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--- A Quick Guide to the Straight and Narrow for Twisted Writers ---
--- By Cheyenne Blue ---
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I picked up a copy of "Playgirl" and took it to the newsstand at Denver International Airport. The woman serving winked, and inquired as to how I enjoyed the magazine.

"Very much," I replied. "And please can I have a receipt?"

She boggled. "Are you going to claim this on your tax?"

"Yes," I said, with a glance at the line forming behind me.

The newsstand woman leaned closer, and whispered, "Please tell me how I can get a job that lets me do that!" She called her assistant over, and said loudly, "Mary, this lady can claim "Playgirl" as a deduction!"

Chances are, if you are reading this, you can too. Although you can't get the IRS to pay for the new Harry Potter book simply because you're a writer, if you itemize your deductions, there are several things that can be claimed. Publications that you already submit to, or intend to submit to, as well as tools-of-the-trade type books and subscriptions, are acceptable: dictionaries, grammar guides, market guidelines, and that indispensable copy of "1001 Ways of Saying 'Penis'".

Many people don't keep a record of the small stuff, but it adds up. Stamps, paperclips, envelopes, paper for the computer and the office chair with the well-padded seat that you shuffle about on as you compose your purple prose - you'd be surprised how quickly it accrues. If you're lucky enough to have a dedicated office area in your house, then the corresponding proportion of your rent or mortgage, and utilities, are allowable, but this area is a grayer one - the IRS is known to look askance at some home offices. Your computer is potentially deductible too. If it's a dedicated smut writing computer, then excellent, the whole kit and caboodle is allowable. But if the IRS pay you a visit and find your kid's Winnie the Pooh Action Adventure game on there, you could have a hard time proving it's a necessary tool of the pornographer's trade. Don't forget to record your ISP and expenses from your website that showcases your work.

Proper records are essential. Taking the taxman out to the garage to show him a pile of battered "Hustlers" under the tarpaulin in the corner isn't considered adequate record keeping. Save all receipts, and also keep a logbook (one of those official ones they sell in the office stores) for the car, showing actual dates, and mileage driven for work. That trip to the post office to buy stamps to mail that all-important manuscript is an expense incurred in making your income. Dropping past T.J's Hideaway on Broadway, on the way home to boast about it and swill a cold one, isn't.

Many of us don't make enough money writing smut to give up our day jobs. The IRS has guidelines about what is considered a hobby, and what is considered work. As a rule of thumb, if you can prove that you actively are trying to make money, it is allowable. So, you need to prove that you are sending off manuscripts. Keep those acceptance and rejection emails, and correspondence with editors. Yes, even those nasty, pointed rejection emails that make you want to pound the delete key into oblivion. It doesn't hurt to go off and live in a cabin in the woods, with no other visible means of support, but that is simply not practical for the majority of us. Besides, it's impossible to get a reliable internet connection out there. If you itemize your annual return, losses incurred from writing smut can be offset against other income. If after three years, you can't show a profit from your writing, the IRS may rule that it is a hobby, not income, but again, if you can prove that you're actively trying to make money, there seems to be a degree of flexibility.

Try and dedicate one credit card purely for writing expenses. Use this for smut related purchases as much as you can. Not only will it make adding up what you spent at tax time much easier, but it also helps prove that you are serious enough about your work to separate it from the grocery shopping and bar tab.

And finally, a good accountant can often save you more than the cost of his fee, as well as helping ensure you don't receive an unwelcome visit from the men or women in dark suits and stern expressions. Accounting professionals also are on top of the ever-changing rules and regulations, and can steer you on a straight and narrow path through kinky tax deductions.

There's always the barter system. Maybe your accountant would be happy to accept a personalized dirty story in exchange for preparing your annual return. Charlie, of Byrnes and Smithwick, are you reading this?

***

Cheyenne Blue writes travel guides and erotica. Her erotica has appeared in Best Women's Erotica, Best Lesbian Erotica, Mammoth Best New Erotica, and various websites. Her travel guides end up jammed into many glove boxes underneath the chocolate wrappers. She is not a tax professional, nor does she wish to become one. She has a helpful accountant called Charlie for that, who will probably scold her soundly when he finds out she's written this article. Visit her website at www.cheyenneblue.com

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--- Market Listings ---
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Erotic Art Gallery:
http://eroticartgallery.blogspot.com/
(From: http://artdeadlineslist.com/eag/submission.guidelines)

Don't send me your pictures in an email. I can't use them.

