From my non-expert point of view, my distinguishing criteria between a novel and a series would be the same. If you're writing something more easily digested, you can give a reasonable hint in a one-liner, genre, and tags to give an idea if something's someone's bag. With something that requires a major investment in time for all involved, including a potential reader, you'd probably need a synopsis feature, meaning, again, extra resources for one aspect that other styles don't need. It's a lot of accommodating for a small number of pieces of creativity; I think that's the point I'm trying to make, even if I'm doing so badly!

I think it is possible to have respect for those who create a novel while also believing here is not the place for them. If people want to write one, they can do so and make themselves a hard copy to remind themselves of the pleasure they had doing it. ( I did something similar in pre-wonky brain days, although in a rather different area of escapism to here!) This didn't put anyone out but me or require volunteers to give up large amounts of their time to proofread or moderate either. A need to balance resources against the probable interest is something I wouldn't expect those involved to comment on, but it is a reality nonetheless.

After eating enough for a year,

And having his annual beer,

He thinks he's a poet

And wouldn't you know it?

His lunacy's found its way here.

😇

Roses are red,

So's Rudolph's nose.

So is my arse in the snow,

Without clothes.

As the clock struck midnight, midnight felt the flat of the clock's hand on her buttocks. The new year's spanking party was a highlight since the world had suffered an uppercase shortage and they'd had to make do with shiftless shit instead.

"Stealing caps should be a 'capital' offence," midnight wailed as she opened her hat draw.

"MY CAPS, THE CLOCK!" Midnight cried as she climaxed.

Happy Christmas.

It was great fun to take part. Nudge as you see fit. It was just a giggle to do for myself and, I suspect, many others.

"Can my mum video everything?"

Heaven KNOWS what it would say on my badge, if I had one and wore it,🤣

The competition has had some extraordinary side dishes. For a giggle, I did an audio of me stumbling to read my daftness to send to a friend. There are plenty of surreal experiences to be had hereabouts, but hearing yourself utter those immortal words, 'double-ended fuckywuckydoodah' on an audio file, definitely made me feel glad I had a stab, as it were.!

Quote by deviantsusie
The next time I attempt to explain why I enjoy what I do, I may find myself referencing this post ( with appropriare acknowledgement, of course). It sums a complicated explanation of the pleasure perfectly. Bringing a smile with a fuckywuckydoodah? Life feels gooooood!🤣

'Fuckywuckydoodah' is now up there with 'okiedokiedoggiedaddie' for words to bring a smile to your face when you read them

Quote by JourneyYoung

My story is out! My gosh. I think writing 100 word stories is easier than 1000 words because at least 100 word ones you know you have to dispense with any and all fluff and pretense and 1000 word stories at least makes one think you still have room for some LOL Romance on the Rails | Lush Stories

They say it's not the size of your word count that matters; it's what you do with it.

As someone far more likely to write a story than read one, this thread does remind me of the 'pleasing some of the people some of the time' saying. Someone's pet peeve is important to them; I understand that. That said, this will also be true for the next person, whose gripe is different but just as 'deal-breaking' for them. If you write for your personal pleasure and see others connecting with it as a bonus, you rid yourself of fretfulness and fear over alienating one reader who has bugbear #33539, etc.

I'm just celebrating my competitive debut. Getting ' fuckywuckydoodah' in there means I'm already buzzing!🤣

Quote by AmuseBouche

It is done 1,000 words of dirty smut - I have forgotten how much I love Flash Erotica. So, for your consideration and delectation - Batteries Not Included.

Hope you enjoyed the challenge as much as I did my first dip into the competition world.

Safe to say that my effort was fun to write, which is not being selfish, just honest!

Quote by shmi

1. Old enough to know better. Young enough not to care
2. Eastern USA
3. 34B
4. Nicely trimmed landing strip
5. Neither. I prefer wearing it.

>>> writes down 'landing strip' and promises to use it in a story soon!❤️

Why would I need someone else to make the pictures? I have an imagination for that.

Filtering out the 'wrong people' is, of course, subjective to a degree. Some of the topics people write about are and will always be of no interest to me whatsoever, to the point I'd even avoid discussion around it. Does that mean I don't think others should? No, although I'll admit I find attempts to 'get around' the few areas that are explicitly off limits disturbing. But that's me talking about my values.

