Valentines Day Contest Support Thread 2025

[TiberiusPrime]

Serious question. And, no, this isn't a "humble brag" or "weird flex" or whatever people on Ticktock are saying. Anyone who has read my work can easily see that I have no idea what readers want, let alone the ability to tailor a story to that end. This is an honest and serious question. It may even be better as it's own thread...

Do a lot of people do this? Do people write their stories (especially ones for contests) with higher scores and pleasing others in mind?

Follow-up question:

If you do, could you please tell me how?

Write what you want. Plain and simple. Trying to write what readers want is the way to madness. You cannot please everyone all the time.

My Valentine's story is one I had started years ago, but I couldn't find a hook. I lost my way a bit in the middle of it and abandoned it. It wasn't until the contest that it clicked and I went back to it. I deleted a LOT of what I had written, probably all but the first 2,000 words of it. Personally, I love the way it came out. Others may disagree. Again, I wrote it because I enjoyed writing it, not for what any reader may or may not want.

 

[Voboy]

I'm finishing up my VDay story, but as I'm sliding toward the finish I'm realizing it's not a VDay story at all. It's a Crime And Punishment story. So I think that's how I'll be presenting it.

Well, here's what happened: I finished that VDay story for Crime and Punishment, then got an idea for a Halloween story about witches; I wrote that a few days ago, then realized it's more of a VDay story. So now I've started another story for Halloween, also about witches and also involving crime.

I'm in a circle. But I'll get three stories out of it, including an unexpected VDay entry. I just submitted.

 

[D_K_Moon]

Serious question. And, no, this isn't a "humble brag" or "weird flex" or whatever people on Ticktock are saying. Anyone who has read my work can easily see that I have no idea what readers want, let alone the ability to tailor a story to that end. This is an honest and serious question. It may even be better as it's own thread...

Do a lot of people do this? Do people write their stories (especially ones for contests) with higher scores and pleasing others in mind?

Follow-up question:

If you do, could you please tell me how?

I write to the best of my ability, but I don't consider myself a writer, I tell stories, I try to craft believable characters and let them tell the story, I'm just the hired help at the keyboard.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

V-Day entry got 21,000 views, 635 votes and 7 comments in the first 24 hours but only eeked out a 4.3.

It's still accumulating since it's still on the first page of I/T new stories, but I doubt the rating will climb any.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

635 votes

I think my entire 14 months on here (58 works) has gotten me that many votes!! I should have started writing erotica when I was... 18, I guess (just so I don't run afoul of anything taboo).

 

[D_K_Moon]

V-Day entry got 21,000 views, 635 votes and 7 comments in the first 24 hours but only eeked out a 4.3.

It's still accumulating since it's still on the first page of I/T new stories, but I doubt the rating will climb any.

Freaking hell! That's impressive!

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Freaking hell! That's impressive!

That's I/T for you - 10x more readers and votes than any other category. At least you know you'll get enough votes to qualify for a contest, unlike say Gay Male, Humour/Satire, etc.

 

[SimonDoom]

V-Day entry got 21,000 views, 635 votes and 7 comments in the first 24 hours but only eeked out a 4.3.

It's still accumulating since it's still on the first page of I/T new stories, but I doubt the rating will climb any.

It won't have to. One of the nice things about delving into this category is you realize that scores don't matter nearly as much as some people think they do. You'll get a lot of views, which means you'll get a lot of votes, and you'll get favorites and comments too. The other nice thing is that publishing in this category will boost the views of your other stories, too, over time, and more views further insulate you from the vicissitudes of voting and nasty scoring. Congrats on your story's success.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Up to nearly 25,000 views and 718 votes.

But look at the other two. No where close.

It won't have to. One of the nice things about delving into this category is you realize that scores don't matter nearly as much as some people think they do. You'll get a lot of views, which means you'll get a lot of votes, and you'll get favorites and comments too. The other nice thing is that publishing in this category will boost the views of your other stories, too, over time, and more views further insulate you from the vicissitudes of voting and nasty scoring. Congrats on your story's success.

All true, but contests don't pay out on that.

 

[Voboy]

Posting tomorrow. Whew.

This is the latest during the submission window that I've ever put in a contest entry. Usually I'm ready to go the day the window opens.

 

[D_K_Moon]

V-Day entry got 21,000 views, 635 votes and 7 comments in the first 24 hours but only eeked out a 4.3.

It's still accumulating since it's still on the first page of I/T new stories, but I doubt the rating will climb any.

I just read your piece, I don't understand why it's only 4.3. I loved it - voted - commented.

 

[WittyUserName]

I'm really feeling the time crunch. Not sure I'll make it.

 

[Actingup]

My 750 word Greek mythology Valentine's Day story, Cheating the Gods, is out. It won't win anything but it was fun

 

[sinfantasy]

I have two stories published today,
Cupid's misfire in Mature
And
Cupid'e Cry: Modern Romance Minefield in Humour and Satire, this one is 750 words

 

[TheLobster]

Finished mine only yesterday. Still going through the editing process.

That's what you get you try to write a simple story and it somehow gains layers, and character development, and worldbuilding, and before you know it ends up as a 32k word novella... Don't you just hate when that happens

Planning to post it in Mind Control, though I wouldn't be too surprised if Laurel slots into SF&F instead. We'll see.

 

[Trionyx]

Up to 100 stories. Six days to closing. I predict there will be another 50 or so last-week entries. One will be mine since it is a Pink Orchid entry as well.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Since I'm ill again, I doubt I'll have time to finish my re-edit and expansion of my Sci-Fi tale to get into Pink Orchid.

 

[Voboy]

And I'm UP!

https://www.literotica.com/s/many-kinds-of-love

It's atypically Valentinian, but it was never intended as a VDay piece until late in the process. It's about love, though, so...

ETA: I just chcked it. 91 votes already? That's unheard-of, for me.

 

[nicksouth]

I'm really feeling the time crunch. Not sure I'll make it.

You can do it !

 

[taytay4eva]

Ok, the 750 word contest is open so I was able to submit my 750 word selkie fairytale romance for both that and for this!

Now to panic.

 

[SouthernCrossfire]

I bagged my originally planned entry that's been in the works for nearly three years and went with a backup. There's been a lot of craziness at home and work over the past couple of weeks so my 2025 Valentine's Day Contest story will probably end up being my 2026 Valentine's Day Contest story instead.

Congratulations to all who've finished and entered and best wishes to all those like me who are still trying to get their stories done!

 

[glynndah]

My story is finished and up so now I can take a deep breath or two and start reading your stories. Good luck, everyone!

 

[WCSGarland]

My muse is a real bastard. WTF! The old git is hounding me to write another entry. Shit. If only he had shut his fecking mouth until Feb 13...

 

[WCSGarland]

Submitted... second entry flowed like overheated molasses. Short, but what the heck.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I'm in. Just submitted a story for the T side of I/T.

My original story will have to wait for winter.