Quote by KimmiBeGood
In the current Elements comp, I really like “A Calm In Need Of A Storm” by dronette56 and “Seduction: It’s Elemental, My Dear Watson” by CuriousAnnie
Aaah, memories blast from adolescent citrus-based cheeky humour of many decades ago stirred,' "A lemon entry, my dear Watson,"-😇
Qufote by kistinspencil
I basically agree, but need to add Google today is pretty much just AI wearing a pinstripe suit and tie.
Incurring the wrath of historical pedants, or of the sanctity of original thought folk...It could be a minefield if you allowed it to be. At either end of the spectrum, you have people who place a huge amount of importance on one or the other and champion what they see as 'right.' Beyond the extremes, the vast majority simply enjoy writing and want to give others an opportunity to see it, if they want to.
The vast majority have no intention of passing what technology has created as their own. Within that majority, some may want to use technology to check what they've written, to eradicate human error, or to avoid accidental bad word choices. If people believe it's appropriate to use a sledgehammer to crack a walnut, they're entitled to do so, but creating an environment that leaves people enjoying an escapist hobby treading on eggshells might well need to look at itself as closely as it does others. I'm lucky, it's all a bit of fun to me. Lately, I feel luckier every day.
Quote by KimmiBeGood
🤣
Apologies for jumping straight in with the punchline!❤️
Quote by WannabeWordsmith
Reminds me of that joke about the two nuns in a bath...
Yes, it does, doesn't it?😊
Quote by Jen
Yeah, this shot must have been a nightmare to get right. The sea, the angles of the sun... the sand in their crotches.
We're a writing site. We get a bit more miffed when people use AI to generate their stories than their pictures. Go be fake outraged on a photography site.
I'm more interested in what she did to wear her thumb away completely... at least that's relevant to a writing/reading-focused environment!
Quote by WannabeWordsmith
offering them accommodation on a dingy, stained mattress in the basement with no windows and a single locked door before we herd them towards the shredder in the corner. We're getting there.
( *The apology to anyone who's into the mattress, windowless, locked door, shredder thing is implicit, and I am certain is no judgment on you, if you are.)
Quote by wxt55uk
I would say, in general, yes.
IMHO, this is a good theme and for those who have not entered a competition before, a good one to start with, as fitting an "element" into a general story is fairly easy to do. 🙄😀
Of course, there have been more taxing competitions like the "Whodunnit" one that had fewer entries.
The overlords/overladies of smut who have the final say on a theme do have the added complication that we can be a contrary lot when it comes to how they're received. It's a task I'd run a mile from, but they came up with a cracker this time, in my opinion.
Perhaps the number of entrants to a competition who haven't done so previously is as enlightening as the entry figures? E
Quote by techgoddess
You don't need to wait a few weeks to submit your story. I always suggest 3-5 days after the last one to be courteous. But don't be alarmed if the approval process takes up to three weeks.
I'd LOVE that to pop up, banner-style, on unsubmitted story pages! The use of the words 'suggest' and 'courteous' might even send a positive subliminal message in the direction of where it is most appropriate!❤️
Quote by simplyjohn
To clarify, only members with a gold or platinum subscription get priority.u
Moddy read another tale, she smiled and thought, 'l like'
While looking at the buttocks that she used to park her bike.
"The Sea Of Smut, it never ends," she said to waiting cocks,
As, 'ping' another wave from it slipped deep into her box.
Solidarity with our heroic guardians, WE LOVE YOU ALL ❤️
Quote by kistinspencil
It occurs to me that my reflections on all this would be rather different, if I took myself seriously as a writer. I write what entertains me, what speaks in my voice. It is all I am capable of. I have never considered the desires of an audience nor taken a calculated aim at a category. Some stories find their mark and some do not.
In the end, I get what I deserve and live happy with anything at all. Past that, it's all a bother.
If you take yourself seriously, I will feel betrayed and even more like an outcast...PLEASE don't ❤️
Quote by Piquet
Frankly, I haven't a clue what an Ai story looks like much less reads like. Why don't we capture one and put it on display (in a cage of course) in the Forum, (clearly labled as potentially dangerous) for educational purposes?
