The official Authors' Hangout Summer Lovin' 2022 Contest Support Thread

[TxRad]

Yes, comments are delayed for contest stories as they are for regular stories. I've had 3 so far that came in as 2 and then later a single.

 

[Priscilla_June]

Maybe i just havnt gotten any comments. A first. At least it’s nothing hateful

 

[Rustyoznail]

It happens. I've only had one comment, but I'm not expecting a lot.

 

[Voboy]

Just got my first comment this morning.

It's a rough haul so far for my little story. Lol.

 

[TxRad]

I've had four comments but one of them just says "not complete." I'm pretty sure it's complete? I mean, I didn't write until they were buried, but I gave a fair indication of where they were headed in life.

Don't feel bad. I killed everyone in a story off with a combination electromagnet pulse and nuclear explosion and I was told the story needed a next chapter. Ya just can't please some people.

 

[Priscilla_June]

Don't feel bad. I killed everyone in a story off with a combination electromagnet pulse and nuclear explosion and I was told the story needed a next chapter. Ya just can't please some people.

Undead chapter when?

 

[EarlyMorningLight]

I've had four comments but one of them just says "not complete." I'm pretty sure it's complete? I mean, I didn't write until they were buried, but I gave a fair indication of where they were headed in life.

I’m still patting myself on the back for describing your story as Flannery O’Connor meets Russ Meyer. It’s been years since I’ve worked as a critic but I guess I still have it in me.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Comments coming through for me.

 

[Lovecraft_Lore]

Well, mine is submitted. Now with a rewrite so no one can say there is talking deer based bestiality.

 

[Priscilla_June]

Well, mine is submitted. Now with a rewrite so no one can say there is talking deer based bestiality.

Ayyyoo what?

 

[Duleigh]

Ayyyoo what?

(I was afraid to ask)

 

[Lovecraft_Lore]

Summer Bible camp is part of summer.

Now all the talking animals continue having sex with others of their own species instead of an inter-species ritualistic orgy after teaching the young campers the importance of staying drug free and pure till marriage or used as a virgin sacrifice.

 

[Duleigh]

Summer Bible camp is part of summer.

Now all the talking animals continue having sex with others of their own species instead of an inter-species ritualistic orgy after teaching the young campers the importance of staying drug free and pure till marriage or used as a virgin sacrifice.

Hmmm I don't remember anything about inter-species ritualistic orgies within the talking animal community in fact, other than keeping the other animals awake with talking all night the only thing really frowned upon is virgin sacrifice

 

[Duleigh]

In my story I used characters and settings from other stories, I put my folks in the cabins in the woods and just let them enjoy the warm summer weekend at the lake. Here's part of a comment I got from a reader. I think I nailed it...

... This was about “”family”. You put all the elements in the writing, humor, parenthood, caring for kids, love on different levels depending upon the character. You brought back memories of visiting my aunt and uncle at their pond home and doing the things your character kids did.. the dialogue between kids and Josh and Veronica was priceless. But the thing I found most heartwarming was the development of Terri and Audrey. It appears that Audrey will marry Mike and Terri has learned what she do to try and to find happiness. Hope there is a final wrap chapter to celebrate all characters happiness.

 

[Lovecraft_Lore]

I've had four comments but one of them just says "not complete." I'm pretty sure it's complete? I mean, I didn't write until they were buried, but I gave a fair indication of where they were headed in life.

Yeah, your story just sort of ended. It was romantic, my guess is the readers wanted it to end with her married and pregnant.

 

[Priscilla_June]

Yeah, your story just sort of ended. It was romantic, my guess is the readers wanted it to end with her married and pregnant.

Uh oh, they weren't fruitful and multiplied… 1 star

 

[KeithD]

Interesting. I've seen four votes already shaved off a story, taking it from 2.83 to 5. Don't remember seeing a trimming done this early in a contest before.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Huh. Nothing's touched mine, and I know I had a 1 in the first couple of hours. Ah well, maybe the reader hated it after a thorough read.

 

[JGittes]

Interesting. I've seen four votes already shaved off a story, taking it from 2.83 to 5. Don't remember seeing a trimming done this early in a contest before.

My guess is the sweeps are for the monthly contests. I've been getting sweeps for a week now, today included, and I'm not in the summer contest.

 

[ElectricBlue]

My guess is the sweeps are for the monthly contests. I've been getting sweeps for a week now, today included, and I'm not in the summer contest.

Sweeps happen across the board. You don't need to have a story in any contest to get swept, the software runs through the whole story database, from what I've seen. Even very old stories can get score adjustments.

 

[Priscilla_June]

I need it to cull some 1 stars from mine lol

 

[Northstar4695]

I’m curious what is typical for a difference in reader engagement with a contest entry versus a non-contest story. Additionally, how would you describe the impact on readership and engagement with your stories overall. The most common advice I have seen for building readership is to enter contests. I’m glad I have regardless, because it’s been fun to try something different, but I am curious if other writers believe there is a substantive impact on readership.

Thanks!

 

[Priscilla_June]

I’m curious what is typical for a difference in reader engagement with a contest entry versus a non-contest story. Additionally, how would you describe the impact on readership and engagement with your stories overall. The most common advice I have seen for building readership is to enter contests. I’m glad I have regardless, because it’s been fun to try something different, but I am curious if other writers believe there is a substantive impact on readership.

Thanks!

I think my exposure has been pretty far above what I expected, given its prob hurt my ratings because folks are reading a category they prob wouldnt have otherwise (since contest page doesn’t show categories).

 

[Voboy]

I wrote for a couple years before I entered any contests. So I already had a bit of a base, mostly because in those days I was able to crank out high-level work about once a month. Frequency of posting is definitely correlated with readership.

By the time I entered contests, I can't say I noticed a difference. I probably get as many views as I ever have.

 

[NotWise]

I’m curious what is typical for a difference in reader engagement with a contest entry versus a non-contest story. Additionally, how would you describe the impact on readership and engagement with your stories overall. The most common advice I have seen for building readership is to enter contests. I’m glad I have regardless, because it’s been fun to try something different, but I am curious if other writers believe there is a substantive impact on readership.

Thanks!

Contests have a noticeable impact, but the increase in views due to the contest is proportionately greater if your story is in a little-read category. If your story is in I/T (for instance) the contest doesn't make a real big difference.

The contest page is linked on Lit's main page for at least a month, and the potential number of view is enormous. How many views you actually get depends on a lot of factors, like reader recognition of your name, and whether or not the story title pulls readers in.

My Fool's Day contest entry was in "First Time" which doesn't produce a lot of views, and that contest isn't especially popular, but the contest page was up for something like four months because of the long haul from April Fools to Nude Day. Two thirds of the story's views may have come from the contest page.