The Official Valentine’s Day Contest Support Thread 2026

[redgarters]

Are all the stories that are submitted before jan 10th published on jan 10th, or do they appear before?

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Are all the stories that are submitted before jan 10th published on jan 10th, or do they appear before?

It's my understanding they're queued up for release on the 10th. if I'm wrong, well, I'm going to look silly for having submitted mine early.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I'm working on a story I hope to use for the Valentine's Day Contest entry. It doesn't happen on Valentine's Day. But it is a lesbian love story, with a heterosexual love story subplot. Probably a novel-length story consisting of about 10 to 14 chapters. I have a 3,000-word outline with about six scenes per chapter across 13 chapters. It is set in 1981 and is not only a lesbian but also an interracial love story. My working title is Mile-High Heat. In case you don't get it from the title, it's set in Denver, CO. I have a rough draft of the first two chapters, and about 1500 words in the third. Debating how much polish I do as a go and how much I put off until the first draft is finished.

 

[MillieDynamite]

@ShelbyDawn57, sweetie pie it says...
You can begin submitting on (or before): January 10
The last day to submit is: February 6 at 11:59pm EST
Winners will be announced on: February 13

I'm working on a story I hope to use for the Valentine's Day Contest entry. It doesn't happen on Valentine's Day. But it is a lesbian love story, with a heterosexual love story subplot. Probably a novel-length story consisting of about 10 to 14 chapters. I have a 3,000-word outline with about six scenes per chapter across 13 chapters. It is set in 1981 and is not only a lesbian but also an interracial love story. My working title is Mile-High Heat. In case you don't get it from the title, it's set in Denver, CO. I have a rough draft of the first two chapters, and about 1500 words in the third. Debating how much polish I do as a go and how much I put off until the first draft is finished.

So, you're covered. I have no idea if I can get mine done in time or not.

 

[Voboy]

Are all the stories that are submitted before jan 10th published on jan 10th, or do they appear before?

Mine is listed as posting on the 10th. I submitted less than 24 hours ago.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

@ShelbyDawn57, sweetie pie it says...
You can begin submitting on (or before): January 10
The last day to submit is: February 6 at 11:59pm EST
Winners will be announced on: February 13

So, you're covered. I have no idea if I can get mine done in time or not.

You, you, you called me sweetie pie...
My heart is all a'flutter...

 

[EmilyMiller]

Are all the stories that are submitted before jan 10th published on jan 10th, or do they appear before?

They all get published on Jan 10th

 

[HelenL]

"The Franchise" is now in the pipeline!

 

[EmilyMiller]

"The Franchise" is now in the pipeline!

Yay!

 

[spiderboi]

"Deeper Than a Son's Love," my first-ever contest entry, is officially submitted.

I'm a slow ass, so the fact that it only took me two weeks to write, which is my tightest turnaround yet, gives me hope I might be able to get to all the other projects I've got planned this year

 

[EmilyMiller]

"Deeper Than a Son's Love," my first-ever contest entry, is officially submitted.

I'm a slow ass, so the fact that it only took me two weeks to write, which is my tightest turnaround yet, gives me hope I might be able to get to all the other projects I've got planned this year

Congratulations

 

[RoyalAuthor]

It's my understanding they're queued up for release on the 10th. if I'm wrong, well, I'm going to look silly for having submitted mine early.

This is correct, I've submitted early for almost every major contest I've participated in.

 

[HelenL]

They all get published on Jan 10th

So if mine is showing that it will be published on 01/08 did I do something wrong? I triple-checked the "note to admin" field

 

[EmilyMiller]

So if mine is showing that it will be published on 01/08 did I do something wrong? I triple-checked the "note to admin" field

Yeah - sounds like they missed that it was for Valentine’s - again it’s the intern at the wheel.

Either pull and resubmit, or try a PM. It’s hard to know which is the better approach. Maybe PM and if no change then pull it before it publishes overnight.

 

[HelenL]

Yeah - sounds like they missed that it was for Valentine’s - again it’s the intern at the wheel.

Either pull and resubmit, or try a PM. It’s hard to know which is the better approach. Maybe PM and if no change then pull it before it publishes overnight.

I went to check before a PM and the publication date has changed to 1/10 so I'm good. (If admin is monitoring the thread, thanks!)

 

[Trionyx]

I mentioned this in the 750 word thread. There will be many 750ers in February which could easily drown out a Valentine’s Day entry for the first week of February. You may want to get your Valentines story in before the first. As a courtesy, I am holding my 750 story until mid February.

 

[Voboy]

I mentioned this in the 750 word thread. There will be many 750ers in February which could easily drown out a Valentine’s Day entry for the first week of February. You may want to get your Valentines story in before the first. As a courtesy, I am holding my 750 story until mid February.

Excellent point.

That 750-worder, I've long thought, has worn out its welcome. It really does clog the New panel something fierce.

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

I’ve finished a first draft of…something. I haven’t decided if it can go in the contest. Rewriting figures to take a long time, so this definitely wouldn’t post on Day One. In my judgment, the story wouldn’t belong in Pink Orchid. The rewrite process may show me that it shouldn’t be published at all.

As I dither over this, I hope that all of your entries attract an appreciative audience. Enjoy the contest!

 

[Agent0069]

Just like the protagonist I was ready to go off prematurely, but am forced to wait until the seal is broken.

 

[old_prof]

I'm fighting with mine still. The characters are flat and I have four endings, none of which I like. I may or may not get this done.

 

[redgarters]

I'm fighting with mine still. The characters are flat and I have four endings, none of which I like. I may or may not get this done.

Fight on! We believe in you!

 

[EmilyMiller]

I went to check before a PM and the publication date has changed to 1/10 so I'm good. (If admin is monitoring the thread, thanks!)

That’s great

 

[PapaRomantic]

I have just submitted my entry, "To the Very End." It's a departure from my typical HEA romance. I'm anxious to see how it does, because I have a feeling there will be some readers that will tear up while reading it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I have just submitted my entry, "To the Very End." It's a departure from my typical HEA romance. I'm anxious to see how it does, because I have a feeling there will be some readers that will tear up while reading it.

Yay!

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I have just submitted my entry, "To the Very End." It's a departure from my typical HEA romance. I'm anxious to see how it does, because I have a feeling there will be some readers that will tear up while reading it.

Love a good tear jerker. Will def check it out.