Send me two (2) URLs:

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PillowTalk Media

Writer's Guidelines
Contact: pillowtalkmedia@hotmail.com

CALL FOR WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS OF EROTICA


PillowTalk Media seeks to purchase short, original works of heterosexual erotic fiction/non-fiction (for use in an erotic audio sampler) written by or about African-American, Caribbean and Latino men and women. Submissions should be sexy and sensual. All writing formats are acceptable, including short stories, one-act plays, narratives, memoirs, essays, poetry, and song lyrics.

Please adhere to the following criteria:

· English language
· Preferred length of 15-25 page (however, longer and shorter pieces will be considered)
· Double spaced
· 12 pt. font (Courier, Universal, Arial, or Times Roman)

The deadline for consideration in this project is September 1, 2003. (However, we will continue to accept and review pieces received after September 1st for consideration in future projects). Submissions 25 pages or shorter may be submitted in electronic format as an e-mail attachment in MS Word format (subject heading “Submissions”); longer submissions must be sent via mail to the address below, enclosing a printed manuscript and a diskette containing the submission in MS Word format.

Submissions should include a short biography providing author’s full name, preferred publishing name or pseudonym, date of birth, ethnic/racial background, prior publications and contact information. All biographical information will remain confidential, unless author makes references to such information in his/her submission.

Writers are encouraged to share this solicitation with other writers or to post it on listservs for writers of erotica.

Please direct submission to:

PillowTalk Media
Attention: Submissions
175-43 Hillside Avenue
P.O. Box 7B
Jamaica, NY 11432
pillowtalkmedia@hotmail.com

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Forbidden Fantasies

Cleis Press and editor Violet Blue are working on an upcoming collection of the forbidden, the most taboo selection of heterosexual couples' sexual fantasies.

In the flavor and style of bestsellers Sweet Life 1 and 2, I'm looking for stories that take place within an established male-female couple, are first-time experiences, and are utterly realistic. Couples that are in love try the nastiest, dirtiest, edgiest fantasies and daring escapades that their imaginations -- and yours -- can conjure up, and they try them out explicitly for the reader, with happy (and spent) endings.

To get an idea of the flavor, length of average submission and overall tone of the upcoming book, visit any bookstore and flip through a copy of Sweet Life 1 or 2.

I'm searching for stories that are approximately 3,000 words. Payment is $50 per story, and two copies of the anthology.

Please paste stories into an email and send to viwhips@yahoo.com -- no attachments, please!

Deadline is August 1, and there is a 3 story maximum per author. I can't use previously published pieces, or simultaneous submissons.

I hope to hear from you soon!

Violet

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Buttmen 4: Erotic Stories and True Confessions by Gay Men Who Love Booty

The following will be considered: short stories, erotica, true encounters, true confessions, essays, humor, short fiction and nonfiction, as long as it revolves around or focuses on men's butts and/or why we love them (sorry, no poetry).

Deadline is Oct 1, 2003. For more guidelines, read on:

General info:

We are looking for unique, imaginative stories that express a sincere passion for the male ass and stories that share that passion without inhibition.

We seek diversity, meaning we welcome and indeed encourage stories about all ethnic backgrounds and about all kinds of male asses. No subject matter dealing with the male ass featuring consensual adults is off limits.

Submission logistics:

Pennames are allowed.

Our preference is that stories be submitted as Microsoft Word or text files attached to email. Files should be named the following way.

Lastname-penname.story_title
or
Lastname.story_title

On the first page, please include your name and all relevant contact info. Please number the pages in the header. Submit stories in a simple font, such as Times New Roman, size 12pt.

***Your email address will be the primary way we contact you so keep this in mind when giving us an email address. ***

Please send submissions to buttmenbooks@westbeachbooks.com

Go here to ask submission questions.

More about what we're looking for:

-Stories that have a catchy title that is either sexy, sexual, teasing, intriguing, daring, fun or funny, especially titles that let the reader know the story is about butt.

-Stories that focus on ass, be it rimming, fucking, touching, massaging, loving, feltching, fisting, or worshipping ass.

-Stories that make it clear right off that the focus is on ass.

-Stories that come from honest point of view and not one of "I’m here to try to entertain you and make you hot with a sex story."

