Please note: This is not my (Sinclair’s) call for submissions or book practice! Please don’t contact me about it. It is being put together by Cleis Press, contact them for any questions, queries, or follow ups.
Cleis Press is looking for short stories to be included in Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 11. Writers who have been previously published are preferred, but it is not a requirement. The theme for this volume is “the future of sex.” Technological advancements in the world of sex and intimacy are on the rise, from sex tech to AI to relationships that take place in digital worlds, so let your imagination wander to the next level. Please refrain from using COVID19/ quarantine as a plot setting; be creative. We like stories that are inclusive and diverse, so characters on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, those that have disabilities, or represent a minority are always appreciated. We are seeking original ideas, and stories that have not been previously published via print and/or online.
Cleis Press will not accept nor publish stories that contain the following themes/ tropes:
- Nonconsensual sex or activities (including dub-con of any degree)
- Stories involving underage characters or minors, grooming, or anything of the like (including age play)
- Incest (including pseudoincest), bestiality, necrophilia, racism
- Characters that resemble real public figures/ celebrities (including political figures)
- Substance/alcohol/drug abuse that affect the character’s willingness/ability to consent or make sane judgements and decisions
- Infidelity or cheating tropes (polyamory and non traditional relationships are welcome so long as all parties are consenting).
How to submit:
Deadline: July 1, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. EST (Unless otherwise noted, or an extension is granted, stories submitted after this time frame will not be considered.) Not every submission is guaranteed publication. We will try to respond no later than July 30, 2024, with decisions.
Format:
Word Doc (.doc or .docx) 1.5 – 2 double spaced (Do not paste in the body of the email)
First page to include: your legal name (and pseudonym, if applicable), email address, and a biography (maximum of 50 words), written in the third person.
Times New Roman, 12-point, black font pages numbered
Header with story title (aligned left) and last name or pseudonym (aligned right)
Stories should be 2,500 – 5,000 words in length
Submissions can be sent to acquisitions@cleispress.com /Attn: Ashley
The subject line should read as follows: BWE 11 Short Story Submission
The book will be published in December of 2025. Writers will receive a copy of the book, and a one-time compensation of $100 USD.
PS, from Sinclair: I was in touch briefly with Rachel Kramer Bussel, who used to edit the Best Women’s Erotica series, and she is happy to be moving to non-erotic pursuits, so she’s no longer editing this series.
