It’s rare for me to burn down a kitchen, but I def am not a talented cook or baker. I can follow a recipe though. Share your recipes here, and help a girl out 🤪

Nope. I actually am of the opinion that stories that try to be true to reality are boring and usually give me a case of the blah blahs. Think about all the extraneous bullshit we think or feel or experience in between it all. It’s extremely difficult to look at your life and edit for the things that don’t matter to a particular story in it, because everything matters. It’s REAL LIFE

That said, I think if you use what or who you know to create aspects of stories, it feels way more real. A little truth goes a long way

Congratulations!!

I don't know who needs to hear this, but in the immortal words of my ex-coworker Charlie, "Fuck 'em all, big and small."

So stupid. So simple. Weirdly perfect.

Quote by dronette56

Wow, thank you!! I don't know what else to say.

Edit: Now I'm getting all verklempt.

I love when you make me google things. Do it again 😍

Wooooooo! Congrats, girl! Great story!!

Go to the coffee shop or a restaurants and listen to how people talk. It’ll help you create dialogue that is more unique to a character, and notice how real people move—what movements show their moods, etc.

I think reading a lot, in and out of lush, also helps. Especially when you get into a genre and 100 books later, you now see alllllll the cliches. I like to try to turn the cliches on their head. But I also like a cliche sometimes—just keep the dialogue or whatever fresh. It’s extremely difficult to make a brand new plot or character, but if you pick an element to work on each new story, I think it helps build your overall ability to create truly amazing and memorable work.

Thanks for this post! Super cool! I don’t get to nerd out about writing enough

Quote by MissVixen

Why I always add a note to y'all that I just changed/added the cover image

Def appreciated and literally we have zero problem with it! We just wish it was easier to verify but it's not. :/

Hey everyone, just a heads up. If you add a cover pic to an existing story, the site does not show the verifiers that no changes were made to the story itself, so we'd have to go over the entire story again as if it's new. As everyone knows, the story queue is insane, so we won't be prioritizing those. They'll get done buuuuuut.... it'll be a bit.

The system only allows for one of your submissions in the queue at a time, so do consider this before you pull an older story to add a cover picture. Thanks for all your patience! ❤️❤️

Quote by Chet_Morton

a polarizing category (which I'll abbreviate, somewhat ironically, as PC) 😁

😂😂 yep, overthinking it totally! I thought I was trying to guess what polarizing category you were referring to. 😂🤦‍♀️

Yeah I needed sleep. But sometimes sleepy messages are hilarious so no shame in my game

Quote by Chet_Morton

Unimportant question, but I'm curious about the hierarchy of story categories. I'd be happy to hear anyone's thoughts on this and how you use categories and story tags, not just admins and mods.

My understanding is that the IF (I don't even dare write out the first word for fear it'll be gobbled up by a censorbot) designation is absolutely required, so that the story can be automatically blocked by people who don't want to see it. Beyond that, a category that may be polarizing -- e.g., Watersports -- can be used to attract some readers and warn others to stay away.

But then we get into format. Suppose a story is a poem involving a polarizing category (which I'll abbreviate, somewhat ironically, as PC); should it be placed in Erotic Poems, with story tags alerting the reader about the content? Does a 99-word PC story have to go in the Microfiction category? Does a 999-word PC story automatically belong in Flash Erotica?

What the heck is PC? I probably need to get some sleep and I’ll feel like a dumbass when I read this again 😂

This is a fun one! Honestly, I like getting into a new category for me so if I can swing it, I will! I’m remembering to tag now (I’m a hot mess) so I try to hit all the applicable tags. I figure the more tags, the more likely someone will run across it in a search and the more tags, sometimes the more intriguing. There was a badass author I found who’d written in the love story category with a gangbang tag, if memory serves, and I was like “this has to be shit” but I couldn’t help but to read it. Sidebar: it was so NOT shit—my mind needed to open a fucking door. Or an entire wing.

I’m babbling. But the point is, if you play around with it and read others’ stories to see what they do and what works for them, you can have a bit of fun and find what works for you. And maybe what doesn’t 😂

Anyone else following the Buddhist monks walking for peace from Texas to DC? It’s so fucking moving

Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm glad I'm came back here this year. I love this place, and all of you sweet, nutty, horny, weird-ass troublemaking fuckers. A toast to all y'all!

