Best of Women's Erotica 2006

[Seattle Zack]

Saw this on ERA and thought I'd pass it along. It would be cool if a Lit member were chosen.

Guidelines Best Women's Erotica 2006

Please tell editors/publishers you read their guidelines on the
Erotica Readers & Writers Association Website
www.erotica-readers.com

Guidelines Best Women's Erotica 2006
Editor Violet Blue
Publisher Cleis Press
Deadline April 1st, 2005.
Please note Publisher has final right of refusal on all submissions.
Payment is upon publication, plus 2 copies of the book; pub date is November 2005.

Best Women's Erotica is a legendary and groundbreaking yearly series, and is the best-selling women's erotica collection. Every year BWE raises the bar for explicit erotica written for women, penned by the most exciting female authors around the world.

This edition (BWE 2006) 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 the sexual activity must be on the female experience; female pleasure is the main element. A playful, clever approach is welcome, as are intense scenarios. Dark themes (such as breakup, jealousy and death) must be exceptional in content for acceptance. Do not send sci-fi or fantasy fiction.

Established authors and newcomers alike are welcome.

Desired themes include Women's sexual fantasies of all kinds, such as those that feature taboos, fantasies, bondage, fetishes, light S/M, exhibitionism, power-play, voyeurism, seduction, role-play, spontaneous sex, spanking, erotic punishment, sexual surprise, emotional honesty, desire, longing, lust, passion, meaning and sublime humor. Above all, include explicit sex.

Paste your pieces into emails and shoot them off to:
cleisbook@yahoo.com

If you send an attachment, I will delete your email immediately. I am not accepting paper submissions. Only three submissions per author. No simultaneous submissions, and no reprints. Excerpts from full-length books will be considered. Authors must be female; sorry, no male authors writing under pseudonym.

http://www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/G/Women06.htm

 

[doormouse]

WOW

Thanks for sharing hon...

I'd love to see a few on there too!!!!

 

[Pure]

This is a very high quality publication. A story must have novelty and be extremely polished.

 

[sweetnpetite]

I wonder if any of my stories would qualify?

Maybe with a little work(?)

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the heads up, Zack! I've bookmarked the page. Probably haven't got a hope in hell, but nothing ventured and all that.

Lou

 

[English Lady]

Exactly Lou -might as well have a go eh?

 

[TheEarl]

I hate this preconception that women are better at writing erotica than men. Okay, so a large percentage of the 'I kikced down her door and camed in her fase' stories are written by men, but that doesn't mean that we're all crap. Just because I have a Y-chromosome, doesn't mean that my main characters all have 32-FF breasts and are called Britney.

It's incredible - companies say 'Oh we only accept work from women, because we want well-written, structured erotica that isn't all about hard fucking.' I can give you hundreds of examples of stories on Lit, written by women, that are worse than mine. I can write better than a lot of the entrants to that competition, yet I can't enter because the fact that I have a dick, obviously automatically makes me a dick, whose characters have less 3rd dimension than tissue paper.

God it makes me so cross!

The Earl

 

[English Lady]

Earl love...think of George Elliot and become a woman We'll not tell tales on ya.

I can see why you're steamed up though. There are some damn good male erotica writers out there!

 

[Lisa Denton]

I hate this preconception that women are better at writing erotica than men. Okay, so a large percentage of the 'I kikced down her door and camed in her fase' stories are written by men, but that doesn't mean that we're all crap. Just because I have a Y-chromosome, doesn't mean that my main characters all have 32-FF breasts and are called Britney.

It's incredible - companies say 'Oh we only accept work from women, because we want well-written, structured erotica that isn't all about hard fucking.' I can give you hundreds of examples of stories on Lit, written by women, that are worse than mine. I can write better than a lot of the entrants to that competition, yet I can't enter because the fact that I have a dick, obviously automatically makes me a dick, whose characters have less 3rd dimension than tissue paper.

God it makes me so cross!

The Earl

('I kikced down her door and camed in her fase')

Earl sweetie, that was my story and I'm not a man.

