Slash Books is looking for short stories (500 - 20K words) that explore gay, lesbian, or alternative lifestyle romance. Be creative!
Sword and Sorcery. Supernatural creatures. Magic. S3xy and s3nsuous, the characters in "Queer Magic" live in worlds where the supernatural is sometimes hidden, sometimes well known, but always real. Each story in this anthology includes aspects of magic or the supernatural, from time travel to ex0tic realms.
The chosen stories will be published in print and e-book form, and all authors will be compensated based on story length as well as per item sold, with a typical fee of approximately $100 CAD per story. Each author will also get up to three printed copies of the full anthology free of charge. Your story should focus on the relationship and its evolution. While sex is a part of a healthy relationship, we're looking for plot and characterization, not simple PWP (Plot? What Plot?). Intriguing characters and interesting situations are the ticket to success here. Be creative! All genres (humour, action, angst, etc) welcome. For this anthology, we're aiming for happy endings.
Approximate release date: July 31 2011
About Us
Slash Books is a publishing company dedicated to printing novels and anthologies that are focussed around gay, lesbian, and alternative lifestyles. "Queer Magic" will be our third anthology and we're eager to get it into print!
We are located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and we're always on the lookout for excellent stories, so please pitch!
Slash Books Submissions Guidelines – “Queer Magic”
Submission of Stories
To submit a story, please contact submissions@slashbooks.ca. Make sure that your email account has slashbooks.ca on your whitelist to avoid missing our response. In your subject line, place the keywords “Submission:
Stories must be submitted in softcopy in one of these formats: .txt, .doc, .rtf, .wps, or .odt. Please format the story in Arial or Times New Roman font, 10 or 12 point.
Your story document must contain the following information on your title page:
1. Your real name
2. Your pseudonym (if applicable)
3. Your story title
4. Word count
Each page of your story should contain the following information (header or footer):
1. Story title
2. Your name
3. Page number
The final page of your story should include an indication that it is complete such as ‘the end’ or some other clear ending mechanism.
Story Guidelines
1. The theme of the anthology is the supernatural. Thus, each story is required to include at least one supernatural element, whether it be setting (a magical realm, an alternate magical universe), a character (werewolf, vampire, succubus, etc), or some other story element.
2. All stories must be a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 20 K words in length.
3. All main characters must be over 18 at the time the story takes place if there is any sex involved. Mentions of sex at earlier ages is fine.
4. All stories must include full consent. In other words, no non-consent please. All stories must be original (no fanfiction – sorry!) and involve fully fictional characters. No real people cameos or celebrity inclusions please.
5. The primary relationship in the story must be same-sex. Relationships including three or more people is acceptable, as long as there is a same-sex component.
6. All stories must contain a storyline. Explicit sex is fine as a part of the story, but not as the whole point of it.
7. Happy endings aren't required but they are preferred.
8. Have fun with the writing and be creative! All genres are welcome.
Contact Information:
For inquiries:
For submissions:
Website: http://www.slashbooks.ca
This blog is no longer updated. Please instead visit Writers For Diversity for new opportunities for women/ LGBT writers and writers of color. Thank you.
