The 2019 Literotica Geek Pride Story Event: Official Support Thread

[MisterWildCard]

Nothing like a bit of working under pressure.

1st story: Rembrandt Legacy II - Marooned on Gorgon IX. - 39k words in and failed. I fucked up my own timeline so bad, nothing but a major rewrite can save it. Not enough time though.

2nd story: Dragon Hunt - Intended as a short (haha, 15k words) stroker, this thing has spiralled out of control and I practically need to rewrite it from scratch to fit the new outline. Not enough time.

3rd story: WizApp (working title) - A take on the "harem" subgenre which I hate with a passion. Dude realizes he has magic powers and ends up the care of a special magician who collects the crazies and the dangerous. Maybe third time's the charm. Can't get any worse, with only a few days to deadline. Good news is I've started yesterday and I'm 14k words in already. No idea if its any good though.

The "harem" genre's a funny thing, isn't it? 99 times out of 100, it just feels really insipid and dull. The lone dude usually has the personality and charm of a herpes sore, with the intent that the audience somehow "identifies" with him so they can imagine themselves in his place. The women who surround him hardly ever seem to have any reason to be interested in him other than "because the plot demands MOAR PUSSY".

And then there's the inevitable Tsundere front-runner for "Final Girl Of Destiny", who is usually written as *such* an insufferably unpleasant person that there's often this really creepy undertone of "huh-huh, hero's gonna put that bitch in her place, yeah, demean and humiliate that bitch" which just makes me NOPE out faster than a jump to lightspeed, because that's so not my kink or style.

But then every now and then, someone manages to put out a harem where the hero has three dimensions of some interest, where the heroines' collective interest in said hero actually have some emotional authenticity, and the overall cast are actually *sympathetic* with sincere and interesting romantic tension. But man, those are rare.

 

[Voboy]

I’m thinking I might do two. I’ve got a new SF story I wrote just for this event, all ready to go, but I’ve also got another story waiting in the wings, a spinoff of an existing SF series that I might wedge into this event as a stand-alone. I can’t think of another way to publish it, frankly; it represents sort of a dead end I did for another project.

I’ll take another look and see if I can get it into shape.

 

[Blind_Justice]

The "harem" genre's a funny thing, isn't it? 99 times out of 100, it just feels really insipid and dull. The lone dude usually has the personality and charm of a herpes sore, with the intent that the audience somehow "identifies" with him so they can imagine themselves in his place. The women who surround him hardly ever seem to have any reason to be interested in him other than "because the plot demands MOAR PUSSY".

And then there's the inevitable Tsundere front-runner for "Final Girl Of Destiny", who is usually written as *such* an insufferably unpleasant person that there's often this really creepy undertone of "huh-huh, hero's gonna put that bitch in her place, yeah, demean and humiliate that bitch" which just makes me NOPE out faster than a jump to lightspeed, because that's so not my kink or style.

But then every now and then, someone manages to put out a harem where the hero has three dimensions of some interest, where the heroines' collective interest in said hero actually have some emotional authenticity, and the overall cast are actually *sympathetic* with sincere and interesting romantic tension. But man, those are rare.

That's the main reason I'm writing this. I've seen a handful of anime recently and my brain went "Ummm, I think I can do this better". Let's see how it does when Geek Day rolls around. Also, totally unsubtle hint - I won't mind a beta reader or two for it.

 

[MSTarot]

I might have mine ready. Might being the right word.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Well, the beta read verdicts are in.

My last attempt was somehow offensive enough that one beta reader even labeled me a transphobe.

Okay then. See you all next year. I'm out.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Well, the beta read verdicts are in.

My last attempt was somehow offensive enough that one beta reader even labeled me a transphobe.

Okay then. See you all next year. I'm out.

Aaaa labels labels don’t sweat them. If you haven’t offended someone it’s too bland.... go for it.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Aaaa labels labels don’t sweat them. If you haven’t offended someone it’s too bland.... go for it.

