Quick Deadline! ConverSextion Sexiest Story

ConverSextion is not a publisher or writing blog like so many who offer writing opportunities. It's actually a conversation site, filled with forums where adults can go to talk about sex and sexuality in a mature, helpful, and mutually supportive way.

It's also kind of fun, with humor, videos and--as we see today--Sexiest Story Contests!

As with all good contests, there are great prizes--in this case, cash and gift cards! Prizes are:


1st Place- $500.00 CASH!
2nd Place- $100.00 Gift Card to MyTulip.com
3rd Place- $50.00 Gift Card to MyTulip.com

Just so you know, MyTulip.com sells grown-up toys, so don't go flipping through their website with your kids around!

Entries have to be in by midnight this Friday, so this is a perfect contest for anyone who has a sexy little story that they've never submitted anywhere.

Weekend Getaways

Call for Submissions

Secret Cravings Publishing is taking submissions of short stories of up to 5k - 10k words for a onetime payment of $50-$100 depending on the length of the manuscript.

Any genre Steamy to Burn the page erotic stories wanted.

These stories will be released individually with their own cover. One each Saturday of the week.

Submissions will be ongoing—no deadline.

Normal no-no's apply including: rape, scat, golden showers, etc. Check our general submission guidelines for things we do not take.

Thoughts on Beginning with Fanfiction

Written by Nancy, one of our 3 fabulous ND betas.




I’ve been on a fan-fiction reading frenzy lately. Why? I could say that, “I don’t know why.” But that wouldn’t be the truth. I do know why.



I got my start in writing – a jolt to the heart of my need to write – via fan fiction. And, just last week, I finished the very first fan-fiction story I ever started. Granted, the phrase ‘the end’ came six-and-a-half years after I wrote ‘Prologue’. But, so be it. Anyone who knows me knows my propensity for procrastination. Except, I don’t think procrastination is entirely to blame.



For those of us who love to read, there’s a certain sense of loss that comes with finishing a story. Maybe that’s why series are all the rage; you finish a book but you haven’t finished the story – get my meaning? For those of us who write, the sense of loss that comes with typing the last word of the last chapter is much more acute. It really does feel like this part of us, the part that we dredged up, stirred about, tapped into, and channeled, has died, never again to be. Yes, we’ll write more stories, but not ‘that’ story. I remember feeling that sense of… writer’s mortality, if you will… when I finished Another Way. I felt depressed. I felt listless. I felt adrift. The men, women, places and motivations I had been living with, exploring, and exploiting, for eleven months were no longer part of my day-to-day existence.



Hence one of the bigger reasons why my Harry Potter fan-fiction story, Hooligan of Hogwarts, took more than six years to complete. I didn’t want to let it go. Through that story, I’d met the most amazing array of people, from all over the world, of whom I’d never have ever interacted with otherwise. Several of these people I lucky enough to call friend. Who’d want to end something that could hurt them?



That got me to thinking… about Cassandra Claire. Yep. The Golden Girl of plagiarism. The Cinderella of fan-fiction writers as she, through fan-fiction, secured a three-book deal with a major publisher and had one of her books appear on the New York Times Bestseller list.



I admit, I got caught up in her Draco Dormiens series. It was fun, full of quips, lots of angst, and populated with characters from the Harry Potter universe. Then, as I read more, and the scandal unfolded, I realized why her ‘voice’ was so familiar. It was Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer voice. Her Draco series was a re-packaged version of the Buffy/Angel television series, with just enough Rowling-ness to hook Potter fans.



Why would someone do such a thing? Especially when Claire has a talent all together her own?



I can answer that one…



Acceptance. Fame. Notoriety.



How do I know?



Even though I never achieved the success that Claire attained, I found my own fan-fiction writing gaining a modicum of popularity. Man – it’s heady stuff. Truly. The reviews, the e-mails, the comments, the flames, the praise, the fan-art, the interpersonal relations; it all culminates to fuel the approval junkie that resides in every single person who creates art in which ever medium they utilize.



I can see Claire getting caught up in it. Who wouldn’t? Does that justify her faux-righteous indignation? Her attempts to vindicate herself? Her constant denials? No. Not in the least. Plagiarism is a foul, cowardly act. It’s deliberate and calculated. To use a Potter-verse term, I consider it Unforgivable. She should have confessed to plagiarism, shrugged her shoulders, and the matter would have dropped in no time. Instead, it has dogged her every step and stemmed her publishing career.



As I stride forward with my publishing career, I take the lessons I learned from Cassandra Claire: own what you do, no matter what it is.



I also take with me the lessons that I’ve learned along the way. In particular, the lesson pertaining to grief and how to grieve for a story: cherish its roots, pay homage to where it came from, the original source of inspiration for the story.



