New Story Event idea for 2024....

[ChloeTzang]

Tossing this out there for everyone to take a look at and see if you think this is a Story Event you'd like to write something for in 2024. It'd be a one off, open to everyone event.

"Plain Tales from the Orient"

"He wanted to go to the East; and his fancy was rich with pictures of Bangkok and Shanghai, and the ports of Japan: he pictured to himself palm-trees and skies blue and hot, dark-skinned people, pagodas; the scents of the Orient intoxicated his nostrils. His heart beat with passionate desire for the beauty and the strangeness of the world"

The setting would be the Orient of the 1920's and 1930's, stretching across the Orient from Japan, south through IndoChina, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, through as far as Thailand and Burma. The theme would be historical tales of romance, sex and seduction, with that colonial emphasis, and that seductive blend of east and west. With everything that was going on, there's also scope for the ongoing war in China, White Russian refugees, missionaries in China, you name it. I'll write up a better description and ask Laurel if there's enough enthusiasm for this one. With everything that was going on, there's also scope for the ongoing war in China, White Russian refugees, missionaries in China, you name it.

Think Somerset Maugham and The Painted Veil (1925), The Casuarina Tree (1926) and Ah King (1933). Anthony Burgess and The Malay Trilogy. Graeme Green and The Quiet American. Bernard Fall and Street Without Joy. Movies like The Sleeping Dictionary, and L'Amante (The Lover), just to supply a few examples.

I'll write up a better description and ask Laurel if there's enough enthusiasm for this one. I don't want to introduce this for 2023, I think there's already quite a run of the standard contests and a range of Story Events, I was thinking more of throwing this in as a candidate Stpry Event for 2024. Just wanted to see if there was any interest in this from anyone.

So wotcha think everyone?

 

[Voboy]

Street Without Joy is a little later than you're thinking, but I like the idea. I'd probably be interested. It's a period I've never thought about creating a story around, but I know a little about prewar Singapore and, of course, French Indochina.

The stories might get bleak. There was a lot of darkness in that time and place, and with those attitudes. And nowadays, those negatives can be hard to ignore based on how all the romance has been stripped away over the past few decades of scholarship.

 

[TheRedChamber]

This is a period and region that interests me, so I'd probably have a crack at it (depending on what else I'd have going on in 2024)

That said, a couple of thoughts about it.

1) Why 'plain' tales specificially?
2) Although it still feels like the correct term for this period to me, a lot of people don't like the word 'orient'.
3) I originally thought the period was a bit too narrow - personally I'd be more interested in writing in the 19th century. 20s is probably good for Shanghai and maybe some of the other ports cities specificially, probably less good for anyone who want to write something feelgood set in Japan. But then where do you stop? If we're saying the stories should have a colonial influence then maybe anything between 1700-1945 would work.
4) Similarly the region is both a bit too broad and to narrow - China, Japan and the whole of South East Asia covers a lot of ground, but seemingly excludes India subcontinent and the Middle East (a different kind of 'Orient' maybe) - again maybe you just have to draw a line.
5) Is this specificially designed for East meets West stories or are East meets East okay as well. (or West meets West only really far from home...)

EDIT:
Also don't underestimate the amount of research that would be needed to write these properly. It might scare people away from the event.

 

[Seadog777]

In my opinion, there are too many "story contests or events" already.

It interferes with Laurel's ability to keep a steady flow of getting stories out, as well as authors being able to get stories out in a timely manner.

 

[Voboy]

In my opinion, there are too many "story contests or events" already.

It interferes with Laurel's ability to keep a steady flow of getting stories out, as well as authors being able to get stories out in a timely manner.

This is definitely something to consider. On Laurel's end more than ours, but it's a good point.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Street Without Joy is a little later than you're thinking, but I like the idea. I'd probably be interested. It's a period I've never thought about creating a story around, but I know a little about prewar Singapore and, of course, French Indochina.

The stories might get bleak. There was a lot of darkness in that time and place, and with those attitudes. And nowadays, those negatives can be hard to ignore based on how all the romance has been stripped away over the past few decades of scholarship.

