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Now that it's officially 2024 (where I live) I felt compelled to stop by this website I used to care about and say Happy New Year

God bless you all and enjoy this year

Do you still vaguely recall my username

Oh yeah, you're the guy that made a thread 8 months ago and then disappeared again, right?

Yes! That's me. I also just disappeared for another 3 months, which is something.

Just so you know, I got much better at writing stories so if I ever create a new story it should be better.

God bless you too. Who are you?

A guy who used to make bad stories here. I'm much better at writing now, for the record.

You should prove it by writing something here.  You still have time for Corgi's Contest: https://chooseyourstory.com/forums/news-and-updates/message/30278

It will be a cold day in hell before I sign up for a competition here. I don't wanna get violently shamed by EndMaster.

That's a fair fear I suppose.

I disagree with this sentiment. Fearing shame and not submitting something because of that isn't going to help you at all. I signed up for a competition here as a new member this year. I didn't know how well I'd do, but I knew I would get the motivation I needed to get something out there, even if it was unfinished. Had I submitted it on time, I might have placed somewhere in the competition. Thankfully and mercifully, my effort was recognized and I was just disqualified.

I'm not saying you have to submit something for the contest that's going on right now, but you shouldn't write off the idea wholesale. You will grow out of the experience if you make genuine effort. I know I did.

I was similarly disqualified from the last contest I was in.  MMT is right, you shouldn't let the fear of SHAME put you off from doing a thing.  Honest effort is often appreciated, even if you don't finish your entry.  And each attempt gives you more practice to improve, so that eventually you will finish, and perhaps even win!

It's also because I know I have nowhere near enough patience and dedication to make a story here atm, especially not about a prompt, but I wasn't really trying to go that deep lmao 

It's worth noting that MMT went on to place sixth in Sherb's contest.

Another example? Me. My first contest was a co-author contest in 2016. My coauthor ended up flaking so I got disqualified. I tried again with a succubus contest a few years later and got shamed. It sucked.

Now? I finished sixth in EndMaster's third prompt contest (and was praised by him, it makes me warm inside still), placed third in a review competition, and placed as a finalist (fifth) in Sherb's Summer contest. 
 

Plenty of noobs do excellently on their first try (Fabrikant) and some old hands fuck up every now and then, mods included. Let your fear drive you forward.

Don't be a lil bitch

Thanks, I won't be a lil bitch.