Winter Holiday 2024 Contest Support and Seasonal Story Discussion Thread

[DukeofPaducah]

I have written the first part of the story and now I feel that I can't make the promise of the introuction real. I wrote a flirty first part that kind of grew into something more magical. First I had the premise of two boutique employees that dared eachother to be part of the christmas display. Then I started to write the into changing the perspective to a bystander. I thought to do a little intro and then change back into the display.

But it took a life of its own and sudely if felt like christmas magic had happened. The young woman looking at the display being seduced into participating by what could be the lady Winter herself.

Now I can't go for the sexy yet mundane continuation
Inspiration took me somewhere else. Might have to post it and leave it as a christmas tale without the heavy sex. Its only 1800 words long now.

What do you all think?

You’re allowed to post as often as you want. Try it both ways

 

[AlexFourways]

I worked on mine for hours this evening and finally submitted it. I would mention the name but it changed several times and I don’t remember the last one

This is why I use 'Courier Font' rulers for the 35 and 60 character limits for Title and Summary, so I am not making them up as I submit. However, it also means I have alternates that I have to pick on the moment of submission!

 

[AlexFourways]

Stories do that, where you find yourself realizing that to do them justice, you have to write your way through an intermediate part you hadn’t planned so the payoff works. That happened to me multiple times on my last story (which is part of how it got to 46k words). What I ended up doing a couple of times was letting it breathe for a day or so and thinking about it when I had time. “How can I get from here to there?” Then when something came to me, I could write it.

Good luck!

Apart from my normal (approximate quote) of Terry Pratchett who said he sets the stage and introduces the characters with his idea for what happens, then they start to do their own thing and his job (as a good author) is to try and keep up.
I had an idea for one of my One Off (1x Stories., which I normally write at about 7 to 9 k words.
Yet to publish Part 1, 12k words and have started on Part4 with 2 and 3 being about the same 12 to 13k, and I don't know if Android Herman will save Civilisation by then. But he already has Gynoids Marilyn, Lilyan and Streda, plus Android Samson to help him.

 

[Duleigh]

Apart from my normal (approximate quote) of Terry Pratchett who said he sets the stage and introduces the characters with his idea for what happens, then they start to do their own thing and his job (as a good author) is to try and keep up.

I too am a fellow advocate of this style of writing. I do not think they can call us Panzers (or pantsers) because in my case that would imply some form of control over the process. I am merely a spectator who on occasion needs to right click on the squiggly red line or the dreaded orange line (ProWritingAid's most annoying function)

I love writing because I can't wait to see what's going to happen in my story!

BTW - The Extra Special Magical Gift is live!

 

[FreyaGersemi]

I am merely a spectator who on occasion needs to right click on the squiggly red line or the dreaded orange line (ProWritingAid's most annoying function)

What are the orange squiggly lines? Something in the ProWritingAid software? Red is a spelling error (that happens to me in whatever Google Drive has for typing stuff out). And on a related note... Is there some program or software that I should be using to type? And (as they say) explain it like I'm five years old. I'm very computer illiterate (by choice, mostly). Thank you.

 

[Duleigh]

What are the orange squiggly lines? Something in the ProWritingAid software? Red is a spelling error (that happens to me in whatever Google Drive has for typing stuff out). And on a related note... Is there some program or software that I should be using to type? And (as they say) explain it like I'm five years old. I'm very computer illiterate (by choice, mostly). Thank you.

ProWritingAid is an incredible FREE editing software that I've been using along with Microsoft word but it works with many other things. It provides Red, Blue, and Orange lines (They're all straight) Red is, of course, a spelling error. Unfortunately the dictionary in Microsoft Word is more robust so it takes a few documents of adding new words to the dictionary to get it up to speed. A blue line is a grammatical error pointing out a problem with punctuation, verb usage, nouns etc. It's really a game changer. The orange line is mostly suggestions on improved sentence structure and suggestions on wording. ProWritingAid hated the word huge and an orange line will appear offering enormous and several other options.

My downfall is improper tense and comma placement. It's fairly good at pointing out my habit of using present tense when past tense is needed but it is incredible with my worst sin - comma splices. (That's when two complete sentences are spliced together with a comma. it really annoys some readers)

I like ProWritingAid much better than word's built in editor, and it's far superior to Grammarly. It's the first grammar software that I liked so much I bought a subscription.

