The Official Authors' Hangout Winter Holidays 2025 Support Thread

[srosa]

I find the numerical speculation interesting.

I'm returning to Literotica after a while away. It's been an interesting puzzle for me to figure out what of the many links are still relevant and aren't just dead (or dormant) ends. For example, a link to an official Literotica podcast that seemed to have just a few episodes, and maybe from long ago? And in the official rules of this contest, comparisons between this contest and the monthly contests, with a link to monthly contests ending ostensibly in January 2023?

 

[WriterPerson314159]

If talking about scores is unwelcome, then maybe those who want to do it should have a separate thread, but that might be more effort than necessary. I, too, am a numbers geek (you’d never guess by my username, would you), so I find it interesting.

 

[HuckPilgrim]

Wow, my two novel-length (novelette, maybe) stories didn't get a whole lot of views/votes this time. I've never done long stories for a contest before so maybe I fucked it up somehow.

I got a comment chastising me for not using tags. The anonymous poster specifically called out the 15 lit-page length. I really didn't understand the relationship between tags and story length, but I'm guessing they wanted clues to what the story is about? I mean, why not just read a few paragraphs? Or, if your going to comment, why not just ask, "What's this story about?" or "What tags would you put on this story if you were the kind of author who tags stories?"

 

[Dodola]

My apologies if it's against etiquette here. I'm just a numbers nerd, and the whole rating system/sweeps/contest scores thing plays right into that.

Definitely not trying to argue about whose score is highest. I just treat these contests as a way to get eyes on my work, not really hopeful about actually winning.

The etiquette changes on personal whims, depending on who's participating at any given time.
Nerd on, Sir.

 

[Voboy]

Numbers talk isn't really a problem; like I said, things change. So it's reasonable to think these support threads will too.

I was just making a historical observation. Once upon a time, it was believed there were tactical considerations involved in keeping quiet: it was thought that mentioning one's own score would attract bombers to it. Some of that might have been superstition!

My feeling these days is that the bombers come for us all regardless, so nerd on you numbers boffins! The courtesy aspect still makes sense to me, so I'll refrain.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I was just making a historical observation. Once upon a time, it was believed there were tactical considerations involved in keeping quiet: it was thought that mentioning one's own score would attract bombers to it. Some of that might have been superstition!

It was pretty much reality that anyine with high scores what one-star bombed down. Happened to me a time or two. I think some of it was someof the writers back then who were bit too competive and some was just trolls. It hasn't been anything like as bad the last 2-3 years. Five years ago every story I entered was hammered down to under 4.5 almost out the gate.

 

[Trionyx]

I’ve watched the score on one of my stories slowly creep up and once it hits a certain point, it immediately gets knocked down with a one bomb, and yes, I do the math. It always happens when the score reaches the exact same level. (And the story is not remotely in contention for a prize.)

I wonder if it is one person and if they have the story on a tracking program that alerts them when my modest score reaches the threshold. Oh well, I enjoyed writing it and apparently many people have enjoyed reading it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I’ve watched the score on one of my stories slowly creep up and once it hits a certain point, it immediately gets knocked down with a one bomb, and yes, I do the math. It always happens when the score reaches the exact same level. (And the story is not remotely in contention for a prize.)

I wonder if it is one person and if they have the story on a tracking program that alerts them when my modest score reaches the threshold. Oh well, I enjoyed writing it and apparently many people have enjoyed reading it.

I’m terrified to mention my final Lit comp entry here (A Belated Christmas Gift) lest it be bombed under the 3.00 level.

As is very evident from most days on AH as well, I live rent free in more than one person’s mind .

 

[dreams_in_words]

As is very evident from most days on AH as well, I live rent free in more than one person’s mind .

You live rent free in my mind, but for probably different reasons.

Like idolation, humourous, well spoken, easy to follow, informative, and gosh darn you're pretty in your profile pic

 

[dreams_in_words]

I may be part of your fan club

 

[EmilyMiller]

You live rent free in my mind, but for probably different reasons.