The rest of the world can suck it 😇

Such a great one! I truly started reading this as a cynic but was totally won over. This one has stuck with me for awhile. Congrats, Madeline! Well done!

Henke gets to write all the reviews now, WOW. 😍❤️

Thank you guys! This one took a long time to write and get out there. I know it’s long af so I’m happy that anyone clicked on it and stuck with it, and to know that it was worth it their time.

Congrats, WW!

Quote by Ls63563

Depends on the situation. If they are sexy and part of the outfit, leave them on, if not likely take them off.

Such a good point!

I saw a Subway Takes questioning if guests should take off their shoes your house. Where I’m from in Florida, most people don’t. Unless obvs they’re dirty. Just curious about you guys, and maybe it’s by region? Comment if you want to name the region!

oooh I finally have an idea I like! Hopefully I can get something out in time!

I put down the silent patient probably four chapters in. Too wordy for me. I’ve since read another Ali Hazelwood (gonna be sad when I’m through all her books).

Now I’m reading Listen for the Lie, by Amy Tintera. A new author for me, recommended by my cousin. What a first fucking chapter! I don’t think I’ll be putting this down

Editing to say, Amy was badass. Funny and surprising.

I edit the fuck out of it before I submit, to the point where I usually don't love it anymore. It's a character flaw I guess lol. Once I'm sick of it I read it one last time, sometimes parts of it aloud because my eyes aren't working and the brain is barely braining. Then I hit publish and don't ever want to read it again. I even feel bad for the mod that has to read it.

I recommend getting sick of your work. You'll never recall it. 🤣🤣🤣

EDIT: I have had a story here for years, where the character never puts down the coffee mug but it's magically gone. I did actually reread it a couple years after I'd published it and just facepalmed. But no one else caught it and it lives on as a teaching lesson for me and makes me laugh when I think about it.

Toasting to Kat's brain and raising a glass to Issabela, who won an EP! Check it out!

Quote by techgoddess

Brain scan was clear...still dealing with sinus crap, but all drinks are me today! 🍺🍷☕️😎

Brain scans can't find your crazy. ❤️❤️ Aw, man, that's SO great to hear!

And here I was gonna complain that Rumps wasn't open this morning and I had to make my own coffee

More often than not these days, this world seems like it’s headed toward nothing but a hopeless dystopia. It’s what makes stories like Prison Planet intriguing and a bit unsettling. But somewhere in the cracks there’s always a rebellion starting to burn. Maybe even a shred of love.

And sex. Always sex. 😈

Congratulations on your EP, Issabela!

Quote by techgoddess

I will be having a brain scan on Monday to see if the sinus/tooth infection has spread into my brain. Tuesday I will have the root canal, Wednesday will be a temporary crown, then Thursday we will head to Miami and Friday we depart on a three-day cruise as a distraction from all this infection bullshit.

TGIF all y’all.

Omg girl. I mean, just take a vacation already. No need for all this to just get one *hugs*

I’m resurrecting this thread bc I need it to nerd to. Lol

I’m about to start reading The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Quote by techgoddess

Just popping in to say hi and give a brief update in my sinus saga. The infection is in the root of the tooth next to where the one I had pulled in May was. We thought it was just one infected tooth. Scan now shows this one is infected too. So next Tuesday I will have a root canal and the next day prep for crowns. I also have an antibiotic mouth rinse that my doc prescribed. It never ends. Oh, and I already used my dental benefits for the year. So this is a big chunk of change out of my pocket. 😩 I will keep y’all posted. 🥰

have they tried to just give you antibiotics and see if it helps? Maybe it's something to try while wasting time until January, when you maybe have more benefits available? :/ I'm sorry sister. I hate the dentist. And bills.

Quote by wxt55uk

Another here is getting close. 😳

Although, for fun, 🙄 I am doing it the hard way, as I am writing a novel that links all but two genres I have left to write a story in. ATM: I have just Teen, Medical, and Mind Control to go, plus Cuckold – currently in the mod queue (first part).

I can’t see ATM on lush and read it as at the moment anymore

Ummmmm I’m editing an old story. It’s going slow af but I’m finally starting to like it. Hoping to get it out this month

Also, yall! I was worried this thread was blowing up bc people were mad about verifying times 😂