Thanks, I'll try and think of something clever.

Oh, right, I had no idea. Thanks Kimmi 😊 🫂

Slightly off topic, but how many forum posts do we need to progress from 'active ink slinger' - a rather bland and generic label considering I've been here 16 years ?

Quote by wxt55uk

I'm still enjoying reading and commenting on all the Advent competition stories. I believe I am not alone in doing this. 😊

There are a few crackers (not easy to do in 1500 words), and I have to say there are plenty of novel/clever ideas behind some of the stories. The current total of competition entries is 56. 😊

You are certainly not alone, Dave, I'm averaging two stories a day with more on the weekend - and loving it. Well done all. Read, like, and comment and show our authors that all of their/our hard work is appreciated.

Quote by paddlingincognito

I get the audience thing. My entry is on the verge of surpassing all of my other stories, combined! And I am seeing more people check out my other stories. As a result. I think I’ve doubled my number of followers in the past week!

Granted, I keep telling myself “I am not here to chase numbers. I am not here to chase numbers”. lol

One of the great things about the competitions is that more people will read your work. Granted most of these will be other contestants but it's a start to developing friendships and building up a 'following'. It's so rewarding to read and have your work read and commented upon by friends, followers and orher Lushies. Participation is far more important to me than literally competing against others. Writers here, as everywhere, appreciate being read. For me, every time somebody reads and comments on a story of mine, it's better than winning any prize.

Quote by paddlingincognito

I am in a unique situation. New to Lush. I am new to sharing my stories. That being said, I’ve been writing for over a year. Probably closer to two years. Both the stories I’ve published and several others have been in a perpetual state of write/rewrite/rewrite for what feels like forever.

1500 words is a third of what of what I usually write. And I like character development. So writing something brand new, short, in a different category than I’ve written previously, and giving myself a 24 window to write, rewrite, and edit… It was a fun challenge!

Being the first competition on Lush since I’ve joined, I am curious… How is this one different from previous editions?

No different to previous competitions.

Having long believed that variety is the spice of life, I invite you all to a very different time and a very different place with my 'Advent' story, 'Mistress of All Masters.' See if you can guess who the speaker is before you get to the final line...

Mistress Of All Masters | Lush Stories

Hmmm, I can feel something distinctly historical coming on, but not Dickensian.

Wonderfully expressive Grusha. I can't see anyone objecting to these if you posted them. Nicely done and, as I've said before, this is light-years removed from my own work and for that reason, I value the experience of having read it.

Very nice Grusha. Innovative and loaded with raw sensuality. Might have been a tad longer but I love reading work that allows my mind to ascend (or descend) to places where it is not normally apt to go. For that, I commend you.

Well done to everyone who entered this micro-competition, and well-deserved congratulations to the winners. Many thanks to the seven people who read my entry. btw, the original draft of the story still exists, locked away in a bank safety deposit box with strict instructions that it is not to be read by anyone until after the centenary of my death.... Happy Halloween!

Well-deserved congratulations to the winners and the runners-up, a huge well done to all who entered, and enormous thanks to all those wonderful Lushies who read the stories and left our authors likes and comments - you are the fuel that keeps our creative fires burning.

Quote by Lugnut1369

But....but....but.....It's my money, & I want it now. Time to get JG Wentworth on the phone.

😆 Like I'll actually even make the top 10 after having read all but three or so of the entries so far.

All but 3! Well done! It's still not too late to read mine and get your total up by one. Lol.

Midnight Satin | Lush Stories

Quote by wxt55uk

I was one of those scary, nasty, wicked, disturbed, (and especially) talented fuckers who have been asked by the moderators to change their story, which I have done. 😊 So the Frankenstein monster is in, and hanging 'censored' sausage is out... Apparently too graphic. 🙄

So, you might want to take another look at my revised effort on page 1... and either unlike it or, hopefully, keep the like.😊

No way! I had a severed sausage censored too. Great minds think alike my friend. Still, smutty standards must be maintained. 🧨

A few delectable demonic dames...

 Karl's Kama Sutra Klinic

- Poona, Queensland, Australia, 1970.

Swami Karl speaks to his class with authority,

“Now, men, ease your lingam gently into your partner’s yoni. Thrust with your eyes closed, contemplating her inner beauty and desirability.”

The bald-headed, venerable swami surveys each couple, nodding approvingly. Until he gets to the last couple, where he finds a woman with a yoni rimmed by gnashing fangs, her horrified lover looking on, his lingam limp.

 Serenely, he admonishes her,

“Kali!”

Quote by wxt55uk

There are 109 entries, which I suspect will increase by a few once the site is fully working again. I feel that is a good turnout for a competition, especially as you mention, maybe it's not a theme writers would necessarily choose. 😊

However, it is a very broad theme, and I can honestly say you could write an 'obsession' story about just about anything... which includes a Brussels sprout. To understand that, you need to have read the competition story entries. 🙄😉

So far, I have read 107 competition stories (yes, maybe I have too much free time), and in general, the standard of story and the writing to go with them is exceptionally high.

