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--- Writing Porn For Fun and Profit! ---
The Bi-Weekly E-Letter
Volume II, Issue 19
June 17 , 2002

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This issue may be distributed to friends, discussion lists and writing groups as long as the entire issue is included.
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In This Issue:
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From the Editor
Summer Short Story Contest!
From A Reader: Printing Your Book On Demand
                          By Karl Krausbart
Market Listings
Kevin's Book Review Corner: Something Just Clicked
                                               By Adrian Hunter and Chelsea Shepard
Goings On
Q & A
Looking for Writers

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From The Editor
Katy Terrega
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Hope y'all are enjoying your summer ;)

We here in Colorado are baking, as you may have heard, but I know others are drowning. The fires aren't all that close to us here but there was a day last week when the smoke and ash was so thick in town that it was difficult to step outside. We're all hoping for rain but it's not looking very likely.

Several people have responded that they'd definitely like to enter the Summer Short Story Contest so it's on! See below for more info.

Thanks for your feedback on my new site: - http://www.dailyjackoffstories . If you haven't already, feel free to take a look and tell me what you think. I'm especially interested in ways to promote, now that I've got it going I need subscribers so I can make it a paying market! (For those interested in helping to promote, check out http://www.dailyjackoffstories.com/banners.html. I've got some banners and text there and you're welcome to 'em.)

We've got a packed issue this week. Plenty of markets and contests, plus a call for artists, as well as Kevin's Book Review Column and some interesting information from a reader on Print on Demand publishing.

As usual, enjoy the newsletter and please keep in touch!

Katy

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Summer Short Story Contest!
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Yes, it's time to flex those fingers (and those imaginations) and come up with perfect blend of plot, characterization and sex!

You can earn lasting fame on our Winner's Page as well as cash and other prizes! (Check out the rules page below in the next few days for more details.)

The deadline is June 30th and you can check out the rules and regulations at http://www.katyterrega.com/contestrules.html

Good luck and I look forward to reading all the entries!

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--- Printing Your Book On Demand ---
--- Karl Krausbart ---
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I didn’t expect much when I decided to use print-on-demand (PoD) for my book of explicit porn poetry, Midnight Central. The idea sounded right, but what about the execution? To my surprise, my adventure turned out very well, and if you’re wondering whether or not to use PoD, I’d like to encourage you to look into it.

I chose Xlibris [www.xlibris.com] for no particular reason (there are several competing PoD firms; most of them work about the same way). I studied the material on their Web site and then emailed them my manuscript and credit card number, choosing the least-expensive option (‘Basic’ - $500).

‘Basic’ allows you only a few choices of format, cover, and so on; but unless you’re a design professional (which I’m not), better stick with ‘Basic’ and save some money. I thought their design job, both inside and out, was excellent — far better than I could have done.

Their computer typesetting process wasn’t perfect, and I had to specify corrections to the proof several times. However, Xlibris made corrections promptly and without trying to tell me they were ‘author changes’ — which would have resulted in extra charges. The entire process took about five months.

I got a professional-looking book out of it, but more important, Midnight Central is now available for sale, just as if it came from one of the big publishers, on-line through both Barnes and Noble and Amazon, and I get standard author royalties. Also, Xlibris set up attractive Web pages for the book and for me as one of their authors, with an email page so potential readers can contact me directly (www.xlibris.com/MidnightCentral — take a look!). I can modify these Web pages free of charge at any time. And I retain all copyrights to the book.

A big plus for Xlibris is that they never raised a qualm about the explicit sex in Midnight Central, although the sample they put on the book’s Web page is very tame compared to most of the contents.

So what don’t they do? PoD’s are not publishers. They don’t advertise or try to sell your book. That’s up to you, through newsgroups, your own Web site, or however.

Any warnings? PoD’s will try to sell you all kinds of extra services and add-ons. Not bad, but you don’t really need them: stick with ‘Basic’. And have your contents firm and final when you start the process. More author changes than just a few will cost you money. Here’s a sample from the book. If you like it, I would be highly pleased if you would go to bn.com or amazon.com and buy a copy of Midnight Central, by Karl Krausbart!

