Around this time last year, I was invited to be a judge at a Smut Slam in Windsor. I’d heard of the events, but never been before, so hadn’t known what to expect, but I still had a fab time. Naturally, I was more than willing to have another go. Host Cameryn Moore told me it would be radically different from the last one and she definitely wasn’t wrong.
Being a judge is great fun, though it involves doing a certain amount of Hard Sums as, to get a decent range of points awarded, we decided we would give percentages of marks to all those who got up and told their stories. Because there are prizes, you see – generously donated by Sh! among others – so we judges are aware of having a certain amount of power, to be wielded responsibly (Mwahahahahaha).
There are certain rules about Smut Slam, one of the most important being that what happens at Smut Slam stays at Smut Slam. So no, I can’t share any details of any of the stories that were told, because they are not my stories to share. What I can tell you is that audience members are allowed – and encouraged – to signal approval by yelling ‘Your life is awesome!’ when they feel a story merits it. And I can tell you that this was heard a lot that evening. Some of the stories were hysterically funny, some endearing, many were the sort of thing that makes you go, almost been there, could have done that, but not quite the way you did it and maybe I’ll think about it one day.
It really was awesome fun to be there and be part of it. There is a hell of a lot to be said for 
talking openly about your sexual adventures and misadventures, and hearing other people’s stories, and realising that you’re not the only one who once did something strange, or something daft, or something unexpectedly delightful.
So, really, if you ever get the chance to go along to one of these, just go. Thanks Cameryn for putting up with me a second time, and a big hello and hug and high five to my fabulous fellow judges, too.
(>>Judges Tyrone, Paula, Hannah, me, Athena at the end of the night. We done good!)