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..................................................................................................................................
--- Writing Porn For Fun and Profit! ---
The Bi-Weekly E-Letter
Volume II, Issue 13
March 25, 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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To Subscribe - Send any email to
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Visit The Writer's Site At
http://www.KatyTerrega.com/writers.html
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Check Out The New Resources Page At
http://www.KatyTerrega.com/resources.html
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In This Issue:
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From the Editor
Spring Short Story Contest Winner!
Article: Talk To Me About Dialogue, He Said
By Jay Hughes
Market Listings
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 springtime! I would be if it would ever get here. I am so ready for the arrival of grass, crocuses, tulips and leaves, for starters. Winter is so colorless here in Colorado. But it's warming up nicely (even if it did snow three times last week) so I can't complain too much...

We've got a great issue for you this time. Not only do we have the winner of the Spring Short Story Contest (see below,) but we also have an article on dialogue writing by Jay Hughes, several good market listings and some good Goings On.

For new subscribers, don't miss the new Resources Page or the new Articles Page - both pages are full of helpful info for writers.

Thanks! to those of you who contributed a voluntary subscription of $5 to help defray web costs and make and keep this a paying market! You can see who's contributed on the Supporter's Page and you can make your own contribution on the Order Page.

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

Katy

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Spring 2002 Short Story Contest Winner!
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And The Winner Is...

All She Needed
By...well...I can't say just yet since I haven't heard back from the author regarding a pseudonym. But you can still read the story (see the link below) and I'll put the author's name up on site as soon as I hear from her.

Thanks to all who entered, it was great fun reading your stories!

Read the winning story at http://www.katyterrega.com/contestwinner8.html!

After that you can check out the rules for the next contest (date not set) at http://www.katyterrega.com/contestrules.html


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--- Talk To Me About Dialogue, He Said ---
--- By Jay Hughes ---
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Perhaps it goes with the turf, but the sighs and the groans that pass for dialogue in some erotic material can make any reader sigh and groan. We watch too many porn videos. Yet, if the erotic/porn genre is to take its place with "other" literature, it needs to meet the same standards, which includes useful dialogue. What's useful? If it doesn't move the story, it's just conversation. In that event, it's a terrible waste of a writing tool.

Worse, porn characters have awful timing. They talk during sex. You don't? You do? I've participated in a number of sexual encounters and almost no talking goes on. (Psst ... I listened in on some others and those folks weren't chatting, either.)

You already have your characters in the bedroom (or floor or kitchen table) and you should be concentrating on setting or action to make that more exciting. It's all right to toss in a "Drive it home, Ethan!" for effect, but ... consider the rest of the story, those moments when the characters are NOT having sex.

Checklist:

Are your characters talking? Do they have unique speech patterns? If they all sound alike, you aren't hearing your story. Do they pause or stutter or change the subject in mid-sentence? In good writing, people talk that way.

Are your characters saying anything? Most real-life conversations get to the point rather quickly and degenerate into redundancy. But this is a story or a novel. When a character says something, it needs a reason. You can control small talk in your dialogue. Bring the moment to life.

Create some emotion through dialogue. Do your characters ramble on as if they're addressing the Senate? Almost nobody does this, except my grandfather. But don't make them canaries, either.

Boring:

"Hi," she said.

"Hi back," he said.

Here's a moment between my two main characters in "Mayor Slut." (Scene-setting: Deb has decided to run for mayor and the guy she wants to run her campaign isn't convinced she's legitimate.)

* * *

"Nobody elects an independent. You have to go head-to-head with the parties. If you can win there, you have a chance."

"That means a primary," she said through her beer.

"You're catching on. Can you get nominating petitions?"

"I suppose."

"Don't suppose shit, girl! There's a process here. I won't just offer up my time for somebody who wants to squander the next three months courting votes that won't come. You can't win going door-to-door. You need a party behind you."

She shrank. I think I drove that thought home. "So, you think it's useless?"

"I never said anything like that! You haven't proven you can do anything but talk about how you'd like to beat old Gruntz in an election. That and guzzle beer."

Deb looked up at me with teary eyes. "What if," she said, "and this is just ... if ... I can prove to you I'm serious?"

"Political campaigns are mother-fuckers," I said. "They can eat your soul. You aren't tough enough for that."

* * *

No long speeches, no cumbersome word usage. Just a good old-fashioned verbal exchange. In a few sentences, we spell out the issue and move the story forward. And, we ask: IS she tough enough?

"Mayor Slut," like most of my work, is dialogue-driven. I enjoy creating characters who have a voice, and I love to let them talk. Except during sex, that is. I also let my characters have a lot of sex.

Imagine this scene:

* * *

Julie and Rocco have just finished a romantic interlude. (They weren't talking much during the interlude.) Julie sits up in bed, pulls the covers to her chest and sighs. "I love you, Rocco. I wish you could stay here with me forever."