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--- Market Listings ---
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HOOT ISLAND'S "FLASH US" CONTEST:

Deadline Extended to Friday, June 21st!

Check out all the details at: http://www.hootisland.com/contest.html

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Summer Heat Contest
EroticSF.com announces our 1st annual Summer Heat Contest for writers of erotic speculative fiction and romantica speculative fiction.

Information:
Cash prizes to the winners. $20 1st place, $10 2nd place, and $5 third place. The ten top ranking stories will be published in an anthology offered by EroticSF.com. Published authors will receive a free copy of the anthology and discount coupons to offer to friends, family, or for promotional opportunities.
Deadline is July 31, 2002.
Winners will be notified on or before August 30, 2002.
The contest will be judged by EroticSF.com staff and all decisions are final.

The Rules:
1. Stories submitted must be unpublished in any other medium; however, stories can come from both published and unpublished writers.
2. Only short stories may be submitted. Maximum story length is 10,000 words.
3. Stories need to contain erotic content. Erotica can run from a sensual story to the ends of your imagination.
4. Romance is accepted, but not necessary.
5. Stories must be accompanied by the entry fee of $5.00.
6. Contest limited to 50 entries. A minimum of 15 stories must enter to have a contest. Should under 15 stories be entered, then the entry fee, minus the credit card processing charge, will be refunded to those authors.
7. Authors may submit more than one story, provided that the entry fee accompanies each story.
8. Authors whose work has been accepted by EroticSF.com and paid for their stories may not enter.

How to Submit:
Stories need to be submitted in the body of an email to editor@eroticsf.com. Do not include a cover letter, simply start your email with the required text below and then the TITLE and Author of your story.
The Subject line of your email should read "SUMMER HEAT CONTEST ENTRY" no more, no less.
Use (*) to indicate italics and (+) to indicate bold letters.
Please single space your paragraphs with a space between each paragraph.
Please refrence the title of your story when you pay via paypal.
Please cut and paste the following BEFORE your story:
I certify that this story is my own work and has not been published elsewhere. I understand that if my story places within the top ten it will be published in an anthology published by EroticSF.com, and that I am granting EroticSF.com first anthology rights for this story. I hold EroticSF.com harmless from all claims arising from my entry of this story, and I verify that I am over the age of 18, or the legal age in the jurisdiction in which I live. _AUTHOR'S NAME_ _DATE_

Click here - https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr to pay the entry fee via paypal.

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Sacred Exchange:
Stories of Transcendence and Spirituality in Dominance and Submission
(Deadline Extended)

Edited by Lisabet Sarai and S.F. Mayfair
Published by Blue Moon Books.

GUIDELINES:
We are seeking submissions for an anthology of erotic stories on the theme of transcendence and spirituality in the practice of Dominance and Submission. Sacred Exchange is to be published by Blue Moon, tentatively scheduled for the spring of 2003.

Many writers have noted that the physical aspects of D/s, the whips, bonds, and other paraphernalia, do not represent the core meaning and value of this type of relationship. For example, Molly Devon and Philip Miller, in their classic Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns, discuss how the bond of trust between dominant and submissive can lead to emotional and spiritual revelations. Anita Phillips' A Defense of Masochism compares the masochist's willingness to lose all boundaries, giving them up to the dominant, as essentially the same as the mystical and/or religious craving to be joined with the deity or the universe.

The stories in this anthology will explore the transcendent, spiritual, or magickal aspects of the power exchange in D/s relationships. We are looking for stories of ritual, communion, telepathy, devotion, dreams, commitment, or intense personal change. We would like to include pieces written from both the dominant and submissive perspectives, and examining all combinations of genders. The stories may include physical BDSM elements, but the focus should be on the psychic, spiritual, supernatural, or emotional dimension. ,p>Stories should be literary quality erotica, with well-defined plots, characters, and settings. Stories should be between 2500-6000 words. We will accept either email or hard copy submissions.