Yes, Street Without Joy is later, but kind of indicative. I could probably come up with some better historical takes on the period with a bit of looking but I was thinking that would be at the tail end. I didn't want to run into the American end of the Vietnam war at all so there'd be a hard cutoff. What do you think about when that should be? Start of WW2 perhaps? (but leaving Japanese war in China in).

Bleak? Yes, the background to some of them might be, there was a considerable amount of racism, its the colonial era, but I saw it more as romance, seduction, and sex set in that era.....

In my opinion, there are too many "story contests or events" already.

It interferes with Laurel's ability to keep a steady flow of getting stories out, as well as authors being able to get stories out in a timely manner.

Yes, and personally I think there's enough events already on the agenda for this year, which is why I was thinking ahead for 2024.

Good point about limiting them tho. What does everyone else thing about that? If I look at the calendar now for 2023, there are the usual 6 contests, and 12 "events," which in my opinion is maxing us out. Not everyone's going to write for all of them, and a couple of the events, like Geek Pride, are turning into annual ones, which does crowd the field for new ones.

 

[KeithD]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81CPXF769VL._AC_UY327_QL65_.jpg

 

[KeithD]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41D3n8Qq-zL.jpg

For two generations of men, the Summerhill Reach rubber plantation in Malaya is a place of unbridled lust and the source of power. Finally, four men are locked in a struggle for control of each other and the wealth and power the plantation offers. As they seduce, mesmerize, and take their conquests, they are seduced in turn, against the background of the steamy Malayan jungle and the strange ceremonial rites of the full moon practiced by the dangerous Farhan. Will the one man among them who has sought love more than power finally triumph in this four-way struggle?

 

[Rustyoznail]

Mmm... Maybe if the area stretched a bit further west to India. I could use my contacts to come up with something.

There are a lot of events though, but not everyone will enter everything.

 

[KeithD]

Fortuitously, I've been writing one today. "Renewed Contact," moving from the Japanese brutal takeover of Shanghai in November 1937 to it preparing to take Singapore in February 1942.

A young American priest is spared in the Shanghai massacre simply because he is singing "Ingremisco" from Verdi's Requiem in a mass given in St. Ignatius Cathedral to calm those seeking sanctuary in the church as the Japanese are entering to slaughter them all because the Japanese colonel in charge formerly was a professor of music in Tokyo and had heard the priest sing there and become sexually attracted to him. Shanghai's the first renewed contact. The second is Singapore, where the priest has gone and gathered a little flock and is found and heard singing "Pie Jesus" from Faure's Requiem (and saved again) by the colonel who is in Singapore to assess its defenses against the impending Japanese invasion. The story is a study of the effect of the clash of the Japanese colonel's wildly different natures: classical music lover, sexual dominator, and military campaign officer.

 

[Seadog777]

Yes, and personally I think there's enough events already on the agenda for this year, which is why I was thinking ahead for 2024.

Good point about limiting them tho. What does everyone else thing about that? If I look at the calendar now for 2023, there are the usual 6 contests, and 12 "events," which in my opinion is maxing us out. Not everyone's going to write for all of them, and a couple of the events, like Geek Pride, are turning into annual ones, which does crowd the field for new ones.

In my opinion, Literotica should keep the usual 6 contests.....
Valentine's Day
April's Fools
National Nude
Summer Lovin
Halloween
Winter Holiday's

Of the "Author Organized Contests" should keep.....
Pink Orchid
750 Word Challenge
Geek Pride

That's 9 contests in a 12 month period.
I think that the starting dates can be moved around and that time period that you can "submit your story" should be shorted to 7-10 days.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[KeithD]

Discovering Japanese Tail - Gay Male - Literotica.com
(West meets East in Tokyo's Imperial Hotel rebuild.)

Dragon Emperor Deceived - Gay Male - Literotica.com
(Chinese Emperor's lust for young scholar ends dynasty.)

From the Fields - Gay Male - Literotica.com
(1900s Malay plantation owner asserts master privilege.)

Sinking into Shanghai - Gay Male - Literotica.com
(Justin becomes a prostitute pawn in 1929 Shanghai Triad war.)

