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

[ElectricBlue]

Could I ask this again. Stories have to be posted after February 1st?

Based on the Spillane Anthology approach, submit stories in February for inclusion in the Anthology List to be published In March. So you have a 28 day wide deadline.

 

[Bramblethorn]

You need coffee Bramble.

I'm never tired enough to want to drink coffee

 

[MillieDynamite]

I'm never tired enough to want to drink coffee

Then you've never sat in a car on a stakeout for two plus days!

 

[gunhilltrain]

It says in February, not by the 1st.

But reading your post again, yes after the 1st.

Thanks, I was just confirming that. It happens that I was already working on something that will fit, and now I have to hold onto it for four months.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm never tired enough to want to drink coffee

I don't know how that's possible. Coffee is the elixir of life for me. But only before noon.

Are you a tea person? Or do you just not need caffeine?

 

[YDB95]

This is right up my alley. I'm in!

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

My first concept for a story here could go very long. Because this is an event, does the contest rule against multiple parts not apply? Could a story be in five parts and all included separately in the event?

Posting on the same day might work against this, because I wouldn't want to drop several parts in a category hub on the same day.

 

[Omenainen]

Count me in!

Yay!

I'm a dork, I never thought about adding female empowerment as a tag to my works. I have some edits to publish, so I just might include that as I go along.

Well, I think not very many readers search with that tag, so I don't think you've been missing out. Then again, I did, and I am also a reader, so arguably n > 0.

If I understand this correctly, it can't be posted before February? Because I happen to have something close to being finished, and I think it would fit into this contest.

Obviously this is a theme which doesn't expire, but I think that it's justified that contests and events are limited to a certain time frame. So yes, the stories included in this event shall be published in February. But the way I see it, you're welcome to publish your WIP now and write something suitable for the event later - the more the better!

This is defo my genre so I hope my word gremlins can motivate me between now and then. It's what winter is for

Yay!

Interesting. Most of my stories would likely qualify - I'll see what I can do.

Yay!

In other words, take how women are portrayed in the majority of stories here, and do the opposite.

Why do I have the feeling the incels will be in trolling overload....stories about women doing what they want, the nerve.

Yes, that would be a valid starting point.

I hadn't really thought about the trolls. My worst case scenario was that nobody would be interested in this event. Maybe I am naive. But yes, participating does hold the possibility of attracting attention from those who don't believe in sex positivity or women's right to their own sexuality. Personally I would gladly make that the hill I die on, but if some writers want to cater to that crowd, it's probably safer to sit this one out.

That's what I write all the time anyway, so I thing I'll have something to contribute!

Yay!

I'd prefer it to the purple orchid contest, but I'm a card-carrying lesbian, complete with double heart women symbols and the purple flag with a battle ax in center of a black triangle.

All the orchids! I definitely want to include lesbians, but I also want to include every other woman and everyone writing reasonable women. I don't want to narrow this to a lesbian story event. I fully believe that any category, including Gay Male, can be targeted with a story that fulfills my idea for this event.

This is right up my alley. I'm in!

Yay!

My first concept for a story here could go very long. Because this is an event, does the contest rule against multiple parts not apply? Could a story be in five parts and all included separately in the event?

Posting on the same day might work against this, because I wouldn't want to drop several parts in a category hub on the same day.

From my point of view, more is more, so I will definitely welcome your mammoth story with open arms. You would have all of February to post, so the stories would not be on the category hub at the same day. It is only the list of entries that will be published on the International Women's Day. And yes, since this is not a competition, there's no requirement for single stories and no ban on continuing existing series.

(Edited to take out reference to maybe changing schedules, since my proposition for event timing has now been approved.)

 

[Omenainen]

Easy enough. Most stories with female POV would probably apply. Neat really: makes it easy for those people who specifically want the "female perspective on erotica" to find it quite easily.

It's not as straightforward as writing from a female POV. I would hope that most stories with female POV would apply, but I feel like that is a very optimistic view. I have read stories that are from female POV, even lesbian stories, that very much oppose what I'm searching for here. And it is not in any way impossible to write a women-centric story from male POV.

Discussions about male gaze and different POVs have been widely covered in the forum and I won't go into that here. What I'm searching for is an accepting, sex positive attitude towards women, and for female characters to have agency and make sense on their own and not just in relation to the male character(s).

I think I'm preaching for the choir here, meaning I think that the authors that don't understand this approach won't even read this thread, but that would be one tip I would give to someone who didn't know how to get started. Write from female POV; if it feels difficult to write a woman that makes sense, write only the women; write a lesbian story or maybe a story with only one woman. See where that takes you.

 

[stickygirl]

Thanks, I was just confirming that. It happens that I was already working on something that will fit, and now I have to hold onto it for four months.

I think that'd run counter to any medical advice

Can we dump them all in Loving Wives afterwards?

 

[ElectricBlue]

Discussions about male gaze and different POVs have been widely covered in the forum and I won't go into that here. What I'm searching for is an accepting, sex positive attitude towards women, and for female characters to have agency and make sense on their own and not just in relation to the male character(s).

