Today is the Erotica Reading, which I am really hoping to at least place if I don't win. I revamped an old story from 2006 about Kellan and Nika because I know for a fact one of the judges has a pegging kink, and I have no qualms about blatantly pandering to the judges. (Also because she's my friend and I honestly think she'll enjoy the story. And it is pretty damn hot.) So now I have to read my own fiction out loud in front of potentially dozens of people... including the person I am subsequently going on a date with. I don't read my own fiction; the first two podfics I made were my own stories, but I haven't done anything of mine since then, so this will be... kind of nerve-wracking, but there's no way I'm not going through with it. First prize is $50 for goodvibes.com, not that I need more sex toys but hey, I might find something interesting. And it'll be bragging rights if my story gets picked over all the English majors! I just hope I can be as poised in front of a group as I am with just my microphone in front of me, because I know I'm good at reading smut, this is what I do.

So I just got finished getting ready for my date, my makeup looks good, my dress fits well, my legs are shaved even though I'm wearing knee-length socks, I'm wearing my favorite necklace. My hair is a little bit of a hot mess, but it looks artful, not like I just got out of bed or anything. I really need to eat something and then I can brush my teeth and put on lip gloss and I will be all done and ready, two hours before the erotica reading, at least three hours before the date.

I am nervous, but it's the good kind of nervous. The excited, this-is-gonna-be-good kind. Not the oh-shit-I-need-a-Xanax kind.