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No, not a call for submissives! You are all silly. Submissions, like, stories. This will indeed by my last year editing this grand series — by choice. (After Best Women’s 2010, I’ll do a “best of the best” collection from my five-year stint, so you’ll see my absolute faves like a sweet curtsy.) I think an award-winning, five-year run with the series is graceful — I only intended to edit one, five years ago. Let’s make the last one count, shall we? Do read the guidelines and information I posted on The Erotica Readers and Writers Association, in full after the jump.
Call for Submissions:
Best Women’s Erotica 2010
Editor: Violet Blue
Publisher: Cleis Press
Deadline: May 1st, 2009Please note: Publisher has final right of refusal on all submissions. Payment is upon publication, plus 2 copies of the book; pub date is November 2009.
Best Women’s Erotica is a legendary and groundbreaking yearly series, and is the best-selling women’s erotica collection, period. Every year BWE raises the bar for explicit erotica written by and for women, penned by the most exciting female authors, from around the world.
This edition (BWE 2010) is selected and edited by Violet Blue. In this edition, we are looking for fictional stories that seek to push the boundaries of female sexuality, present realistic fantasies and situations, and break taboos. The sex acts depicted must be explicit and realistic in detail. A strong focus on character, predicament, and compelling situations is desired — smart, literate erotic fiction. The desired orientation within the main sexual element of the stories is primarily heterosexual, yet bisexuality and lesbian encounters are also encouraged. The primary focus of sexual activity must be on the female experience; female pleasure is the main element. A playful, clever approach is welcome, as are intense scenarios.
Both editions of BWE ’06 and BWE ’07 won the Independent Publisher award for Best Erotica Book. Both BWE ’06, ’07, ’08 (and just-released ’09) edited by Violet Blue are very different from past editions — please read a few stories from any of those years of Best Women’s Erotica or the introductions for examples of tone. Dark themes (such as breakup, jealousy, infidelity and death) must be exceptional in content for acceptance and are *least* desired. Do not send sci-fi, poetry or fantasy fiction.
Established authors and newcomers alike are welcome.
Desired themes include: Women’s sexual fantasies and experiences of all kinds, such as taboo sex acts, fantasy scenarios (real or imagined), bondage, fetish, male anal penetration (such as strap-on play), first-time experiences, light S/M, exhibitionism, power-play, voyeurism, public sex, seduction, role-play, spontaneous sex, spanking, erotic punishment, sexual surprise, emotional honesty, desire, longing, lust, passion, female fierceness, power (and power struggles), deviousness, meaning, themes that involve the Internet and technology, and sublime humor. Above all, include explicit sex.
Paste your story submissions into emails and send to: cleisbook at gmail.com
Editor’s notes: If you send an attachment, I will delete your email immediately. I am not accepting paper submissions. Only three submissions per author. Word count: 2500 to 4500 words is the desired range. You must include your name, a short bio, mailing address and main contact email address with your submission. No simultaneous submissions (you will be disqualified with no hesitation if you submit the story to multiple publications), and no reprints. Excerpts from already-published, full-length books will be considered. Authors must be female; sorry, no male authors writing under pseudonym. Because of the volume of submissions last year (literally hundreds), I likely won’t be able to respond to your submissions until June. Please only use the cleisbook at gmail.com address for correspondence about this book.
Best Women’s Erotica 2009 is incredible, and I got to work with some truly amazing authors (and enjoyed making new discoveries). Do understand that I get a lot of stories, and read each and every one. I appreciate your patience in advance!
For a great example of the stories I select for this series, you can listen to me read a scorching selection from the recently released Best Women’s Erotica 2009 here (free MP3). The introduction to BWE 2009 is here.
