Looking for Submissions for Published Erotic Anthology

[JakeJohnsonster]

Hey Authors:

I'm working a new project where I would like to curate, edit, and publish an anthology of erotic fiction. I am mainly pursuing the project because I enjoy new challenges and I believe it will be fun.

My current plan is to collect and edit 10-20 short stories between 5 and 20 pages long with the goal of publishing both a 120 page hard copy and Kindle version of the final project.

I know some of the more experienced authors have published some of their longer works already. So, if you have some shorter material that you would like to see published, and possibly promote some of your other work, that would be ideal.

I am primarily interested in stories in the "Romance" genre. But, high quality stories in other genres are also welcome.

I'll be doing all the leg work and heavy lifting for the project. I simply need story submissions.

If you are interested, please send me a PM.

Thanks!

 

[TxRad]

And what do we get?

 

[JakeJohnsonster]

And what do we get?

I'm still in the process of working that out. Certainly, name recognition and a copy of the final hard copy.

Realistically, speaking, I would really like to pay authors a royalty. But, the only thing that makes any fiscal sense is 1.2 cents per page for each full priced copy sold.

So, with a 10 page short story, that would be 10 X 1.2 = 12 cents X 1,000 copies = $120 to the author.

If you already have a story, and it is just collecting dust, this is a fun project.

 

[Brandie69]

I'm not interested, thank you

but I have somewhat of a legal background from a few years back, and I wonder if you've thought about copyright issues and such?

 

[JakeJohnsonster]

but I have somewhat of a legal background from a few years back, and I wonder if you've thought about copyright issues and such?

Of course, as authors, you own the copyright to your work. You retain copyright of your story after the anthology is published. The anthology, itself, is then also subject to copyright as a unique collection.

Do you have any other specific concerns?

 

[Brandie69]

I'm afraid to say that I think, then, the answer to my question is, at best, "I haven't consulted a copyright specialist."

I can't give you legal advice, but what you are proposing is the functional equivalent of you walking into a minefield in a bikini and high heels. There are ways of navigating what you want to do, but they require specific, written agreements containing certain "magic words" in order to give you the legal right to do what you're talking about.

Such venerable [old] ladies as the New York Times and Washington Post have lost lawsuits brought against them by freelance writers just because the written agreements between them didn't have the right language.

You (and any writers who want to do business with you at your low, low prices) need to talk to a lawyer.

Really.

Trust me on this.

B

 

[JakeJohnsonster]

I have a Ph.D. and I am familiar with the law. I have been published in anthologies before and signed similar contracts.

Copyright law is not that esoteric a field: You get permission from authors to publish, sign a contract, publish.

We're not talking about intellectual property. Copyright is very straightforward. I am afraid you have no idea what you are talking about.

I am afraid I am not sure what you are referring to when you say, "low, low prices". The prices I have mentioned are equitable and fair. Publishing a book is very expensive. As I said, the project is mostly for fun, not for profit. Though, it does present the opportunity for some authors to do promotion for themselves. That's way more valuable that any direct royalty payments.

If you, personally, aren't interested in this project, that is fine. But, I do hope that some other authors will take the time to participate and have some fun during the collaboration and editing.

If you already have a five page short story, then why not get it published in a real way?

 

[TxRad]

If we have 4 or 5 five page short stories, we could make up our own anthologies for sale as E-Books and make a hell of a lot more than 1.2 cents a page. And that is publishing in a real way.

A lot of the authors here already do this and more.

Maybe you need to research your target supply more closely. One of our ex authors here makes over a hundred thousand a year.

 

[JakeJohnsonster]

If we have 4 or 5 five page short stories, we could make up our own anthologies for sale as E-Books and make a hell of a lot more than 1.2 cents a page. And that is publishing in a real way.

A lot of the authors here already do this and more.

Maybe you need to research your target supply more closely. One of our ex authors here makes over a hundred thousand a year.

I am well aware of that. My goal is to help lesser known authors who have a smaller body of work.

And, for those that *are* published well, for example, if your short story is published in an anthology with an audience that is unfamiliar with your work, then people will look you up and want to buy more of you other works. That is win-win for everyone. The anthology is simply a form of promotion for authors. The *promotion* is way more valuable than what I could afford to pay in royalties.

 

[i_would]

And I always thought posting on Literotica and/or publishing free e-books is the modern way of promoting oneself.
Unless of course you intend to set up a serious marketing campaign to go together with that anthology, making sure you sell way more than a thousand copies. Unless you're one of the few lucky ones that go viral, without serious marketing efforts you're doomed to obscurity.
Creating a book, even a pretty good book, is the easy part (which doesn't mean it's actually easy). Selling it is where the real effort lies.

 

[JakeJohnsonster]

And I always thought posting on Literotica and/or publishing free e-books is the modern way of promoting oneself.
Unless of course you intend to set up a serious marketing campaign to go together with that anthology, making sure you sell way more than a thousand copies. Unless you're one of the few lucky ones that go viral, without serious marketing efforts you're doomed to obscurity.
Creating a book, even a pretty good book, is the easy part (which doesn't mean it's actually easy). Selling it is where the real effort lies.

That's exactly my point. I'd also point out that the royalty rate that I am proposing is in the 25% range (though it is on a per page basis), which is much higher than industry standard royalty rates.

 

[TxRad]

That's exactly my point. I'd also point out that the royalty rate that I am proposing is in the 25% range (though it is on a per page basis), which is much higher than industry standard royalty rates.

1.2 cents a page is nowhere close to standard.

 

[lovecraft68]

That's exactly my point. I'd also point out that the royalty rate that I am proposing is in the 25% range (though it is on a per page basis), which is much higher than industry standard royalty rates.

I get 70% on Amazon and 85% on smashwords as do many others here. As someone else mentioned, not quite sure this is the right demographic for you.

 

[JakeJohnsonster]

I get 70% on Amazon and 85% on smashwords as do many others here. As someone else mentioned, not quite sure this is the right demographic for you.

That's for ebooks, not hard copies.

If you can point out any real publishing company that pays over 25%, please let me know. 10%-20% if an industry standard for royalties on hard copies.

 

[SandraMustard]

I'm not interested in this, uh, project but it seems to be a common approach to solicit other works (although more above board than out right stealing stories). Today, I got "feedback" from another anthology project manager. The wording of the solicitation was almost word for word the same as the OP but the name was Ben something.

 

[lovecraft68]

That's for ebooks, not hard copies.

If you can point out any real publishing company that pays over 25%, please let me know. 10%-20% if an industry standard for royalties on hard copies.

The hard copy market is fading.

You can't compete with someone being able to publish an e-book with the only investment being a $10 stock photo cover.

What benefit would I get going into your, or another person's anthology? An ego boost to say I'm in it?

I'd rather just make money on the e-market, there's way more profit in it.

 

[annanova]

I'm not interested in this, uh, project but it seems to be a common approach to solicit other works (although more above board than out right stealing stories). Today, I got "feedback" from another anthology project manager. The wording of the solicitation was almost word for word the same as the OP but the name was Ben something.

I got that same e-mail this morning. Interesting.