Like idolation, humourous, well spoken, easy to follow, informative, and gosh darn you're pretty in your profile pic

Blushing

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

I missed the deadline this year, because of a family crisis. My Mom had an accident and broke her knee. On the plus side, my job has very generous family leave policy, and I will be with her in Maine through the end of the year. And, I've got a story 90% ready for next year.

Here's sending some holiday healing magic. I hope she has as easy a process as is feasible. She's lucky to have you there with her as well - love that you can do that!

 

[EmilyMiller]

I missed the deadline this year, because of a family crisis. My Mom had an accident and broke her knee. On the plus side, my job has very generous family leave policy, and I will be with her in Maine through the end of the year. And, I've got a story 90% ready for next year.

Hope your mom gets better

 

[NaughteeDragon]

That's kinda creepy.
Now I'm looking around wondering if everyone is also someone else?

I don’t have time to pretend to be someone else.

 

[old_prof]

I don’t have time to pretend to be someone else.

But is that because your real identity doesn't allocate enough time to "you"?

 

[NaughteeDragon]

I'm telling you, all day, every day. Whiny maidens, "Naughtee, am I pretty enough?" "Naughtee, she stole my favorite necklace." Then there's all the knights trying to prove themselves and save their fair loves. Then, God forbid, you want to go out and pick up some take out for dinner. You would not believe how testy royal families get when you show up with two or three suits of heirloom armor and ask for a refill.
And who would have thought that kobolds could be so needy. "Oh, great dragon, the tribe of ogres are hunting us to extinction. Please, oh great God, save us." You have any idea gassy I get after eating 3 or 4 ogres? Then princesses start bitching again...
As soon as I figure out which one of them is breedable, I'm torching the rest so I can get some fucking rest.

 

[Lord_Libido]

I'm telling you, all day, every day. Whiny maidens, "Naughtee, am I pretty enough?" "Naughtee, she stole my favorite necklace." Then there's all the knights trying to prove themselves and save their fair loves. Then, God forbid, you want to go out and pick up some take out for dinner. You would not believe how testy royal families get when you show up with two or three suits of heirloom armor and ask for a refill.
And who would have thought that kobolds could be so needy. "Oh, great dragon, the tribe of ogres are hunting us to extinction. Please, oh great God, save us." You have any idea gassy I get after eating 3 or 4 ogres? Then princesses start bitching again...
As soon as I figure out which one of them is breedable, I'm torching the rest so I can get some fucking rest.

I can take some of those princesses off your hands. In my experience, they talk a big game but fold pretty easily. Especially when you have a tail...

 

[NaughteeDragon]

Don't even get me started on them and the tail. "Oh, Naughtee, is it my turn with the tail?" "Just the tip, I'm saving myself." "Well of course she can take that much of it, she's a total slut."
No matter how pretty she is, some guy somewhere is sick and tired of putting up with her shit....



Okay, I apologize for hijacking the thread. I haven't had a chance to dig that character out in forever.

 

[dreams_in_words]

Okay, I apologize for hijacking the thread. I haven't had a chance to dig that character out in forever.

That was kinda funny.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Here's sending some holiday healing magic. I hope she has as easy a process as is feasible. She's lucky to have you there with her as well - love that you can do that!

Thank you so much for your kindness. She will heal and be fine. We are mostly enjoying each others company, and when she gets frustrated and cranky, I remind myself that this woman was by my side when I was going cold turkey from my addictions, and I am sure I was a hundred times worse.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Hope your mom gets better

Thank you, Emily.

 

[Jorunn]

Does anyone miss the old days when the support threads were full of posts like:

“I just lost 2 votes and my score went up .01”

 

[WriterPerson314159]

Do we have a sense of when the winners will be published (I have my guess as to who will win, and I want to see if I am right)?

 

[YmaOHyd]

Dunno but I kinda hope there's a sweep between now and then.

 

[WittyUserName]

A few of my comments said my story was mislabeled. I used the 'lesbian' tag.. it's a lesbian ROMANCE. So, romance is accurate, isn't it? There are POV changes, one of which includes male/female sex, so lesbian didn't seem right to me... thoughts?