"Tainted Love - Romantic Horror” - the 2026 Story Event Official Support Thread

Bringing this back up to the surface as I've just plugged it in my Discord server so people have time to write!
 
Hey everyone,

Just wanted to share this reminder of the upcoming Tainted Love challenge. The open posting period is coming up in March, as is the deadline, so @Erozetta and I want to be sure you have the time to put a story together.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. A few have already been answered in here, but we're here to support you!





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And just as a reminder, this is meant to be what this broad topic means to you. Is it a melancholy feeling? Heart racing fear? Anger? Vengeance? Manipulation? Control? What do you feel connected to when you listen to the song or think about the theme?

And then there's the song, "Tainted Love" which largely reads as a love that you want to nourish even if nourishing it is against your own self interest or better judgment. Maybe your main character has a thing for a monster he met on a late night excursion one Halloween and they just didn't realize the look wasn't a costume. Maybe they live an idyllic home life but one, or both of them have a secret life as murderers or assassins. Maybe there's a death in a very loving couple with great chemistry, and the surviving half can't handle the loss and decides to "make" their love again via science, technology, mind control, or force.

What beats can you hit with your story? Can you deliver on that slow build to a crescendo? Does it fall apart at the bridge? Do you make a recovery in the last few notes? Can you maintain the dramatic tempo and beat throughout?

What can you take away from your writing and storytelling ability at the end of this challenge? Can you push yourself outside of your comfort zone to explore a little darkness with me and @dirk2024? Or can you make your comfort zone fit the theme and song just fine? Show us your skills in crafting a fine tale of a love that is, but maybe shouldn't be.
 
Just realized I never posted in this thread to say I'm gonna try to do it. I'm gonna try to do it! I'm writing a story about a woman who has a very philosophical approach to her romantic entanglements. Is it tainted? Yeah lol
 
Ok, so I’m halfway done with my Tainted Love story, and got distracted by Painted Love; now I’m halfway through that one, too. It’s going quicker so I’ll hopefully have it done today.
 
Ok, so I’m halfway done with my Tainted Love story, and got distracted by Painted Love; now I’m halfway through that one, too. It’s going quicker so I’ll hopefully have it done today.
Frankly, I'm curious to read both!
 
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