I am working away on Chapter Two -- The Saga Continues

(She kikced down my door and camed in my fase)

 

[TheEarl]

('I kikced down her door and camed in her fase')

Earl sweetie, that was my story and I'm not a man.

I am working away on Chapter Two -- The Saga Continues

(She kikced down my door and camed in my fase)

Should bring a smile to Svenska and Pear's faces - that was one of MathGirl's favourite expressions when she was on Lit.

The Earl

 

[Lisa Denton]

Should bring a smile to Svenska and Pear's faces - that was one of MathGirl's favourite expressions when she was on Lit.

The Earl

You gave me a smile and a laugh, thanks.

I didn't mean to hi-jack the thread, its sounds very interesting but the only things I've done which might be good are non-erotica, so I don't have much hope.

Anywho, thanks for the smile.

 

[herecomestherain]

Earl, hope this won't add to your crossness and vexation. And I'd make soothing sounds only we haven't been officially introduced and you might think me presumptuous. I do know what you're getting at and I know you may be speaking generally but is seems to me that that particular book/collection/anthology is called Best Women's Erotica. Exclusion from an opportunity does feel crappy though.

Violet Blue is a great woman, editor, author and all round cutie and Cleis press are good folk. They do also publish anthologies with authors of both gender ie Sweet Life One and Two, Taboo etc. get your gorgeous stories into the next round of books. Alison Tyler at prettythingpress.com, who is calling for submissions at ERA publishes wonderful anthologies too. Go for it.

 

[TheEarl]

Rain: I know it's Best Women's Erotica, it just irks me that there is such a book. The idea is that by being Women's Erotica, it's somehow more sensual, better quality. If you took Women's and Men's Erotica as whole sets, then obviously Women's would be streets ahead. But at the level at which this book is being published, the quality level is the same and I can think of men (TheSandman springing immediately to mind) who could knock off a piece that's better than most published 'Women's Only' works.

Why is there this pre-conception? Is DurtGurl's work better than mine just because she's got breasts?

The Earl

 

[TheEarl]

Sorry, Rain, you copped a bit of a rant there, which you didn't really deserve. In terms of formal introduction - I'm The Earl. Hello .

The Earl

 

[herecomestherain]

Pleased to meet you The Earl. I've read you and I like you -- no harm in the rant whatsoever, I like folks who feel strongly about things.

The only possibly "wise" thing I can think to say in the face of your angst is to keep in mind that the publisher, in this case Cleis Press is looking for a selling point, a market segment, a point of differentiation, and ways of packaging up a product.

From a slightly more feminist angle you could also believe that they are seeking to create a place or a vehicle where women's voices, experiences and general take on sex could be heard.

The Cleis list uses the "segment" as a clear selling technique and they've been sucessful at it. I have to add that I haven't read the submission guidelines for some of their other titles ie do you have to be a Lesbian to submit work for that anthology? Who knows?
Cleis

 

[Guest]

Rain: I know it's Best Women's Erotica, it just irks me that there is such a book. The idea is that by being Women's Erotica, it's somehow more sensual, better quality. If you took Women's and Men's Erotica as whole sets, then obviously Women's would be streets ahead. But at the level at which this book is being published, the quality level is the same and I can think of men (TheSandman springing immediately to mind) who could knock off a piece that's better than most published 'Women's Only' works.

Why is there this pre-conception? Is DurtGurl's work better than mine just because she's got breasts?

The Earl

And there aren't books and publications aimed at men only, I don't suppose?

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with you, that neither gender should be prevented from submitting work to anywhere. But, they make the rules. They are the ones investing their time and money into their project, and if they want to declare "women only", they can.

I agree, men can write as good erotic fiction as women. Some men really stand out. But, I do believe there is some truth in the idea that men and women write erotica differently - especially when one takes into account which POV it is being written from. I have absolutely no doubt that a talented woman could write far better erotica from the female lead's POV than a talented man could. The same is true in reverse. Men and women are different, when it comes to sex. We react differently, we think differently, we even perceive acts differently.