That’s why I’ve been reading so much fan-fiction this past week.



That’s why I’ll continue to read fan-fiction for years and years to come. Hopefully, one of these days, there will be fan-fiction based on one of my stories.

New Publisher Seeking Submissions

Musa Publishing has opened its doors this week, and is seeking submissions for its October launch. Musa has 9 imprints, based on the 9 Muses, including Romance, Spec Fic, Young Adult, and Action/Adventure.

I've worked with the founders of Musa in the past, and I can attest to their competency, skill, commitment, financial savvy, and devotion to the author. Anyone who get accepted over there will be ruthlessly edited, passionately marketed, and make some real money over time.

Go to their website and blog and check them out. They will be glad to answer any questions you have.

Intergeneration Story Telling Contest

Intergeneration Day/Week is sponsoring a short story contest, in honor of the age old way of passing important traditions down through the generations--storytelling.

These are very short stories, up to 750 words, and there are cash prizes being offered.

From their website:

Writing suggestions include, but are not limited to:

• Stories from an older person, like a grandparent, you have heard.

• Stories you think you might tell your children or grandchildren.

• Stories from history.

• Stories from different cultures.

Don't forget the deadline is August 15!

Crescent Moon Press Looking for Zodiac Themed Stories

Crescent Moon Press focuses on publishing fantasy, science fiction, and the paranormal. They are looking for submissions for their Sabian Symbols series, a zodiac-themed series of novels and novellas.

Their guidelines for these submissions include:



We only accept new material-previously published submissions will not be considered.

Novel length submissions should be between 60,000 and 120,000 words, while novellas should be between 20,000 and 40,000.

All submissions must contain a romance or strong romantic elements.

We do not accept erotica.


They look like an interesting and focused publisher, so follow the link to check them out!

Literal Latte Short Shorts Contest

http://www.literal-latte.com/contests/#short_shorts
First Prize $500

Send unpublished shorts. 2,000 words max. All styles welcome.

Postmark by June 30th.

Name, Address, Telephone Number, Email Address (optional) — on Cover Page only.
Include Self Addressed Stamped Envelope or Email Address for reply.
Include $10 Reading Fee per set of up to 3 Shorts — OR —
$15 Reading Fee per set of 6 Shorts.

Literal Latte is also running a poetry contest with even bigger monetary prizes, so make sure to go to the link for more info~

Short Story Contest

The Writer's Bureau is running a short story contest until the end of June. There is a small entry fee--5 pounds (unless you're already a subscriber to their newsletter, then it's 4 pounds). FYI--Paypal will convert your currency for you, so you don't have to stress over the monetary figures. And 5 pounds is just over $8 American.

The prize for winning this contest is 500 pounds, which is $817.44 in American dollars.

The Shamrock Challenge from Changeling Press

Changeling Press is one of those quirky and very independent publishers that has been around for a long time--probably because they publish not just paranormal romance, but paranormal erotica.

Here's how Changeling describes itself:

Out of This World Erotic Love Stories Featuring Literary Erotic Novellas

Are your characters wild and wicked, your plots hot enough to require a fire-hazard warning? If the answer is yes, Changeling wants YOU.

Cyborgs, vampires, werewolves, dragon shifters, cat shifters, aliens, genetically altered alien cyborg dragon shifters... Chances are, they belong at Changeling.

Changeling is having its yearly Shamrock Challenge, and invites submission between now and March 17.

Winter Specials and Winter Challenges at No Disclaimers

Winter Special

Forget Valentine's Day--this February is all about winter weather! In honor of the snow many of us are experiencing, if your story has a winter theme, you can get 1/3 of your beta services between now and March 20-- the first day of Spring.


So send us stories with blizzards, ski cabins, hot toddies, groundhogs, snow days, weather mages, or two people in love snowed in together. Or, if you're way down south (by which we mean the hemisphere), tell us about how you swelter and sweat all through February. We'll beta your work at 1/3 off.


Winter Challenge

Two people are snowed in together.

Rules:

• The story should be more than 1000 words but fewer than 10,000 words. Early chapters of a novel are acceptable, but the word total should be close to 10,000 words.
• The two people must have at least a 10 year difference in their ages.
• Other people may appear in the story, but it should be about the two people snowed in together.
• Someone must cry.
• Someone must give a kiss
• The color red must feature.
• We must see the phrases:
o We’re not going that way.
o What are you looking at?
o Why doesn’t that surprise me?
o It’s not worth it.

The deadline is March 20, the first day of Spring. There will be Spring-themed prizes for the challenge winners!

Salamander 2011 Writing Contest

Last May we wrote about a contest called the Salamander Writing Contest, which is a well-known contest with big prize money. The directors of this contest emailed my again, with information about the 2011 contest.

