The 2024 750 Word Story Challenge Support Thread

[Duleigh]

This February has 29 days.

Thank you for bringing that to my attention. Once again they modified the month of February without consulting me first...

I sent an emergency request to TPTB to extend the submission deadline to February 29th. I'll post the decision from on high when it comes down.

 

[lil_jenni]

This will be my first time completing the 750 challenge. I have a story ready at 750 words, but also have a question. If I want to have a prologue and an epilogue, should the labels 'prologue' and 'epilogue' be counted as part of the 750? I don't mean the content of the prologue and epilogue, just the labels.

And yes, I wrote a 750 word story with a prologue and epilogue. I'm whimsical that way.

 

[Duleigh]

This will be my first time completing the 750 challenge. I have a story ready at 750 words, but also have a question. If I want to have a prologue and an epilogue, should the labels 'prologue' and 'epilogue' be counted as part of the 750? I don't mean the content of the prologue and epilogue, just the labels.

And yes, I wrote a 750 word story with a prologue and epilogue. I'm whimsical that way.

That is kind of defeating the purpose of the 750 word challenge. I understand what you want to do, I want to do it too but this is what I ended up doing - I wrote a couple full length stories using the 750 word story as the origin of my full stories

 

[lil_jenni]

That is kind of defeating the purpose of the 750 word challenge. I understand what you want to do, I want to do it too but this is what I ended up doing - I wrote a couple full length stories using the 750 word story as the origin of my full stories.

I must not have explained myself well. The text of the prologue and epilogue are part of the 750 word count. I am simply asking about the two words that would be required to lable the prologue and epilogue. If they count, I need to either forget the structure or eliminate two words.

 

[Devinter]

This will be my first time completing the 750 challenge. I have a story ready at 750 words, but also have a question. If I want to have a prologue and an epilogue, should the labels 'prologue' and 'epilogue' be counted as part of the 750? I don't mean the content of the prologue and epilogue, just the labels.

And yes, I wrote a 750 word story with a prologue and epilogue. I'm whimsical that way.

Any "title words" such as "authors notes" or "trigger warnings" do not count towards the 750 limit. The actual story needs to be 750 words exactly. However, if you have no notes besides those two words, I would cut two words just because then it'll say "750 words" on the right-hand side and that makes it look cooler.

 

[TheseLegs]

Employing the series-like loophole isn’t expressly forbidden, although most choose to avoid it.

Thanks for the reply. I didn't intend to write three, I wrote the second one first and didn't like how abrupt I had to be, so the others are cheating to provide some explanation and closure (but each still works as a story on its own). Probably not worth posting either way, I will have another try at it.

 

[Duleigh]

I must not have explained myself well. The text of the prologue and epilogue are part of the 750 word count. I am simply asking about the two words that would be required to lable the prologue and epilogue. If they count, I need to either forget the structure or eliminate two words.

Oh, sorry, go for it. Those 750 words are yours, do what you want
I also encourage a quick intro telling your reader "This is part of the 2024 750 word challenge. Below this line are 750 words" that way the reader doesn't feel short changed.

 

[Duleigh]

This February has 29 days.

Fearless Leader has been notified and she updated the official page, and I updated this page.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I must not have explained myself well. The text of the prologue and epilogue are part of the 750 word count. I am simply asking about the two words that would be required to lable the prologue and epilogue. If they count, I need to either forget the structure or eliminate two words.

Don't worry. The site isn't going to reject any story with a two word "over" count.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Literotica author Devinter talked me into writing something for the Valentine's Day Contest (not that I needed a lot of convincing -- I'm really quite a pushover!), and in the rush of writing, editing, submitting and the resultant excitement leading up to today (the start of the contest), I decided to try my hand at the 750 Challenge! Yay or boo...

Reading this thread, it seems that some people are saddened by the lower rating. I try not to get hung up on the numbers... But... Come on, who doesn't like a little pat on the head in appreciation for all our hard work??

With that being said, my 750 Challenge story is sure to put an end to my beginner's luck streak (although my last two entries in the series that I've been writing have been less than enthusiastically received -- is there any way to see actual ratings? I'm quite sure I've gotten a few 1 Stars in there).

But my 750 Challenge is VERY strange. As in if anyone pre-reads it, they will do their best to convince me to either change 80% of it or just scrap it altogether and try again (unless, of course, they are into sadism, then they will encourage me to enter it!). Oh, well. I'll enter it anyway and just batten down the hatches for the poop storm that I'm sure it will garner...

I think the summer contest is more my speed (sun and fun and bright, innocuous happiness -- in my case, pablum), so setting my sights on that one next!!

