My new calls for submissions: Please, Sir and Please, Ma'am

The moment I turn one book in, I'm ready to go with another. Either I'm crazy, a workaholic, or a little of both. I'm not 100% sure I love Please, Sir and Please, Ma'am as titles (I worry they are too close to Yes, Sir and Yes, Ma'am) so if you have a brilliant title suggestion, let me know (I will duly credit you). So those may change, but for now, send away.

I'm gonna be reading madly for Best Sex Writing 2010 from now until I turn it in in late May. That's not a book I get many submissions for; it's more about being constantly on the prowl, reading, reading, reading, and trying to find more male writers and the topics I want to see covered in ways that I think are super-smart and not overdone. You know, no biggie. :)

April's pretty busy, and May is about to be crazy, with plans with the boy (hotel date!), a weeklong trip to Geneva, a probably Memorial Day trip to Kansas City, Book Expo and...I don't even know what else!

For now, some smut (I pretty much recycled the guidelines from last time, with a few tweaks):

Please, Sir: Erotic Stories of Female Submission and Male Dominance
Please, Ma’am: Erotic Stories of Male Submission and Female Dominance
Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel
To be published by Cleis Press in Spring 2010

These two companion anthologies will explore the power dynamics of BDSM from the sub's/bottom's point of view. For an idea of the kinds of stories I like, please read my recent anthologies Yes, Sir: Erotic Stories of Female Submission and Yes, Ma’am: Erotic Stories of Male Submission. I strongly prefer modern settings, though have included the occasional historical piece. Futuristic/science fiction settings are almost never my cup of tea.

Please, Sir: What's it like to be a female submissive, whether a full-time slave to a powerful master, or a kinky woman involved in an intense scene? These stories should explore the range of ways women submit to men, whether masters, husbands, boyfriends, play dates, strangers, internet chatters, etc. Is the storyteller a lifelong bottom, or a new convert to kink? Does merely offering herself up to any guy get her off, or does something about this particular top excite her? Can be long- or short-term relationships, single encounters, or anything in between, as long as the characters and plot are believable and the story is hot. (I don't want simple snapshots of scenes that don't tell us anything about the characters' motivation.) Story should be from the point of view of a female masochist and or submissive/bottom, though it can be told from a first, second or third person POV (first is preferred).

Please, Ma’am: What makes a man cower before a powerful woman? Is he living out a lifelong fantasy, or has he always taken the submissive role with women? I want stories of sissy maids, hardcore masochists, visits with dommes, husbands completely devoted to their wives, full-time slaves, play partners, and much more. These can be long- or short-term relationships, single encounters, professionals, etc., as long as the characters and plot are believable and the story is hot. (I don't want simple snapshots of scenes that don't tell us anything about the characters' motivation.) Story should be from the point of view of a male masochist or submissive/bottom, though it can be told from a first, second or third person POV (first is preferred).

Both anthologies will feature stories from a wide spectrum of the BDSM world. The more creative your storytelling, the better. The examples listed above are just that, examples; feel free to let your imaginations run wild! I encourage you to think beyond clichéd scenarios and set your stories outside of the traditional play parties/dungeons, as well as thinking outside the box when it comes to "power play" and am especially looking for stories where not all of the erotic action is centered around physical sensation. There can also be more than two people in a given story or scene (or even just one if they are following someone's orders), and bisexual scenarios are welcome as long as the bottom/top relationship is a heterosexual one, as fitting the title. My biggest pet peeve with the submissions I’ve rejected in the past is lack of characterization/jumping into the BDSM scene too quickly.

Guidelines: Stories should be unpublished and not submitted elsewhere for publication. Stories should be 1,500 – 4,000 words, double spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font, in a Word document only. If it is truly impossible to send a Word document, please send as both a RTF AND in the body of the email. You MUST include your bio (50 words MAX) and full contact info (mailing address, phone number, real name/pseudonym) when you submit.

Payment will be $50/story and 1 copy of the book upon publication in Spring 2010. Contributors will retain the rights to their stories. You may submit up to two stories per book. Please note that the publisher has final approval over the manuscript.

Send your submission as a Word document to pleaseantho@gmail.com ONLY with either"Please, Sir Submission" or "Please, Ma’am Submission" in the subject line—if you are submitting to both anthologies, please send separate submissions for each (though you can attach 2 stories for one book in the same email).

Please make sure to follow ALL directions. I'm getting a lot of single-spaced, non-Word document submissions without bios or mailing addresses. Please also make sure you send your FINAL version of your story, not a first (and then second or third) draft. All of the
pertinent information, including a polished version of the story and your bio/contact info should be included in a single email, not multiple ones. Thank you.

If you have any questions about Please, Ma’am or Please, Sir, please query
pleaseantho@gmail.com

Deadline: July 1, 2009
Expect to hear back from me by November 2009
Payment: $50/story, upon publication
Email: pleaseantho@gmail.com