The Official Valentine’s Day Contest Support Thread 2026

[EmilyMiller]

Thanks both - thought I may have missed a similar-style toplist for the contest.

As mentioned before, that would be a charter for overly competitive authors to manipulate the results.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Thanks both - thought I may have missed a similar-style toplist for the contest.

Nope, there will be an announcement for first, second and third place, and everyone else can be proud of their fourth place finish.

 

[Jamie6977]

Sorry - Where are you seeing the stories ranked by best scores/performance?

I actually opened every story to capture the ratings, put it into a spreadsheet and then sorted. Probably skews the numbers a bit on how many reads a story gets, but the stars are what count. Maybe I shouldn't say what I did?

 

[EmilyMiller]

I actually opened every story to capture the ratings, put it into a spreadsheet and then sorted. Probably skews the numbers a bit on how many reads a story gets, but the stars are what count. Maybe I shouldn't say what I did?

Those ratings are often cached. It’s a mystery when the ones appearing at the start of actual stories get updated.

 

[Jamie6977]

Those ratings are often cached. It’s a mystery when the ones appearing at the start of actual stories get updated.

Good point. Some seemed to change often. Others, like mine, not so much. That's why I wonder if maybe my average got stuck, even though the votes kept coming in. For a while, I had hopes to be in the top 5, but doesn't look like it'll happen unless the sweeps make big changes. But, I still feel good for a FT story getting almost 31.5K reads and nearly 650 votes. Added quite a few followers, too.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Good point. Some seemed to change often. Others, like mine, not so much. That's why I wonder if maybe my average got stuck, even though the votes kept coming in. For a while, I had hopes to be in the top 5, but doesn't look like it'll happen unless the sweeps make big changes. But, I still feel good for a FT story getting almost 31.5K reads and nearly 650 votes. Added quite a few followers, too.

What you see in your own story list (in control panel) is as up to date as it gets.

What appears on your author’s page is cached. What appears in tag searches is cached. What appears in top lists is VERY cached. What appears at the beginning of stories is cached.

What is more they all seem to have their own refresh cycles, so you can often see three or more versions of a story’s score.

If you follow an author and they have a new work, then looking at My Authors’ Activity on control panel is also relatively up to date, but less so than your own story list.

You’d almost think it was harder to ‘design’ the above than to just have one number used everywhere.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I wonder whether anyone will read them all

I'm going to try, but not before the end of the contest

 

[EmilyMiller]

I'm going to try, but not before the end of the contest

It a Herculean task. Even in my few years here, the number of entries seems to have grown.

 

[WittyUserName]

It a Herculean task. Even in my few years here, the number of entries seems to have grown.

Yeah, I always tell myself I'm gonna read a bunch of entries. Then I fail. Sorry guys! I am looking forward to tying with most of you for fourth place!

 

[EmilyMiller]

Not many more days left to vote:

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

 

[StrentWriter]

Not many more days left to vote:

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

Only got ten stories left to read

 

[WittyUserName]

Only got ten stories left to read

Have you read mine yet? I'm curious what you think!

 

[StrentWriter]

Have you read mine yet? I'm curious what you think!

Yes - a very easy 5* to give. I don’t know if my comment has appeared yet!

 

[EmilyMiller]

Only got ten stories left to read

Wow! Thats impressive. We should make you judge

 

[StrentWriter]

Wow! Thats impressive. We should make you judge

Most kind but I’d be a useless judge - I just really enjoy reading everyone’s takes. It’s been really good fun and has made me rethink a lot of my planned future work.

 

[DonaldBelle]

Only got ten stories left to read

Bloody hell, how many words do you read a minute!?

 

[StrentWriter]

Bloody hell, how many words do you read a minute!?

I have a lot of free time between meetings at the minute

(Plus it’s been ongoing for weeks! I have been reading a few every few days for weeks)

 

[WittyUserName]

Yes - a very easy 5* to give. I don’t know if my comment has appeared yet!

Thank you! And no, I haven't seen a comment from you.

 

[DonaldBelle]

I have a lot of free time between meetings at the minute

(Plus it’s been ongoing for weeks! I have been reading a few every few days for weeks)

Don’t feel obliged to answer, but considering you’ve only got 10 left I’ll ask the same question as Witty - I’d be curious if you’ve read mine yet (“When the Cat’s Away”), and what you thought of it, if anything?

 

[Baztrachian]

Have you read mine yet? I'm curious what you think!

You got my five bananas!

 

[EmilyMiller]

Most kind but I’d be a useless judge - I just really enjoy reading everyone’s takes. It’s been really good fun and has made me rethink a lot of my planned future work.

I realize you proposed no such thing, but please don’t mention your favorite stories from the comp here (or at least wait until after the winners are announced). Monsters lurk in the shadows of AH (some hide even in plain sight) and they love to have an easy target.

 

[WittyUserName]

You got my five bananas!

Thank you! I appreciate the comment as well!

 

[StrentWriter]

Don’t feel obliged to answer, but considering you’ve only got 10 left I’ll ask the same question as Witty - I’d be curious if you’ve read mine yet (“When the Cat’s Away”), and what you thought of it, if anything?

I’ll PM you once I’ve dried off from the cycle!

 

[StrentWriter]

I realize you proposed no such thing, but please don’t mention your favorite stories from the comp here (or at least wait until after the winners are announced). Monsters lurk in the shadows of AH (some hide even in plain sight) and they love to have an easy target.

Noted, sorry Emily.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Noted, sorry Emily.

No need to say sorry. I’d just hate to bring the one bombers down on someone at this late stage. I shouldn't have to say it, but personal experience suggests that we don’t make it easy for the vandals.