The Official Valentine’s Day Contest Support Thread 2026

[RoyalAuthor]

It's hard to tell sometimes if you're getting one-bombed. My entry was rated extremely highly, then it dropped big time. I've gotten a lot of ratings though, so they could be legitimate.

Usually, I can only tell if I log in and see a one-vote difference - the math is pretty obvious that way.

In this case, the story basically finished its run and was settled - days passing without new votes. There was a sweep that put it on top of the group sex category top lists for 30 days and 12 months. Every morning since then, I've woken up to 2 or 3 new votes and a drop of .02-.04 in the score, and total views barely moving. It's dropped a full .4 so far and shows no signs of stopping. If that's not a troll, I'll eat my hat.

 

[WittyUserName]

Usually, I can only tell if I log in and see a one-vote difference - the math is pretty obvious that way.

In this case, the story basically finished its run and was settled - days passing without new votes. There was a sweep that put it on top of the group sex category top lists for 30 days and 12 months. Every morning since then, I've woken up to 2 or 3 new votes and a drop of .02-.04 in the score, and total views barely moving. It's dropped a full .4 so far and shows no signs of stopping. If that's not a troll, I'll eat my hat.

Yeah, I noticed a handful of bigger drops. I'm down by a total of over 0.1. I've gotten a lot of views, new followers, and new comments, so I'd consider that a win.

 

[StrentWriter]

I gained 10 followers and 3000 views. It’s a start! The main thing was breathing a bit of life into my first novel.

 

[RoyalAuthor]

Of course any 1️ vote could be a legitimate expression of literary merit. Or not of course…

I've only given one 1* ever, and it was to a story that was so illegible that I wonder how it even got published - like, indecipherably awful, below 2nd grade level slop. I don't think I've ever gone below a 3 otherwise, and I rarely go below 4. It's hard to imagine an otherwise readable story deserving a 1-star review to me, no matter how much I disliked it.

 

[WittyUserName]

I've only given one 1* ever, and it was to a story that was so illegible that I wonder how it even got published - like, indecipherably awful, below 2nd grade level slop. I don't think I've ever gone below a 3 otherwise, and I rarely go below 4. It's hard to imagine an otherwise readable story deserving a 1-star review to me, no matter how much I disliked it.

I usually don't rate, but when I do it's because I really like something. A lot of readers might vote 1* if the story is about something they hate, rather than the quality of the story. I just close a story if it has something in it I really don't wanna read.

 

[EmilyMiller]

It was just disappointed to think I might be in the running then... yeah, no.

Ratings for comps are a total shit show. Best to just enjoy the ride

 

[EmilyMiller]

If it’s any consolation, I think the 2s are more meaningful - I have a lot of those - they are unlikely to be wiped out when the votes are counted properly and the sweeps done.

This is a common misconception. 2s get swept as do 3s, 4s, and 5s. Sweeps target suspect votes regardless of value.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Usually, I can only tell if I log in and see a one-vote difference - the math is pretty obvious that way.

In this case, the story basically finished its run and was settled - days passing without new votes. There was a sweep that put it on top of the group sex category top lists for 30 days and 12 months. Every morning since then, I've woken up to 2 or 3 new votes and a drop of .02-.04 in the score, and total views barely moving. It's dropped a full .4 so far and shows no signs of stopping. If that's not a troll, I'll eat my hat.

It’s a very, very familiar experience for me.

And yes the site knows all about it with screeds of corroborating data. But tumbleweed.

Maybe as I’ve stopped publishing here, the troll (singular) needs something to do

 

[StrentWriter]

This is a common misconception. 2s get swept as do 3s, 4s, and 5s. Sweeps target b suspect votes regardless of value.

Well, interesting! (Maybe I’m still in with a shot…)

 

[EmilyMiller]

Well, interesting! (Maybe I’m still in with a shot…)

Authors fluffing their ratings with 5s is not unheard of rife.

