An Anthology of Fantasy Erotica
edited by Cecilia Tan
DEADLINE: February 1, 2018
Seeking erotic short stories with magical beasts and shapeshifter tropes. Although the title of the anthology is somewhat comedic–and levity is definitely welcome!–we’re not looking for parody or satire. Open to all mythical and magical creatures with sentience–centaurs, werewolves/human-animal shifters, intelligent dragons, merfolk, etc. Definitely open to unicorns, griffins, banshees, minotaurs, etc. so long as the spark of sentience is present. (There’s a fine line between bestiality and what we’re allowed to publish and sentience draws that line.)
As for what kinds of stories we’re looking for? We’re tired of the “same old” werewolf stories, but not tired of how magical beasts can represent sexuality and erotic need in fiction, especially marginalized sexuality and repressed needs. We’re tired of the “alpha meets fated mate” trope, but not tired of encounters with the magical being life-changing. We’re tired of the “(white) colonial explorer goes into wildest place and tames native beast” trope, too, but not tired of diverse characters and settings, especially when told by #ownvoices.
We’re always interested in characters and stories that include various marginalized sexual identities and practices including polyamory, kink, genderqueer and gender variant, BDSM, bisexuality/pansexuality, trans identities, as well as “regular ol'” gay or lesbian characters. (General note: We’re also all for asexual representation though we realize that may seem out of place to some for an erotica anthology. Please no stories where someone’s asexuality is “cured” — please yes to stories that include affirmations that asexuality is valid.)
Finally, although the anthology title is explicitly a riff on the universe of a certain famous boy wizard, stories do not have to be in any way related to or parodies of said universe. In fact it’s probably better not to tickle that sleeping dragon, unless you’re really really clever about it.
Submission Details:
Length: Our preferred length is approximately 3,000 to 7,000 words, but we will consider the range from 2,000 to 8,000 words.
How to Submit: All submissions must be made via email to Cecilia Tan, editor, at the email address ctan.editor@gmail.com.
Submissions sent to other addresses/other editors at Circlet Press will not be considered.
Standard manuscript formatting rules apply even though sending as an attachment (MS Word .doc or .rtf preferred). Please note that this means your name, address, and email contact must appear on the manuscript itself and not simply in your email message. (If you’re not sure what standard short story submission format should look like, Google is your friend.)
No simultaneous submissions (that is, don’t also send your story elsewhere at the same time, and don’t send it to multiple Circlet editors, either), and no multiple submissions to the same book. One story per author per anthology.
All stories must include explicit sexuality and erotic focus. Romantic content is welcome, but in a short story remember to keep the details on the action and its effects on the main character’s internal point of view. We favor a strong, singular narrative voice (no “head hopping” or swapping between different character’s points of view within a scene). For more details on our editorial preferences, see the general submission guidelines on circlet.com. We highly recommend reading the guidelines, especially the “do not send” list, to increase your chances of sending us something we’ll love. Try to avoid cliches. Fresh and direct language is preferred to overly euphemistic. Sex-positive, please, no rape/nonconsensuality/necrophilia or other purposefully gross topics.
Originals only, no reprints. We purchase first rights for inclusion in the ebook anthology for $25, with the additional rights to a print edition later which would also be paid $25 if a print edition happens. Authors retain the rights to the individual stories; Circlet exercises rights to the anthology as a whole.
Hi there. I submitted a story to ctan.editor@gmail.com and received an automated response that you’re not editing an anthology right now. Did I use the wrong address?
-Jack
Thanks for the heads up! We’ve pinged Cecilia about it.
Still no answers to questions about submissions to this anthology. Any idea yet what’s going on? 0_o
Kimber, it’s all on me. I’ve been waiting to settle the deal for the takeover of Circlet and our lawyers and accountants move very slowly. In hindsight, I should have just moved forward on this without waiting for that to all shake out. It’s still on my slate for editing and publication and it’ll do much better if it’s released after Riverdale takes the reins, but I should really finish the reading and editing regardless of how long that’s taking. Hit me up in email if you want more details, but I figured I should make the apology a public comment. It’s 100% my fault this is still hung up, I’m sorry, and none of you should have to wait this long to hear on a submission. I’ll pick up the pace on my reading and replies after Halloween, though!
Cecilia
Things are finally in process on this anthology! I’m working my way through the submissions again and hope to send some concrete replies in the next 3-4 weeks.
question: are there any limitations in regards to writing about mythical creatures from non-Western cultures (eg. Southeast Asia)? and if so, how much context should we provide about their histories/origins (if any)? thanks!
Catherine, thanks for asking. There are no limitations on which myths to use. All I can really tell you about writing outside of Western mythologies is use the same care and respect when writing erotica that features marginalized or oppressed cultures as you would when writing any other kinds of fiction.
