The Official Authors' Hangout Summer Lovin' 2025 Contest Support Thread

[Actingup]

If that's the right word for it, then, uhm, yeah...

Try 'nudged'. Or 'steered'. Or perhaps, at worst, 'molded'. Still fits? Then go for it; otherwise, don't try to force it and submit the story separately.

Exactly. If the story reads like it’s been beaten into submission to fit the theme, the readers will respond accordingly, and it will be a bruising and miserable experience all round. Let the story sing on its own terms.

 

[lovecraft68]

Do you think the readers' expectations in T/I are more restrictive than in other categories? Most categories have their limits (I'm lookin' at Romance) but readers' limitations in T/I seem to keep the successful stories within a narrow window.

My last story before the contest was a mom/son story, but Mom was not God's most virtuous creation. Mom was also not Son's only interest--or his interest at all, really. I expected backlash from the mom/son readers to keep the story at the bottom of my catalog, and they did not disappoint.

I don't feel I/T is overly restrictive, but like most categories has some "do and Don't"

My story features one of the sins-like the one you describe-sis is a party girl and "gasp" she has had sex with other guys not named her brother. I also got into some rough "anger fuck" sex and that's another no no.

As strange as it seems the I/T crowd-other than the one handed stroke readers-like some romance with their incest. Sis, bro, mom, dad etc having sex or interest in others will always take the story down a notch. Its also well noted throughout the site that any female who has the nerve to be sexually experienced is a slut and a whore and any guy that wants her a simp and I did get some of those comments.

 

[NotWise]

I don't feel I/T is overly restrictive, but like most categories has some "do and Don't"

My story features one of the sins-like the one you describe-sis is a party girl and "gasp" she has had sex with other guys not named her brother. I also got into some rough "anger fuck" sex and that's another no no.

As strange as it seems the I/T crowd-other than the one handed stroke readers-like some romance with their incest. Sis, bro, mom, dad etc having sex or interest in others will always take the story down a notch. Its also well noted throughout the site that any female who has the nerve to be sexually experienced is a slut and a whore and any guy that wants her a simp and I did get some of those comments.

Yeah, Lit in general and T/I in particular are fantasy worlds. I don't think we want it any other way, but it surprises me sometimes how specific those fantasies are.

I shouldn't be surprised. I read somewhere (I don't think it was on Lit) a woman describing her fantasy of being held down for sex. Her hands had to be out to the sides. Holding them over her head did nothing for her. Turn-ons can be awfully specific sometimes.

 

[Dean_Harper]

This is my submission for the Summer Lovin' contest, a story about three college girls going on a short girls trip with one important rule; No Hookups. Obviously, that rule gets broken. I hope you enjoy reading it, as I enjoyed writing it.

No Hookups

This story went up a lot faster than expected. Do the stories submitted for contests get checked faster than the ones that aren't? Because my previous stories took a lot longer to get approved.

 

[TheLobster]

This story went up a lot faster than expected. Do the stories submitted for contests get checked faster than the ones that aren't?

Yes, contest and event stories take priority.

 

[bosombuddies]

I finally finished my first story in more than ten years (!!!) just in time for this contest:

A Rainy Day in Paradise
(group, couple swapping)

Looking back at how long it's been since I've had the energy and time to commit to a story (kids, am I right?), I really appreciate these special contests because they provide a fantastic motivator to put in the extra effort and actually get a story completed. Motivation is a big challenge when I've just survived an hour-long toddler tantrum before bedtime!

 

[Actingup]

Motivation is a big challenge when I've just survived an hour-long toddler tantrum before bedtime!

So you can probably comment of whether we should ensure that contraception is mentioned in our stories?

 

[bosombuddies]

So you can probably comment of whether we should ensure that contraception is mentioned in our stories?

lol, don't get me wrong, I love my kiddos, they just aren't always the most conducive to grown-up hobbies like writing 30,000 words of smut. Or sleeping.

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

I went ahead and submitted. Each reader will have to decide if this meets the contest theme through bludgeoning, cajoling, or massaging (preferably nuru, although that isn't in the story). What convinced me to go ahead was the opportunity to include among the tags the term 'potted plants.'