 

[StrentWriter]

Authors fluffing their ratings with 5s is not unheard of rife.

I solemnly swear I have not done that.

…Yet.

 

[WittyUserName]

Ratings for comps are a total shit show. Best to just enjoy the ride

I know, but I tend to get my hopes up The important thing is I enjoyed it!

 

[EmilyMiller]

I know, but I tend to get my hopes up The important thing is I enjoyed it!

I’ve had my hopes trashed with utter impunity by vandals so often that I’ve given up. It will never change.

 

[WittyUserName]

I’ve had my hopes trashed with utter impunity by vandals so often that I’ve given up. It will never change.

I didn't realize the one bombs hurt that badly. I'm sorry.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I didn't realize the one bombs hurt that badly. I'm sorry.

Four comps for me. All with exactly the same signature. And documentary evidence as to what happened (and it being the same each time). As I say, tumbleweed. At least one troll is way more sophisticated than the sweeps (it doesn’t take much). Not that it would be hard to detect what they do if there was any will to do so.

And me not publishing anymore has clearly left them at a loose end. Sorry about that to new victims. I have been saying for some time that it could happen to anyone.

 

[Voboy]

Feels like it's really obviously a troll, shouldn't be that difficult to roll it back. I messaged laurel and got an automatic sweep the next day but it only pulled the one vote, waited a week and asked again for a manual review, got an automatic sweep the next morning that only pulled one vote. Did yours ever get resolved when it happened?

It is likely, based on anecdotal evidence over several years, that the squeaky wheel eventually stops getting greased. Take that for what it's worth.

 

[RoyalAuthor]

It’s a very, very familiar experience for me.

And yes the site knows all about it with screeds of corroborating data. But tumbleweed.

Maybe as I’ve stopped publishing here, the troll (singular) needs something to do

Oh great, it's like a poltergeist. I need to figure out how to hand it off to someone else then, like the world's dumbest game of hot potato.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Oh great, it's like a poltergeist. I need to figure out how to hand it off to someone else then, like the world's dumbest game of hot potato.

Yeah - or Ringu

 

[WittyUserName]

Four comps for me. All with exactly the same signature. And documentary evidence as to what happened (and it being the same each time). As I say, tumbleweed. At least one troll is way more sophisticated than the sweeps (it doesn’t take much). Not that it would be hard to detect what they do if there was any will to do so.

And me not publishing anymore has clearly left them at a loose end. Sorry about that to new victims. I have been saying for some time that it could happen to anyone.

I never cared enough about the sweeps to worry about how people get around them. I feel like it wouldn't take much effort, especially if it's all done by an outdated program. I've placed in one contest, and I don't really argue on here, so I'm not sure if I have any trolls who specifically hate me. But, I doubt they'd make themselves known. I have 245 ratings on my current entry, so I feel like a few 1s wouldn't hurt too badly. Still, there was a drop of over 0.1 that happened over the course of a few hours.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I have 245 ratings on my current entry, so I feel like a few 1s wouldn't hurt too badly.

It’s worse in low voting categories, obv.

 

[WittyUserName]

It’s worse in low voting categories, obv.

Of course. a 1* when you have 26 votes is a huge hit.

 

[EmilyMiller]

3rd February

For Valentine’s Day it’s a treat
Another young lady to meet
With him in my tushy
As I lick her pussy
And enjoy her juices so sweet

 

[FrancesScott]

I have a Valentine’s story in beta reading and might just meet the deadline. Wish me luck!

Approved within 24 hours for anyone who is tracking such things. Publishing overnight.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Approved within 24 hours for anyone who is tracking such things. Publishing overnight.

Yay

 

[Jorunn]

3rd February

For Valentine’s Day it’s a treat
Another young lady to meet
With him in my tushy
As I lick her pussy
And enjoy her juices so sweet

I’m really enjoying these, a nice mix of sexy and fun. Sort of like you, Em!