Official Support Thread - 5th Annual 750 Word Project

[ElectricBlue]

I just banged out another one, a sequel of sorts, written in an hour or so. Off to my beta, then submit.

That was quick. I've just submitted a second 750 word story, gone a bit meta.

 

[BlueSeagull]

It's not a contest.

There's nothing to win.

That’s part of the appeal for me. It’s more like a puzzle…can you tell a compelling tale with the most meagre of resources. Everyone’s so used to 4k, 10k, 20k, or more that when you only have 750 words to work with it’s an exercise in working out what matters, and if you want is even possible in that space.

 

[Duleigh]

I just submitted 750-4 Year of the Rabbit
This is my first entry under the interracial category even though it's probably the 20th interracial story I've submitted. Let's see how many followers abandon me.

 

[MrPixel]

Let's see how many followers abandon me.

What's funny is I appear to have doubled my following with this year's 750 stories, from 32 to 64, so big whoop. Or possibly coincident with, because at least 3 or 4 favorited stuff I put up in 2021. I guess it's the visibility.

 

[Series 6]

I just banged out another one, a sequel of sorts, written in an hour or so. Off to my beta, then submit.

Banged being they key word.

I submitted a second last night. I have two others that I am working on.

 

[FifthEstate]

Well after almost a week, I'm going to officially declare my two 750 word stories a failure.

Not that they weren't worth writing; I enjoyed the exercise and I think both are interesting little tales.

But as contest entries, they've garnered very little attention, and dropped off the radar completely after a few days. Nor have I seen any real added traffic to my past stories.

It's okay, I fully didn't expect to "win" anything.

Just not sure how much I'll focus on that particular challenge again in the future.

One and done for me. I enjoyed the challenge and I like my story better than the readers, unless by chance, future sweeps rescue it. But regardless, I’ll likely focus my efforts elsewhere in the future.

 

[Duleigh]

What's funny is I appear to have doubled my following with this year's 750 stories, from 32 to 64, so big whoop. Or possibly coincident with, because at least 3 or 4 favorited stuff I put up in 2021. I guess it's the visibility.

I gained a dime so far, but when I posted 750-2 Saturday Afternoon, I lost one. I guess some people just don't like nonconsensual/lesbian/mature stories.

 

[Wark2002]

Actually, considering the care taken to tell a story in that limited style, to add and dismiss words so rigorously and still hope to entertain, this really should be a contest. Since readership is a little different and ratings are a little skewed, a different method of judging might be considered, but it would be an interesting competition.

 

[Duleigh]

Actually, considering the care taken to tell a story in that limited style, to add and dismiss words so rigorously and still hope to entertain, this really should be a contest. Since readership is a little different and ratings are a little skewed, a different method of judging might be considered, but it would be an interesting competition.

That's an interesting thought, there appears to be a lot of entries considering how much "I don't have time for that" feedback I saw at the beginning. Maybe Laurel would approve a contest for bragging rights instead of a cash reward, some kind of icon to put on the winner's profile. I don't know how much work it would take to determine a winner however.

 

[Voboy]

That's an interesting thought, there appears to be a lot of entries considering how much "I don't have time for that" feedback I saw at the beginning. Maybe Laurel would approve a contest for bragging rights instead of a cash reward, some kind of icon to put on the winner's profile. I don't know how much work it would take to determine a winner however.

People already complain about how contests are scored and adjudicated. And now you want to add more variables?

I'm not sure how productive that would be, honestly, given the uproar it would probably cause.

 

[Duleigh]

I'm not sure how productive that would be, honestly, given the uproar it would probably cause.

It's just a thought I was mulling over, folks put a lot of work into these stories, a little recognition would be nice. But you're right, there's some people here that would complain about free ice water.

 

[KeithD]

Actually, considering the care taken to tell a story in that limited style, to add and dismiss words so rigorously and still hope to entertain, this really should be a contest. Since readership is a little different and ratings are a little skewed, a different method of judging might be considered, but it would be an interesting competition.