Yes, now I'm intrigued by what could be in there.

“If that line don’t fetch them, I don’t know Arkansaw!”

 

[NotWise]

Well, the beta read verdicts are in.

My last attempt was somehow offensive enough that one beta reader even labeled me a transphobe.

Okay then. See you all next year. I'm out.

Does that come from a beta reader you know and trust? If not, then reconsider.

I've gotten outright lies from beta readers, and responses from other that didn't represent my target audience. Be careful who's advice you listen to.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Does that come from a beta reader you know and trust? If not, then reconsider.

I've gotten outright lies from beta readers, and responses from other that didn't represent my target audience. Be careful who's advice you listen to.

Yes. Exactly. Trust yourself. If it’s the story you want to write. Write it. If you’re concerned about a backlash, just use another userid.

 

[Voboy]

Exactly. It’s your work. If you’re proud enough of it to post it, then just post it.

Trust yourself, not some reader. That’s only one guy, after all. Never understood “beta readers.”

 

[Blind_Justice]

Thanks for all the encouragement and support. Problem is, even after seven years of doing it, with more than half of my stuff featuring the red H, I more often than not feel like I'm just putting out trash. I love my wife's input, but she's probably too biased, therefore I like beta readers.

It's not like I can't handle criticism - I'm a firm believer in "if you can't stand the heat, get outta the kitchen". The problem this time (besides the 'transphobic' overtones my stories elicited) is the deadline. I don't do short-short. Especially if I try. The last time I set myself a word count limit, I spent more time shaving down sentences than actually writing plot. Doesn't work for me. And with the deadline drawing closer, me knowing how much time i can scrape off each day for writing (after all, I have a blind wife to care for) - it would take a miracle for me to nail the deadline with anything worthwhile.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Thanks for all the encouragement and support. Problem is, even after seven years of doing it, with more than half of my stuff featuring the red H, I more often than not feel like I'm just putting out trash. I love my wife's input, but she's probably too biased, therefore I like beta readers.

It's not like I can't handle criticism - I'm a firm believer in "if you can't stand the heat, get outta the kitchen". The problem this time (besides the 'transphobic' overtones my stories elicited) is the deadline. I don't do short-short. Especially if I try. The last time I set myself a word count limit, I spent more time shaving down sentences than actually writing plot. Doesn't work for me. And with the deadline drawing closer, me knowing how much time i can scrape off each day for writing (after all, I have a blind wife to care for) - it would take a miracle for me to nail the deadline with anything worthwhile.

In that case miss the deadline and take your time. Post it when you're ready. Sometimes the time frame for these events is rather tight for longer stories and people put a lot of pressure on themselves.

 

[MisterWildCard]

Thanks for all the encouragement and support. Problem is, even after seven years of doing it, with more than half of my stuff featuring the red H, I more often than not feel like I'm just putting out trash. I love my wife's input, but she's probably too biased, therefore I like beta readers.

It's not like I can't handle criticism - I'm a firm believer in "if you can't stand the heat, get outta the kitchen". The problem this time (besides the 'transphobic' overtones my stories elicited) is the deadline. I don't do short-short. Especially if I try. The last time I set myself a word count limit, I spent more time shaving down sentences than actually writing plot. Doesn't work for me. And with the deadline drawing closer, me knowing how much time i can scrape off each day for writing (after all, I have a blind wife to care for) - it would take a miracle for me to nail the deadline with anything worthwhile.

Sorry, been offline for a couple of days -- feel free to fling that my way, I'll try to give a constructive critique. Even if there is something that some might consider transphobic (which I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt that it isn't), I'll offer suggestions on how to tweak things to improve it, rather than just slam it.

 

[MisterWildCard]

Also, if anyone's willing to beta-read my piece, "A Cosplayer's Luck", let me know.

