Pink Orchid 2025: Story Event for Women-Centric Erotica - Official Support Thread

[Actingup]

I read this today! Very impressive. Since you asked for my comments, I do have some ideas and nitpicks. I’ll get to them in a few days when I’m back at my computer, probably Monday or Tuesday. I’m currently out of town.

Not as far out of town as Astryd was, I bet

 

[Omenainen]

Not as far out of town as Astryd was, I bet

No not that far, for sure.

 

[PapaRomantic]

I just finished the final words of my submission for this event. Now the editing process begins. I'm a little nervous, because not being a lesbian myself (though I play one on TV), I have chosen a lesbian story for my submission. I wouldn't mind having a beta-reader look it over (33K words) but I'll still publish it if it doesn't get read by someone before.

 

[Omenainen]

I just finished the final words of my submission for this event. Now the editing process begins. I'm a little nervous, because not being a lesbian myself (though I play one on TV), I have chosen a lesbian story for my submission. I wouldn't mind having a beta-reader look it over (33K words) but I'll still publish it if it doesn't get read by someone before.

Do you mean someone who’s not me, since you’re not asking me to beta read it?

 

[PapaRomantic]

Do you mean someone who’s not me, since you’re not asking me to beta read it?

I'm not "officially" asking for anybody, but I would not turn down an offer! I'm shy like that. I'd love to have you read it!

 

[Omenainen]

I'm not "officially" asking for anybody, but I would not turn down an offer! I'm shy like that. I'd love to have you read it!

Oh, okay! I was confused because I’ve offered to beta read for stories for this event, so I usually think that if people then don’t ask me it’s because they don’t want my input, which is completely valid approach for whatever reason. Somehow your wording didn’t sound quite like that and that’s why I asked. I’ll send you a PM.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Right, I have a first draft, so will be in this event. It may or may not be edited nicely, and I may or may not seem it worthy of a beta read, but it connects two previous stories together (Conference Collaboration and Messing about on the River).

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

I don't think I've mentioned this: @Omenainen beta-read my story. Her comments were very helpful.

 

[Omenainen]

My story, The Saga of Astryd, is up in the Lesbian section. In the fjords of Norway, a young couple agree to live in a small re-created Viking village for one year. But after her boyfriend taps out, a young woman is left alone in the cold of winter. By learning what it means to truly believe, she discovers that Hearts Never Lie.

Hei, Omenainen! Hyvää huomenta. Haluaisin lukea kommenttisi. Kiitos!

God morgen, Jorunn!

So, comments on your story. First, this is hands down my favorite way to learn Norse mythology. Excellent. And I love that there's us Northeners here rocking this site. I liked the story, I think it was pretty clean and self-contained, but since you asked for my comments I'll list my observations and nit-picks here.

I loved the premise. I thought it was brilliant to root it in modern times instead of going full historical. I also think it was a good call to handle the relationship with Arne as a backfill and not straight on storytelling. I loved the idea of inhabiting a Viking village over winter, though I was a bit unclear as to why. It makes sense that they would need to have some way to contact civilization, leaving them out there without any way to call for help would be pretty unethical, but that was a little unclear - she had a phone, but didn't have any contact with Arne after he left? Also there was no mention of regular "I'm alive" pings or anything.

I think the story might have been stronger if she was truly alone in the village after Arne left. It feels a little off for me that there are other people around, but that they all would huddle inside their own houses and not visit and/or spend time with each other all the time. There is a case to be made against telling and not showing, but I'm conflicted with you having Ragnar explain the ritual. It feels like mansplaining and like something that Astryd should have known on her own. I might have looked for another way to explain that to the reader.

Which leads me to the point that I think is most important of those I'm making here: journaling. You say in the beginning that "all we had to do was keep a journal". Including journal entries would provide an excellent way to provide a story-within-story descriptions of Astryd's day to day life, the struggles, her emotions, her thoughts about Arne. I think it's a missed opportunity that you didn't utilize it. That way you could have also covered the issue of her sexuality, how she came up there with a man but was so unbothered with having an encounter with Solveig.

The ending was a little sus to me. She supposedly didn't notify anyone that she's leaving, and was just waiting with all her stuff (and what about the goat she left behind? She took the sheep somewhere else but not the goat? Goat lives matter!), when she knew that the folks organizing the research would need to find someone to replace her (?). And then her sudden change of heart, including passionately kissing a stranger, seemed abrupt even with fairy magic (plus why would Anna be all okay with someone jumping on her like that?).

Overall, a good story, but I feel it could've been even better with some more depth to Astryd's character, and I feel the journal would have been a neat way to provide that.

