Valentines Day Contest Support Thread 2025

[nicksouth]

Thankfully, my idea came to me. These characters are writing themselves now!
Taking a break from the last two chapters of my Christmas story to get it done.

 

[Duleigh]

Thankfully, my idea came to me. These characters are writing themselves now!
Taking a break from the last two chapters of my Christmas story to get it done.

I LOVE when that happens! My series We're a Wonderful Wife was 100% character written, and it's my most popular series (by scores)

 

[nicksouth]

I LOVE when that happens! My series We're a Wonderful Wife was 100% character written, and it's my most popular series (by scores)

Same. Although it's a bit sad that my idea for the story now won't happen quite the way I was hoping. Maybe next time. I still think it will be a little outrageous

 

[ChloeTzang]

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?

Totally. All it has to include is some sort of relationship to Valentines Day - mine is a memory of some Valentines Day roses......

 

[TiberiusPrime]

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

Hopefully the red light isn't a laser sight for a Glock 19!

 

[mrs_mackenzie]

Mine is now finished - once it's been edited it'll be ready to go. I am feeling very organised so far this year!

 

[YDB95]

It took two very long days, but I finished one off. Not sure if I'll make it with the other one, but I'm going to try.

 

[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.

Update: this thread is serving its purpose. It is "supporting" me. I'm back to plugging away at my story!

 

[theWriterInTheNude]

I'm almost 40,000 words into mine, but another story has grabbed my attention. Hopefully I can finish it before the deadline.

 

[Inkent]

And the end! Now to sit and play ping-pong editing the 26k words. I look at it like carpentry. First fix done, now the finishing and snagging works to make the final product. GOd bless the unsung heros that willingly help to edit mad cap writers like me

 

[nicksouth]

Well now these characters turned this story into a national nude day one. Ugh, it's going to be good but no good for VDay. Back to square zero

 

[Actingup]

I'm trying an epistolary romance, which is not something I've attempted before. I think that my basic concept is good (the way the letters between the MCs develop as they approach the romantic climax), but I have to make it entertaining and engaging enough to hold the reader's interest while the romance develops - wish me luck!

 

[Rustyoznail]

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?

It should be fine. The official note is:

Valentine's Day (February 14th)
themes: romantic love, Valentine's Day, Cupid, sensuality, etc.

Taking the romantic love aspect, I'm rolling my winter story into a Valentines story. Assuming I get it finished.

 

[Inkent]

No longer sweating. Table for two. Outback is going to make it! Still a bit of polishing left, but a happy boy overall.

 

[Bassytian]

Mine are coming along, the stories are finished but need polishing. It helped that I got snowed out of work today. That being said, it's up in the air whether or not they'll be published on Day 1. While I would love that, I'd rather take all the time I need to edit and polish them both.

 

[WittyUserName]

The Christmas decorations are almost gone, and stores are being swathed in pink. Hearts, flowers, ribbons, and cherubs armed with bows and arrows (I never trusted those guys)

IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THE VALENTINES DAY CONTEST!

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 how sweet

Here's the rules:

• All submissions must be stand-alone stories created for this contest theme.
• We will allow authors who have won in our monthly contests within the last 6 months to win in this special contest. However, if you have won a prize in one of the last two special contests, you are not eligible to win in this one. (I'm still going to enter, just because I'm that romantic)
• A story has only to accrue 25 votes to be eligible, rather than the 50 required for the monthly contest.

Author must copy and paste the phrase "VALENTINES DAY 2025" to the "Notes to Admin" field of the submission (quotes are not needed).

Again -- PLEASE do not forget to put the EXACT phrase "VALENTINES DAY 2025" IN THE "Notes to Admin" FIELD - NOT the description field or anywhere else.

Submissions must have a Valentine's Day theme: i.e. Cupid, soulmates lost and found, high quality chocolate gifting, etc. Be creative! Please don't just submit a normal story that just happens to contain red roses. That would not be in the spirit of the contest, and readers (aka voters) will likely punish you for your trickiness. (They really will) Give true romance a shot, believe me - it sells!


Bring your questions and comments here, we're all here to help each other!

I'm hoping to enter! I have an idea for a story set in the world I've created and written in before. I'm gonna use characters I used from a couple of previous short stories, but the entry will be standalone. That won't be a problem, right?

 

[Rustyoznail]

I'm hoping to enter! I have an idea for a story set in the world I've created and written in before. I'm gonna use characters I used from a couple of previous short stories, but the entry will be standalone. That won't be a problem, right?

Nope. No problem at all.

 

[Duleigh]

I'm hoping to enter! I have an idea for a story set in the world I've created and written in before. I'm gonna use characters I used from a couple of previous short stories, but the entry will be standalone. That won't be a problem, right?

Nope. We all have our universes and I've placed in a contest or two using the characters from the universe that I built. Yes it gives you the advantage of knowing and loving those characters - use it!

 

[TheLobster]

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 can't imagine why not. The one I'm writing doesn't even mention Valentine's Day at all, though it does involve a particular mythological figure associated with it. I might still shift the key scene to happen on VD but I'm working under the assumption that it'l won't be a big deal if I don't.

 

[TiberiusPrime]

It should be fine. The official note is:

Valentine's Day (February 14th)
themes: romantic love, Valentine's Day, Cupid, sensuality, etc.

Taking the romantic love aspect, I'm rolling my winter story into a Valentines story. Assuming I get it finished.

Thanks!

And thanks to, TheLobster, too!

 

[Duleigh]

I can't imagine why not. The one I'm writing doesn't even mention Valentine's Day at all, though it does involve a particular mythological figure associated with it. I might still shift the key scene to happen on VD but I'm working under the assumption that it'l won't be a big deal if I don't.

I don't think we get enough Cupid stories (or for our Greek Writers, Eros) Any mythological writers wanna give it a go?

Cupid (Latin: meaning "passionate desire") is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the god of war Mars.

I would LOVE to read a story about the courtship of Venus and Mars... Didn't Pat Benatar tell us that Love is a Battlefield? That's got to be a hot one! Imagine the possible movie! - The Gods of Egypt meet Behind the Green Door... oh yeah...

 

[MillieDynamite]

I have an Amazon story for the 750 next month. That's Greek Mythology, but not so much of a love story as a lust tale.

I don't think we get enough Cupid stories (or for our Greek Writers, Eros) Any mythological writers wanna give it a go?

Cupid (Latin: meaning "passionate desire") is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the god of war Mars.

I would LOVE to read a story about the courtship of Venus and Mars... Didn't Pat Benatar tell us that Love is a Battlefield? That's got to be a hot one! Imagine the possible movie! - The Gods of Egypt meet Behind the Green Door... oh yeah...

 

[Duleigh]

I have an Amazon story for the 750 next month. That's Greek Mythology, but not so much of a love story as a lust tale.

That's what I'm talking about!

 

[TiberiusPrime]

And I just submitted mine! My first romance entry! This contest was the "push" I needed to get this one done.

 

[Actingup]

Submitted! What a relief. It came together pretty quickly in the end. So did the MCs. @Duleigh I threw in a reference to Charon to satisfy your Greek mythology fetish