Here's what they sent:

Salamander 2011 Fiction Prize
$1,500 Honorarium and Publication
Final Judge: Jim Shepard

SEND ENTRIES: April 15 through May 15, 2011 READING FEE: $15

• All entries will be considered for publication. All entries will be considered anonymously.

• Send no more than one story per entry. Each story must not exceed 40 double-spaced pages in 12 point font. Multiple entries are acceptable, provided that a separate reading fee is included with each entry.

• Please submit two separate cover sheets with each entry, one with the title of the story ONLY, and the other with the title of the story and your name, address, phone number, and email. Your name should NOT appear anywhere on the story itself.

• Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, but the contest fee is non-refundable if the submission is withdrawn. Please notify the editors as soon as possible if a submitted story is accepted elsewhere.

• Previously published works and works accepted for publication elsewhere cannot be considered. Salamander’s definition of publishing includes electronic publication.

• No handwritten, faxed, emailed, or poorly copied/printed manuscripts will be considered.

• Salamander will not consider work from anyone currently or recently (within the past 4 years) affiliated with Suffolk University or the prize judge.

• If you wish to be notified of the arrival of your manuscript, please enclose a self-addressed stamped postcard. Please also include a self-addressed stamped business-sized envelope for notification of contest results. Manuscripts cannot be returned.

• Contest reading fee includes a one-year subscription. Checks should be made out to Salamander. We will send your subscription to the address on your cover sheet unless instructed otherwise. Overseas addresses, please add $10 for subscription postage ($5 for addresses in Canada). Please note that we cannot accept money orders or checks from foreign banks.

Jim Shepard is the author of six novels, including most recently Project X, and four story collections, including the forthcoming You Think That’s Bad (Knopf, January 2011). His third collection, Like You’d Understand, Anyway, was a finalist for the National Book Award and won The Story Prize. Project X won the 2005 Library of Congress/Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction, as well as the ALEX Award from the American Library Association.

SEND ENTRIES FROM APRIL 15 THROUGH MAY 15 (postmark deadline) to:
2011 Fiction Prize
Salamander/Suffolk University English Dept.
41 Temple Street
Boston, MA 02114

Visit: www.salamander.org for contest guidelines in pdf format

Nancy's New Book: Prey for Closure

One of our betas, Nancy Gaffney, has published a book with Eternal Press! The book is called Prey for Closure, and features a complex, contrary, but very likable heroine and an anti-hero you love to hate, and hate to love!

No Disclaimers helped Nancy get her book ready, and we're so proud of her! I've even found myself wondering, "What would Ellie do in this situation?" Follow the hyperlinks to order Nancy's book, only $4.99 for an e-copy, or contact her here to get one directly.

String Poet Contest

I would be very interested to know how many of us who write fiction also try our hands at poetry. I don't do much, myself, but sometimes there are deep feelings that only a poem can express. Still, that only leaves 3 or 4 in my poetry folder, and I've never done anything with them.

Anyway, here's a contest. It's inexpensive to enter, and the prizes are pretty good. It's called the String Poet contest, because it's actually sponsored by a music program in New York.

Just be aware, this one requires that you send your poems in by snail mail.

So, do you also write poems, in addition to your books and stories?

Paying Market: The One that Got Away

Dark Prints Press is launching a new mystery line, and they're inviting short story submissions for their inaugural anthology. Here's how they describe what they're looking for:

Too often our crime-solving heroes do just that – solve crimes. But what about the ones who get away – the grifters who con and don't get caught, the criminals who play cat-and-mouse games with the law only to disappear into the unknown? What goes through their minds, or the minds of their victims and pursuers? What legends do they leave behind, both inspirational and terrifying?

They want short stories between 5,000 and 10,000 words, and if your story is chosen, you'll be paid 75 Australian dollars, which is actually about 75 American dollars (and Paypal converts in automatically).

Submissions can be sent to: submissions@darkprintspress.com.au

This is the gist of the information, but be sure to go to the Dark Prints Press website for the full details.

Boxfire Press: 3 Anthologies

Boxfire Press is accepting submissions for three different anthologies it's putting together.

Short Fiction: Short stories between 2,000 and 20,000 words. They accept contemporary science fiction, supernatural, slipstream and fantasy short stories for eBook distribution. Usually offers a small advance and royalties.

Flash Fiction: Sci-fi, fantasy, slipstream, paranormal, alternate history, supernatural, steam punk, super hero, etc. They're looking for original, never published short flash fiction pieces for a planned quarterly magazine. There's no minimum word count here, so it can be as short as you like. But nothing over 500 words. They pay .05 a word for flash fiction.

Red Scarf: There's a red scarf lying in the road. How did it get there? They want sci-fi and fantasy (loosely defined) short fiction stories that answer this question. They pay free copies and royalties if they publish you.