We understand that the 1k word check-in “requirement” has raised some concerns, and we want to take a moment to clarify both its intent and our perspective as admins.

To be quite honest, this pushback has been somewhat surprising to us. Both admins have participated in a wide range of fests over the years, and word count check-ins are a pretty standard part of that experience. In fact, there have even been times when admins themselves have submitted check-ins with zero words, simply to stay accountable and communicate progress. The purpose has never been to pressure anyone, but rather to provide a light structure that helps keep things moving and ensures participants feel supported.
It’s also important to emphasize that this fest is meant to be light, fun, and most importantly smutty (well hopefully 😙). The check-in is not meant to be stressful or “micro managing”, it’s simply a quick way to gauge where everyone is and to offer encouragement if needed. The event is supposed to be fun, not a burden to be carried.

We also want to be very clear: nowhere are we pressuring anyone to join or participate in this fest. Participation is entirely voluntary, and we fully respect that not every event will be a good fit for every writer. Our goal is simply to provide an opportunity for those who do want to take part.

Regarding Alterspring responses: all answers have been posted unless they were issues that were already addressed. We’re doing our best to keep everything organized between the two of us.

At the end of the day, we really want to encourage writers to give this a try. Fests are a great opportunity to challenge yourself, experiment with new ideas, and engage with a creative community. Whether you’re writing a little or a lot, the goal is to have fun and grow in the process.
We appreciate everyone’s feedback and we hope this helps clarify where we’re coming from - xoxo 🌱🪼