 

[crookedletter]

I went ahead and submitted. Each reader will have to decide if this meets the contest theme through bludgeoning, cajoling, or massaging (preferably nuru, although that isn't in the story). What convinced me to go ahead was the opportunity to include among the tags the term 'potted plants.'

I can tell you one thing: when yours posts, it has a pretty good shot of being the top rated story with that particular tag.

 

[Actingup]

I can tell you one thing: when yours posts, it has a pretty good shot of being the top rated story with that particular tag.

A reader pointed out that my story for the last contest was the only one on the site that included Mongolian throat singing. I had totally missed it in the tags. @JuanSeiszFitzHall, your attention to detail is commendable.

 

[nicksouth]

Well, my entry won't win but has as many views in just a few days as my 2025 Valentines one does since Jan (different categories)

 

[NotWise]

Mine's doing well for views. Not so well with rating, but it has more views than my last effort in T/I, and more views than anything in its category in the last month. Toys & Masturbation is a slow category.

 

[NotWise]

The last day to submit a story is one week from today. Get to work folks!

 

[Wineandcheese]

The last day to submit a story is one week from today. Get to work folks!

I’ve been in a writing slump lately. Decided to sit this one out.

 

[NotWise]

I’ve been in a writing slump lately. Decided to sit this one out.

Happens to all of us. I hope yours ends sooner than later.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Serendipitously, being on vacation led to some inspiration and I’ve belatedly submitted a short (7,000 word) Summer Lovin’ story. It’s much too lightweight to do well, but it was a fun idea and fun to write. It’s in Exhibitionist & Voyeur and called A Boardwalk Walk. Hopefully it will be published within a couple of days.

 

[Voboy]

My piece is still trundling along, doing about as well as I thought it would. There are some great entries this year!

 

[EmilyMiller]

My piece is still trundling along, doing about as well as I thought it would. There are some great entries this year!

Hey comp buddy. I won’t be keeping you rating company this time around I think

 

[Voboy]

Hey comp buddy. I won’t be keeping you rating company this time around I think

You know how these things work. Afternoon of the last day of the contest, your piece could be at 4.64; late that night, when the scores are announced, you've suddenly won with a 4.9 before being promptly bombed right back down to 4.7.

It's just how these things happen, lol. I'm looking forward to reading yours.

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

A reader pointed out that my story for the last contest was the only one on the site that included Mongolian throat singing. I had totally missed it in the tags. @JuanSeiszFitzHall, your attention to detail is commendable.

Thanks. Surely my tag use will be helpful to readers. As with my story that included the tags 'optometry,' 'water polo,' and 'Honduras.' Finding that story, within the vastness of my catalog, is left as an exercise for the observer. (Hint: The site folks decided not to include the tag 'Honduras.') (Further hint: 'water polo' was literal, and not a reference to a kink.)

 

[EmilyMiller]

You know how these things work. Afternoon of the last day of the contest, your piece could be at 4.64; late that night, when the scores are announced, you've suddenly won with a 4.9 before being promptly bombed right back down to 4.7.

I’m aware

It's just how these things happen, lol. I'm looking forward to reading yours.

Cool, have yours on my list. But might be after I get back from vacation

 

[EmilyMiller]

Serendipitously, being on vacation led to some inspiration and I’ve belatedly submitted a short (7,000 word) Summer Lovin’ story. It’s much too lightweight to do well, but it was a fun idea and fun to write. It’s in Exhibitionist & Voyeur and called A Boardwalk Walk. Hopefully it will be published within a couple of days.

Publishing tomorrow (Sunday)

 

[Actingup]

Reminder to self and anybody else of a similar mind: we can add a lot of value to the competition by reading other entries and giving considered / constructive / positive feedback, including for newer authors (not just our friends!). If everybody has a good experience of the comp, that makes a hell of a difference when compared to a dog-eat-dog contest.

 

[nicksouth]

Reminder to self and anybody else of a similar mind: we can add a lot of value to the competition by reading other entries and giving considered / constructive / positive feedback, including for newer authors (not just our friends!). If everybody has a good experience of the comp, that makes a hell of a difference when compared to a dog-eat-dog contest.

I always feel like I am too inexperienced to critique someone else's work. I'm barely hanging on myself.