Valentines Day Contest Support Thread 2025

[Rustyoznail]

Argghh.... I'm doing a romance / first time, with lots of hesitation, sideways glances, second guessing. My story is following my main characters.

I'm hoping to get it finished soon.

 

[Duleigh]

I just finished my story - 25k words in 3 weeks! I said to myself "One Last Brush-up and Edit and it's done"
Then my muse whispered in my ear - "You need an epilogue"

Damn her...

 

[APilgrimSquare]

Published my first romance story! Caught one glaring error on the post-publishing re-read, of course. Oh well. I hope people enjoy it! It has lots more p-in-v sex than my usual fare.

Still debating whether I re-write the Mature entry I'd been working on. I rattled off another 7.5k word entry in my lesbian series while trying to figure out how to un-fuck the Mature draft. Might just shelve it unless the ideas come to me naturally.

 

[Duleigh]

Might just shelve it unless the ideas come to me naturally.

That may be the best solution. Let the mind clear and the creative juices regenerate. Your muse will find you. I'm sitting on chapter 23 of a 600k word saga waiting for something to hatch. I know how I want to end it, it's just getting to that point that's the head scratcher.

Duleigh's Demandment #1 - Never throw anything away.

My top series here and #2 best seller was once pitched and thought lost because I honestly thought nobody would read it. Last year I stumbled across it while looking at a hard drive I had mounted in an external case.

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

Finished my entry, got it published, then realized half my edits didn’t make it into the final. Man, I hate having a draft get approved and then I have to go fix it and stick it back in the queue. Feels bad, man.

Anyway, i had a blast writing this one, and I think it’s probably unique in terms of Valentine’s Day stories. Hopefully folks enjoy the romance.

 

[Actingup]

Finished my entry, got it published, then realized half my edits didn’t make it into the final. Man, I hate having a draft get approved and then I have to go fix it and stick it back in the queue. Feels bad, man.

Anyway, i had a blast writing this one, and I think it’s probably unique in terms of Valentine’s Day stories. Hopefully folks enjoy the romance.

There's always time for another proofread before hitting 'submit'...

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

What I get for finishing at 2 am

 

[taytay4eva]

Writing a fairy tale esque story for this (that will, hopefully, also qualify for the 750 word contest) that I've been meaning to write for a while!

This is the opening I have for it right now:

"Once, in a land as far from you as the Missouri hills are from the California coast, when your grandparents were still young ..."

Because every fairy tale needs a good opener.

But, also, thoughts on it? Does it work? I'm tempted to say "in the time when your grandparents were still young" but I feel like the simple when is better than in the time when.

 

[Actingup]

Writing a fairy tale esque story for this (that will, hopefully, also qualify for the 750 word contest) that I've been meaning to write for a while!

This is the opening I have for it right now:

"Once, in a land as far from you as the Missouri hills are from the California coast, when your grandparents were still young ..."

Because every fairy tale needs a good opener.

But, also, thoughts on it? Does it work? I'm tempted to say "in the time when your grandparents were still young" but I feel like the simple when is better than in the time when.

It might depend on whether your readers know where Missouri is? As an Australian, I had to look that up, but then I make my readers look up geography all the time. I agree with you on the 'when'. With 750 words, you need to be ruthless.

"Once, in a land as far from you as the Missouri hills are from the California coast, in the time when your grandparents were still young ..."
"Once, in a land as far from you as the Missouri hills are from the California coast, when your grandparents were still young ..."
"Once, in a land a moderate distance away and when your grandparents were still young ..."
"Once, in another place and when your grandparents were still young ..."
"Once, long ago and far away..."
"Once upon a time..."

Incidentally, with your user name, I hope you've read Emily Miller's entry?

 

[taytay4eva]

It might depend on whether your readers know where Missouri is? As an Australian, I had to look that up, but then I make my readers look up geography all the time. I agree with you on the 'when'. With 750 words, you need to be ruthless.

