Bear rejected? Must be for too many words, surely. 🙄 If it makes you feel any better, I once had an early microstory rejected for not being original enough. A very subjective call, I thought, but maybe the right one, as I went away and wrote something way better. 😜

I do recommend reading Carlton's story and Ape. It is time to push that submit button. You can only polish a story so much before you start wearing it out. 😜😊

A mug of Yorkshire Tea, please, Bear. Thank you, from an increasingly damp UK.

Quote by Piquet

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.

When you wake up from your down-under slumber, Piquet, you may find you need to up your daily reading quota, as we are into the sixties for comp entries now. 😳🤣🤣

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. 😊

Congratulations, WW... as I said at the time, this is a wonderfully written story. 😊

Good morning, Bear... You're not going to start messaging us and saying you want to be paid in Lush coins? 😲🤣

It also sounds like the moths have eaten all the notes... I'm sure Rumpelstiltskin will understand, and if he doesn't, aren't you bigger than him? 😈

I have a mug of Yorkshire tea, please, Bear, thank you. 😊 Oh! Just put it on my tab. 😀

Quote by paddlingincognito

Yes. I get several likes and a handful of random messages. Most simply say “hi” or “hey”.

When I first joined, I sometimes responded. Most were looking for coin. When I told them I didn’t have any, they would usually ask me to buy some. Yeah, not happening. And sketchy AF.

The funny thing is that some of the women were members. And some had even published several stories.

I have had this too. Usually it is a like on my profile, followed by a "Hi", although I did once receive a phone number to phone. That one was blocked, but normally I just delete the message. I believe it has got worse since coins were introduced.

A cup of Yorkshire Tea, please, Bear. 😊 Thank you.

Stay in there, David... enjoy the coffee and the American football. I hope the Rams win. 😊

Christmas will be history soon, and we can look forward to the warmer, longer days of spring.

A manly hug from me (he says in a deep voice). 😉

Quote by Piquet

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.

Piquet sums it up brilliantly here. 😊

Excluding poetry/micro comps, which I have only entered. I have entered, then read and commented on every story in the last 12 competitions. It is a way of getting to know/like/follow other authors. Above all, I just see competitions as a bit of fun, and I enjoy the badge that will appear on your profile wall when the competition closes. That is what I do. 🙄😀

Quote by CuriousAnnie

Evening all, hot and humid down under. Yes, James, of course I am referring to the weather. Apologies for being absent for a while, life is super busy with, well life and a four year old. I took a break from writing, but saddled up again and published this: Emma's Examinations and am working on Gooning for Godot for the competition (though tbh I am not sure I will get it done.) I hope everyone is good, Christmas is coming and the beach awaits,.

Good to hear from you again, Annie. 😊 Enjoy the beach, though it isn't getting dark in Sydney? 😜😈

I can highly recommend Annie's story; the scene-setting opening pulls you right in. Great characters.

A mug of Yorkshire Tea, please, Bear. 😊 Thank you.

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

No, I wasn't born in England, David, but I lived in Cambridge for a while.

And, of course, I married an English girl…

So I'm not English, but I know something about Blighty – and her denizens!

Denizens? That's a good word. I googled it, and now I know why you lived in Cambridge! 😊🤣

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

Plus I've got some English Butter Tarts – which reminds me of a girl I once knew in England…

You once lived in England, Bear? 😳 We have plenty of Butter Tarts here, but I have never seen a Polar Bear here. Not even in a zoo! Next, you will be telling us you were born over here! 😊

Drinks are on me today, as I found out this morning that I'm 94th on the LushStory story-like list. Only another 93 places to go to join Cat on the lofty summit. 😜🤣

Quote by joe71

Where’s that Top Authors screen?

In the black banner at the bottom of the page, under the Top Authors. There is also Top Stories there too, both have month and all-time options. 😊

With my Advent competition story done, The Sex Days Of Xmas, and the latest part of my ongoing "Cash in Hand" series with the moderators' queue. Once published, I will be taking a short hiatus from publishing anything. Yes, I can already hear the moderators all cheering. 🤣 But "I'll be back." 😳 And sorry moderators... I will still be writing during my publishing hiatus! A few more Cash in Hand stories and the last two genres for my omnium badge. I have four to go, only two to write, as the other two are just not yet published.

If anyone reading this is looking for a series of stories to read over the Christmas holiday, why not try my "Cash in Hand" series? Or at least read the comments the stories have received.

Here is the link: Cash In Hand 1 – "A Job Opening?" – Part 1 Of 2

Finally, with reference to the attached photo, I woke up this morning to find myself under five ladies! 😲 It is unlikely to happen again, but just for today, I am enjoying that thought!