Rocco is putting on his pants. "Yeah, baby ... (pats his stomach) I'd like to stay too, but ... gotta go."

"It was really the best sex, wasn't it?" Julie says, smiling up at Rocco.

"Yeah, whatever you say ... good ... yeah, I guess."

Julie's eyes turn cold. "Screw you, jerk!"

"What'd I say?" Rocco finishes dressing and heads for the front door.

* * *

Shoot me; it's a lousy scene, but it addresses the issue. Rocco can either stay or go. Lots of story options here. Julie, meanwhile, has become emotional over what she perceives is Rocco's insensitivity. More story options. Your objective now is to write a better scene than this!

Good dialogue also creates diversion from long narrative and lets the characters tell some of the story, making them more than cardboard cutouts with hormones. Rather than tell the reader it's cold outside, have the character say: "I-m-m-m fre-e-e-ezing!"

Remember to mix it up. Avoid drawn-out monologues, and let the characters speak in their own voices. Avoid difficult-to-follow dialects. "Eef y-uns kin untterstant dis, y'all hain't a-readin' enny-thin'." Bogs down the story. Have them speak English.

After you've written some dialogue, read it back to yourself aloud. Use a couple of fake voices if that helps. If the exchange sounds realistic, you're on your way. Take another look at it and see if you can tighten it. For example, Rocco could have said, "I gotta go see a guy about a car."

Julie might ask, "What kind of car?" Rocco could say "Corvette." Try trimming Julie out of the exchange. Rocco could say, "I gotta go see a guy about a Corvette." Saying more with less is a plus in dialogue use.

Dialogue can add humor to a serious moment, or it can change the moment from happiness to anger, as it did with Julie and Rocco. Since the characters were responsible for that, it didn't seem contrived. Rocco was a jerk and Julie turned angry, in a matter of seconds. It created instant dramatic tension.

Of course, the two of them have a lot of talking to do before they have another romantic interlude, at which time everybody shuts up and you can be creative in lots of other ways.

---

Jay's newest e-book, "Company Ink," was released in March. And, look for "Jill" in April. Both are at www.renebooks.com He also penned "My Name Is Laura," a Nazi horror thriller, which is available at www.fictionworks.com His web site is at
www.x-mail.net/erotix3/index.html

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--- Market Listings ---
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Abby’s Realm: Exotica, Fiction and Poetry @ Abby’s Realm - Turn us on!!

Who we are:
Abby’s Realm is a professional domain that aims at “Bringing Sensuality to Sadism”.

Abby St Clair is an internationally acclaimed dominatrix and mistress. Her philosophy and ambition is to challenge the general perception of BDSM and provide the most comprehensive original on-line material and the very best from elsewhere on her members site ‘Abby’s Realm’.

What we are looking for:
We are looking for sensual and insightful written work that will compliment and bring something excitingly different or unusual to our already existing on-line content. We are interested in writing that is provocative, penetrating and perceptive on the varied erotic nature of fetishism and BDSM. All content submitted and published on Abby’s Realm must be original in its entirety. Abby’s Realm welcomes both established and new writers.

Material involving all genders, sexual orientations and BDSM orientations (dom(me), sub, top, bottom, switch) is welcomed, however, please do not send items that include bestiality, incest, characters under 18 having sex (even in flashbacks), or snuff. If you have any content concerns, please do not hesitate to query us with your questions. All stories must be SSC – safe sane and consensual.

Editing: All work accepted for publishing on Abby’s Realm maybe subject to an editorial process. Abby’s Realm believes all on-line content presented should be of the highest standard. We will take the time to work with promising writers to refine their submission.

Exotica
Short scenes, personal essays, how-to’s, one-act fiction with a fetish or BDSM theme and creative non-fiction with a raw, gyrating and lyrical nature. Length from 300 – 2000 words.

Fiction
Creative, imaginative and stimulating stories combing spicy characters, gripping plots and intelligent perspectives that will make you foam. Of course all content should be along the B&D, S&M and fetish theme. Length from 1500 – 3500 words.

Poetry
Arousing, erotic, provocative and piquant poetry on a broad range of fetish and BDSM themes.

Payment:
Payment is on publication. $25 for fiction and exotica; $10 for poetry.

Rights Purchased
Abby’s Realm purchases First Electronic Rights to publish online for sixty days. Abby’s Realm also purchases the right to archive your piece on our website for one year. Materials will be removed from the archive after that time by author request. It is anticipated that an anthology may be published in the future. In this event, authors will be contacted and additional rights purchased at that time.

How to Submit:
Please follow the guidelines set out below when submitting stories. We reply within 2 weeks. If you have not heard back from us within that time, please contact us again.