It's not the first time I have posted something like this, or probably the last. but anyway.,,

Imagine you're someone whose brain has been compromised. Bits of it barely work at all, but I'm stubborn and challenge myself to be the best I can be.

Without our mods, I would have been denied the chance to exercise my creative outlet, which is healthy for my neurological annoyances. They have supported, encouraged, and helped me to attain a standard. They have offered advice on steps to take to improve.

Any feedback has always been clear, specific, and relevant and conveys a genuine desire to see you succeed at what you've attempted.

Some of the help has been time-consuming for those who have given it, but they have.

The latest example of mod input was full of praise and encouragement, but crucially, a kindly phrased suggestion for me to consider next time. If you're ever in doubt about some of the unsung work the mods do, drop the bloke with a wonky brain a message, and he'll put you in the picture!

Take a bow, winners! Great fun to have a stab at it, ( as it were) myself. We lovers of a little nonsense were most entertained by it all.😊

Few will have benefitted from their patient help and guidance than I have, especially when not waiting a while until my wonky brain was in better shape than on a bad day to attempt something!

I suspect the fact that I've never made a habit of them is what made my dip into such a thing so memorable. (For context, I have only written one story in the 'true' category, and it was about the topic here. I guess that makes the point!)

Main Square in Bratislava about 1985. To save money, I was staying in private houses to save money, but it was 2 miles out of town. She was having none of that... so town square bj it was. Well, it WAS dark...ish!

When I write something, my primary goals are to meet the required standard, improve, enjoy the challenge and hope it connects with a reader somewhere. If I put a cover on a story, then ( whisper it gently ) I may do so as a bit of fun. People may not care less and they have every right to take that view, I can put a cover on for no other reason than I felt like it.

Quote by simplyjohn

We met ‘trick or treating’ and continued doing so together. There was an immediate sexual desire between us evident until we finished two hours later. At that time, she was salivating intensely, and so was I, starring into each other’s eyes. With no words spoken we both knew what we wanted next.

So, McDonalds it was, and we shared two Happy Meals with strawberry milkshakes.  We then had sexual intercourse.

I have just woken a now very grumpy dog up with my laughter!

Another urchin hit the buzzer, Tom trying to retrieve the curly wurly from between Clara's breasts.

"Hollow-Spleen!" Clara screamed, as Tom nailed it and her ghost-shaped vibe worked its spell.

Chocolate lifted, Tom fled to the kitchen, Clara's demands ever-present. Choosing treats over tricks,

Clara bent, cheeks splayed, for a promised fill. The pumpkin's eyes winked. "Time to nest" it said.

Another bold (for me) step, as I put something up to see if it meets the standard required. A real test, this one, its content needing a dysfunctional brain to bring its best game to the table. Has it met the challenge? Up to the experts to decide. Do I feel proud to have got to the point of finding out if it's up to scratch? Absolutely!

The Meaning Of Trust is up on the site and the sense of achievement feels the same. A few things different this time in the approach, but that just made the satisfaction of getting it up there feel even more special.

Quote by JourneyYoung

I mean, I would be lying if I didn't pay attention to the numbers going up on my stories and enjoying it haha. But I suppose that isn't particularly the goal. I mostly like coming up with ideas and just writing them. I ended up coming here because I needed a place to post the first story I was working on at the time. Feedback is also always welcome, but not necessarily the goal.

I do enjoy the idea of the competitions, although I haven't participated in them as much as I'd like. I kind of come and go as my motivation to write swings. But I always hope to catch one when I'm around.

I also have to thank the editors for giving tips and reminders when I inevitably submit something that is wrong in some way LOL. I do feel like my writing has improved, especially during my latest flurry of story writing.

Reading something and knowing you could have written it yourself! In this case, it's regarding those who steer us on the right path when we need it and feedback. The numbers, viewing-wise? I see them, but they're not a factor in what I do, although a couple of words of encouragement is a boost, when they appear, for sure, The moment chaotic thought makes sense for long enough to weave a story around it? As good as any in the process for me.

A new challenge met with the submission of my longest story to date. Longer pieces present their own challenge for me, in terms of keeping everything on track and making what I hope works uncomplicated enough for me to manage. Pippa's Journey was fun to write and it will always feel special to get to this point for me.