The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[MillieDynamite]

My publisher hit the number five spot on the best-seller list at ZBookStore/Bookapy today. The story has been up there since 2023, and this is its third trip into the best-sellers. He's publishing it, one part at a time, on the SOL side right now, and those reading it aren't waiting for next week to get the third of eight parts. Sigh, I should be so fortunate.

French roast from my French press, anyone?

 

[MrPixel]

Forgot to mention my writing. I'm full-throttle putting together a Nude Day event piece. Turns out that everywhere our intrepid protagonists land, some big group is staging a naked party they are compelled to join. MMC is finally reminded it's National Nude Day. Forehead slap.

 

[GrantBricksly]

I thought about trying to write something for Nude Day...but I am so laser-focused on this Novel I am working on...I'm afraid if I set it aside for something else, even for a moment, I'll lose my steam. So I am just going to keep going. And Sadly, while some of the chapters in this Novel might work for some of the contests, it's made clear the contest submissions have to be standalone stories...so Until I either finish this novel, or lose my motivation to write it...I'm out of any competition..

Also, apparently my extra 200 words and then stopping plan didn't work.....Those 200 words lead to 700...and I'm still going..lol

 

[GrantBricksly]

Ok...NOW I am done.... 5.4k words total, 4k from today's writing. I am very pleased with that. And I have a clear plan on where I am going tomorrow when I start. So far, each submission has been around 10.4k words (Chapter 1, and then Chapter 2&3 were combined to reach that total (not published yet, still pending)

So if I stick to that goal, I'm halfway there!

 

[MrPixel]

Wellllll... it turns out that I won't be contributing to Nude Day. I have been informed (albeit indirectly) that my story will not meet the contest guidelines because it is part of a series. Doesn't matter if it can be a standalone, but in the re-reading there are too many references to characters developed in earlier installments.

It kind of grates me about "contests" here. Yeah, I can write standalones and have done so, but my priority is the series, and this particular event connects quite well with my players. You know, it's possible to watch a single TV episode of a well-established series and it will still be funny (or whatever), but to exclude contributions to the body of work that have to be completely isolated? [grumble] Not my style.

Carry on.

 

[NotWise]

Wellllll... it turns out that I won't be contributing to Nude Day. I have been informed (albeit indirectly) that my story will not meet the contest guidelines because it is part of a series. Doesn't matter if it can be a standalone, but in the re-reading there are too many references to characters developed in earlier installments.

It kind of grates me about "contests" here. Yeah, I can write standalones and have done so, but my priority is the series, and this particular event connects quite well with my players. You know, it's possible to watch a single TV episode of a well-established series and it will still be funny (or whatever), but to exclude contributions to the body of work that have to be completely isolated? [grumble] Not my style.

Carry on.

I think the rule is because of the high scores that go to later installments in a series.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Well, that doesn't seem fair!

Wellllll... it turns out that I won't be contributing to Nude Day. I have been informed (albeit indirectly) that my story will not meet the contest guidelines because it is part of a series. Doesn't matter if it can be a standalone, but in the re-reading there are too many references to characters developed in earlier installments.

It kind of grates me about "contests" here. Yeah, I can write standalones and have done so, but my priority is the series, and this particular event connects quite well with my players. You know, it's possible to watch a single TV episode of a well-established series and it will still be funny (or whatever), but to exclude contributions to the body of work that have to be completely isolated? [grumble] Not my style.

Carry on.

 

[Fatdog25]

Wellllll... it turns out that I won't be contributing to Nude Day. I have been informed (albeit indirectly) that my story will not meet the contest guidelines because it is part of a series. Doesn't matter if it can be a standalone, but in the re-reading there are too many references to characters developed in earlier installments.

It kind of grates me about "contests" here. Yeah, I can write standalones and have done so, but my priority is the series, and this particular event connects quite well with my players. You know, it's possible to watch a single TV episode of a well-established series and it will still be funny (or whatever), but to exclude contributions to the body of work that have to be completely isolated? [grumble] Not my style.

Carry on.

The question is:

Would I need to read any to all of the previous stories to have this particular story make sense?

If the answer is no, submit it.

 

[Rustyoznail]

The question is:

Would I need to read any to all of the previous stories to have this particular story make sense?

If the answer is no, submit it.

This^^^

Is it chapter 174 of a never ending series, or a tale set in your universe?

I've submitted stories, and placed once, that happen in a particular world. The stories stand by themselves, and the reader doesn't need to go back to pick up everything.

Here's the actual rule.

All submissions must be stand-alone stories created for this contest theme. We will not accept individual chapters of a larger work submitted separately. If you have a multi-chaptered contest-themed submission, please submit all chapters together as one story submission.

 

[MrPixel]

I'm getting countering opinion in the event thread. I guess there's no harm in tagging it as an event entry. If it's rejected up front, I'll simply remove the tags and resubmit as just another story in the series that can be dropped in without attention to relative placement. It's "timeless".