Please email your contribution to submit@lisabetsarai.com. The story should be included within the body of the email in ASCII text. Attachments will not be opened.

Hard copy submissions should be typed or printed single-sided on 8 x 11 inch paper, double spaced. Mail hard copy submissions to:

Lisabet Sarai
P.O. Box 206
Leverett, MA 01054

Manuscripts will be considered disposable unless SASE with appropriate return postage is included with the submission.

All stories must be submitted with the following information: Legal name; Name under which you publish (if different); Postal address; Telephone number; Email address; Title of work; and Word count.

The DEADLINE is July 15, 2002. All submissions will be acknowledged by email. Acceptance notifications will be provided by September 30, 2002.

Materials previously published are acceptable as long as the author owns the print publication rights to the story. If your story has been previously published on the web or elsewhere, please include this information in your submission.

The usual caveats apply: no sex participants under 18, no non-consensual violence, no incest. (This is for your protection and ours.)

Authors whose work is accepted will receive $150 payment, plus at least one copy of the anthology. Payment will be made upon publication.

Please address any questions about the anthology to

Lisabet@lisabetsarai.com.

ABOUT THE EDITORS

Lisabet Sarai writes erotica for fun and self-enlightenment. So far, she has published two erotic novels, Raw Silk (Black Lace, 1999, Blue Moon 2002) and Incognito (Blue Moon, 2002). Her stories have appeared in the Galleries of the Erotica Readers and Writers Association. Visit her website at http://www.lisabetsarai.com.

S.F. Mayfair's stories appear in Prometheus, Amoret Journal, Venus or Vixen?, Erotic Travel Tales (Cleis, 2001), and in the Galleries of the Erotica Readers and Writers Association.

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TANTRA.COM
We’re holding a writing contest that will lead to an eventual anthology of educational/erotic stories about orgasm. Please join us and submit what you’ve been longing to share with others! READ ON…

Most of us are fortunate to experience living in a fairly sex-positive culture. As you know, this is not so common in many other parts of the world. Many of us have had the good fortune to participate in women's circles where we've shared intimate stories, questions, concerns and joys regarding all nature of our sexual beings. We've talked about menstruation, our loss of virginity stories, orgasm, rites of passage for our children into burgeoning sexuality, masturbation, polyamory and on and on.

Suzie, of Tantra.com, is gathering a collection of stories about experiences from women specifically about their orgasms. I would like to invite you, if you’re willing, to write about your orgasms. Just as breath and sound have been doorways for me, I imagine that there are many of you, especially if you have had Tantric experiences, with orgasm stories of the discoveries you’ve made about your body, soul and spirit.

We’d like a 2 page-long (about 1,000 words), fun, juicy read that would also offer personal tips and be "instructional" but has an erotic, sensual feel. We know there are many different types of orgasms. Perhaps you might write about your favorite way to come or an experience that transformed the way you orgasm. We are not looking for one's most extraordinary orgasm but rather ones that are repeatable or a story of an experience that held key factors in giving you access to a new sexual doorway.

Here are some questions and thoughts to consider that might evoke, inspire and guide the writing and content. We don't want to constrict you or put you in a box, so please have fun and enjoy the somatic, emotional feeling state that this beloved experience summons forth. You might close your eyes, remember your body, heart and spirit and write from that place.

-What brings you to orgasm?
-What leads up to it? What makes you ready?
-What turns you on or gets you aroused?
-How are breath, movement and sound a part of it?
-Are there positions and techniques that you particularly like?
-What are the moods, settings and textures of experience that enhance your pleasure?
-Do you like to set up dates and start the arousal that way?
-How does how you feel about yourself, help or distract from your orgasmic capacity, such as feelings of attractiveness, confidence and vulnerability?
-How do your feelings about your lover affect the experience?
-How do you ask for what you want or do you?
-How do you communicate or do you communicate?

Let this subject stir in you, coaxing the words to your experience that will help other women explore the path of their own orgasmic experience. Give your story an erotic appeal with tips, tid-bits and contributions that will empower and connect the reader with her own personal stories and knowledge.