But it would be a contest on elements not particularly honored by the readership here. You'd have to take the contest judging out of the readership's hands to use writing skill as the primary judging element. Right off the bat, the stories on Literotica ratings are skewed to length--wearing readers out until only the high-raters are left to rate at the end. The contests here are being won by exhaustive wordage, not by surgical succinctness.

 

[Wark2002]

Yes, judging would be an issue, although not insurmountable. Maybe a panel of contributors here, with a rubric (kind of like MOTH competitions, if you're familiar with those).

 

[TarnishedPenny]

That's an interesting thought, there appears to be a lot of entries considering how much "I don't have time for that" feedback I saw at the beginning. Maybe Laurel would approve a contest for bragging rights instead of a cash reward, some kind of icon to put on the winner's profile. I don't know how much work it would take to determine a winner however.

I normally agree with your comments, but I doubt anybody is submitting stories here because they really need the money ("Gee, if I win the Nude Day contest, I can pay for Mom's chemo..."). I doubt submissions would drop if there was no money to be won; the cash is like a cheek-kiss from the Stampede Queen, a nice acknowledgement, one that people remember.

FWIW, there is already an icon which could be used - the blue W. In that context, sure, I think it would be a good idea - for all the 'events' maybe.

 

[Series 6]

I doubt anybody is submitting stories here because they really need the money ("Gee, if I win the Nude Day contest, I can pay for Mom's chemo...").

Literotica saved my life.....

 

[TarnishedPenny]

RR - I have done post-grad studies in Schadenfreude, so heck yes! Strut that vanity! Shake it for the crowd!

Ok, I see your point, but there’s a gatekeeper, too - Laurel.

 

[ElectricBlue]

That was quick. I've just submitted a second 750 word story, gone a bit meta.

And now I'm half way through a fourth. So if there is a badge to be won, I'm quadrupling my chances. Part 1 is doing okay, just nudged past 7000 views, with a 149 votes and a reasonable score, creeping higher.

It's going to be interesting to see the continuity effect, and the effect of the whole anthology listing.

 

[oneagainst]

That's the nice thing about these 750 worders. "So light you can write between novels."

I really wasn't going to but, oh, go on then. Gives me a change from the intricate story arcs, a little something in Mind Control: The Dollmaker's Playlist

 

[Duleigh]

FWIW, there is already an icon which could be used - the blue W. In that context, sure, I think it would be a good idea - for all the 'events' maybe.

I'm thinking BLUE W badge with a bronze 750 cluster

Writers are vain, and would you really want to encourage us to demonstrate how pathetic we are?

Yes

So if there is a badge to be won, I'm quadrupling my chances.

See? It's working already!

 

[SomaSlave]

Writers are vain, and would you really want to encourage us to demonstrate how pathetic we are?

I think our writing does that for us.

 

[SomaSlave]

Just finished my first 750 Word Project entry ("A Kiss") and have it being reviewed by a couple of folks. It's my first submission in Erotic Couplings and is a change of pace for me (which is nearly always A Good Thing): only two lines of dialog and passionate rather than sexual. It will be interesting to see if anyone complains about the lack of sex (though I think it's a very steamy story).

I'm also working on a BDSM story for the competition. That poses more challenges for the shorter format, but the discipline is good. Working title: "Mercy or Toes."

UPDATE: changed the title from Competition to Project. Thanks to @Duleigh for the reminder.

 

[Duleigh]

I'm also working on a BDSM story for the competition. That poses more challenges for the shorter format, but the discipline is good. Working title: "Mercy or Toes."

I love it! but we're a project, not a competition

 

[SomaSlave]

I love it! but we're a project, not a competition

Thank you for the correction/clarification. In any case, it's a great exercise for writers. Hemingway would have approved.

 

[oneagainst]

Hemingway would have approved.

Nah, I wrote it first thing in the morning stone cold sober. From what I read of the bloke, he'd have been horrified ("Morning? And those would be...?")

 

[Duleigh]

In any case, it's a great exercise for writers

It truly is, I hammered out four, no problem, but #5 really took some brain power to fit the confines of the requirements of 750 and still be a good product, I just hope the readers like it as much as I do. (I renumbered it to 750-4 and it's sitting in pending right now)