I’ve now read The Penitent too. Wow! Just Wow! One of the finest pieces of writing I have read on Lush . I don’t say that lightly as I have read many excellent stories by gifted writers.

I’ve read the first of your recommendations but the second is on my list. I have heard great reports. Piquet’s story is exceptional. I shared it on my page. I never read any entries before I posted mine. I’m glad because I would have scrubbed mine!!!

Quote by Hughtheman

As someone who has entered competitions before, what has it been like? I'd been lying if I said I hadn't thought about entering, but is it more nerve-racking than a regular story for you?

Not nerve-racking but decidedly more challenging. Especially with a word limit, although a lot of my stories are around the 1500 mark. Go for it!

They are truly amazing. The humour of Connolly shines through. I love Spready Mercury. Every time I see them I laugh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

A few people suggested I write a follow-up to “O Wishmas Tree” I've just submitted it. I'm now thinking it might have been a better entry 🤔 its certainly hotter and more explicit. Ah well it's the badge that counts 🎄

I struggled too, but eventually got one submitted. The lure of a badge was too strong! 🤣

It's on my to do list! 🎄

Quote by simplyjohn

Pft... where is the food in that image?

Am I being dimmer than normal but I'm not getting this🙈 Have I missed something?

Well I managed to concoct a Tale for the competition. Sadly its not Tranny with a Fanny as I’d hoped. More Tranny minus a Fanny!

I'd love your feedback on this fun fairy tale 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎄🎅

wxt55uk well done. I'm writing just now, not very original and absolutely no expectations, but I really want that badge!! 🤣 Good Luck! X

I've just seen this while I was browsing. May I add my congratulation too. What a phenomenal achievement. Avidly Curious directed me to your work when I was struggling with “Pretty Woman”. It was a dark story which was important to me but it wasn't erotic enough. After reading your work I managed to insert the erotic element without detracting from my story. I have been a fan ever since. Thanks Avidly Curious.

Hmm. Still struggling to come up with something different. However my contribution to Lush is, mydaily posts will now be Seasonally based during advent. A favourite Christmas poem for you all to get into the Festive Spirit…. Or not!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Quote by Klaus_B_Renner

This should be good.

I'll sit back and watch this one.

I'm wondering the same thing. Though I'm so childish that I want a badge! Right now my mind is a total blank. (pretty par for the course!)

Ah. I didnt think of that. It's the British one🤣 enlighten me on the American meaning please .

How about Tranny with a Fanny?

Quote by Hughtheman

I've only started submitting stories on LushStories kind of recently. And honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started putting my stories on here. Definitely wasn't expecting to receive any comments or feedback.

Welcome to the wonderful writing world of Lush. Like you when my first story came out I was buzzing and thrilled with the response. That feeling has never left. I never take it for granted and try to respond to everyone. I too didn't fully appreciate the dedicated work the Mods do. I will make a point of looking for your story. May you continue to polish your skills .

Couldn’t agree more. Ive made lots of interesting friends from across the globe. I have had masses of support and advice, mainly from patient, always encouraging moderators. I am sure I am notorious for my incorrect use of commas. They probably groan when they see a submission from me in the never ending queue. 🤣 I’ve NEVER had a bitchy, or unpleasant comment from anyone. That is precious !

Quote by MicaMeesha

Also add the fact that to improve my approval time seems to require me to buy a platinum membership. Really? I effectively have to pay to get my stories published?

As WW said you don’t HAVE to buy platinum. I have gold. It offers me endless messages , thats one of the reasons I bought it. Sites like Lush need funds to exist. Moderators are volunteers doing a thankless task. After submitting your story, use the waiting time to read some of the fantastic work. Read the interesting profiles of your fellow Lushies, make friends. Don’t keep checking the status of your tale. As an aside, I don’t read really long stories, a lot of people don’t .Be patient. Lush is a great place to be if you give it a chance 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

We have authors who routinely submit audiio narrated by a machine. It's about as sexy as asking your sat-nav to recite a shopping list, but each to their own I guess.

I love it!! I had a silly thought. I try to respond to everyone who takes the time to comment on my stories. Now if those “authors” who use AI were to use AI to respond?… I guess it's a possibility.

Reassuring that humans can still out wit machines! Keep up the good work !

Oops sorry. I've contributed to this thread veering off the topic. My mind tends to do that !

Ok. Thanks MissVixen. I just don't see the point, but obviously that's not the case for everybody.

Perhaps Im being dim, I usually am. What I meant was, I dont understand AI writing complete stories. I get the purpose as a correction tool.

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

About 60%, or thereabouts. Seems to be gradually dropping, sadly, with the AI slop that's being dumped on us, and it's slowing everything down.

I find this really scary. I dont really understand AI. As advised my the Mods I check my story before submission using Grammarly. I only accept punctuation and spelling corrections. The rest I ignore, most suggestions are rubbish and alter the thought. If it is not your work, can some one possibly explain any gratification or satisfaction in getting a story published?? How on earth can you tell what is humanly penned?

Evocative, Love it. Sheer honesty and common sense. Lush wants to keep standards high. If that's not for you, then move on. Patience is a virtue. I deliberately held back writing this month because of the backlog I read about. It will be published when/if. May well be returned, my use of commas a main stumbling point. I have a story in Drafts. I appreciate it won't see the light of day for ages. How the Moderators stay sane, is beyond me.

Quote by moasan

Unless you pay for the privelege of fast tracking,

Your statement says it all. In life, not everything is free. I realised early on with Lush if I wanted my stories published quicker, then paying was best. Happy to do so. I can also have unlimited chats. The site survives through paid members and the faithful band of volunteers. Sad you feel this way. Good Luck.

Hi Aanna. Thats happened to me a couple of times too and like you I wondered about it. I've seen a few forum posts about it. One said that sometimes a Moderator takes it, but can get bogged down with really long stories, so returns it. Another post said it was a way of reducing the queue. I can understand the first but not the second. I guess Lush is a victim of its own success.

Quote by kistinspencil

This is now trending while so many recent stories languish.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/microfiction/will

No offence to the author at all, but I am well and truly baffled.

I just checked it out. It’s 5 years old. Again not a slight on the author, but it's not what you call a recent publication which is usually the case in a trending story????

Aw well done Kimmi for organising this . I’ve enjoyed reading the entries. Alas I do not have the skills to submit anything. Congrats to the winners 👏

Quote by Meagananne1986

Why not expand the list to every entry. After all, if you made the effort and took the time to write a story for the competition, you are, de facto, a winner and deserving or admiration and recogition.

I understand where you're coming from. I guess we want to know how we compare, also to see if our favourites were ranked. Unfortunately as a teacher, its something I tried really hard to avoid words like the top group. The best at etc. Is awful for the less able. I've heard children say I'm the remedial group, I'm stupid. It can destroy their worth. Rant over. I know if my story was at the bottom of the rankings, I'd never write again! Saying all that, perhaps a top 20???