 

[SouthernCrossfire]

This is why I use 'Courier Font' rulers for the 35 and 60 character limits for Title and Summary, so I am not making them up as I submit. However, it also means I have alternates that I have to pick on the moment of submission!

I always check the length of the title and summary by character count in Google Docs so that wasn't the problem.

I just couldn't find a title that I liked that really fit and it changed so many times, some incrementally, that I couldn't remember the one I settled on when I was posting.

Now, off to finish the last few paragraphs on a non-Christmassy story!

 

[Rustyoznail]

Be careful accepting the orange squiggles. They can lead you into accusations of AI writing.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Be careful accepting the orange squiggles. They can lead you into accusations of AI writing.

I use a laptop like a typewriter you can play solitaire on and have still had those accusations.

 

[secretLace]

I came back tonight for round 2 and managed to finish it in a way I felt it needed. Its more sensual and erotic that actual sex. I leaned heavily on the senses and an almost etherial feeling. Im actually proud if it. It flowed out of me and it has a little different voice than my other stories. Interesting how inspiration can guide and help.

Thank you all for the support. Ill post a link here as it gets posted. Will wait and have another read through tomorrow before submission

 

[Bassytian]

My other story, "Elves to Themselves", has been submitted for publication and hopefully will be approved soon!

Unlike my other entry, this one is very silly and comedic, featuring the return of Molly, Lindsay, and Shirley as elves in Santa's workshop. A special guest elf appears as well, my regular readers will know this character very well.

 

[Actingup]

If anybody's interested... there were 10 competition entries published yesterday for a total of 84. Still on track for 150+. None published that I can see today, although the database might still be catching up.

 

[AlexFourways]

If anybody's interested... there were 10 competition entries published yesterday for a total of 84. Still on track for 150+. None published that I can see today, although the database might still be catching up.

Well I'm interested, otherwise I wouldn't have started counting. Looks like your original line fit was remarkably accurate!

 

[Voboy]

If anybody's interested... there were 10 competition entries published yesterday for a total of 84. Still on track for 150+. None published that I can see today, although the database might still be catching up.

View attachment 2432647

She often doesn't publish on [American] Sundays.

For the non-Americans around here who are planning on their stories getting posted over the next week, remember that Thursday is Thanksgiving Day here in the States. That's a big-deal holiday with big-deal travel headaches both before and after. I have no idea how (or whether) Laurel celebrates Thanksgiving, nor whether she travels for it, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are some submission delays next week!

 

[DukeofPaducah]

A glimmer of hope. My submission just cracked a 3 star rating. I feel the tide may have turned.
At least the commenters have stopped accusing me of writing under the influence of hallucinogenics.

Can Cinco Sols be within my grasp? That’s no hill for a climber.

 

[AlexFourways]

A glimmer of hope. My submission just cracked a 3 star rating. I feel the tide may have turned.
At least the commenters have stopped accusing me of writing under the influence of hallucinogenics.

Can Cinco Sols be within my grasp? That’s no hill for a climber.

LW is a hard crowd. I think my 1973 Adult Movie Becomes 3D Reality got away lightly at 4.21. BTW that is not a seasonal story.

 

[SouthernCrossfire]

I was hoping my entry would make it out today but it's probably going to be lost in the stack of contest entries debuting in the next day or two. It's in Romance so it may be another sub-10K-view effort. Fingers are crossed for a better showing than that, regardless of the score.

LW is a hard crowd.

That's quite true, with many of the LW readers not being predisposed to being generous toward contest entries. My two lowest scoring stories (3.9 and 4.04) are both in the category, with the sub-4 story also being disadvantaged by being a 750-Word Project story, another sometimes despised story type. However, I also have one red H in the LW category so I can't complain.

 

[DukeofPaducah]

Here’s a sample.
!.5 Stars,.WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT???
Mr. C may be contacting you if only to find out why he wasn't invited. The Bear kind of liked it, but at least you got it out of your system before Christmas. No more, please?

The BEAR (You've got to be kidding me!)

by Anonymous user on 11/20/2024

About as entertaining as a root canal.