The deadline for submission is July 31, 2002. We’ll put the 5 best stories online during August and let you read and vote on them. The winner will receive a $100. Gift Certificate to the Tantra.com Catalog. We will then want to consider your first-person narrative for inclusion in a forthcoming collection of these stories.

You can email your story to orgasm@tantra.com. Please send it as an attached document in the program Word or send it in the body of the email and we’ll process it correctly. You can maintain your anonymity by using a pen name if you wish, but if your essay is selected for inclusion in the book, you must provide your real name and contact information to us. Although these stories are not fiction, you may change minor details to disguise your identity and/or to protect the privacy of others.

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SUSPECT THOUGHTS: A JOURNAL OF SUBVERSIVE WRITING:
Submission guidelines for artists

end me dark erotic art. It can be sensual, sexy, carnal, indecent, improper, or plain pornographic.

It doesn't have to be violent, kinky, or rough, or even human. A tree can be sexy if shot right. Any mediums are welcome. I am not looking for beaver shots, but rather exciting art to complement the writing.

Send me 1-2 pieces attached in .jpeg or .gif format (or a link to posted work) and include your name, mailing address, email address, and a short artist's bio. I am primarily interested in using 1 artist per issue when possible, so a larger body of work is preferred. Special series or runs (such as a comic) may be considered as a feature within an issue. All photo work taken after 1995 depicting sexuality requires a model release, per Federal requirements.

There is no monetary compensation at present, but I do offer banner space throughout the issue your work appears in. I will be requesting one time web rights including archiving. Any print or anthology rights will be renegotiated.

There are no deadlines for submission of work; I am always looking ahead for future issues.

gregw@suspectthoughts.com

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Moonlit Garden Books seeks high-quality stories of erotic romance. Please read our general guidelines and guidelines for specific categories before submitting.

General Guidelines: Stories may range from 65,000 - 90,000 words, however, two novellas may be combined within a single book, provided the total word count reaches our minimum requirement. Point of view consistency is a must. Stories containing switching points of view within scenes will not be accepted. We accept straight, gay, and lesbian romances, provided you give us characters to really care about. All stories must contain hot and spicy sex scenes, but we will NEVER accept stories that include underage sex, bestiality, incest, snuff, hate, or nonconsensual sex. We're also looking for romances featuring characters who aren't the "typical" romance heroes and heroines, such as plus sized characters. Please read our specific guidelines below to see if your story fits our needs.

Paranormal: Vampires, ghosts, shapeshifters, and magical beings. Tempt us with the unexplained. Make us believe the unbelievable. We have a strong preference for vampire romance and want authors to stretch the limits of these magnificent, sexual creatures. Though traditional vampire stories are always welcome, we also encourage unique handling of vampire myths. Break the rules. Show us something fresh and exciting, as long as it's erotic and romantic.

Futuristic and Fantasy: Love stories in different worlds or in our own during a darker age of knights, dragons, elves, and any other kind of fantasy setting you invent. Give us quests and battles, high adventure woven with steamy love scenes.

Historical: From ancient Rome to Prohibition, if you have an erotic romance in a historical setting, submit! We like stories that pay attention to details of the time period and make us believe we're there. Give us Scottish Highlanders, Vikings, gladiators, Pharaohs, pirates. This category also includes Westerns and Gothics. Is your historical too steamy for typical romance markets? Query us.

Behind the Curtain: Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes at the Opera, the ballet, or a theater company? We want stories that explore the romance and passion behind the curtain. Give us heroes who are dancers, heroines who spout Shakespeare, costume designers with a passion for the director. Stories can be contemporary, historical, or paranormal. If your sizzling romance is set in the world of stage entertainment, please send it our way.

Sensual Screenplay: Stories should focus on erotic adventures in the movie industry. Passion blossoms on the set, love triangles abound, and actors and actresses are rarely how they appear on screen, or are they? Surprise us, take us on a journey as magical and romantic as the movies.