Hi!
I’m interested in submitting to this anthology so thought I’d check at THIS end of the writing process whether you’re just looking for ‘human bangs sexy monster’ stories or whether you’d be interested in a story about sexy monsters banging each other. I’ve got two possible projects at different stages of completion and I need to know which one to focus on.
Cheers,
Michelle
Hi Michelle! We’re open to both, so that probably doesn’t help you make your decision. I’m expecting the majority of writers are going to lean toward ‘human bangs sexy monster’ so a story that is ‘sexy monsters banging each other’ may stand out from the crowd? Writing for anthologies you always run the risk if your story is too similar to the others then it doesn’t make enough of an impression to be accepted, but if it’s too different from the others likewise it might be passed over because it doesn’t fit. Generally speaking I lean toward encouraging people to take risks and not be part of the pack, though. 🙂
If a story were to be published in this anthology, when do the rights revert to the author? Sorry, I looked elsewhere on the site but didn’t see any information about that.
Hi Crystal! Sorry for the delay in my reply. I missed the notification somehow. Circlet typically buys first rights but nothing else, meaning the author keeps all other rights to their story including the right to sell it again to other markets. First rights means it can’t appear anywhere else before it appears in our anthology, but otherwise, you are free and clear to exercise all other rights to the individual story.
I am glad I found this again. I had completely forgotten about it. This is my niche so I’ll have to be sure to write
something sexy for y’all.
I did have a question though. Can we send submissions under a pen name?
Absolutely! Many of our contributors (including Yours Truly) use pen names.
I have an idea for a fic using magical beasts and intend to post it. If I completely rewrite it but keep the same beast and type of original character, would that be okay?
Looking at your general submissions guidelines, you say you don’t want “real world” but magical realism and alternative realities are okay. I need clarification, please: Does that rule out urban fantasy, say a Boston where creatures, demons, etc. coexist with humans? (Since Boston is a real-world city, but I’m reasonably sure we don’t have magical creatures or demons… though I wonder about my neighbor sometimes.)
And then I realize what an unnecessary question this was, because I found the answer pretty easily…
We absolutely welcome stories like that. We were trying to indicate that we don’t publish naturalistic fiction.
I was wondering how far the definition of “mythological creature” stretches. Western mythology itself has been informed by centuries of Catholicism, Protestantism, and then the modern age. All the creatures we’re intimately familiar with have already gone through many pop culture treatments, especially vampires and werewolves, and most of us will know them through that rather than through earnest mythological exposure. Say you want to write something about a Gnoll, the hyena people popularized by D&D. They’re originally from a 1912 short story (in which they weren’t actually hyena-people). Would they count?
Of course, I wouldn’t complain about writing about the cute demon from Dirk Bouts’ Hell.
Piet, sorry for my slowness of reply. I was out of the country with limited internet. I’d certainly welcome a Gnoll story (1912 being public domain). I realize the deadline was yesterday but if you have the story ready within the next few days, don’t hesitate to send it.
I’m definitely a bit late to this party but I think I might still make it haha! So, the question! I’ve previously posted a story on another website, but I was thinking of editing it and revising for this kind professional level. Do you have a way for me to gauge how different the work needs to be in order to ensure that Circlet can still get first rights?
Thaeros, I’ll drop you email about this as well, but basically, that’s a good question and I’m not sure there’s a clear-cut answer. But I’ll send you some details we can chew over. (And I realize the deadline was yesterday but we can talk about that, too.)
If I haven’t heard anything in response to my submission by now, do I assume that it has been rejected?
Every writer will get a reply, even if it’s a rejection! If you haven’t heard, it means we haven’t read it yet.
Are we likely to hear back sometime soon? We’re into 2019, and I – and it sounds like others – haven’t heard anything at all…? (I’ve previously contributed to Circlet’s Coffee: Hot anthology, and everything went smoothly for that!)
It’s halfway through 2019 and, despite a follow-up email every few months for a while, I never heard anything further, either. I just want to know if it’s a dead project or I was rejected, or whatever the outcome was (is?). Hope all is well with those involved in the anthology.
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Hey, Circlet team!
Is there any chance we could ask for a status update on where we are with the readings for this anthology are? It’s been six months since the submission deadline and I still haven’t heard anything one way or another. Is there any news that can be shared about the state of the readings?
I am wondering this too. I’ve sent two emails and one message on Messenger, and so far no reply. If the anthology will not go ahead, when will we know and how?
I got an email in March that my entry had been processed but nothing since.
There is a release date of November for the second JKR Beasts movie. I guess we look likely to miss that opportunity to ride a coattail?
I’ve submitted a story way back in March. I have heard no reply back. I e tried contacting the editor, but no reply. What’s going on with this?
Hi! Also looking for updates on submissions to this project. Thanks so much 🙂