Valentines Day Contest Support Thread 2025

[MillieDynamite]

The minimum count to publish any story is 750 words. I don't think there is a minimum or maximum for the contest. Just it must be a complete story (not a chapter) with a beginning, middle, and end. It may be part of a series as long as it is understandable without reading other parts. Or, that's how I understand it.

Is there a minimum word count for this contest?

 

[WCSGarland]

Thank you @MillieDynamite

 

[Duleigh]

Is there a minimum word count for this contest?

Just the standard Literotica 750 word minimum. Their bots will kick 749 back faster than you could possibly believe.

 

[WCSGarland]

Just the standard Literotica 750 word minimum. Their bots will kick 749 back faster than you could possibly believe.

Funny you should mention 749 specifically, but after MillieDynamite's reply, and an extra edit, my story is around 800 words now. Hopefully it's good to go.

 

[MillieDynamite]

@WCSGarland, it should be noted that readers prefer longer works to shorter ones. A good range for me, here, is 3500 - 11,000. That range on a complete story usually doesn't get angry responses about it being too short. Even if 750-Words is in the title or description, they bitch at sometimes here.

 

[WCSGarland]

@WCSGarland, it should be noted that readers prefer longer works to shorter ones. A good range for me, here, is 3500 - 11,000. That range on a complete story usually doesn't get angry responses about it being too short. Even if 750-Words is in the title or description, they bitch at sometimes here.

Most of my works are in the 3500 - 11000 range also, but as this is going to be me popping my Contest cherry... well, I'm going for a quickie.

 

[Inkent]

@WCSGarland, it should be noted that readers prefer longer works to shorter ones. A good range for me, here, is 3500 - 11,000. That range on a complete story usually doesn't get angry responses about it being too short. Even if 750-Words is in the title or description, they bitch at sometimes here.

LOL I just published a short story to herald in 2025 in...funny enough, 2025 words. It's complete, in my eyes, but still too short for some. I mainly get bitchin' saying my stories are too long

 

[MillieDynamite]

Let them read Dumas, then. His will make them understand what long is. After that, they can tackle War and Peace.

LOL I just published a short story to herald in 2025 in...funny enough, 2025 words. It's complete, in my eyes, but still too short for some. I mainly get bitchin' saying my stories are too long

Edit to finish what I wanted to say.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Well, I finally got my story rolling and is it rolling. Going to be a short one for me. A mere few thousand words, and a lot of Afrikaans. Set in Suid Afrika

"Onder die Jakarandaboom - 'n Suid-Afrikaanse Liefdestort" - bringing back lots of happy memories - including steak with monkey gland sauce, koeksisters, and biltong. Mozambique prawns. Nando's. Braai's with flatties and boerewors and HUGE steaks and ribs to die for....and hunky Afrikaner guys drinking Long Toms and Castle LOL

I have my south african playlist on repeat. Sarie Marais and a few others.... Mango Groove. Bok van Blerk. Radio Kalahari Orkes.....

 

[Duleigh]

bringing back lots of happy memories - including steak with monkey gland sauce, koeksisters, and biltong. Mozambique prawns. Nando's. Braai's with flatties and boerewors and HUGE steaks and ribs to die for....and hunky Afrikaner guys drinking Long Toms and Castle LOL

Looks at my chicken pot pie and wonders if monkey gland sauce would help.

I knew about the biltong, I made fun of Australia over that stuff in a fan fic, and the koeksister sounds incredible. I live in the shrimping capitol of the US so I'll pass on the prawns (We have a "shrimp drop" every new years eve).

 

[ChloeTzang]

Looks at my chicken pot pie and wonders if monkey gland sauce would help.

LOL. It's basically a sweet and sour sauce but rather nice, like a lot of South African recipes.
https://www.food.com/recipe/monkey-gland-sauce-266015

I knew about the biltong, I made fun of Australia over that stuff in a fan fic, and the koeksister sounds incredible. I live in the shrimping capitol of the US so I'll pass on the prawns (We have a "shrimp drop" every new years eve).

Biltong is the best. I used to buy bags of the stuff. They give it to babies to suck on there - I figure this is why Afrikaner guys are so big - they're carnivores LOL

And koeksisters dripping with Syrup - sugar overdose but so yum! And melktart was another one. I have a couple of south african recipe books I bought down there and try out every now and then. And peri-peri sauce!!!! I got my husband addicted to that stuff. He likes hot spicy food too, so between us..... anyhow, peri-peri chicken!!!!!

I better stop here. I could go on for hours about South African food. And it's all going in my story anyhow.

