Summer Lovin': Hot Hilary

It's up (wink nudge), it's hot (<snerk>), it's the Literotica Summer Lovin' Contest! 

The summer has been blighted back in Blighty by near constant rain. I spoke to someone in Brighton the other day who said the animals were lining up two by two on the seafront. So lie back, relax and have a read about what it ought to be like.

Anna's Milk Ch. 03

I previously reviewed the first two chapters of Anna's Milk and have finally got round to the third chapter in this series. This one is even better than the two previous chapters and that's saying something. 

Having said that, there are some really irritating typographical errors. FFS! Get a copy editor already. I can't bear that reading something so good should be spoilt by such an easily fixed problem. 

This seems like a good place to make a small remark about editing. There are two kinds: 

• copy editing - cleaning up minor typos and grammatical errors. (Or mistakes like writing 'Anna' when you meant 'Moira'.) 
• beta reading - someone goes through your story for you and advises you that huge chunks have to be edited out (*sobs*) because they are just a distraction from the main story arc, or that huge chunks have to be rewritten with more descriptive detail, or that the main character is a sadistic basturd not a Dom and you should consider counselling not becoming an author. 

Both kinds are good. People love to tell other people how to do stuff, so don't hesitate to ask for someone to give your story the once-over - either just to copy edit, or to give it a real overhaul. That's if you are a serious author, of course. If you are just in denial about needing counselling, carry on.

Now, back to Anna's Milk. 

Earth, wind and fire - this story has got it all, and a great horn section (wink). 

How To Do It

Pic by David Jablow - check his website to 
buy the doodler and see his other pics

(Write erotica that is! If you want details about how to do ... other things, check all the many informative stories reviewed on here.) 
 
Another great blogpost here by curl4ever. (Not all of whose own stories have safe sex! but I'm sure he will write some more hot ones for us soon - pretty please?) 

Naoko has been encouraging you to explore your writing talents.  I thought I would provide some resources I have found helpful, culminating with a review of one of my favorite stories, Six Characters in Search of Erotica by glynndah.

Nude Day Erotic Story Contest

The Nude Day contest is currently running on Literotica, and I am panting away here. Um ... I just mean I'm rushing to get in a review of some of the stories in time to encourage you to go and vote on them. Gah, it can get quite hot reviewing all these stories but someone has to do this hard job (wink). 

Everyone posts on Literotica for free, so give them something back in the way of an honest vote - and comments. Authors on Literotica highly value thoughtful comments so do take the time to let them know what you think about their competition entries.

As a rule, better stories go into the contests because the authors who enter are ones who regularly go on Literotica and are serious about their writing. It's well worth having a look, checking titles and links and seeing if there are stories on there you think you will enjoy. (Pssst, link to the complete list here!)

100th post! Apologia pro Opus Meum

From SmashCutCulture,
a cultural studies blog

In this 100th post, I am going to indulge myself and explain why I write reviews of erotica - primarily stories. This will be in the tradition of Sir Philip Sidney's An Apology for Poetry. Apology in this sense doesn't mean saying sorry for being so in-your-face and flirty when I write (<snerk>). It means an explanation, a rhetorical discussion which outlines the rationale for what we do.

Muse-ings

This is my 99th post! I have been running this blog since July 2012: three years. I first kicked off with a review of my own story As Pleases My General, followed by a boost for my pal Ozzie's fabulous Lusting While Dusting.

I'm going to celebrate with poetry! 

When I started this blog I was riddled with insecurity and lack of confidence. I used to come online, laughing and flirting and pretending to be totally The Thing. The truth was, if I had had a poem dedicated to me back then, I would have run in terror. I wouldn't have understood that I was good enough for such warm appreciation.

It was a long journey for me to gain confidence, to get a better idea of how strong a person I am. If you are someone who thinks you aren't clever or pretty or funny enough, or otherwise an attractive person, this blogpost is for you. I thought that too when I started writing, and now I have got poetry dedicated to me online. If you had told me that would happen when I started with blog review #1, I would have jumped for joy. 

How to be Beautiful in the Fashion Industry

I've heard it said that to be a good fashion model, you actually don't need a pretty face. The best face for fashion modelling is one that is neutral, so they can paint the face they want on top of it. 

This post follows on from the previous post reviewing electricblue66's art. His art celebrates the diverse beauties of bodies while photoshop is used here to airbrush them out.