Call for Submissions: Lesbian Lust, 10/15/09

Lesbian Lust: Red Hot Erotica
Editor: Sacchi Green
Publisher: Cleis Press
Story Length: 2500-5000 words
Payment: $50 plus two contributor’s copies
Deadline: October 15, 2009
Release Date: Summer 2010

The theme is right there in the title. All stories must deliver on that promise of intense, fulfilling lesbian sex. There are plenty of ways to get there; atmosphere, setting, and emotional as well as physical heat can all play a part in building sexual tension, while well-developed characters and a compelling plot or story arc are absolutely necessary. Kink is fine, and if you can make vanilla just as spicy, all the better. I'll be using a wide variety of stories, so your best bet is to write about what captures your imagination as well as about what turns you on. Women only this time.

Send manuscripts in MS Word or RTF to: sacchigreen@gmail.com. Queries welcome.

Call for Submissions: Vampire Lust, 10/01/09

Vampire Lust Erotic Fiction Contest
OystersAndChocolate.com

We are pleased to announce Oysters & Chocolates first ever Vampire themed erotic short story contest sponsored by EdenFantasys sex toys. We invite you to tap into your darker erotic side and send us your best vampire themed erotic short story.

The three sexiest and most seductive vampiric tales will win a $25 gift certificate fromEdenFantasys sex toys, as well as our $10 thank-you payment. Our number one editors' favorite will be published on the unholiest of holy days October 31st.

Additionally eleven runner-up Vampire tales will be selected for publication on Oysters & Chocolate, beginning October 18th (and will be awarded the usual $10 thank-you fee).

The contest will be judged by editors Jordan LaRousse and Samantha Sade, so let the figurative blood, and pen, flow freely!

Guidelines:

Deadline: October 1st, 2009

Your quality vampire themed erotic short story must be between 500 and 4,000 words.

Please reread and copy-edit your work before submitting.

Submit your story to submissions@oystersandchocolate.com. Please attach as a word document and copy it into the body of the email.

You may submit up to three total stories to this contest.

There is no reading fee to enter.

Your story may be previously published, but you must retain all rights for reprint.

Call for Submissions: Sex in the City, 11/01/09

Sex in the City
Editor: Maxim Jakubowski
Publisher: Accent Press
Deadline: November 1st 2009
Payment: £75 per story (at current exchange rate approx $120 USD)

First 4 volumes:

-LONDON
-NEW YORK
-PARIS
-DUBLIN

This is a new series of anthologies to be published from late Spring 2010, featuring brand new literary erotica stories, set in each of the respective cities.

The books will appear as original paperbacks from Accent Press in the UK, who have established themselves with their Xcite Books list.

Each volume will feature 12 original stories (no reprints) ranging between 5,000 and 6,000 words, ie substantial stories in both length and breadth. I am not looking for vignettes or stream of consciousness sexual encounters but solidly plotted erotic tales, displaying a strong sense of place, characterisation and storytelling. If you don’t already know the city you are writing in, it is unlikely you will pull it off. My preference is for the sex to be of a heterosexual nature, or at any rate principally feature it, although bisexuality is quite acceptable; exclusively gay or lesbian stories would truly have to surprise me by their originality and power to make the grade.

Guideline and submission details at the Erotica Readers & Writers Association

Confessions of a Literary Streetwalker: Staying Fresh

(as part of my new gig writing for the ERWA's blog here's one of my classic Confessions columns. Enjoy!)

This month’s Streetwalker comes from a suggestion by the wonderful Adrienne here at ERA. When I asked her for some possible topics to cover she gave me: “How about plot ideas, how to keep works fresh and unique and advice on where to look for plot/character inspiration?” If anyone else has any ideas for columns, by the way, please feel free to zap them to me and I’ll consider them.

Now I’ve sort of touched on keeping an eye out for story ideas before, but it bears exploring a bit more. Keeping your work fresh is more than a little important for any writer, especially for smut authors.

For me, stories are everywhere – and to be honest I don’t think I’m special. It’s all a matter of keeping your eyes open, but most importantly PLAYING with the world around you.

It should be obvious that in order to write about the world you need to know something about it, but what a lot of people don’t seem to realize is that sitting in a coffee shop, scribbling away in a notebook while you ponder the imponderables of human nature isn’t likely to yield anything usable. Getting your hands dirty, though, will.

By that I mean really exploring yourself as well as other people. Look at who you are, why you do what you do – both emotionally as well as sexually. The same goes for the people around you. Spend some time really thinking about them, their motivations, their pleasures, or what experiences they may have had.

Dig deep -- ponder their reactions as well as your own. Sharpen your perceptions. Why do they say what they say? What do people admire? Why? What do they despise? Why? That last question should almost always be in your mind – directed outward as well as inward: why? This depth of understanding, or just powerful examination, is a great tool for developing both stories as well as characters.