White Russian Unicorn - Gay Male - Literotica.com
(Premium Russian refugee men sell their bodies in 1920s China.)

Bitter Fruit - Gay Male - Literotica.com
(Hard choices forced by love in prewar Japan.)

Cut Sleeves Sigh - Gay Male - Literotica.com
(Love awash beneath China's Bridge of Sighs.)

Tea with the Prince - Gay Male - Literotica.com
(American covered by Japanese Prince in 1930s Tokyo.)

The Brigade - Gay Male - Literotica.com
(Struggle for domination and control within insurgency groups.)

Trapped - Gay Male - Literotica.com
(American pilot trapped in a Japanese WWII male brothel.)

 

[Trionyx]

In my opinion, there are too many "story contests or events" already.

Please remember that too many contests plus events equals too little time featured on the home page. I believe Pink Orchid was up for barely a week, maybe a few days more. Also, if there are too many and they are left up too long, the homepage gets too crowded. The question is what’s the sweet spot?

 

[oneagainst]

In my opinion, Literotica should keep the usual 6 contests.....
Valentine's Day
April's Fools
National Nude
Summer Lovin
Halloween
Winter Holiday's

Of the "Author Organized Contests" should keep.....
Pink Orchid
750 Word Challenge
Geek Pride

That's 9 contests in a 12 month period.
I think that the starting dates can be moved around and that time period that you can "submit your story" should be shorted to 7-10 days.

Just my opinion, of course.

Just had to weigh in... not in favour of this. I'm not interested in April Fools or Summer Lovin or Winter Holidays, it's just same old same old and doesn't get my engine firing as a writer. Drop it all and then open up the calendar for one-off events if it's getting crowded. If all we're allowed is the same nine contests every year, then what's the point?

Now, full disclosure, I've put my hat in the ring to do Midnight at the Lost and Found event this year as a one-off, but have to say I'm with OP on this one. Variety is the spice of life, let's get new concepts up and retire some of the old stuff if there's not enough "space".

 

[Duleigh]

Personally I like the idea, but then I've been accused of having Yellow Fever by my readers now. That's an interesting period of time, it's on the cusp of the greatest cultural upheaval in Asian history, traditional Asian values colliding with modern influences from the west, and an Asian superpower crouches on their island redoubt eyeing their neighbors with evil intent...

As for "Too many contests or events" so what? Nothing says you have to enter every event every year. There's really only 2 contests that I like, and one of them is a "meh" to me. National Nude Day? That reminds me of ASSTR when it was a thing. Allowing a writer to shop for an event that tickles their meme should be encouraged. It's not costing any money, if Laurel says she can handle it, let's give it a go. Maybe we can convince Laurel to add an Event Portal a standing page for events, challenges, and contests with the results for contests posted semi-permanently and links to the different event pages past and future.

 

[Voboy]

In my opinion, Literotica should keep the usual 6 contests.....
Valentine's Day
April's Fools
National Nude
Summer Lovin
Halloween
Winter Holiday's

Of the "Author Organized Contests" should keep.....
Pink Orchid
750 Word Challenge
Geek Pride

I've stopped being bullish on the 750-word thing. This year, I think there were far too many entrants, to the detriment of the rest of the site (see below). I might support limiting it to one entry per writer; it just moved things through New Stories far too quickly this year.

And I've never understood the point of Pink Orchid, but that's as much my fault as anyone else's. For contests, I think I'd combine the two summer ones.

I don't think Chloe intends this thing to be an annual one, and I support that notion.

As for "Too many contests or events" so what? Nothing says you have to enter every event every year.

Yes, but that's only part of it. As Seadog777 points out above, these contests can have the effect of clogging submissions on Laurel's end, and of bumping things off the New Stories page more rapidly than one might desire. The effect was unmistakeable during the 750-word challenge, when it was clear that the submission process was overwhelmed to the point that non-entrants posted angry threads about it.

On one hand, they can suck it up and go to another site. I get that. But on the other hand, is there a point of diminishing returns? I entered the 750-worder too, but I don't think I will in the future. I'm not sure it's good for the site, ultimately, to accept so many. The New Stories page is too important in terms of eyes-on for non-contest, non-challenge writers.