 

[TornConflict]

I have been working on two or three stories for this event. I ended up only using two for the event but submitted the third as normal. It wasn't quite as fitting to the theme. If the two for the event are well received I have a few ideas to keep them going but both are fairly self contained.

 

[Voboy]

Submitted.

I just reread my other one this evening; I'm not sure I like it. I'll need to mull it over.

 

[PennameWombat]

I only managed a single submission for this theme and it has been thrown into the ring.

Couple of other storiess right on its heels but those are outside of the theme.

 

[MSTarot]

Alrighty then. Submitted and with hopes, it will be enjoyable.

This was my story that I originally intended to enter in the "One Night in XXX" story event a month back but ran out of time. Mostly due to life being a bitch.

As is the added time completely changed the story. Shrug, it's much better the way it is now.

Okay done with this now back to my regularly scheduled madness.

 

[Etaski]

Heard back from Dark Pulse---his story is submitted and ready to go!

 

[Blind_Justice]

Almost, almost done. Two chapters done, third is one thirds done. If all goes according to plan and my editor doesn't kill me through some Internet black magic, I can publish what in essence is like a huge pilot for a new series. 40k words. The overall arc won't be done for some time, but there certainly is a beginning, conflict and several points of release. Huh.

After my complete brain farts earlier this month, I'll take five hours of sleep, no time with wife or cats and barely any food over creative blackout any day. It will probably still be shit, but at least I tried.

Chisel that on my gravestone.

Edit: I'll be lucky to post by Wednesday. Unless my editor kills me first.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Almost, almost done. Two chapters done, third is one thirds done. If all goes according to plan and my editor doesn't kill me through some Internet black magic, I can publish what in essence is like a huge pilot for a new series. 40k words. The overall arc won't be done for some time, but there certainly is a beginning, conflict and several points of release. Huh.

You're talking about 40K words for a single submission? That seems ambitious.

I'm attempting something else (not for this contest) that may be that long but I don't think I could deal with it as one submission. When I get to about 10K I feel things are becoming unwieldy. (I admit I've had no previous experience in writing long works, only short essays and articles.)

 

[ElectricBlue]

You're talking about 40K words for a single submission? That seems ambitious.

I'm attempting something else (not for this contest) that may be that long but I don't think I could deal with it as one submission. When I get to about 10K I feel things are becoming unwieldy. (I admit I've had no previous experience in writing long works, only short essays and articles.)

My Geek entry last year came in at 37,000 words, about 11 Lit pages; it kept writing itself and stayed coherent. The sequel has a creeping start at 1500 words, and won't see the light of day in this year's anthology, that's for sure.

 

[Blind_Justice]

You're talking about 40K words for a single submission? That seems ambitious.

I'm attempting something else (not for this contest) that may be that long but I don't think I could deal with it as one submission. When I get to about 10K I feel things are becoming unwieldy. (I admit I've had no previous experience in writing long works, only short essays and articles.)

I tend to err on the wordy side, that's for sure. But then, my worlds tend to be intricate and - so I hope - vividly described. Since my eyesight is pretty much nonexistent, I usually put too much visual info into my work.

But the true feat is that I hammered the 40k words out in the past six days which is frankly ridiculous, especially considering that I was this close to quitting At least for me, the support thread worked.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I tend to err on the wordy side, that's for sure. But then, my worlds tend to be intricate and - so I hope - vividly described. Since my eyesight is pretty much nonexistent, I usually put too much visual info into my work.

But the true feat is that I hammered the 40k words out in the past six days which is frankly ridiculous, especially considering that I was this close to quitting At least for me, the support thread worked.

Wooo hoooo

And I’ve got one done and pounding away at the second. It might make it.

 

[gordo12]

Wooo hoooo

And I’ve got one done and pounding away at the second. It might make it.

Well I'm out. For whatever reason I couldn't focus on geeky. Got a couple of other stories moved forward, but the geek thing just wasn't working. Which is stupid considering I have about a half dozen sci fi in my idea folder partially written.

Sorry Chloe