My only worry remains how many people end up knowing far more about cattle breeding than they'll ever need to, with the searches for AI that must happen. Hopefully, they won't try to breed from what you hope to cage in this way.
Quote by kistinspencil
53 by my count. Somewhat lower than usual, but there may be a flurry near the end.
I hope that just means a late made rush, and isn't some term for something I've never heard of. Always a worry in here,,,
' Her flurry shone in the moonlit sky, as the tentacled beast slithered toward her' etc. etc.
Quote by WannabeWordsmith
This is one of those topics that fascinates me so I'm curious how other authors feel.
We all have our favourite stories that we write - ones we think represent our "best" (at the time) work that we're proud of writing. And yet these are not always the stories that evoke the greatest reaction (views, likes, comments, ...) from readers.
My questions are therefore simple:
1. What do you consider your best work (and, briefly why)?
2. Do readers agree, or has another piece you've written surprised you and resonated more with them?
Not everyone has the type of personality to talk about their "best". Certain stories might, however, have been 'the most fun to write' or the one that drew on elements of reality most rewardingly when written. The response of readers? If you did it simply by numbers, the answers are there to see, but if a comment is left, it can mean as much as a hundred hearts or clicks, depending on what is said.
Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know
So you are in favor of standards for publication... How "elitist."
No, I'm in favour of it, I'm English.
I'm exhausted just reading the account, never mind doing it. I'm not a smug luddite, just the latter, so I feel your pain, even though the 'ins and outs' of the issue might be beyond me!
Does a rub trump a flash?😇...No, mine's a practical preference. My wonky brain can't deal with too many threads when reading or writing, so I tend to stick with what's best for me.
Once you start flashing regularly (as it were), they can become almost addictive writing-wise. They're lifestyle-friendly for many of our lovely readers, too, who don't necessarily want to commit to a longer read.
Quote by AvidlyCurious
Btw, the elements subjected to 'gratuitous censhorip' were drugging, non-con and death.
So yeah, proudly regimented and unwelcoming of such content.
...and be so forever more ❤️
Quote by Sinfulwords
I believe I understand just fine what moderators do, I just don't share your appreciation for an element that makes the wait-time take so long. Especially in the name of censorship. I'm just used to a more free-range writing experience. I suppose the platforms I've used in the past are just more lenient with their user-base's creative freedom. They offer conveniences of warning labels that authors can pin to their work that will tip-off the search engines and filter out content people might find unpleasant while the people who do enjoy that kind of content can access it freely. Being an adult website I'm just a little taken aback by the rigorous vetting process that simultaneously takes a really long time. We just value different things from our platforms....sucks for me, though, both the free-range publication sites im referencing are for fanfictions, so, I'm having trouble finding a place I like to post my original erotica. This isn't feeling like home already haha
It may come to feel more like home if you try to assimilate into your new environment, rather than wanting to dictate how it operates. Would you do that in a new country you had settled in? I hope not. 'Lenient' implies you wish to push boundaries, rather than operate within those in place, which is rather disrespectful towards those who are here exactly because of the safeguards in place. The reason things take time is that they are done properly. If that doesn't matter to you, they are your values; just don't expect well-established sites to fall over to accommodate those that don't align with theirs. It's up to you to amend how you do things, not everyone else.
JustHereToWriteAndRead sounded a bit of a mouthful, so I trimmed it.
Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know
If we raised the minimum word count north of 2500 and really focused on quality rather than whether a story meets the site's ToS, I bet we could reduce the overall number of submissions and therefore publication wait times. We could also do it if authors wouldn't flood the queue with push-button AI slop, actually read and followed the ToS and stopped publishing novel length stories 500 words at time, but that's probably too much to expect.
If people prefer to read shorter pieces, any rise in the minimum word count would deny them the opportunity to do something they enjoy. Yes, the people who read. They have as much of a right to a voice as anyone. 'Focusing on quality' comes across as rather elitist and subjective. If you think only people who write should read what you've written, you're perfectly entitled to hold that opinion, but ask readers what length of pieces they prefer to read, and they may not give an answer that would make a 2500-word minimum viable.