Laurel is also (apparently) too busy to properly administer the monthly contests. This can't be helping. So there are impacts on the entire site, not just a writer's choice whether or not to enter.

We're moving into hijack territory here, however. Sorry, Chloe.

 

[Duleigh]

these contests can have the effect of clogging submissions on Laurel's end,

That's a question that Laurel can answer. If she says she can handle it, then she can handle it, if she can't then the idea dies here. For me it's not anything to lose sleep over.

and of bumping things off the New Stories page more rapidly than one might desire.

Stories are on the New Stories page for seven days. An influx of more stories does not change seven days into something else. I do agree that there are more stories for a reader to filter through and that is a curse of increased popularity, but the event page gives your story a double spotlight.

Again, if it happens, it happens. One way or another, @ChloeTzang just unleashed an entire fluffle of plot bunnies in my home office. Thanks Chloe.

 

[Voboy]

One way or another, @ChloeTzang just unleashed an entire fluffle of plot bunnies in my home office. Thanks Chloe.

Sigh.

Yes. Here too.

 

[Seadog777]

Just had to weigh in... not in favour of this. I'm not interested in April Fools or Summer Lovin or Winter Holidays, it's just same old same old and doesn't get my engine firing as a writer. Drop it all and then open up the calendar for one-off events if it's getting crowded. If all we're allowed is the same nine contests every year, then what's the point?

Now, full disclosure, I've put my hat in the ring to do Midnight at the Lost and Found event this year as a one-off, but have to say I'm with OP on this one. Variety is the spice of life, let's get new concepts up and retire some of the old stuff if there's not enough "space".

I respect your opinion though it does differ than my own.
Different strokes for diffrerent folks.

Like you, the April Fools and Summer Lovin contests aren't really my cup of coffee either.
Those were started by Laurel, so unless she decides to discontinue them, they aren't going anywhere.

I would actually be OK if Laurel were to discontinue those 2, then have Geek Pride and 750 Word Challenge replace them as Annual Contests.

That would open up 2 spots, that could rotate different subjects on a year to year basis.

 

[Voboy]

I would actually be OK if Laurel were to discontinue those 2, then have Geek Pride and 750 Word Challenge replace them as Annual Contests.

The 750-word contest? For MONEY?

Perish the thought.

 

[Seadog777]

Please remember that too many contests plus events equals too little time featured on the home page. I believe Pink Orchid was up for barely a week, maybe a few days more. Also, if there are too many and they are left up too long, the homepage gets too crowded. The question is what’s the sweet spot?

I personally DO NOT believe they should be on the "home page".
I think Laurel should put Contest Stories, in their own separate section and release them all on a single date.

 

[Seadog777]

I've stopped being bullish on the 750-word thing. This year, I think there were far too many entrants, to the detriment of the rest of the site (see below). I might support limiting it to one entry per writer; it just moved things through New Stories far too quickly this year.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE!!!
ALL contests should limit an author to only 1 entry per contest.

Yes, but that's only part of it. As Seadog777 points out above, these contests can have the effect of clogging submissions on Laurel's end, and of bumping things off the New Stories page more rapidly than one might desire. The effect was unmistakeable during the 750-word challenge, when it was clear that the submission process was overwhelmed to the point that non-entrants posted angry threads about it.

It was absolutely detrimental to the overwhelming majority of authors that post stories on the site, because it clogged the entire process.

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea and concept of contests.
Just think that the sheer number of them is too much, and driving some people away.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[Voboy]

Stories are on the New Stories page for seven days. An influx of more stories does not change seven days into something else.

I meant the first page, though. It does make a difference.

 

[Seadog777]

The 750-word contest? For MONEY?

Perish the thought.

Did I miss something???
Was that brought up in another thread, and I missed it.

 

[Seadog777]

I meant the first page, though. It does make a difference.

I think "Contests" should have their own special dedicated section.
Readers can click on that and read the stories as Laurel puts them up.
That way authors who do not want to participate in those contests, can still have their stories read under "New".

Just my opinion of course.