Call for submissions: Best Bondage Erotica of the Year, Volume 2

See also: Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 6 call for submissions for Cleis Press, also with a June 1, 2019 deadline

You are free to either reprint this entire call in full, including contract terms and embedded links, or include a mention of the call and link to http://lustylady.blogspot.com/2019/01/best-bondage-erotica-two-anthology-call-for-submissions.html, which will be kept up-to-date and may include changes to the guidelines. This website will always include the most up-to-date guidelines.

Call for Submissions

Best Bondage Erotica of the Year, Volume 2
Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel
To be published by Cleis Press in late 2020 or early 2021
Deadline: June 1, 2019 (earlier submissions strongly encouraged and will be treated with priority, but all submissions meeting the guidelines received by the deadline will be considered)

For Best Bondage Erotica of the Year, Volume 2, Rachel Kramer Bussel is looking for your hottest, most creative unpublished 2,000-5,000 word bondage erotica stories (no poetry). Authors whose stories are accepted for publication will receive $100 and two copies of the print edition of the book on publication. Authors who’ve never published in any of Rachel’s anthologies before are especially encouraged to submit to this anthology. Please make sure to read and follow the guidelines in full before submitting. If you would not be willing to sign the contract terms listed below should your story be selected, do not submit to this anthology. Stories submitted that don’t contain bondage, are received after the June 1, 2019 deadline or fall outside the word count will be rejected..

This anthology will include characters of different races, ages, sexual orientations, locations, occupations, backgrounds and bondage experience levels. The book will also include a wide array of motivations, techniques, implements, and scenarios, though all will include at least one bondage or restraint scenario at some point in the story. Ownvoices stories, in which the story’s protagonist and author share a marginalized identity, are especially welcome; for more information on the definition of ownvoices, click here. I want characters ranging from newbies to seasoned bondage players and everything in between. I want first person, second person and third person stories. I want bondage in bedrooms, at play parties, at offices, in public, in secret. Bondage should be a central focus of the erotic element of the story but the plot does not have to hinge on bondage. I especially welcome stories were the motivations for engaging in bondage are unusual, and settings outside of dungeons, play parties and traditionally kinky settings. Stories do not have to contain a specific amount of sexual activity, but must be erotic in nature and be intended to arouse the reader. For an idea of the types of stories I prefer, see Best Bondage Erotica 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Stories that do not contain any form of bondage or restraint will not be considered.

The final book will include stories focused on both the physical and mental aspects of bondage. Stories featuring bondage plus other elements of BDSM or sexual erotica activity is welcome (spanking, tickling, exhibitionism, voyeurism, intercourse, oral sex, anal sex, sex toys, nipple play, fetishes, kissing, teasing, etc.). The more creative the bondage in the story, the better, but any type of bondage will work as long as the storyline and writing are compelling. I gravitate toward stories that draw me in from the first word and keeps me riveted. The main reason I reject stories for a themed anthology such as this one is that they are too similar to one I’ve already selected, so avoid clichéd plotlines and dialogue. Characters of all genders/sexual orientations welcome. No poetry. All characters must be over 18 for the entirety of the story. No incest or bestiality. Note that I won’t be able to give final answers to submissions until August 1, 2020 at the latest (if I can reply sooner, I will). If you need a response sooner than August 1, 2020, please do not submit to this anthology.

All stories should have a compelling beginning, middle and end. Make every word count and advance the story you want to tell. Consider each sentence and as: Does it serve a purpose? Is it advancing your story? If not, cut it. Make me care about your characters and get invested in their passions.

Only unpublished stories will be accepted; this means no part of the story can have been published or posted previously anywhere, in print, online, on blogs, on bulletin boards or private groups, in newsletters, via email or anywhere else and cannot be published or posted in any form prior to the book’s publication.

Rights: One-year exclusive rights. Authors will retain copyright to their stories. See contract terms below. If you would not be willing to sign the contract terms below, do not submit to this anthology.

ONLY SUBMIT ONE FINAL, THOROUGHLY PROOFREAD, GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT VERSION OF EACH STORY. Since I will be reading and considering stories as they come in, only the initial story submission will be considered; subsequent versions of the same story will NOT be considered, so please keep this in mind and make sure the submission you send contains exactly the story title, author name and text you would like to see published in the book. If I am interested in a revised version of your story, I will contact you.

How to submit: I will consider a maximum of two stories per author. Submit each story as a separate attachment using an email address that you check regularly. Submit only 2,000-5,000 original, unpublished stories that are not being considered elsewhere. Stories under 2,000 words or over 5,000 words will be automatically rejected. I want only original work that has never been published in whole or in part in any format, including online and print. Must use U.S. grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.). Submit to bestbondageseries@gmail.com by attaching a Word .doc or .docx file, double spaced, Times New Roman Black font and titled BBE2 LastName StoryTitle. At the top of the first page, include legal name, pseudonym (if applicable), mailing address, phone number (only to be used for urgent communication about your story) and 50 word-or-under third person professional biography either on the first page of your story. This should be the exact bio you’d want published in the book. URLs in bios should be listed in the first sentence in this format:

Rachel Kramer Bussel (rachelkramerbussel.com) writes fiction and non-fiction.

All stories must have a title and author name included at the top of the first page with the submission (no untitled stories). Indent half an inch at the start of each paragraph. Use only double spacing for the entire file; do not add extra lines between paragraphs or use any other irregular spacing. If you cannot use Word, submit as both an RTF and include the full submission in the body of an email, including title, story text, bio, name and pseudonym (if applicable), mailing address and phone number. MAKE SURE TO THOROUGHLY PROOFREAD YOUR STORY BEFORE SUBMITTING IT. All stories that are between 2,000-5,000 words and submitted by June 1, 2019 will be considered.