Along with studying the world, pay attention to good work no matter where you find it. A lot of writing teachers tell students to get intimate with the classics – which I agree with, but also think it’s equally important to recognize great writing even when it’s on the back of a cereal box. Read a lot, see a lot of movies, watch a lot of TV – and pay attention when something good, or great, comes along. Don’t dismiss anything until you’ve tried it, at least for a little while. Examples? Romance novels, comic books, documentaries, sitcoms, cartoon shows, old radio shows, pulps, westerns, and so forth. There’s gold all around you, if you dig around enough

Not for the fun – playing. Look at that guy sitting over there, the one by the window: Heavy, messy hair, chewing with his mouth open – easy to peg him as lonely, creepy, or even seriously perverse. Easy is a shortcut, easy is dull, easy is lazy. Instead try seeing him as something completely different than your initial assessment. Maybe his mind is lovely and musical. Perhaps his touch is gentle and loving. Who knows, maybe he’s a sex magnet – with more boyfriends/girlfriends than he knows what to do with.

Say you’ve stumbled on a particularly good book, show, series, or whatever. Great, bravo, applause – now write something like it. Who cares that the show will never, ever look at your story, or that the medium is long dead (like radio drama). Do it anyway. Have fun – PLAY! Get into the habit of automatically either writing your own version or fixing what you see as a flaw in the original. If you’re reading a book, stop halfway through and finish it in your mind – and then when you do finally turn that last page was your version better? If not then what did the author do that you didn’t?

I love coming attractions, the trailers for movies. Watching them, I always make up my own movie based on what I’ve seen. Sometimes it’s better – at least I think so – sometimes not, then I look at what the director did better than I did when the flick finally comes out.

Playing and watching, studying, that’s the ticket. If you keep your mind sharp, notice details, and examine yourself and the world around you as well as challenging and playing with story ideas, then writing a story for a very specific Call for Submission or for some other strange project will be easy and your story will be original and fresh.

Erotic Lure Newsletter: July 2009 Edition

EROTIC LURE
The Erotica Readers & Writers Association Newsletter
written by Lisabet Sarai
July 2009
_______


Dear Prurient Patriots,

My salutation is particularly aimed at our U.S., Canadian and French subscribers, all of whom mark their respective national days this month. I've dug out my red-white-and-blue corset, which will do double duty for the 4th and for Bastille Day. I believe in celebrating whenever possible!

Here at the Erotica Readers & Writers Association, we're savoring all the joys of summer: skinny dipping under the July moon, lazing naked in meadows of tall grass, cuddling in the porch swing, and watching our well-endowed, scantily-clad neighbors wash their cars. However, I'm happy to take a break in order to you a quick introduction to sultry delights you'll find in the July edition of the ERWA site.

Our columnists in the Smutters Lounge are besotted with the season. Donna George Storey's column, "Naked Lunch", chronicles the origins of her fetish for private, sensual summer picnics. Robert Buckley waxes nostalgic for "The Golden Age of Motoring", when having access to a car gave you a lot better chance at getting a girl. Parking by the lake, drive-in movies - I at least remember those glorious sweaty nights! J.T. Benjamin sends his eldest daughter off to her senior prom and gets all worked up about the "Purity Movement", which equates virginity with personal worth. Jean Roberta's article, "Drawing the Line", ponders the impossibility of stating which sexual activities or interests are good and acceptable as opposed to evil and not to be tolerated. And Ashley Lister interviews author Susan DiPlacido, who tends to set her stories in the hot, dry, eternal-summer landscape of Las Vegas.

If you're looking for summer reading recommendations, the Lounge offers a half-dozen in-depth reviews of books ranging from heterosexual erotic romance (A 21ST CENTURY COURTESAN, CASSANDRA'S CHATEAU and THE GIFT OF SHAME, reviewed by Donna George Storey, Ashley Lister and Victoria Blisse, respectively) through M/M historical romance (TRANSGRESSIONS, reviewed by Vincent Diamond) to gritty gay erotica (SHUCK, reviewed by Kathleen Bradean) and historical non-fiction (THE FORBIDDEN APPLE, reviewed by Rob Hardy). There's also a review of an adult film, "Blame It On Savannah", from the enthusiastic Byrdman.

Drop into the Lounge for a long cool one:
erotica-readers.com/ERA/SL/Smutters_Lounge.htm

Speaking of reading, Books for Sensual Readers offers a rich selection of sexy books to accompany you to the beach. Featured titles include Jordan LaRousse and Samantha Sade's OYSTERS AND CHOCOLATE, a diverse collection of stories culled from the acclaimed website of the same name. Personally, I'm dying to read Gloria Vanderbilt's new novel OBSESSION: AN EROTIC TALE, about a dutiful wife who discovers her deceased husband's correspondence with his dominatrix mistress. I want to still be writing books like that when I'm in my eighties! Then there's ACCIDENTAL SLAVE by Claire Thompson, where the heroine is drugged and sold at auction in a sex club, and ends up as the personal plaything of her business arch-rival. Hey, it's summer - who needs reality? In the same spirit of decadent fantasy, check out James Buchanan's READY TO SERVE: ARRESTING GAY EROTICA, for tales of cops, firemen and other hunks in uniform. And if your tastes run to F/F fiction, don't miss D.L. King's WHERE THE GIRLS ARE: URBAN LESBIAN EROTIC (which includes a tale by your humble editor).

