Congratulations Genny, Rowan and Dubya, Dubya 😊 - all fabulous stories that I very much enjoyed. I thought the standard high across the board and was chuffed to be counted amongst those shortlisted. There are two on that list of thirteen that I have not yet read, so I will try and remedy that idc. Thank you to Jen, the shortlister, judges, and all that make the competitions happen. As others have mentioned, I have also enjoyed the byplay in the comp thread (usually from afar - I'm shy, remember... 😳).

Quote by kistinspencil
53 by my count. Somewhat lower than usual,

Or the disallowance of AI entries has put some off, perhaps...?

Quote by WannabeWordsmith
So, as authors, something you may be proud of gets relatively low views if it's in a non-mainstream category. Such is the nature of Lush.

Yup. The story I have been most proud of has (despite the RR), after nearly 5 years, a grand score of (wait for it...) - 10 votes and 2189 reads. That'll teach me to publish in 'Novels' with tags of 'fantasy', 'history' and 'legend' lol... With an even lower score for Part 2, I lost the will to continue. Still trying to convert it to an actual novel, but never seem to find the time.

One day...

Well, I'm in - which is a miracle because there seems to be so much going on at the moment. I'm on the move a lot over the next few weeks, so I'm pleased to have managed to submit an entry before the silly season starts 😊. I stole the title from a piece of music I was listening to, which my youngest child had recommended - it was ' Meet Me in the Woods', by Lord Byron. It sounded like it might fit my story, so here it is: Meet Me In The Woods...

Now let's see if I can catch up with some of the other entries!

Quote by sprite
we actually time our comp announcements based on your submissions. Jen has a cruel sense of humor. i've talked to her about it, but what can i say; she's Scottish.

Ha! I knew it! (or should is 'I kent it...'.

This obviously gives me a huge advantage. All I need to do now is, every time I write a story, I'll pen a second story on the same theme, and I'll be ready to go when a new competition is announced! It'll save me a ton of time.

God, I'm so smart! 😊

Have I won yet...?

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Well… you’re already well-acquainted with the theme then, Mr T. Now get to writing! Or else…

Yes, Ma'am! I know my place... (gets on knees and prostrates himself for punishment)

Also, how come a new competition is announced with a theme about the elements just 12 days after my last story was published, where the key scene towards the end was, quite literally, centred on the elements of earth, wind and water...🙄(and lightning - no fire, but definitely lightning!).

Just how do you explain that, huh?

Huh?😒

Quote by AAnna
Earth wind and fire that would make a good name for a rock band😁

Wouldn't it! 🤣 - I just googled them for inspiration...

Congratulations to all on the podium, and those who made the top 15 😊! Thank you to Jen, the judges, and moderators who make these competitions happen. I understand the effort that goes into these things and can only admire from afar those who dedicate their time so generously.

I was chuffed to bits to be included on the shortlist and be awarded an RR for my story😊- it made my day and goes a long way towards keeping me writing when the doubts creep in. I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a strange place at the moment and, as a consequence, I have not yet read any of the other entries. I will try and rectify this over the next few weeks - there are clearly some great stories out there!

Quote by Klaus_B_Renner

She did, then changed her mind.

Missed that 🤣 - thank you!

Quote by Jen

I'm kidding myself. Too many visitors at this time of year. Announcement date will be 12th Jan to also give a chance for more judges to be around to support. Thanks.

I'm going quietly mad. I was sure this said the 5th...🙄

Quote by Jen
I'm kidding myself. Too many visitors at this time of year.

I really hope 2026 is kinder, Jen 😊.

So... I had this really great, clever idea for a comp entry, and then, well, it just didn't want to be written 😕 (time was most definitely a factor - I didn't have any, and I don't write very fast at the best of times). So I thought maybe I'd write a Micro on the Monday before Christmas just to have something to publish. Only, it very rapidly decided it wanted to be a Flash story instead. And then it thought maybe - just maybe, it might be suitable for a category as it was heading towards the 1000 words mark. And finally, it thought that it might just be able to adapt to the comp theme. So rather belatedly (and definitely not what was originally intended), I bring you Morning Glory - almost, but not quite, an afterthought... 😘.

Merry Christmas to you all, and here's to (hopefully) a better New Year than the last one. It sucked!

Myyyyy Preeciouuuusss...