"Once, in a land as far from you as the Missouri hills are from the California coast, in the time when your grandparents were still young ..."
"Once, in a land as far from you as the Missouri hills are from the California coast, when your grandparents were still young ..."
"Once, in a land a moderate distance away and when your grandparents were still young ..."
"Once, in another place and when your grandparents were still young ..."
"Once, long ago and far away..."
"Once upon a time..."

I think I'm going to write a base version, then do two edits; one where I get it to 750 words, and one where I tell the full story I meant to get out.

Incidentally, with your user name, I hope you've read Emily Miller's entry?

I have not, but if you link it then I will!

 

[Actingup]

I have not, but if you link it then I will!

https://www.literotica.com/s/twelve-months-1

Multiple Taylor lyric quotes (and a nice story too)

 

[taytay4eva]

https://www.literotica.com/s/twelve-months-1

Multiple Taylor lyric quotes (and a nice story too)

I'll be sure to check it out when I'm not high and in the middle of a writing flow!

 

[Duleigh]

My entry has been submitted - The One That Got Away

 

[Thefireflies]

For example the local Pumpkin Festival.

Bones, I'm surprised you didn't mention the local Melon Festival which is literally held over Valentine's Day weekend. Biggest melon fest in the world! Would have made one hell of a story too with all those juicy ripe melons on display and, ah, melon skiing amongst other things!!

...anyway, back to reading and lurking threads I go...

 

[Rollinbones]

Bones, I'm surprised you didn't mention the local Melon Festival which is literally held over Valentine's Day weekend. Biggest melon fest in the world! Would have made one hell of a story too with all those juicy ripe melons on display and, ah, melon skiing amongst other things!!

...anyway, back to reading and lurking threads I go...

that's chinchilla, TFF. Love it too. Fond memories of the mammaries back in the day. We had fun in the sun.

 

[Rollinbones]

that's chinchilla, TFF. Love it too. Fond memories of the mammaries back in the day. We had fun in the sun.

do i sense a colab? The wet singlet comp to end them all?

 

[Duleigh]

that's chinchilla, TFF. Love it too. Fond memories of the mammaries back in the day. We had fun in the sun.

That sounds line a Nude Day contest entry!

 

[nicksouth]

And mine is published!

The Good Neighbor

Enjoy!

Congrats, put it in the reading list !

 

[nicksouth]

And The last Valentine is published. Very different from my other stories and hit me out of nowhere when my original characters wrote themselves into Nude day.

Definitely stretching things a little bit and maybe could have been better if I'd restructured parts of it but overally I'm reasonably happy

 

[Inkent]

In a fit of antsy withdrawal symptoms, I felt compelled to write a LW story alongside what's turned into a romance once due up for publishing. Still waiting for the lighting bolt to strike me as most of it was written whilst my parents were visiting yesterday. The white lie told, it was an all important work report that I needed to finish, earnt me a few death stares from the Mrs!

 

[Actingup]

And The last Valentine is published. Very different from my other stories and hit me out of nowhere when my original characters wrote themselves into Nude day.

Definitely stretching things a little bit and maybe could have been better if I'd restructured parts of it but overally I'm reasonably happy

You should be very happy IMHO - it's a pretty memorable entry!

 

[nicksouth]

You should be very happy IMHO - it's a pretty memorable entry!

Thank you so much. I appreciate you and the comments on my stories. Very much.

 

[Actingup]

Thank you so much. I appreciate you and the comments on my stories. Very much.

Right back at you - thanks for reading 'To the Moon and back'!

 

[Actingup]

Apologies if this has been answered, but can a 750 word story be submitted for the 750 word challenge and the Valentines Day contest (assuming it's submitted in early February)? I've had an idea that would fit both themes and also include some Greek gods...

 

[Rustyoznail]

Apologies if this has been answered, but can a 750 word story be submitted for the 750 word challenge and the Valentines Day contest (assuming it's submitted in early February)? I've had an idea that would fit both themes and also include some Greek gods...

By Zeus, I believe that would be eminently suitable. You need to flag both in the notes, and be aware it may get held until the 750 challenge is go.