 

[APilgrimSquare]

About 75% of the way through my first draft, but I'm realizing I'm not sure exactly what category it fits in. When I outlined the story, I was aiming for Mature, with an interoffice May/December pairing being the focus, but as I pantsed my way through the draft, other relationships jumped out as being more interesting, more "central" to the story, if that makes sense. But it doesn't quite fit any other categories, especially given the only real sexual contact is between that pairing. Just need to beef up that aspect, I guess.

 

[NaughteeDragon]

I'm having a similar issue. The sex in the story is between a lesbian couple, but the MC is brother to one of the girls and the father to their daughter. Lesbian seems like the obvious choice, but it's not really a lesbian story, most of the story is about his relationship to them and his trying to do something nice for them for v-day. I'm thinking maybe Erotic Coupling.

 

[YDB95]

I have two underway, but I'm not sure if I'll finish either one. We'll see...

 

[ChloeTzang]

I have two underway, but I'm not sure if I'll finish either one. We'll see...

LOL. My perennial problem - actually finishing. I always go down to the wire - with this one I am seeing if I can get it done for the start, or close. Hey, miracles happen!!!!!

 

[Inkent]

I'm three quarters there, but it's been written in dribs, drabs and staying up late during the Christmas break nodding off thru tiredness. At least I had the sense not to attempt to write in the hotel room on our 40th wedding anniversary! If I'd have done that, my nuts would have been tacked to the top the flagpole outside the hotel by the morning . For once, I got it right, earning loads of brownie points = more time writing. Hopefully complete before the end of the weekend, fingers crossed some editing help, couple bits need some re-work, and need to backfill some stuff that I've introduced later in the story. Going to have a busy lunchtime before I get back to work and I suspect use up the last of those brownie points over the weekend coming. Keep whacking away at the keyboard, looking foward to the stories!!

 

[TiberiusPrime]

I have one that's ready to submit, but I wanted to make sure it fits within the rules. The majority of the story is leading up to Valentine's Day and then the story ends on Valentine's Day. Is this acceptable?

 

[Inkent]

I have one that's ready to submit, but I wanted to make sure it fits within the rules. The majority of the story is leading up to Valentine's Day and then the story ends on Valentine's Day. Is this acceptable?

I've several thousand words before we get to Valentines day, or even a sniff of it, plus it's towards the back end of my work but plays out as a pivotal scene of the story. So I would say yes, if there is some link/bearing to it being Valentines day, your within the spirit of the rules.

 

[Not2Pervy]

Just finished the first draft of mine and so far I’m very fond of it. It’s a little different in that the love relationship is about the platonic love of best friends for one another whereas the sex is with others. It’s the most dialogue-dependent story I’ve written and coming in at just under 7K words, it still feels complete and as “full” as other 12K word stories I’ve written.

I will be very curious to see how this one does.

 

[Duleigh]

3,500 words and he still hasn't met she. This is going to take a while folks.

 

[Inkent]

LOL, I feel like one of those marathon runners that can see the finish line, but it seems too far to make it to without collapsing. I may crawl over the line, but I'm going to make it with a little help from my friends! Almost there....

 

[Voboy]

I'm not going to be posting on the first day for this one, nor anywhere near. Life is just too busy at the moment. Might even miss this one entirely, even though I kinda like the story I'm cooking.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I'm not going to be posting on the first day for this one, nor anywhere near. Life is just too busy at the moment. Might even miss this one entirely, even though I kinda like the story I'm cooking.

Oh nooooo. But I know what you mean - I was like that all the way thru 2024...

Mind you, I don't think I have ever managed to get a story in for the first day of anything either, but this is a short little romance and I am writing like crazy to get it done this weekend, so this time, maybe.....just. maybe. I have the start and the ending written - I always find having those done lets me focus on what happens to get from A to B. Anyhow, a romantic little tear-jerker. So hard writing when I keep crying while I write....it plays havoc with my spelling LOL

And I have my song for the story....it was going to be Sarie Marais but it didn't fit at all - now it's Mango Groove - I find having the right song really helps me get my head into the story.

 

[Inkent]

And I have my song for the story....it was going to be Sarie Marais but it didn't fit at all - now it's Mango Groove - I find having the right song really helps me get my head into the story.

I have done the reverse of this. Lat year I was playing around with ideas for the AI challenge, with Youtube just randomly following its own path. This came on, never seen it or heard it before, but it provided some great inspiration for the storyline. Alas time ran out, but I see it back in the frame for this year, so will have something up and ready!

 

[Duleigh]

LOL, I feel like one of those marathon runners that can see the finish line, but it seems too far to make it to without collapsing. I may crawl over the line, but I'm going to make it with a little help from my friends! Almost there....

I feel like a participant in a Korean game of Red Light Green Light. I can see the finish line, but I can also see the gun barrel