The Official Valentine’s Day Contest Support Thread 2026

I hope the views increase by the time you publish. 1,600 views for an extended day (as my story published early yesterday) is not deeply encouraging in LS.

Thanks. Keep in mind though, a high view count is not necessarily an advantage in a contest. Many people have won with relatively few votes. And if you do win, you will probably get a big influx of followers, which will in turn lead to higher view counts in the future.
 
Thanks. Keep in mind though, a high view count is not necessarily an advantage in a contest. Many people have won with relatively few votes. And if you do win, you will probably get a big influx of followers, which will in turn lead to higher view counts in the future.
I've found that when I enter a competition or event, all of my stories get some love and that's kind of nice. I think it outweighs the trolling.
 
I've found that when I enter a competition or event, all of my stories get some love and that's kind of nice. I think it outweighs the trolling.

In a way, entering contests is like making an investment in growing your following. When I won the Winter Holidays contest a couple of years ago, I picked up as many new followers in a month as I had in the previous six years.
 
In a way, entering contests is like making an investment in growing your following. When I won the Winter Holidays contest a couple of years ago, I picked up as many new followers in a month as I had in the previous six years.
Same when I won a readers choice award a while back. Funny thing is, when you get a blue W, it seems to put a target on your stories.
 
Waking up to find a few more votes on both of my stories - all 1s, sadly, which means my novel lost its “H” overnight and the Valentines day contest story is now averaging a 4.0.

The valentines day story ended around 1600 views for its first 24 hours, which brings it close to the novel published last November.
 
Same when I won a readers choice award a while back. Funny thing is, when you get a blue W, it seems to put a target on your stories.

True, but when you look at it from a cost/benefit perspective, I think picking up a few hundred followers is worth taking some one bombs. Particularly when you factor in that the more followers you have, the less damage one bombs do.
 
Thanks. Keep in mind though, a high view count is not necessarily an advantage in a contest. Many people have won with relatively few votes. And if you do win, you will probably get a big influx of followers, which will in turn lead to higher view counts in the future.
I don’t have any aspirations about winning with this story. I just wanted it to be read.
 
Same for me. I've been just outside the top 3 at least a couple times but I don't see being that close with this one.
Once for me. And if that story didn’t place, I’m never going to place. I sometimes think I can’t possibly write a better story than my Summer Lovin’ one. But I have to try, I suppose.
 
Same for me. I've been just outside the top 3 at least a couple times but I don't see being that close with this one.
Three times (arguably four) for me. And I’ve been pack leader up until the very last moment. But hey, it’s all just fun, right?
 
I don’t have any aspirations about winning with this story. I just wanted it to be read.
Snap. And I can just about manage the down voting, it turns out.

But it has now stopped being read I think, now at 1700, only up 100 from yesterday.

So yeah, probably out of the running now but it was fun. Maybe better luck next time.
 
I don't think I'll ever be top 3 because too many people probs want my stories to be longer. And I'm never making my stories longer just for the sake of it.
 
Snap. And I can just about manage the down voting, it turns out.

But it has now stopped being read I think, now at 1700, only up 100 from yesterday.

So yeah, probably out of the running now but it was fun. Maybe better luck next time.
1900 now so obviously slowed down. I have 11 votes which is lovely! 16 shy of the contest spec but hey ho.
 
OK my story is now published, hope it does OK. It's 3 pages long (I never know until after it's published because I type it straight into the browser and I don't really check things like word count or whatever, I just go by vibes) which from experience proooobably means it escapes the more indignant complaints of 'this is too short' so It'll probs clock in at around 4.6 I guess. IDK I'm still not 100% on what people like. This doesn't feel like one of my top ones, but the ones that I think are my top ones aren't the highest rated so what do I know I guess.

EDIT: currently at 4.7, but I reckon it'll eventually stabilise to somewhere between 4.6 and 4.7
 
Last edited:
15th January

We’re now up to day number six
You’ve still time to get in the mix
With a story ‘bout flowers
Or with golden showers
Or two women, one cock, lots of licks
 
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