Two words - Hot mess! LOL! I have no idea what I just read... 3.1*

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Two words - Hot mess! LOL! I have no idea what I just read... 3.1*

Once upon a time, the band, Spinal Tap, also got a two-word review.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I’ll never understand you guys. You’ve been granted powers that surpass those of the Olympian gods and you don’t use them.

Edit: This was in response to this comment from Duleigh. Don't get me wrong, he is a fine writer. But I just can't think that way. Glad it works for him, though.

I too am a fellow advocate of this style of writing. I do not think they can call us Panzers (or pantsers) because in my case that would imply some form of control over the process. I am merely a spectator who on occasion needs to right click on the squiggly red line or the dreaded orange line (ProWritingAid's most annoying function)

I love writing because I can't wait to see what's going to happen in my story!

 

[FreyaGersemi]

I’ll never understand you guys. You’ve been granted powers that surpass those of the Olympian gods and you don’t use them.

I agree! Although I don't have a strict outline that is immobile and unyielding, I have a very clear idea in my head and go from there. Sometimes it swerves a bit, but I am always in control. I think about every word that I type.

In life, I just wing it, but not when I have complete control. In my stories, I rule with an iron fist!!

 

[Inkent]

LOL I couldn't help myself. I read a supposedly real life extract on a well-known site yesterday, where someone claimed they ruined their bosses's marriage with a secret Santa gift. I tried....I really tried to not make something of it! It's like leaving a five-year-old with a box of unmade lego and saying, don't make anything with the lego. Lookout for A Cataclysmic Secret Santa that's just been submitted

 

[FreyaGersemi]

LOL I couldn't help myself. I read a supposedly real life extract on a well-known site yesterday, where someone claimed they ruined their bosses's marriage with a secret Santa gift. I tried....I really tried to not make something of it! It's like leaving a five-year-old with a box of unmade lego and saying, don't make anything with the lego. Lookout for A Cataclysmic Secret Santa that's just been submitted

At the rate this is going, the 2024 Holiday Literotica Contest actually WILL reach the projected 150 submissions! You guys are intent on absolutely KILLING any chance that I have to place in any of the contests!! I need a contest with only two other entries. Anyway...

"Congratulations on your second submission, Inkent," Freya said poutingly.

 

[Inkent]

At the rate this is going, the 2024 Holiday Literotica Contest actually WILL reach the projected 150 submissions! You guys are intent on absolutely KILLING any chance that I have to place in any of the contests!! I need a contest with only two other entries. Anyway...

"Congratulations on your second submission, Inkent," Freya said poutingly.

Duleigh, any chance of a new competition for next year? It's only open to to those with the a username that includes ooh I duno, I'll pick one randomly, say FreyaGersemi.

On a more serious note, look where I post, I doubt anyone posting in LW had ever topped out in a competition, what they do do, is make me stretch my imagination. I got lost with my original Halloween story, and parked it. With the deadline approaching I found a story that had got so far, Losing Your Head Over Love, then used the Halloween theme as a catalyst to get it finished, with some minor revision to fit the theme. Result? Something saved that was probably going to be abandoned, serious use of my grey matter (there actually isn't much of that to be honest ), a story that was well received and even earned a red H. Is there a winner there? Multiple winners, I created a story I enjoyed writing, and those that enjoyed reading it! So you win every time you enter a contest.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

I created a story I enjoyed writing, and those that enjoyed reading it! So you win every time you enter a contest.

I agree!!! And as I'm almost completing my first year as an author on Literotica, I have been reflecting back and it's been so much fun writing naughty stories!!! I haven't been this inspired to write in many years!!! Maybe it had become somewhat of a chore. Just something that I do almost second nature. But this has been fun. Next year, I have big plans, so we'll see where that leads.

But back to the contests. I have not regretted a single entry (even my dreaded "No Harm, No Foul" entry into the Nude Day Contest). They have challenged me to write within a certain framework (which I inevitably turn on its head) and have broadened my readership on Literotica, so totally win-win-win-win-win...

But just hearing you all talk about strategies for winning and all the number infatuations, really gets me longing for a little "Blue W" to add to my short list of achievements. That's all.