Quote by sprite

Have I won yet?

What's your ticket number 🙄?

Quote by CarltonStJames
Finally got my entry in, which is also my 100th publication!

Congratulations! 😊- mine was my 99th - one more to go to reach that milestone!

Quote by Shyexhibitionist
I opted for a non-tropical theme.

Quote by Seeker4
Nothing in the comp description said it had to be tropical, did it? 😊

Well, this is proving a popular competition, isn't it. Somehow, I have finally managed to put an entry together. I'm 76th (right behind CarltonStJames, which is not the first time lol 🤣) on the list with 5 days to go.

Tropical? Um, no.

Marooned? Nope.

Penguins? Could be... (but it's not Madagascar).

I opted for something a little different. I hope it works, and I hope some of you enjoy it 😊.

Two Sisters

Quote by Jen

Just today 🤣?

Rain:

“That’s the one!”

“Thank fuck! Can I get in the car now?”

“Yup. Time to warm you up.”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Damn right! We’ll make a fortune. Jeez, you’re dripping!”

“You wish…”

“It’s posted. Remember the agreement?”

“Yeah. $50 I suck your cock. $100 you get to taste me. $500 you slide inside and if we pass $1,000…”

“…your ass is mine!”

“Remind me why I married you…?”

Well done to the winners and all those in the top ten - excellent choices all 😊! Thank you, Jen, for organising and thanks also to all those involved. I read some fabulous poems and I thought it was an excellent way to pay tribute to Elliot's passing.

Been a very busy few weeks at home - didn't think I was going to be able to submit an entry. But I somehow got there 🙄 (with some encouragement from a friend - thank you, Kimmi 😊). I never claim to be a poet, but I wanted to give it a go in honour of Elliot's passing. So here it is: Still Waters Beckon.

With luck, an audio version should be available soon.

A great idea. I will try and write something and join others in this fitting tribute to Elliot's passing.

Quote by JourneyYoung
We all know TheShyThespian will find a way to win despite not even submitting a story 🤣

If only... 🤣

See, I got as far as a title and pic - it was going to be a story about two Edwardian teens - Jenny and her misbehavin' American brat cousin, Rachael. They were adhering to the Christmas tradition of the well-to-do serving their staff dinner on Christmas Day and were going to get royally spanked, fucked and buggered.

Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity to write it - bad timing 🙄 lol.

Never mind - maybe I can write it up for another occasion. Looking forward to seeing which tales triumph 😊!

Quote by Ensorceled
This is a great read! Fast and fun and hot

Or, alternatively, really, really slow, and fun, and hot 🤣!

Quote by WannabeWordsmith
Nothing to stop you recording it in multiple takes and stitching them together in post-production. I do this in Audacity.

Except my appalling technical skills 🤣 - thank you for asking, WW - I will endeavour to find the right software.

That's great news! 😊 - A quick question: If I have a particularly long story, can I break it into two or three audio files?

Quote by sprite
i heard that they just pull names out of a hat... pretty sure it's no more than a rumor, tho

I thought they used Black Magic - it would explain the sharp, stabbing pains I get in my... well, no, to be honest, that could be something else entirely...🙄

Quote by KatieTheWriter
I'm absolutely chuffed to be in the top three. I submitted early and with only like 5 other entries I though I'd have a good chance. That number really grew substantially as we reached the deadline and I thought I was out of the running, especially with this being my first contest and the stories that I had read being so hot. I couldn't believe it when I logged on to see I got third.

You've done incredibly well, Katie 😊! Took me ages to climb the dizzy heights 🤣. I look forward to reading yours, but I'm old and slow lol...

Quote by WannabeWordsmith
Now of course, all eyes will be on TheShyThespian to see if he can become the first (?) writer in Lush history to top three consecutive competitions. No pressure, Jason

TheShyThespian last seen running for the hills at high speed...

Seriously, lightning may possibly strike twice in the same place, but three times? Surely it would be rude to even try? Perhaps I should just take a break and get on with trying to write the novel I have been avoiding for the last 18 months.

Gahhh!

Quote by deviantsusie
Is that two in a row for the Thespian.. can he get a hat-trick?

I do seem to recall, when I was a competition rookie (many moons ago), a certain writer also achieving two wins in a row. I was like 'Damn, how did she do that?' 😊

Three? Ha, right.