1. Send one story at a time, in plain ASCII format in the text of an email to: tammy@mascproductions.com. Attachments of any kind will be deleted.

2. Subject line: Story/story title

3. Include a statement that you are the sole author of the work and no part is from another source. Also stipulate that you are at least 21 years old.

4. We accept simultaneous submissions. Please state such in your email.

5. You may publish under a pen name, but for publication and payment we will need your real name and an address. All personal details provided will be treated with strict discretion. Please include the following information with your submission:

· Legal Name:
· Pen name (if any):
· Mailing address (to send payment):
· Email address (indicate if we may include it with your story)
· Website URL
· Short author bio (< 100 words please)

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A Sexy Story

Acts of submission and other guidelines:

"A Sexy Story" is a porn story site desiring stories with plot and character development.

Does your lover get all breathy when you write a poem, a story or even a short love note... if that's the case then maybe you have what it takes...

As the webmistress of A Sexy Story I am looking for hot erotica.... stories or poems... fetish or vanilla.. PLEASE NO STORIES INVOLVING CHILDREN (under 18 yrs old). We accept 1-2 submissions a month and reply back with in 3 weeks of submission. Stories posted elsewhere are accepted but a note stating that the story or poem is on another site or printed in xyz mag is required.

(Note: ASexyStory accepts 1-2 submissions a month.)

Submit stories in the body of the email--because of recent virus attacks attachments will not be accepted.

We accept submissions from around the globe, but they must be written in English.

Please include your full name, pseudonym (if applicable) and mailing address for payment. Also include a statement declaring that you are the author of the piece being sent and that you have in no way plagiarized another's work.

Understand that by submitting you are granting VenetianDreams the rights to electronically publish the story on ASexyStory. Note: We reserve the right to archive stories indefinitely and to add them to a best of asexystory anthology unless we have an email from you stating different terms.

Authors receive a 50-word bio and payment of $10/U.S. for stories and $5/U.S. for poetry.. Please include your bio at the time of submission.

Feel free to include in your bio, links to your own personal web pages, and indicate if you would like us to include your email address for feedback on your story.

Send submissions to: oceania@peacockblue.com

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LODESTAR QUARTERLY: http://www.lodestarquarterly.com. New online journal featuring gay and lesbian fiction and poetry. Lodestar Quarterly welcomes the work of established and upcoming writers. The editors consider fiction and poetry by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered writers. Authors may submit work only twice per year. Simultaneous submissions and previously published work are not accepted. Poetry submissions are limited to a maximum of five poems. Please send only one short story or novel excerpt at a time.

The maximum length for short stories is 7,500 words. Standard letters of rejection are issued to writers whose work does not suit our needs. Because of our limited editorial staff, we cannot offer comments on rejected material. If we do accept your work, we ask for First Serial Rights. All rights return to the author after publication.

All submissions should also include a one-paragraph biography and the writer's contact information. No other information is necessary.

New issues of Lodestar are published on the first day of summer, fall, winter and spring. To be considered for a specific issue, submit your work at least one month in advance.

Send submissions to editors@lodestarquarterly.com as either the body of the message or as an attachment.

We usually respond within three months. Your patience is appreciated.

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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
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--- Goings On ---
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Chelsea Polk writes:

I've made my first publication acceptance. "Threads" will appear on Clean Sheets magazine sometime in April 2002.

---

Danielle Smith reports her flasher "Knowledge is Power" is currently in the March edition of Amoret at http://amoretonline.com/C681.htm. She has also sold three more stories to CF Publications: "Study Guide" and "Invasion of Privacy" and under the name Dan Brooks, "Making the Best of It."

---

Renee Carter Hall's fantasy erotica story "Gold for Jade" is now available as an ebook from EroticSF.com. Jade has an unusual way of dealing with dragons... a way that makes men envy the dragons. For more info, check out http://www.EroticSF.com/new.html.

---

Lawrence Schimel writes:

I am very pleased to report that my latest collection of short stories in English, HIS TONGUE, published by North Atlantic Books, has just been announced as one of the Finalists for the ForeWord Book of the Year Award, in the Best Erotica category. I append below the list of finalists, in case it is of interest.

The book is also a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award this year, again in the category of Best Erotica!

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

---

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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I've got my revamped website up and running here - http://www.katyterrega.com/

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Check out my column at http://www.absolutewrite.com/ on - what else?! - writing porn. This week I wrote about "Dealing With Distractions," especially of the internet variety. This subject is near and dear to my heart lately as I struggle with balancing a new and upcoming web venture with writing assignments! Check it out here -
http://www.absolutewrite.com/specialty_writing/porn_101.htm

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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.

Katy Terrega
http://www.katyterrega.writers.html
Katy@KatyTerrega.com
==========================================

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