You know the kind of thing I like when it comes to erotica (quite well now, in fact), which is hard-hitting, no messing about, pure, dirty sex. And, it's true that women, in general, are not perceived as writing this way. But they do. Admittedly, it's unusual. I do prefer to read something written by a man, I'll admit that, because they do tend to write in the way I like it. As I said, I do think I'm a little unusual in that respect.

What I'm getting at is this: this publication is obviously there to supply a demand. It's as simple as that. I guess a lot of women want to read erotica aimed at them, and written by women; they can relate better to it. But, I bet you an awful lot of men buy this publication too, maybe more than women.

I don't think it's meant to be a "battle of the sexes - women are better than men" thing. If it was, and I thought it was, I wouldn't even consider submitting something myself.

I went off on one a bit there, but I hope you get what I'm saying.

As EL said, you could always use a pen name. I wonder how many do?

Lou

 

[Sabledrake]

This sort of thing always makes me feel weird. Mostly because I know that if someone advertised a men-only project, so many women would raise the roof with cries of sexism.

I've got similar quirks about things like women-only gyms; I'm thinking of joining Curves but then I think, "wow, if some gym was for _men_ only, that'd be pretty aggravating." Or schools, whatever. Not that I'd _want_ to go to a gym or school full of just guys; it's the idea that I wouldn't be allowed even if I wanted to that raises the ol' hackles. I've had a few tiffs with my husband over the Masons (he is one), and so the issue is sometimes touchy.

I did place a story with an anthology of female-only horror writers (if it ever comes out; I'm beginning to wonder) and feel a little guilty about it. So I probably won't be participating in this. One of the things I like best about writing is that the person on the other end could be anybody. It's neat to know cool things about the lives of my favorite authors, but at the same time it's also neat not going into a new story with many preconceptions.

Anyway, before I get too carried away rambling, one thing that fellow Lit-ladies should note is that the call for submissions does say "no reprints," and reprints would include any stories you've got posted here or anyplace on the internet. So those wouldn't be eligible. Just FYI.

Sabledrake

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I hate this preconception that women are better at writing erotica than men. Okay, so a large percentage of the 'I kikced down her door and camed in her fase' stories are written by men, but that doesn't mean that we're all crap. Just because I have a Y-chromosome, doesn't mean that my main characters all have 32-FF breasts and are called Britney.

It's incredible - companies say 'Oh we only accept work from women, because we want well-written, structured erotica that isn't all about hard fucking.' I can give you hundreds of examples of stories on Lit, written by women, that are worse than mine. I can write better than a lot of the entrants to that competition, yet I can't enter because the fact that I have a dick, obviously automatically makes me a dick, whose characters have less 3rd dimension than tissue paper.

God it makes me so cross!

The Earl

Earl,

Have you ever considered that such a publication exists specifically to encourage women to give erotica a try? there are some great female writers out there, but I think a lot of them would be a little uncomfortable having their work published in some of the less reputable men's magazines.

A book that is an anthology of women writers doing erotica can only serve to advance the number of women who give erotica a try. Which I think is to the good.

Look at it this way, how many men's erotic magazines are out there? And for women? Play girl and on our backs are the only ones that come to mind.

For a long time, over here at least the myth was that women didn't enjoy erotic writings. They were much more interested in "Romance" novels where there is nothing very explicit. I think from the women you know here at lit you can say that's bulls***. If an anthology or two comes out that wants to break this myth and showcase women writers of explict erotica I think it's a good thing. It isn't so much sexism as it is giving women a classy forum to show their stuff, imho.

-Colly

 

[gauchecritic]

I think The's point is valid, they're asking for female rather than feminine writers. Sex before gender.

As I read the post I thought immediately of one of my own stories that has been perceived as being written by a woman and is therefor (I presume) sexless but of a definite gender.

The thing that bothered me about it was that I was expecting (or read into it) the phrase "erotica by women not porn by men".

If a woman writes stories that seem male (Loulou's point) will it not qualify? If it does qualify then why the women only?