Quote by Sinfulwords
I feel like the site should just introduce ratings, like on other free writing publication websites. That way users can filter content they don’t wish to see in the search engine and moderators won’t be necessary to view every submission. Like look to A03, Archive of Our Own, for reference. The reader simply clicks which level of explicitness they’re trying to read (or avoid) and the search engine filters the work available on the site 🙌 something to consider
It appears you may not be aware of what moderators actually do, and you may have been misled by your own interpretation of the word. Those of us who submit our efforts are hugely grateful to our heroes, the mods, who ensure stories meet guidelines that are vital to avoid pieces that do not meet the site rules appearing.
As a contributor, I know that someone is giving up their time to help me. That's a human element, which will always be more valuable to me than any tech. 'Levels of explicitness' is, of course, subjective to a degree, and I suspect most readers can use tags to help them decide if a story will be for them.
Moderators do far more than tick an imaginary 'pass' or 'fail' box, and it may be worthwhile for you to submit something. That would explain everything in real terms far better than I could in a reply to a post.
Quote by MicaMeesha
thank you, good idea. I really don't want to use my voice, and i did try narrating a story, to justr see how difficult it would be but goodness, to make it listenable requires good reading and orating skills!
I'd be quite happy to pay a fellow writer to record an audio version of a story, although the logistical difficulties involved would probably make it a non-starter. My reasons, however, would be quite different from yours, although I would argue, just as valid.
1. My northern English voice sounds awful on recordings.
2. I would like to offer a hands-free, different sensory experience option for anyone wanting to have a dip into what I've come up with.
Similar issue, different goals, I suppose!
Quote by wxt55uk
Hi, Rumpee's, drinks are on me. 😊 Gets out the polish and rubs my omnium badge. 😊
Here is the story that got me there... Ms Lush | Lush
Don't laugh; it is very different. 😳😈 And of course, completely true. 😜🤣
Read it and 'don't laugh' is an impossible demand...impossible. It is a hoot. Brilliant stuff.
Pssh! - Do you want to know a secret?
Supernatural Quote by MicaMeesha
I have to be honest, I have no clue how to use AI, however. I used to be a rather public face; I state as much on my profile, and I have very good reasons for not wishing to post my real face on my media photos. I therefore use 'Photoshop' to alter my face. The body is me (from my distant past, usually), but the face isn't. That is about the limit of my Photoshop skills, and I do freely say that I alter my face. I don't think I am breaking any rules here and would hope that someone would tell me if I am (or have ) broken any rules.
As you've just said it's what you do and it's not mandatory to have a photo, they'd be very harsh rules indeed, if someone was to decide you'd broken one! (Well, from where I'm sitting, anyway.)
Quote by KimmiBeGood
And if a picture shows 3 nipples, it’s probably AI. 😊
That Al's a cool guy, isn't he? Oh, AI, sorry...😇
Quote by Racoonteur
Again, I just had not seen any real discussion about this taking place while the fake accounts continue to proliferate here. My hope was that if there was such an ongoing discussion, and people would happen across it, then maybe they'd eventually start to look a little closer and be a bit more discerning before buying into the ruse.
One of the challenges is that when a person sees someone passing a bunch of AI images off as actual pictures of themselves, they might say something in response, but that person can simply delete the comment and block the person who is pointing out their scam.
Just an ongoing, informational discussion to keep the fact that these accounts are present here is helpful in itself.
It's worth noting that many use the site simply to submit/read stories and will only respond to people they have interacted with through that. This issue will feel more relevant to some users than others. That doesn't mean I, and I presume, others aren't sympathetic; it may just be that their own experience makes them feel they have little to offer on the subject. Any messages I get that aren't related to the reason I'm here aren't for me. I may not be the only one for whom this issue is largely irrelevant, which may explain why it's not a hot topic for discussion.
As long as you don't take it too seriously, I think it's fine. If you did, I think it defeats the purpose of it.
There are far too few contexts where 'pulled back wind' needs no further explanation. Congratulations on finding one of them.