 

[PapaRomantic]

I have just submitted my story "I Inherited a Pet" for publication in the 2025 Pink Orchid Event. I am thrilled that I got one written in time. I think it stretched my ability as a writer, which is always a good thing. I'm thankful for assistance from @Omenainen and @elizaloo that helped to make it much better than I could have done by myself!

 

[elizaloo]

I have just submitted my story "I Inherited a Pet" for publication in the 2025 Pink Orchid Event. I am thrilled that I got one written in time. I think it stretched my ability as a writer, which is always a good thing. I'm thankful for assistance from @Omenainen and @elizaloo that helped to make it much better than I could have done by myself!

Awww shucks…I’m more of a cheerleader than anything else; you’re a fabulous writer and I appreciate you including me in your process. All the best with your entry my friend!

 

[kitmarlowe]

Well, after many, many years of being a Lit reader (literally 20 years, which is terrifying) I've finally taken the plunge and submitted my first story, and it feels like it fits this event perfectly. So hi, I guess!

 

[StillStunned]

Well, after many, many years of being a Lit reader (literally 20 years, which is terrifying) I've finally taken the plunge and submitted my first story, and it feels like it fits this event perfectly. So hi, I guess!

Congratulations, and welcome to the hobby!

 

[kitmarlowe]

Thanks! Now to play the waiting game with the submission, which seems to be a rite of passage and I'm very excited to take part in it.

 

[Actingup]

Thanks! Now to play the waiting game with the submission, which seems to be a rite of passage and I'm very excited to take part in it.

Followed, of course, by a loving ritual beating with knobbed wooden clubs from some of your readers and feathery kisses from others. Simultaneously, if you’re lucky. Welcome to the team and congratulations!

 

[NotWise]

I put a Romance story into the event. I could have held out a few more days, but it wasn't getting any better.

 

[Trionyx]

Hookup Sex
A first person POV story of a woman who signs up on a hookup app.

 

[Zootonius]

Congratulations, and welcome to the hobby!

One person's hobby is another's therapy.

 

[StillStunned]

One person's hobby is another's therapy.

Then: welcome to therapy!

 

[Omenainen]

I haven’t really had a chance to dive in and start reading these yet, but by my calculations this is already a record year judged by the word count submitted. Great going everyone!

Tag searches for easy access while we wait for the final list:

Pink Orchid

Pink Orchid 2025

 

[Kumquatqueen]

My computer decided to shut down in the middle of my formatting, and then half the doc lost its paragraphs and I had to put them all back in manually,.but I have now submitted my story.

Finally - the start and end of it got published separately for last year's Geek Pride and Summer Lovin', respectively, but what's left is a reasonable story in itself. Or a rambling pile of filth, depending on the reader...

 

[Omenainen]

At least I have something to smile about.
View attachment 2484471

This was so gooooood! But also, awful. Damn. I think this’ll stick with me for a while.

 

[kitmarlowe]

I didn't even realise it but Bed Seventeen went live earlier today. Happy to be a part of the event!

 

[MillieDynamite]

Thank you, I think. I wrote it during the Halloween season. Thanks for the comment on the story, too.

This was so gooooood! But also, awful. Damn. I think this’ll stick with me for a while.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Sadly, I will not be able to get my planned contribution done in time for the event this year. I'm proud to have contributed to each previous Pink Orchid, and I'm pretty pissed to miss this one, so I hope you'll forgive me if I bitch a little bit.

I have been asked, on a number of occasions, why I don't monetize my writing, why I don't try to "go pro". I love writing, it is a truly fulfilling experience for me. I can't imagine ever not writing.

But it's not the most important thing to me.

As many of you know, I am a recovering addict and a formerly incarcerated person. I have chosen a career in public service because I have had the fortune, with much loving assistance, to overcome those obstacles, and it is the commitment of my life to help others do the same.

My job is not federally funded, but I work with people who rely on many programs that are. On any given day, I might assist a client in applying for food assistance, accessing their veteran's benefits, securing housing, registering for educational programs or occupational training or addressing any one of dozens of other needs. I've taken them to the doctor and helped them fill out job applications. I've filled out their tax forms and even baby sat their kids so they could attend appointments.

That is my purpose, and it is under assault. They are under assault. So, along with my colleagues, I have been working overtime and bringing paperwork home, in order to get as many people as much assistance as I can while it is still available.

Choosing between that and getting a story finished was a no-brainer. But it still pisses me off that I had to make such a choice.

Omie, I promise that Clover and Roxanne will be back as soon as I can get them here.