Other categories we will consider: Time Travel, Suspense/Thriller, Mystery, Action/Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction, even "Men's Fiction" and "Gay or Lesbian" Fiction.

For more general information on who we are and the types of work we are seeking to publish, please see out Company Info/FAQs page at http://www.moonlitgardenbooks.com/company.html

Please query with ONLY a synopsis and the opening chapter pasted into the body of the email. All other submissions, any emails with attachments, and full unsolicited manuscripts will be deleted unread. If your story seems to fit our needs, we'll request your entire manuscript in RTF (rich text format) for consideration. In your query letter, please include the title, your real name, pseudonym (if you use one), your email address, genre, word count, and category (straight, gay, lesbian). Please place *** QUERY *** in the subject line and send queries, comments, and questions to submissions@moonlitgardenbooks.com.

Thank you for your interest in Moonlit Garden Books!

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Has this newsletter helped you get your work published or
motivated you to finally put pen to paper?

If so, please consider making a
voluntary subscription payment of $5 per year
to help defray the many costs inherent in running a webzine, such as
advertising, payments to contributors and prizes for the contests.

Order your voluntary subscription Here
And thanks for your support! ***************************************************

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--- Kevin's Book Review Corner ---
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Something Just Clicked
By Adrian Hunter and Chelsea Shepard
www.adrainhunter.com
ISBN # 1-4010-2622-2 (trade paperback)

This is the third of a series of books I have reviewed by Adrian Hunter and Chelsea Shepard. Readers may remember my review of their novel Once Bitten in February, which I enjoyed immensely. Readers may also remember the short story collection Crash Your Party Dress which I also enjoyed as noted in my April column. This is the second collection of short stories and novellas of at least three planned (at the time of this writing). However, this one is far different in tone and theme than the other works I have covered. While well written, this particular collection is extremely dark at times and is far different than their other works. That is not to say that the work is bad. On the contrary, it is extremely well written. Precisely because it is so well written, the fact that it is so dark in nature it came across, at least to me, as far less erotic than the preceding works.

In their other two works, the erotic was a secondary theme. Both works focused more on a person’s desires and how that person related to others. The focus did not cover why the characters had certain desires, but had to do with how they pursued fulfilling desires. Those desires were usually fulfilled and enjoyable for all parties involved by the time the story concluded.

However, this collection pushes the erotic still further out of the focus and comes across, as extremely dark in nature and tone. The story “Sweet Butterfly” from the first anthology only hinted at the possibility of madness, almost every story in this anthology embraced madness in one form or another and celebrates it. While in some cases, the women are in charge of the pleasure and pain, more often they are the victims of some especially cruel treatment at the hands of others. Sometimes, the treatment is in the form of denial of the possibility of sexual release.

“Once he had her stripped, handcuffed and gagged, he could have done anything he wanted. Instead, he had spent hours taking photographs of her bound in strenuous positions. Hogtied on his desk. Spread-eagled on the coffee table. Hanging from the coat rack. Stretched out in front of the fireplace so you couldn’t miss the Senator’s pictures on the mantle. Very intimate angles. Very obvious location. Very incriminating for her, not to mention her very married boss. But not even one gratuitous fondle. Cold. Methodical. Vengeful.”

But cruelty has shades of variation and withholding release is one thing. At other times, it would appear that there is not hope depending on how the reader interprets the work, then in others, such as the novella “The Rubbermaid Chronicles” it appears that the woman has survived and might be stronger after her ordeals. Through out the work, while much of the stories depict situations that are somewhat open to various reader interpretations, it is clear that the over all theme of the collection is extremely dark and somewhat disturbing at times.

A pleasant change of pace and theme in this anthology, is the story submitted by Chelsea Shepard. Titled “The Game” it tells the tale of a young woman attending a rather pleasant evening at a friend’s house. But, this is not bridge night at the neighbors. (Or maybe it was, and we just did not know what our parents were doing all those years ago.)

