succinct explanation of entropy is this "Proof of Hell":

http://www.pinetree.net/humor/thermodynamics.html

 

[xelliebabex]

Who knows who?

Hi. I'm new here, although I have been lurking on the website for six months. I have a couple of questions about this contest.

Is this just for established authors? You all seem to know each other.

Thanks for your patience.

I have been around for a few years and I doubt I know anyone in this thread very well, except Bind Justice who is passionate about his writing and a nice guy.
I think its more that you get used to seeing familiar names and reading their stories and everyone has a healthy respect for other authors who will put their work out there to be trolled as well as appreciated.

So do it, be brave and post that story

 

[Etaski]

3 Days to Submit; T-Minus 5 Days to Geek Launch

God, I'm still looking forward to this at the end of the week.

What the title says:

3 Days to Submit your story.

5-ish Days to Geek Out


THE LIST

Writers to Proffer Their Wares Upon the Altar of Geekdom:

Status, Titles/description


Status: SUBMITTED


Warrior, Fantasy, Dukes & Ne'er Do Wells &Goddess-Innocent
by xelliebabex, 30K words.

Dry, No Lube, A supply officer puts out and steps up.
by Voboy, 21K words.

Songs of Seduction - Fire and Ice, An astronaut meets an angel on Titan.
by electricblue66, 34K words.

Time to Breathe, Low on air. Far from aid. How do you spend your final hours?
by LoquiSordidaAdMe, 17K words.

Planet of the Tentacons, hints: strange biology and tentacles (or something like it)
by SimonDoom: 20K words

The Book of Rose: Orcs, Fantasy, orcs, sorceress, good times.
by Whimsical Repertoire, 6K words

Mercury Retrograde, Ore mining camp on Mercury. Think Deadwood with a bit of Robowars.
by MSTarot, 60K words

On The Dotted Line, The Huntress & the Clansman. Only on the Alien Sex Channel!
by Etaski, 15.5K words

Murder on Capella Space Station, A murder-mystery set in the future.
By Erinaceous, 15K words

An Infernal Folio, Cerebral Fantasy, Demonic/medieval theme.
by yowser, short story

The Rembrandt Legacy (Tales of the Lumia), Convicted engineer with special power gets recruited by space alien rogues to pull off a difficult heist.
by Blind_Justice, 54K words.

Dirty Play - Plenty of action both on and off the Blood Bowl pitch...
by ProxyBlack, ~4k words


Status: DRAFT COMPLETE, to be submitted by May 22

weftandwarp 10K words, a story of love, botany, and autism.

TANSTAAFL58, Pon Farr, Orions, Klingons, a Starship called The Hood.


Status: In-progress, author participation confirmed

Alice_Rosaleen: Public Static Void, Sci-Fi, Gibsonesque Cyberpunk, AI.

ChloeTzang: Timeo Artifices et Membra Virilia Denudens - Geeks, Dicks, a Chinese Girl, a Cosplay Con and an unexpected member ...



Status: Wait and See
Feel free to confirm, decline, or update.

BiscuitHammer

Antryg Windrose

lovecraft68

rutger5

PrettyLilPussy

ShyChiWriter

Loquere

Bowoodstock

Antidarius


I plan to search the "Geek Pride" tag once the stories go live to try to pull together a Complete List, with links, here at this thread. Then all of us can put the link in your Author Bio page or wherever to give easy direction to the stories in this event past the first week.

I have reached out to the audio-submission lady, but no response. We'll wait and see.

There are also a couple people I've heard about who didn't want to be listed/pressured here but were interested in submitting something. I'll look for them, too

We'll find ALL the Geeks![/QUOTE]

 

[Etaski]

Wow, I really don't envy Laurel; hundreds of thousands of words to go through in such a short time, besides the normal input. I do like reading, but there are limits.

She's been looking at them almost as soon as they're submitted, so she's been spreading out the work. Many of us have reported that our "Pending" story is already approved, just dated for 5/25/18 (or 5/24/18 in some cases...maybe due to time zones). Mine was approved and in the queue in less than 24 hours.

The lady knows how to manage us Eager Beavers.

 

[Blind_Justice]

I can stop stressing out. 05/25/18.

*collapses*

So. Tired.

 

[ProxyBlack]

Well, my first post here in the forums, and it's to add myself to the list of submissions. Hopefully I didn't screw things up *too* badly

Looking forward to reading everyone's stories!

 

[Blind_Justice]

Well, my first post here in the forums, and it's to add myself to the list of submissions. Hopefully I didn't screw things up *too* badly

Looking forward to reading everyone's stories!

Welcome to the madhouse, ProxyBlack. We'll be gentle, promise

 

[ProxyBlack]

Not sure if I'm glad to hear that or not...

Either way, this thing has served to give me the kick up the rear needed to start getting my stuff sorted, tidied, and posted - as opposed to simply sitting there, slowly perverting more and more of my laptop.

 

[Etaski]

Not sure if I'm glad to hear that or not...

Heh heh heh. *hides Drow whip* I don't know why you're nervous.

Care to offer the title and description under which your story is submitted? And approximately how many words, if you like. I like an informative and anticipatory Playbill.