Well done, David. Your comments, likes, and encouragement keep us writing and are hugely appreciated by me, and I'm sure I speak for every author here.

Great idea Joe. Maybe point out on the banner that the competition has closed then encourage people to 'Read, Like and Comment.' And is it just me or are reader numbers down for this one?

It is with immense pleasure and considerable relief that I can announce that my competition entry is now posted. 'Midnight Satin' is inspired by the Hollywood musicals, romantic comedies, and war movies of the 1940s. It's light-hearted and a bit of fun. If you do read it, please leave a comment. All feedback is greatly appreciated. btw I've loved the other entries I've read so far. Kudos to you all.

Midnight Satin | Lush Stories

Quote by Stupalm

I'm somewhat new to the site and I've discovered that I really love writing stories as much as reading them.

What is the best way to promote my stories and build readership?

I create a wall post with a link for each new story, and also post a link in one of the groups I'm in.

What else can I do to pimp myself?

Generally speaking, your Lush friends will read your stories. In the many years I've been here I've noticed that like everywhere else, Lush is prone to following fashions - trends that come and go. You can find out what these are by following the competition results and the 'editors picks' list. Also, shorter stories tend to be read more than longer ones, multi-chapter stories are less likely to attract reads. It's a good idea to include a cover image , tags, and posts/updates on your profile page.

Euro-style group sex with double penetration, ATM, anal. BDSM but without too many props and gimmicks.

Well deserved. Keep up the good work.

My warmest congratulations to JP Sinister, Carlton and Jaymal. To all who participated, whether as writers, readers or both, well done and many thanks.

Alas! The competition closes

And ends as all good things must.

Farewell you balmy isles of roses,

Of palm trees, sun-drenched seas and lust.

The sucking, the fucking and the breeding

Of characters of all designs

Made for such salacious reading

With so many titillating lines!

But soft! Here come the heavy hitters -

This Colosseum's main event,

Their skill enough to give one jitters

And my poor, meagre skills lament.

All fellow contestants, t' is on thee

That I shower praises fulsomely.

A Crown Of Lilies | Lush Stories

Greetings all. I thought I too would get on the self-promotion band wagon and promote my entry, A Crown Of Lilies.

Just over a week in, I've had some lovely comments:

"I'm a romantic at heart and this was beautifully written." - Marisa

"You always write beautiful stories and this was no exception." - Naughty007

And from our own gorgeous Kimmi:

"Wonderful storytelling Piquet." - KimmiBeGood

I'm living proof of the old adage, 'You can take the boy out of the Mediterranean, but you can't take the Mediterranean out of the boy', but you'll just have to read the story to find out what happens. Many thanks all.

A Crown Of Lilies | Lush Stories

Quote by GreyMatter

I don't doubt that, but it's already not the story I intended it to be. This is my first shot at writing pure true fiction. All of my other stories are based on real-life experiences, so the stories come easily. They're also all part of either a 9 or 10 multipart story where each chapter averages about 5000 words. For me to tell a single story in just 4000...it's a challenge

For me, artistic integrity is paramount. I once wrote a 10K story for the 'Noir' competition and it was rejected as not being noir enough. I was then advised to change it and re-submit it. But I just couldn't, the story was perfect as it was (imo) so I withdrew it from the competition and posted it anyway. Think of the competitions as a work assignment - the boss has given you a brief and it's your job to deliver, in time and on budget and hopefully you'll have fun along the way.

Quote by GreyMatter

4000 words? No problem!

Looks at current word count : 7213

Edits..more edits...sections gutted....5621

More edits, remove another section...4836

Edit, reword things, look for brevity...4672

Be merciless, let go of treasured passages, drop subtext that gives the story meaning...4272.

4272 words...left with a story that no longer feels what it was meant to be, motivations are half-sketched, events don't happen naturally, only because they must...not sure if I can cut this down to 4271 words, much less 4000

Lush Gospel Truth #1 You'll get more readers at 4K than you will at 7+K.

Frustrating indeed Carlton. In 1961 Irving Stone published a novel called 'The Agony and the Ecstasy', about Michaelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel. The title refers to the artist's struggle (the agony) to create something good and then the sheer joy (the ecstasy) of having succeeded. Most creators go through this, I know I do. I had to cut about 1K words from my final draft but I'm keeping that material for a sequel. I'm really glad that you decided to enter btw - you always come up with the goods.

Quote by deviantsusie

I'm setting mine on Skellig Michael, location for Luke Skywalker's hideaway planet in episode 7

The Force is definitely strong with this one.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Island.

Alien.

Tentacle Hair.

Sex.

I got this

You had me at KimmiBeGood, Kimmi.