“And the dice roll again. I am thoroughly enjoying the escalating bondage and torment, when the unexpected happens. Bill’s pawn stops on ‘tease-6’ and he gestures for Mary to move forward. As she lowers her head between my quite immobilized legs, and her tiny tongue barely brushes my clitoris, a shockwave ripples through my body, and I panic. This wasn’t my fantasy. I have never mentioned being touched by another woman, and certainly not another sub! My heartbeat frantically pounding in my head—the only sound I can hear—I look at my lover with all the anguish I can convey through my eyes. I’m not ready for this. Please, will you stop it? He seems to hesitate for a second, says a few words I don’t hear, then walks behind me and. . .places a blindfold over my eyes. Oh, good, like this will help me forget there’s a woman licking me!”

This was my favorite story on the anthology and was clearly lighter in tone and theme then the others. All to soon, this very enjoyable story is over and it is back to the dark side for the reader. As in their other writings, the action is very graphic and the inner mental workings of each character are fully and completely detailed. Sex is a secondary issue and instead the focus is more on the limits, both physical and mental, of the characters involved. In almost every story, those limits are not just tested, but pushed very hard and things are left open to reader interpretation. Like the other works, this particular anthology is very well written. However, it should be noted that this work is much more intense than the others and like the others is available through booksellers and Xlibris at www.Xlibris.com as well as the home website, www.adrianhunter.com

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--- Goings On ---
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Jesse Buerk writes:

I've been getting your newsletter for probably a couple of years now, and I always enjoy it. I finally had to contribute, because I'm happy to report I sold my first story thanks to a lead from your site! I responded to an add for giantess/growth erotica stories for a guy named Ed Lundt. He liked my writing sample, so we went to work. It was a long process, since it was a genre I'd never written before and knew nothing about. But, eventually, I came up with a satisfactory finished product, and I just deposited my check for $150! Woo-hoo! I don't write as much smut as I used to (I used to work for a daily porn newsletter) but I do enjoy it. Thanks for helping me get paid as a writer. I hope my 5 bucks can help keep your excellent newsletter going.

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John R. Platt's first book, DIE LAUGHING, will be published in July by Medium Rare Books. It contains over 30 humorous horror stories, plus a few in other genres.

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Mike Marcoe writes:

I'm happy to report that my story "A Cybertech Valetine's Day Gift" has sold three copies on EroticSF.com. It's a story about technology that allows people to send their sex smells over the Internet.

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Congrats! If you sent me your Goings On but don't see it here, just let me know and I'll get it out.

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Tell me what's going on! Have you made a sale? Do you have a piece being published? Let me know and I'll print it here for all to see! (It helps if you write it in the format above; makes it easier for me to just cut and paste.)

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Check out my column at http://www.absolutewrite.com/ on - what else?! - writing porn. This week, still struggling with that new internet venture, I used a reprint from Porn 102 - "Grab 'Em By The Throat" - in which I expound on the art of getting an editor's attention. Check it out here - http://www.absolutewrite.com/specialty_writing/porn_101.htm

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Check out the new and improved, totally revamped story site at KatyTerrega.com and let me know what you think!

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--- Q & A ---
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Send me your questions! I'll answer the most common ones here, and if I don't know the answer, I'll do my best to find a pro who does. (Of course, failing that, I'll ask y'all for help...)

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--- Looking For Writers ---
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Send Me Your Stories And Ideas!

I'm looking for essays/articles that will inspire and/or instruct other porn writers. Success stories, how to break into certain markets, unique views on the genre, etc. Around 800 words is good, although I'm flexible.

I'd love articles on specific markets. There are so many sub-genres of porn and it's hard to know the subtleties of each. If you've got a specialty, from BDSM to Watersports to Leg Sex to Amputeeism, feel free to share your knowledge.

You can either suggest a topic (query) or send something whole. I'll get back to you within a week as to whether or not I'll be able to use it.

Payment varies; From $0-$10 per article (depending on site income for the month) OR a copy of one of the books on the Order Form. I'll also include a lengthy bio and url if you'd like.