I will confirm that I have received your submission within one week. I will respond to all submissions by August 1, 2020 (yes, 2020) at the latest. If I can respond sooner, I will. If you have not heard back from me by August 2, 2020 feel free to follow up at that time. Payment: $100 and 2 copies of the book on publication. Payment will be made only via Paypal (strongly preferred) or U.S check (only for U.S. addresses).

Questions: bestbondageseries@gmail.com (make sure to read the guidelines in full before emailing to make sure your question hasn’t already been addressed)

CONTRIBUTOR PUBLISHING AGREEMENT

Agreement dated , 2019, between LEGAL NAME (”Contributor”), writing as PEN NAME, whose address is _____________________________________________________________________________ and RKB Enterprises, Inc. (“Editor”), whose address is _____________________________________________________________________________ for publication of “STORY TITLE” (the “Work”) in Best Bondage Erotica of the Year, Volume 2 (the "Book"), an anthology to be published by Cleis Press./Viva Editions (the “Publisher”). The parties agree as follows:

1. GRANT OF RIGHTS
(a) Contributor hereby grants and licenses to the Editor, during the full term of copyright in the Work, and any renewals thereof, the following rights in and to the Work, exclusively until one (1) year from the date of publication of the Book and non-exclusively thereafter: the right to reproduce, print, publish, transmit, distribute, license, sublicense, sell and otherwise exploit the Work as part of the Book in all forms and media now known or hereafter developed in all languages throughout the world, including without limitation the right to license and sublicense the Work as part of the Book inanthologies, magazines, book club editions and reprints; Braille editions; audio, computer disk, all electronic/cyber rights, CD-ROM and microfiche editions; first and second serial rights; dramatic productions of any kind (including without limitation film, television, video and audio productions); commercial and merchandising versions of the Book; and, the right to use all or parts of the Work for advertising, publicity or promotional purposes.
(b) The Contributor grants to the Editor and the Publisher the right to use Contributor’s name and likeness and/or biographical data in advertising, publicity and promotion for the Book.

2. ACCEPTANCE OF MANUSCRIPTS AND CHANGES
(a) Contributor agrees to make editorial revisions to the Work as reasonably required by the Editor and/or Publisher. The title of the Work may be changed only by mutual consent of the Contributor, Editor and Publisher. The final content of the Work must be acceptable to the Editor and the Publisher.
(b) The completed manuscript shall be deemed satisfactory in content to the Editor and Publisher unless within five (5) business days of its receipt by the Editor, Publisher or Editor gives Contributor written notice of the respects in which the manuscript is unsatisfactory. Contributor shall have five (5) business days from receipt of that notice to make and submit such changes.
(c) Editor has no obligation to include the Work in the Book for any reason. In such event, this Agreement shall terminate, all rights shall revert to Contributor, and Editor shall not owe Contributor any payment.

3. COMPENSATION: Provided the Editor accepts the Work for inclusion in the Book, the Editor shall pay to Contributor a fee of $100.00 on or before November 30, 2020.

4. WARRANTIES AND INDEMNITIES
(a) Contributor represents and warrants that Contributor is the sole author of the Work and sole and exclusive owner of the rights conveyed in this Agreement; that Contributor has not previously assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered those rights; that the Work is original; that the Work has never before been published or licensed for publication in whole or in part in any form except as otherwise expressly disclosed to Editor in writing; that the Work does not infringe upon any copyright, contains no matter that is libelous or defamatory, or that violates any right of privacy or other personal or property right whatsoever, or is harmful to the user or any third party so as to subject the Editor to liability, or is otherwise contrary to law; that the Work is not in the public domain in any country; that all permissions for any third party materials contained in the Work shall have been cleared and all permissions fees have been paid before publication of the Work; and that Contributor has full power to enter into this Agreement and to make the grants contained herein.
(b) Contributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Editor and the Publisher and their respective officers, directors, employees, licensees, successors, agents and assigns, against any and all claims, demands, costs, expenses, and judgments, including reasonable attorney fees arising out of any proceeding alleging a violation of Contributor’s warranties and representations hereunder.

5. AUTHOR'S COPIES
Editor will give to Contributor two (2) free copies of the Book.

6. MISCELLANEOUS
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties, and supersedes all previous discussions, representations, and understandings related to the subject matter of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute a partnership or joint venture between the parties. If either party believes the other has breached the Agreement it shall notify the other that such breach must be cured within thirty (30) days of such notification, or action may be taken by the non-breaching party. In the event of any breach of this Agreement by Editor, Contributor agrees that Contributor’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be an action at law for damages, and in no event shall Contributor be entitled to interfere with, enjoin, or otherwise restrain Editor’s or Publisher’s rights to use, license, distribute, publish and sell the Book or the Work as contemplated herein. No modifications of this Agreement shall be binding on either party unless set forth in writing and signed by both parties. No waiver of any portion of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing. The failure of either party at any time to require performance by the other of any provision shall in no way affect the right to enforce that or any other provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws, and in the state and federal courts of the State of New York. Each party consents to the exclusive personal jurisdiction, and waives any objections to the venue, of such courts. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any of its provisions are held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain binding and enforceable. Contributor may not assign this Agreement without Editor’s prior written consent. This Agreement shall apply and inure to the benefit of each party’s successors, affiliates, heirs, and permitted assigns.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have signed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

RKB Enterprises, Inc.
By: ________________________________
Date Signed: _________________________
Contributor
_________________________________
Date Signed: _________________________