I may be a little overwrought about this. The story stands alone, there's no dependence on a preceding chapter nor will it slop over into following material. There is enough there to establish character personalities, although followers will know some of the background (universe stuff).

Will probably be ~10K words. Currently about 7K, with two major scenes in the wings.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Some people are extrapolating the actual rule to what they think it should be.

You should be fine.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

@MrPixel - you can always submit it as a stand-alone story (wink, wink), and then manually put it in the series later.

The sun is shining today with no forecast of rain for the day. I'm going to try to get in some gardening today. Watch out, weeds!

There's a fresh pot of coffee going and I've put out several bottles of Torani flavors (chocolate, hazelnut, caramel, vanilla, etc.) for those who want something a little different. The teapot is hot and there are donuts and scones on the counter.

I'll be over in the corner working hard on my story. Right now, I'm fleshing out the details before starting on the sexy bits. I hope to have it done in two weeks so I can get it published for the 4th of July ...

 

[GrantBricksly]

So I forgot to post earlier....but My writing for today has already begun. Already have at least 1k words, so I am going strong. Ill be in the corner continuing to write...Ill pass on the coffee and tea, I've got my Energy drink...

 

[GrantBricksly]

Well...I'm done for the day now. But I had another really good day!
about 3.2k words, bringing me up to a total of 8.6k words total.

I need at least another 2k before I'll consider ending this chapter (and That shouldn't be an issue, I'm about to get to the main sex scene for the chapter, and that should easily get me there, and provide a good stopping point.)

 

[MillieDynamite]

For published stories to sell, I limit my chapters to between 2500 and 3500 words. Occasionally, I have 4000 to 6000 words, one sprinkled in between the shorter ones. For here longer is great if it's for publishing in parts. But I want the reader to feel they are flying through my work. But when a part needs to be longer, I give them longer.

 

[Helen_Highwater]

Is this where I say hello?

Hello.

 

[NotWise]

Is this where I say hello?

Hello.

Hi There!

You're welcome here, but this thread draws a pretty small crowd. You might want to say hello by starting your own thread in AH to introduce yourself.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Hi Helen!

Welcome to the coffee shop. Pull up a chair and relax. Candy has a brew happening or the teapot is warm and ready to go, if that's your thing.

 

[GrantBricksly]

For published stories to sell, I limit my chapters to between 2500 and 3500 words. Occasionally, I have 4000 to 6000 words, one sprinkled in between the shorter ones. For here longer is great if it's for publishing in parts. But I want the reader to feel they are flying through my work. But when a part needs to be longer, I give them longer.

I've found that my longer stories perform better here. Also, in a longer chapter, I have the time/space to flesh out my characters and my world. It's an erotic story for sure, but it's also an erotic fantasy novel...or at least it WILL be a novel when I'm done...
And 2-4k sometimes is just not enough. Chapter 2 and 3 were both around 4-5k so I combined them for submission, (still not published...not sure why it's taking so long...this is the longest I've ever had to wait before...)
But I think sticking to around 10k+ is where I want to be.

 

[NuclearFairy]

I haven't had the time to write a creative word in days, and it's driving me nuts. But I'm so sleepy.

 

[NotWise]

I haven't had the time to write a creative word in days, and it's driving me nuts. But I'm so sleepy.

Sleep, refuel, and try again tomorrow.

 

[dmallord]

June is nearly gone. Where? I haven't a clue. But coffee sounds good. Nothing after 3 AM to eat or drink.

Vampire work tomorrow (today, I guess. It's after midnight.) Hopefully, it's the lady with the good eye and gentle hands. She's good at drawing bloodwork stuff. Her co-worker is adequate, but he makes me wince.

Thoughts go back to January when I was on shaky legs and submitted a story that is due in July. I thought I might be here. But, looks like I'll make it!

 

[Rustyoznail]

June is nearly gone. Where? I haven't a clue. But coffee sounds good. Nothing after 3 AM to eat or drink.

Buggered if I know. Here, it's nearly the end of the financial year with all the fun and games that go with finishing projects, ensuring all accounts are paid, and generally keeping the accountants happy.

The local water authority has three jobs going at the same pay rate I'm on, but with less issues. I've had it with my current employer, so I'm putting in for all three.

It's going to leave them in a heap, but my sanity is more important.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Another sunny morning with a little haze from the Canadian wildfires ...

The coffee is fresh and hot and the teapot is steaming. There are cookies and brownies on the counter.

I've fed the dragon but he doesn't look all that great. I'm starting to get worried about him. I'll be over in the corner working on the sexy bits of my story and fanning myself whenever it gets too hot ...

 

[filthytrancendence]

Woke up to find my latest story, published this morning, is already hot and already has 1200 views, all while North America was sleeping. I also lucked out on prime placement (2nd from top) on new in the EC page, and it's presently the only hot new story from today.

I'm so happy with the story and I'm over the moon it's doing so well already. Seems like I'm on track for it to become my most popular story, which I couldn't be happier about.

Okay, I'll stop gushing now. Thank you for indulging me.