If the author's name is feminine or at least neuter then how can the reader know otherwise?

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I think The's point is valid, they're asking for female rather than feminine writers. Sex before gender.

As I read the post I thought immediately of one of my own stories that has been perceived as being written by a woman and is therefor (I presume) sexless but of a definite gender.

The thing that bothered me about it was that I was expecting (or read into it) the phrase "erotica by women not porn by men".

If a woman writes stories that seem male (Loulou's point) will it not qualify? If it does qualify then why the women only?

If the author's name is feminine or at least neuter then how can the reader know otherwise?

I don't know. It seems they want stories by women about a woman's sexuality.

I wonder how they are going to know if a writer is a woman? Does the contract include a clause where you swear it? Or are they assuming if you use a femme psuedonym you won't be able to cash a check made out to it?

I can think of at least two male authors here whose lesbian themed stories could easily be thought to be written by a woman. There are several women who write stuff that is easily as "hard" as any man's. (no pun intended )

That said, if the marketing device is to be a selection of erotica by woman authors, it would seem incumbant on them to have the authors all women. I don't really see any harm in it. You wouldn't put Dickens in an anthology of American writers. Or Twain in an anthology of African American writers. An anthology of great women writers might include those who used male psuedonmys or wrote in a very masculine style, but it would defeat the intent to include male writers, no matter how feminine their work or psuedonym would it not?

-Colly

 

[Guest]

I'm not argueing, Earl, you give good rant, but I have a small collection of erotica and the few I reread are by women. When I do go erotica book shopping I always browse the titles by women first. Here on Lit. the ratio of good erotica by men and women authors is skewed, I think because it's open and free, but in the publishing world there is still a struggle for women in erotica.

Why aren't there contests for erotica by men? As far as publishers go they're not needed. It's the reality is all. Then there is yours, which I admire and appreciate and hope some day changes because it won't matter.

Pear

 

[TheEarl]

I think The's point is valid, they're asking for female rather than feminine writers. Sex before gender.

As I read the post I thought immediately of one of my own stories that has been perceived as being written by a woman and is therefor (I presume) sexless but of a definite gender.

The thing that bothered me about it was that I was expecting (or read into it) the phrase "erotica by women not porn by men".

If a woman writes stories that seem male (Loulou's point) will it not qualify? If it does qualify then why the women only?

If the author's name is feminine or at least neuter then how can the reader know otherwise?

Gauche is turning into Weird Harold. That's my point, just most succinctly and clearly written. Lou's said she writes like a guy for some of her stories - presumably this anthology isn't looking for that and so might not choose it. I've written 'feminine' erotica before, which might be exactly what they're looking for, but because I'm a man, it's unacceptable.

Have you ever considered that such a publication exists specifically to encourage women to give erotica a try? there are some great female writers out there, but I think a lot of them would be a little uncomfortable having their work published in some of the less reputable men's magazines.

A book that is an anthology of women writers doing erotica can only serve to advance the number of women who give erotica a try. Which I think is to the good.

Look at it this way, how many men's erotic magazines are out there? And for women? Play girl and on our backs are the only ones that come to mind.

There are no men's erotic magazines out there. There's porn, and lots of it (and for that we are thankful ), but no erotica. Do you think Playboy's gonna publish one of Ogg's pieces? Whereas Black Lace would quite happily publish something by a lady author on here.

Women write for most of the proper erotic publications, because it is mostly women who read them. I find it insulting to be told that I am incapable of writing something that would interest a woman, go and write a 'Dear Playboy' letter.

The Earl

 

[Quiet_Cool]

TheEarls' got a good point here. Anyway you look at it, they're going to do things like this. As herecomestherain pointed out (or as I interpretted it, anyway) they're playing an angle. They're using the "minority" angle to sell a product. Is it bad that women are given this chance to publish? Not at all. But how many times do you see women's this or that, black this or that, latin this or that. You get the point. It seems sometimes (admittedly, not all the time, by any means) that being in the majority actually gets in the way of opportunity.
I understand that TheEarl has a more specific point than I just mentioned, but it gets frustrating to know that they're doors open to others based on thier race and gender alone, positives that are offered only to them, when we're not supposed to focus negatives in the same manner. I agree with the latter part of that last sentence, the first part can be annoying.