All these and dozens more reading suggestions await you at
erotica-readers.com/ERA/EB/Erotic_Books.htm

Once you've made up your mind, just click on our links to Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble to order. You'll have your books in hand before you can say "slippery when wet", and you'll be supporting ERWA in the bargain!

But wait! Did I forget ERWA's signature fiction and poetry gallery? Of course not! This month's theme is "Darkest Desires". What have you always wanted, but never dared admit? Our talented authors bring their secret passions out of the closet and spin them into sizzling stories that will leave you needing a cold shower. Even the non-theme stories seem to partake of the forbidden this month. Exceptional literary quality and emotional intensity, not to mention incendiary sex - the Gallery has it all.

Read the best free erotica on the web at:
erotica-readers.com/GD/S/Erotic_Fiction.htm

After a month-long hiatus, our contributors to Authors' Resources have lots of advice to share. The title of Ashley Lister's "The Write Stuff" column is "Six Serving Men". You'll have to read the article to find out what's he's talking about. Donna George Storey's installment on "Shameless Self-Promotion" chronicles what she's learned about using the Internet for marketing her books. Louisa Burton is back with a fantastic column on "Story Structure". "The best stories [are] a complex chain of cause and effect", she reminds us, offering great examples to clarify her points. And our resident literary streetwalker M. Christian confesses that he is now an e-publishing addict.

Sharpen your authorial and marketing skills at
erotica-readers.com/ERA/AR/Erotica_Authors_Resources.htm

The Calls for Submissions page lists literally dozens of venues for publishing your erotic writing. This month we've added Speak To Me, a well-paying call for audio erotica targeted at women. Respected e-publisher Phaze Books has a call for M/M and menage steampunk tales, while Circlet Press is looking for stories for three new anthologies. Discover why ERWA is considered the top source for erotica publishing opportunities at erotica-readers.com/ERA/G/Call_For_Submissions.htm

The July Sex Toy Playground features two frank and fun reviews of new toys: the Gigi G-spot Vibrator, reviewed by Mr. and Mrs. Toy, and the Pure Wand, reviewed by Kyra Saunders. These are the best toy reviews I've ever read, playful, impartial, and informative. And guess what? Both toys are featured in our monthly round-up Sex Toy Scuttlebutt, which means that ERWA readers can purchase them from Babeland.com at a 10% discount!

Visit the Playground for some good dirty fun:
erotica-readers.com/ERA/ST/Sex_Toy_Playground.htm

When it's too hot to play outside, you can always draw the shades and settle down to watch a movie. Our Best in Adult Movies section keeps you in the know about the latest releases as well as the porn classics. Suggestions for July include "The Mikayla Chronicles", Randy Spears' hard-core comedy about a couple lost in the wilderness and trying to survive on sex alone. Also appealing are "My Daughter's Boyfriend", a tale of a devoted middle-aged wife lusting after younger men, and "Unfaithful 3", full of emotionally-charged, explicit lesbian sex. All three films feature gorgeous brunettes -- my personal preference in women. Of course you can order my picks, or any other movie listed in our extensive catalog, simply by clicking our affiliate links, Adult DVD Empire and SmutNetwork. So easy, it must be sinful!

Sample the best in fleshly films at
erotica-readers.com/ERA/AM/Adult_Movies.htm

Inside the Erotic Mind this month, members of our "Parlor" email list are debating "What Gets You Off?" Do you stick with tried and true positions or fantasies? Or do you innovate, looking for new excitement and perhaps some risk?

Read what others think, and share your own desires, at
erotica-readers.com/ERA/ITEM/Inside_The_Erotic_Mind.htm
To add your own comments, just click on "Participate".

ERWA Web Gems are web sites that we think our visitors would enjoy. We feature new Gems several times a month. Our latest offering is I Shoot Myself, an erotic self-portraiture project. Women from around the world share digital photographs that they have shot of themselves, naked. The resulting unique collection of images is amazingly diverse, exciting and refreshing raw. Is it performance art - or is it porn? You decide. I Shoot Myself is fun, hot, and very real. Don't miss the tour, it's a rare treat.

That wraps up this month's tour, and not a moment too soon. That bronzed young man who has been sudsing his vintage Mustang all morning, his loose cut-offs hanging off his lean hips, is ringing my doorbell. And here I am, wearing nothing but my all-American corset, with my breasts and my bottom bare... oh dear!

Maybe he wants to borrow a cup of sugar...

Salaciously yours,
Lisabet

--
Visit Lisabet Sarai's Fantasy Factory
Hang out with Lisabet on MySpace
Join Lisabet's List