 

[MillieDynamite]

I was going to try and do five or six stories for the challenge, but now, with all the work I have contracted to do. I'll be lucky to get one or two more ready.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

Reading this thread, it seems that some people are saddened by the lower rating. I try not to get hung up on the numbers... But... Come on, who doesn't like a little pat on the head in appreciation for all our hard work??

Yeah, those are the H addicts.

 

[lil_jenni]

Don't worry. The site isn't going to reject any story with a two word "over" count.

Thanks, but I'm not worried about the site. I want to stay within the rules of the challenge.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Yeah, those are the H addicts.

What is an H addict?

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

What is an H addict?

If your stories get rated 4.5 or higher, they get a red H. There are people that count that as a badge of honor. It's just a side effect of people liking what you write. Kind of out of your control for the most part, really.

 

[ElectricBlue]

If your stories get rated 4.5 or higher, they get a red H. There are people that count that as a badge of honor. It's just a side effect of people liking what you write. Kind of out of your control for the most part, really.

@FreyaGersemi Adding to this, a Red H is a story with a score at least 4.50 from ten votes.

The symbol pulls in traffic, it's that simple. The debate as to their usefulness or merit is usually led by folk who don't have many. It's that brutal.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

@FreyaGersemi Adding to this, a Red H is a story with a score at least 4.50 from ten votes.

The symbol pulls in traffic, it's that simple. The debate as to their usefulness or merit is usually led by folk who don't have many. It's that brutal.

Better explanation^^^

 

[MillieDynamite]

I have a story, She's a Bully, that has my most s, but has a steady 4.45 rating. With the number of votes, it isn't likely to climb up that 0.05 to get to the coveted 4.5 mark anytime soon, if ever. I don't sweat the rating, it'll either get there or not, stay at the H or not. It's all out of our control. There for I'm not addicted to the red h, but I love the hearts.

What is an H addict?

 

[M_K_Babalon]

What is an H addict?

People who are overly obsessed with scores and the Red H to the point the H might as well be short for heroine.

 

[ElectricBlue]

is there any way to see actual ratings? I'm quite sure I've gotten a few 1 Stars in there).

But my 750 Challenge is VERY strange. As in if anyone pre-reads it, they will do their best to convince me to either change 80% of it or just scrap it altogether and try again (unless, of course, they are into sadism, then they will encourage me to enter it!). Oh, well. I'll enter it anyway and just batten down the hatches for the poop storm that I'm sure it will garner...

I think the summer contest is more my speed (sun and fun and bright, innocuous happiness -- in my case, pablum), so setting my sights on that one next!!

1. No. You have to track the incoming scores yourself, and you can get some idea.

2. The 750 Word collections are definitely a writer's' exercise, not a readers' choice, but worth doing, regardless of reception. They're a great way of tightening yourself up as a writer - if you can't write a vignette, you can't write a scene!

3. Your story-telling is perfect for the summer contest. I never write for it, because it's the middle of winter for me, too much cold and rain.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

1. No. You have to track the incoming scores yourself, and you can get some idea.

That's what I figured. I noticed that on a new story of mine, my rating suddenly plummeted. With a little simple math, I figured that someone rated it a 1-star (it had a 5/2 and dropped to 3.7/3). Whatever. It's not going to keep me up at night. I was just curious. Thanks!

 

[MrPixel]

Surprised myself this afternoon. Knocked-out a 750-word story in two hours based on a dream I had last night. I had no definitive plans to do one (or more!) this year, but when inspiration strikes, go for it!

 

[MyBareTorso]

I wonder if prefacing your story with "Hey, gang, this is only 750 words because it's hard!" is going to help with people hitting you with 2 and 3 stars.

My three stories from past challenges all have a theme of 750 for the fun of it.

https://literotica.com/s/7-minutes-50-seconds scored for 4.29

https://literotica.com/s/room-750 scored for 4.06

https://www.literotica.com/s/how-many-words scored for 4.23

I think those are great scores considering the inability to develop anything or make the work engaging beyond a quick snapshot. I get that's the challenge and I have a new-found appreciation for tv commercials in trying to tell a story in 30 seconds.

I'll add the disclaimer this year and see if my one or two stories can get any better votes.

Who's with me?

I've put the OP-suggested intro on each of my 750 word entries. I like letting the readers know there's a reason why I've suddenly turned out a bunch of uncharacteristically brief stories. The scoring is then, of course, up to them. I'll say it again...this is a really fun challenge.

 

[rthnck]

So I submitted my story at the beginning of the week and I still don't see it as pending. Will it show up as pending in February? Or did something go wrong with the submission?

 

[MrPixel]

So I submitted my story at the beginning of the week and I still don't see it as pending. Will it show up as pending in February? Or did something go wrong with the submission?

You might have broken the system, such as it is. I don't think you're supposed to submit until February 1st.

@Duleigh ?