Q_C

 

[Pure]

Colly said,

Have you ever considered that such a publication exists specifically to encourage women to give erotica a try? there are some great female writers out there, but I think a lot of them would be a little uncomfortable having their work published in some of the less reputable men's magazines.

A book that is an anthology of women writers doing erotica can only serve to advance the number of women who give erotica a try. Which I think is to the good.

Pure: Excellent point. While there are lots of women writers of erotica, I think the social stereotype is that women don't write it, and this program will encourage that writing.


Colly: That said, if the marketing device is to be a selection of erotica by woman authors, it would seem incumbent on them to have the authors all women. I don't really see any harm in it. You wouldn't put Dickens in an anthology of American writers. Or Twain in an anthology of African American writers. An anthology of great women writers might include those who used male pseudonyms or wrote in a very masculine style, but it would defeat the intent to include male writers, no matter how feminine their work or psuedonym would it not?
-----

I, pure, respond: Again, a good point. A selection criterion is hardly discrimination.
A book of African writers is hardly saying "A white European can't write anything of interest to an African."

To the esteemed The Earl, a fine writer and ranter

Earl: That's my point, just most succinctly and clearly written. Lou's said she writes like a guy for some of her stories - presumably this anthology isn't looking for that and so might not choose it.

I respond: Curious: Have you ever read the Best Women's Erotica Anthology for any year.?

What is 'writes like a guy'? Raunchy? Lots of cock and cunt talk.
Why do you presume what the anthology is looking for?
It contains some damn fine stories. Some are raunchy, but not ineptly or tritely so (maybe that's 'writes like a guy' means, at least for the majority of literotica stories). Where exactly is the problem?

TheEarl Women write for most of the proper erotic publications, because it is mostly women who read them. I find it insulting to be told that I am incapable of writing something that would interest a woman, go and write a 'Dear Playboy' letter.
----

I'm not sure which publications you mean. But the fine e-site of erotica, clean sheets is predominantly by women, and predominantly run by women. Fine stuff. As to readers, I don't know. Do you?

I don't think anyone says 'you are incapable of writing something that would interest a woman'? The anthology states they want stuff BY women. It's not clear to me that they aim primarily for females. Do you have any evidence of that?

In sum, TheEarl's points depend on either assuming a) a certain type of writing is being solicited; and b) a woman readership is being solicited. The first is false, and there's no evidence (cited by Earl) for the second.

All that said, I know of no bar to a man doing what the Bronte sisters did. Use a female pseudonym. Also in this case, one probably needs an female intermediary (who pretends to be the writer).

 

[Guest]

To the esteemed The Earl, a fine writer and ranter

Earl: That's my point, just most succinctly and clearly written. Lou's said she writes like a guy for some of her stories - presumably this anthology isn't looking for that and so might not choose it.

I respond: Curious: Have you ever read the Best Women's Erotica Anthology for any year.?

What is 'writes like a guy'? Raunchy? Lots of cock and cunt talk.
Why do you presume what the anthology is looking for?
It contains some damn fine stories. Some are raunchy, but not ineptly or tritely so (maybe that's 'writes like a guy' means, at least for the majority of literotica stories). Where exactly is the problem?

Indeed.

Also, I never said I write like a guy. I said I like the harder-hitting type of erotica - typically that thought of as written by a man. I did say I prefer to read something written by a man, but that's just my own mind sterotyping, and probably very wrongly so. I'm only going by what I have read, myself. Plus the fact that one can never be sure of the writer's gender, whatever name is used as the author.

I'll be submitting to this, no matter what I might think they might be after. The brief given seems very wide-ranging, in fact, and it actually states, "Above all, include explicit sex."

Sounds good to me!

Lou