Merry Christmas, everybody, especially the moderators... 😊 See you next year! 😜

Thank you for opening up, Bear... I will try a lumberjack coffee. Thank you. 😊

After a few wet, windy and grey days... it feels like spring here today, although I know it won't last. Apparently, the temperature touched 18C/64F yesterday, not far from where I live in the South of England. It is also not far from a record high temperature for December. 😎

PS: This morning, I caught up with reading the Advent competition stories. If you're looking for something "a little" different to read. I do recommend Darksides: The Nativity

With mine in, and 22 competition entries in total (and counting) published. It has given me the chance to enjoy reading, each one... There are already some excellent submissions (in my opinion). 😊

At a guess, it won't be far shy of a hundred entries by the time the competition closes. 🙄

Quote by David_LeRoy

Final score 44-17

And the Rams pulled their starters early in the 4th quarter

Good morning, Rumpee's I wondered what the final score was. I turned off and went to sleep before the start of the 4th quarter. Currently, I'm catching up with the comp. stories. We have up to 21 entries this morning, and I highly recommend reading Kimmi's submission.

A mug of Yorkshire Tea, please, Bear. Thank you. 😊

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Bills won! Watching Rams now! Chiefs tonight!

Rams are on here, too. Touchdown as I type. 😀

Quote by sprite

i thuoght of an idea. it's up for grabs to whoever donates money to a food bank. or... i might just come out of retirement. pondering.

I would love to see you come out of retirement and write another "Ellie." 😜

I have been on and off Lush all day while trying to watch sport and wrap Christmas presents. The weather here has been a bit like me: not sure what to do! But now the clear nights' chill has taken over. 😨

My Advert competition story has been published, and I have one more story to submit this year. That will make it 48 stories in 2025, one more than last year. For 2026, I plan to write a little less; my priority is to write a story in the 4 genres that are needed to obtain an Ominon badge. These are Trans, Supernatural, Medical and Teen, although I have written over 100 Teen stories, and yet, I put them all in the Novel genre. 😳🤣

Bear, can I have a mug of Yorkshire Tea, please? Thank you. Out tomorrow, so I won't be online most of the day. 😊

My Advent competition story has been published. The Sex Days Of Xmas

If nothing else, it is bang on theme. 😜

Quote by Shyexhibitionist

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!)

Well, my slightly tongue-in-cheek story has been submitted. One thing I can say is that it is bang (or banging) on theme, if nothing else. Oh, I'm right with you, Shyexhibitionist. I mainly enter for the badge! 😊 🤣

I am now ready to begin reading and commenting on the other entries. 😀

A cup of Yorkshire Tea, please, Bear. 😊 After a bright, sunny day yesterday, we are back to windy and grey, with rain moving in later. The temp is 10°C / 50°F.

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

If you're in the stock market, my personal recommendation would be to – get out.

Or at least move to a very conservative, defensive posture.

If you want to know more, PM me. It's what I used to do for a living.

I have been wondering about this too. The stock market has been booming this year, and I, too, feel it might go a little wobbly soon... My pension is invested on it. I probably will email my financial advisor and see what he says. I'm getting to that age where it is probably the right time to lock into something more defensive.

I have spent some time today working on a comp. story. Not sure yet about it, or if I will even enter. 🙄😈

Good night from this side of the Atlantic. 😊

I have just dropped into Rumpees for a cup of Yorkshire tea, thanks, Bear. 😊 I am actually drinking that in R/L, so I'm getting the full Rumpee's three-dimensional effect atm.

I'm not sure about the new competition, even with the tight time limit, I expect there will be over 100 entries. 😳😎

Quote by kistinspencil

200

but who's counting?

Congratulations on reaching 200 stories. 😊

I take a pass on Mr Yummy Buns... so girls (and guys), you can have my share. 🙄 😊

Just a pint of the local beer for me, Bear. It is wet and extremely windy here. In the unlikely event we get snow this year, I will take a photo... 😊

An excellent, well-written story, which takes you to a different place, another time. Congratulations on your EP. 😊

Good morning, Rumpees. I was away yesterday, out with family and friends. Flash floods, David, that looked scary. Sorry to hear your car was totalled. 😕

Just a quick coffee, please, Bear or Lion. Thank you. It's a beautiful, bright, and slightly frosty morning here. Not sure what I am doing today... except watching some sport later... 😊

Quote by fuzzy1954

SAY HER NAME:

SARAH BECKSTROM

RIP,

Army National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20 years old, 2 year Army veteran

Sarah, your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Please join with me in sending prayers to her grieving family and friends.

My thoughts go out to her family and friends. 💔 One thing I can assure you, Fuzzy, is her name, and the tragic events have been widely mentioned on this side of the Atlantic. 😢

Quote by David_LeRoy

I'm sorry both the Lions and Chiefs came up short this week. I'm hoping my Rams fare better.

I've taken a few days away for some emotional healing but Wednesday night I got an unexpected invite to spend the holiday with one of my stepdaughters. Things had been a bit rocky since her mom passed so we had a chance to really put some things to rest.

I'm trying to catch up on some reading today. I'm hoping I'll gain some inspiration to write something myself

Have a pleasant weekend wherever life finds you

That's wonderful to hear, David. 😊

Thank you for finding time to read and comment on my story.