The Official Valentine’s Day Contest Support Thread 2026

[TheAlphabetGirl]

ps. I am happy to rate EVERYONE 5 stars that asks me to read their Valentines entry or likes this post. Just to help get into the long list, have the feel good of bumping up a score (itʼs free!!) and being a cheerleader that says - well done for turning up today! @StrentWriter & @RoyalAuthor Iʼm heading over to your stories next


My wistful DIY footer (until I get the comments back from above question or find the right forum thread!)

***We are all swimming in the Ocean trying to find our way. No harm is done by helping others ashore***

 

[redgarters]

Congrats and good luck in the comp @TheAlphabetGirl
The footer thing is your Signature. You find it here:

 

[EmilyMiller]

21st January

It’s not easy to find inspiration
When daily poems are an obligation
But then I just sit
And rub on my clit
And arousal becomes my salvation

 

[EmilyMiller]

Hello!!
Sorry if I look like i am excited young publisher round these parts but thatʼs exactly what I am lol. My Valentines entry just got approved!!

https://www.literotica.com/s/c-love-through-the-backdoor.

Few general questions

1. did I make it out of pesky ropes & restraints in the BDSM category?! not sure where I can see that until it populates in my ʼWorksʼ Wondering if it was erotic couplings or anal?
2. how do I do the footer thing all you proʼs seem to have?

Thanks in advance! and really appreciate any comments too

Well done!

 

[TheAlphabetGirl]

Congrats and good luck in the comp @TheAlphabetGirl
The footer thing is your Signature. You find it here:
View attachment 2591492

amazing - thank you!

 

[TheAlphabetGirl]

Someone has voted me 1 star already.
4 votes
- (@StrentWriter - thank you!)
- plus me (I assuming everyone votes for themselves?! & thats ok)
+ my buddy who proof read for me (so all 5 stars)
- now the fourth vote pulled me down to 4.

Damn - thats a bit harsh on a new writer! Lucky I know my detailed decriptions of sex are SMOKING hot so my ego finds that amusing. But 1 star?! that must mean they HATED it right?

Trolls?! or am i just 100% dillusional in my writing ability?!!! or to put an anal story into erotic couplings was story suicide?!!

Must be awful to be one of those people use ratings as the way to gain joy in their day (unless its the joy of being positive thats fine of course - i do that all the time! with my 5 star flirting and praise.

Now I wonder how big this footer is going to turn out?! Peace, love and lusty writing to you all.

 

[Purechicanery]

I suspect there are people voting stories down less because of how good the writing is, and more because of how well the story catered to their specific interests. I had someone say that they'd voted down one of my stories because they didn't find it particularly plausible that a mother and son would engage in sex on camera, since it was illegal and all. (There was more to it but it still struck me as an odd reason to give a score of 2.) One of the downsides of this being smut that people are rating, is that they're not always going to be judging based on literary merit.

 

[TheAlphabetGirl]

I suspect there are people voting stories down less because of how good the writing is, and more because of how well the story catered to their specific interests. I had someone say that they'd voted down one of my stories because they didn't find it particularly plausible that a mother and son would engage in sex on camera, since it was illegal and all. (There was more to it but it still struck me as an odd reason to give a score of 2.) One of the downsides of this being smut that people are rating, is that they're not always going to be judging based on literary merit.

I assume you published in the Taboo category?! Bit like sci-fi really....plausibility holds no bounds in the minds of the creators! And the fact itʼs illegal and naughty - well isnʼt that the kink?!! Agreed - bit odd!

Yes - Erotic Couplings could be where I went wrong.... back to 4.2 now though, (thanks to my 5th voter! )

 

[RoyalAuthor]

I don't necessarily care about my ratings as in they make or break me as an author, or I let people's negativity affect my moods - I like my writing, I don't need approval from random strangers.

However, I care about earning ratings that put me on top lists or get me recommended on similar stories, because that leads to more viewership, and I want as many people as possible to read my stories and provide constructive feedback or engage with my work. So when a story of mine lands at 4.75 steadily, that's great! Awesome rating, really happy with how it turned out.

When one lands at 4.75 after a string of ones, pushing it down from the high 4.8s, I get mildly annoyed. Sure, after the next sweep, it'll bounce back, and I'm going to keep writing because I know 1-stars on a story approaching a 5 average are nonsense votes, but it hurts exposure in the short term.

 

[TorinnKimbatuul]

I'm glad to see so many people excited to participate! After a minor typo tangle in my story, I'm glad to see that it got approved!

I looked around a little bit but could only find the 2025 story list - is there a centralized place where all the stories can be viewed?

Best of luck to everyone!

 

[EmilyMiller]

I don't necessarily care about my ratings as in they make or break me as an author, or I let people's negativity affect my moods - I like my writing, I don't need approval from random strangers.

However, I care about earning ratings that put me on top lists or get me recommended on similar stories, because that leads to more viewership, and I want as many people as possible to read my stories and provide constructive feedback or engage with my work. So when a story of mine lands at 4.75 steadily, that's great! Awesome rating, really happy with how it turned out.

When one lands at 4.75 after a string of ones, pushing it down from the high 4.8s, I get mildly annoyed. Sure, after the next sweep, it'll bounce back, and I'm going to keep writing because I know 1-stars on a story approaching a 5 average are nonsense votes, but it hurts exposure in the short term.

Yeah - this

 

[EmilyMiller]

I'm glad to see so many people excited to participate! After a minor typo tangle in my story, I'm glad to see that it got approved!

I looked around a little bit but could only find the 2025 story list - is there a centralized place where all the stories can be viewed?

Best of luck to everyone!