I think this is a wonderful theme, Omenainen, and indeed it will be interesting to see what goes into the mix. I'm pleased to see it's inclusive in one way, but exclusive in another, in the sense that there are many authors who, shall we say, hold views that wouldn't be appropriate.

 

[Omenainen]

Can we dump them all in Loving Wives afterwards?

Ha! I think that would cause the Earth to derail from its orbit.

I think this is a wonderful theme, Omenainen, and indeed it will be interesting to see what goes into the mix. I'm pleased to see it's inclusive in one way, but exclusive in another, in the sense that there are many authors who, shall we say, hold views that wouldn't be appropriate.

Thank you. I think it’s a wonderful theme, too. I know there are stories on this site that follow this theme already, but I think it’s worth promoting, and I also hope to find more stories and authors for myself to read and follow.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Then you've never sat in a car on a stakeout for two plus days!

I hope this doesn't seem impertinent and I know it is thread drift, but how does one go to the bathroom in those circumstances? Especially if one is drinking a lot of coffee.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I hope this doesn't seem impertinent and I know it is thread drift, but how does one go to the bathroom in those circumstances? Especially if one is drinking a lot of coffee.

I'd suggest into the coffee cup then tip it out the window. Or into a bottle. For the other, into the back seat and hold your nose, I guess. Doggy bags.

 

[gunhilltrain]

"Obviously this is a theme which doesn't expire, but I think that it's justified that contests and events are limited to a certain time frame. So yes, the stories included in this event shall be published in February. But the way I see it, you're welcome to publish your WIP now and write something suitable for the event later - the more the better!

Laurel has not yet confirmed the dates. I will update the opening post with more info when necessary. Please check all the instructions carefully before posting your stories. I want no story left out by mistake."

These acronyms! What does WIP stand for? But, my first thought is that I will simply hold this one until February. Who knows if I will have another inspiration by then?

 

[NotWise]

These acronyms! What does WIP stand for? But, my first thought is that I will simply hold this one until February. Who knows if I will have another inspiration by then?

Work in progress.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I'd suggest into the coffee cup then tip it out the window. Or into a bottle. For the other, into the back seat and hold your nose, I guess. Doggy bags.

I could tell stories of what I did as a taxi driver, or stories I've heard from other taxi and car service drivers. But, thread drift. I could write about it in my sporadic "New York Taxi Driving Tales" series (non-fiction).

 

[gunhilltrain]

Work in progress.

Sounds like a New Deal program, like the WPA or the PWA. Or Gerald Ford's (?) WIN (Whip Inflation Now).

 

[HeyAll]

This sounds like all of my stories. lol

I can contribute.

 

[LaRascasse]

It sounds exceptionally broad.

I'm working on a Lesbian story which will hopefully be ready around February.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I hope this doesn't seem impertinent and I know it is thread drift, but how does one go to the bathroom in those circumstances? Especially if one is drinking a lot of coffee.

LOL, if I can, I get out of the car and go to a convivence store. After all, I had a partner. If I can't, we had a pot to piss in and window to throw it out. On one, we were in the country, near a filed and the barn where the guy had horses. I just went natural in that setting, and hid behind a tree.

Not a bad question, guys use bottles. To small a target for me.

for the other, the largest size zip bags if there wasn't a bathroom handy somewhere and wet wipes. But honestly, guys, we worked in pairs so one could run to the nearest handy quick stop or 7-11. After all, 7-11 name comes from the fact they are every 7 to 11 blocks.

 

[MillieDynamite]

It sounds exceptionally broad.

I'm working on a Lesbian story which will hopefully be ready around February.

I've also landed on idea for a lesbian story. It seems appropriate, it's what I am, and I have plenty of experiences to pull from. But first I have to finish the Halloween novella I'm working on, and a story request being written from an overview by the requestor.

But for the women's even, lesbian all the way!

 

[Bramblethorn]

Then you've never sat in a car on a stakeout for two plus days!

This is absolutely true. I have never done that.

I would get bored after about five minutes, and by the time the bank robber/kidnapping/whatever went down, I would be reading a book or studying the tiles on a roof or something, and I would most likely miss the whole thing.

I don't know how that's possible. Coffee is the elixir of life for me. But only before noon.

Are you a tea person? Or do you just not need caffeine?

Coffee tastes terrible to me, likewise beer. (Yes, including the "but you'll like THIS beer" beer. And that other one too. I have tried.)

I drink tea, mostly Harney and Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice, for flavour and warmth. I am never quite sure how much the caffeine affects me; I have odd non-reactions to some pharmaceuticals and I'm also not great at knowing my own state of alertness.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I drink coffee, hot and iced tea, never sweetened on either. Sprite with Vodka, bourbon and coke, Dark Beer, and some milk now and again. Nothing better than sitting with mum and sipping Earl Grey, and talking about this or that. Or, palling with dad, beer or Vodka then. Or, with Jo wine and cheese, kisses and hugs, and we bump happy in the night!

 

[Bramblethorn]

It's not as straightforward as writing from a female POV. I would hope that most stories with female POV would apply, but I feel like that is a very optimistic view. I have read stories that are from female POV, even lesbian stories, that very much oppose what I'm searching for here.

Uh huh. Some stories feel like the text equivalent of a guy mashing two Barbie dolls together.