Here:

https://www.literotica.com/stories/contest.php/valentines-day-2026

There is a link on the main page and I’ve posted it on this thread more than once.

Good luck!

 

[TorinnKimbatuul]

Thanks! I'm quite blind, it seems!

Honestly I'm just really excited.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Honestly I'm just really excited.

That’s sweet

 

[TheAlphabetGirl]

I don't necessarily care about my ratings as in they make or break me as an author, or I let people's negativity affect my moods - I like my writing, I don't need approval from random strangers.

However, I care about earning ratings that put me on top lists or get me recommended on similar stories, because that leads to more viewership, and I want as many people as possible to read my stories and provide constructive feedback or engage with my work. So when a story of mine lands at 4.75 steadily, that's great! Awesome rating, really happy with how it turned out.

When one lands at 4.75 after a string of ones, pushing it down from the high 4.8s, I get mildly annoyed. Sure, after the next sweep, it'll bounce back, and I'm going to keep writing because I know 1-stars on a story approaching a 5 average are nonsense votes, but it hurts exposure in the short term.

So maybe we are the opposite! I don’t care about being at the top of the list or how many People read it if I am growing as a person - then that’s the purpose of hobby right!

After a day of being live and watching the scores I am interested to see why happens when doing a story which is not for a competition. Ie I feel sad as I’m back down to 4.14 ok twenty one votes so that is

18 = 5star
3 = 1star.

As least I will Make the long list!
And I will get the little I hope. That’s is validating

But no comments - hard right to improve luck that! I have started to read yours too

 

[EmilyMiller]

So maybe we are the opposite! I don’t care about being at the top of the list or how many People read it if I am growing as a person - then that’s the purpose of hobby right!

After a day of being live and watching the scores I am interested to see why happens when doing a story which is not for a competition. Ie I feel sad as I’m back down to 4.14 ok twenty one votes so that is

18 = 5star
3 = 1star.

As least I will Make the long list!
And I will get the little I hope. That’s is validating

But no comments - hard right to improve luck that! I have started to read yours too

Hey,

That’s great. And view the 1️ as a rite of passage.

One of us… one of us…

 

[SmilingLez]

Have a question about posting a story in two categories - the Valentine's Day challenge and the pink orchid challenge. How would I do both, submit it twice? If I can get it down to 750 words, I would like to submit it to that challenge as well. TIA

 

[EmilyMiller]

Have a question about posting a story in two categories - the Valentine's Day challenge and the pink orchid challenge. How would I do both, submit it twice? If I can get it down to 750 words, I would like to submit it to that challenge as well. TIA

I’ve never done that. I don’t even know if it’s allowed. But I guess you could put both relevant texts in your notes field

 

[SmilingLez]

I’ve never done that. I don’t even know if it’s allowed. But I guess you could put both relevant texts in your notes field

Thank you @EmilyMiller I've been working on dialogue since that is the hardest part of a story for me to write. Don't know if it'll be ready in time

 

[EmilyMiller]

Thank you @EmilyMiller I've been working on dialogue since that is the hardest part of a story for me to write. Don't know if it'll be ready in time

Good luck!

 

[RoyalAuthor]

Thank you @EmilyMiller I've been working on dialogue since that is the hardest part of a story for me to write. Don't know if it'll be ready in time

You can do it. And remember, George Lucas made Star Wars and he couldn't write dialogue if his life depended on it. You're in good company if you struggle with it lol.

 

[WittyUserName]

You can do it. And remember, George Lucas made Star Wars and he couldn't write dialogue if his life depended on it. You're in good company if you struggle with it lol.

Hey, I don't like sand either. It IS coarse, rough, and irritating...

 

[EmilyMiller]

You can do it. And remember, George Lucas made Star Wars and he couldn't write dialogue if his life depended on it. You're in good company if you struggle with it lol.

I’d argue the dialog in The Rise of Skywalker is worse. And I love Rey.

 

[Purechicanery]

I assume you published in the Taboo category?! Bit like sci-fi really....plausibility holds no bounds in the minds of the creators! And the fact itʼs illegal and naughty - well isnʼt that the kink?!! Agreed - bit odd!

Yes - Erotic Couplings could be where I went wrong.... back to 4.2 now though, (thanks to my 5th voter! )

I think there is still a degree of verisimilitude you want to achieve regardless of genre, but I disagree with that particular commenter. The point was less to complain about me being unfairly downvoted, though, and more to say that if you receive some highly negative reviews, don't be too hasty to assume the votes are made in bad faith, or because your writing was perceived as 'that bad'.

 

[TheAlphabetGirl]

I don't necessarily care about my ratings as in they make or break me as an author, or I let people's negativity affect my moods - I like my writing, I don't need approval from random strangers.

However, I care about earning ratings that put me on top lists or get me recommended on similar stories, because that leads to more viewership, and I want as many people as possible to read my stories and provide constructive feedback or engage with my work. So when a story of mine lands at 4.75 steadily, that's great! Awesome rating, really happy with how it turned out.

When one lands at 4.75 after a string of ones, pushing it down from the high 4.8s, I get mildly annoyed. Sure, after the next sweep, it'll bounce back, and I'm going to keep writing because I know 1-stars on a story approaching a 5 average are nonsense votes, but it hurts exposure in the short term.

Here’s question for you - as all you stories have the symbol & high ratings across the board.

Do you delete stories if they don’t make a certain value?
- Rewrite relaunch, I could see that happening in a series. Like when Bobby Ewing came back in Dallas
- Delete and kill. No point looking back or high giving readers something below average
- Or you have been just a good writer / stories well received over the years!