-Stories that don’t read like typical porn. Unless really convincing, we tend to avoid "typical porn video setups" where two strangers suddenly find themselves grabbing each other's cocks and seducing one another without even knowing if the other person is receptive.

-Stories that reveal something about the author or the characters through an honest point of view.

-Stories that reveal something about why we love ass and how we love ass.

-Stories that are daring in nature, especially by taking the reader somewhere new or giving a new spin on an old theme.

-Stories where the author tells us something he may not share with others ... secret passions not readily shared.

-Stories that don’t require a lot of editing or "fixing." Please proofread your work thoroughly and make sure the physical presentation of it is as professional as possible.

-Stories that seem professional (correct grammar, spell-checked, the little things that make a presentation professional)...

-Stories where it seems like the author actually read the call for submissions theme and requirements, including the need for the stories to be shorter rather than longer, and for the stories to focus on ass.

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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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--- Kevin’s Book Review Corner ---
--- By Kevin Tipple ---
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Ménage A Spies
By Fletchina Archer 2002 - Ellora’s Cave - www.ellorascave.com

Ordinarily I like to start a review column here with a quote from the book. I do that so that you can get a feel for the authors work without having to chase down the link and look for a sample of the novel in question. But, that won’t work in this case and not because the novel is a bad book. On the contrary, if it was a bad book, then my job would be easier. No, the book is very good and that is precisely why it is hard to quote from. The graphic scenes are very graphic as well as being intensely erotic and because people of all persuasions and standards read this column, I can’t use anything from the good stuff as it were. The rest of the book is also good stuff in the non-erotic sense but I can’t use any of that because it is out of context and therefore does not really show anything.

So, I am left quote less. This book is also difficult to review from the standpoint that it uses an unnamed narrator as well as flashbacks as a literary device. Personally, I don’t care for either technique, especially the flashback, but in this case, it works. It works precisely because the author, after chapter one, reverts to the flashback for the rest of the work. After a couple of chapters in the past, one begins to forget that this is an extended flashback and the novel works. But it makes the novel difficult to review, as after reading chapter one, the reader knows the end result but not how things got to be the way they are. So, please understand that I am basically ignoring the first chapter to explain the work. I am also forced to leave out numerous secondary storylines, which serve as textual background to this very enjoyable work.

As the novel really begins (chapter two) two women are watching out their windows at a guy in the next building. The man is nude, attractive and pleasuring himself deliberately in front of open windows. Addie and the unnamed female narrator are watching and very aroused by his performance. They soon have to pleasure each other in response after he vanishes from view. At the same time, they concoct a plan to meet and seduce the mystery man.

Soon they are able to locate which apartment he is in and find out his name and phone number. They further refine the plan and meet the mystery man, Alberto Villaviejo. After a fine dinner with the ladies, they manage to lure him home with them and soon all three are having a very good time. Their passionate lovemaking is over heard by FBI agents and the morning after finds agents on their doorstep.

It seems that Alberto and his sister, Francesca, whom he lives with, are surveillance targets of the FBI. Addie and the narrator are not impressed with the agents’ vague explanations that the brother and sister are a threat. They dismiss the agents and before long show up at their apartment to warn them that they are under surveillance. Political refuges from Chile and later Panama, Francesca is not surprised at the news concerning herself and her brother. They have known the agents were watching and have been playing with them, not realizing how serious the agents are taking the case. She has also heard all about the previous night's activities from Alberto and wants to engage in the same thing. Soon the ladies are together and then when Alberto arrives home, he is welcomed back by the narrator.

Before long the foursome devise a plan to convince the FBI agents that they are not a threat. Alberto has seen the agents and their female supervisor and wants to personally address the supervisors concerns and needs. Slowly, they move forward in their plan to convince the agents that the only threat they pose is an erotic one that could ultimately change everyone’s life for the better.

While there is some political and sociological themes and discussions in this novel, it never strays across the line into preaching. Everything that happens, regardless of a graphic sexual scene or political discussion, is a natural out growth of character development. That is refreshing when so many authors feel the need to bash the readership over the head with a viewpoint. This author does not do so and makes her points gently and with an intriguing storyline.

This is a fast paced, very graphic novel that is thoroughly enjoyable. With well-written scenes, both explicit and non, the action and character development moves forward at a steady pace. Everything builds together nicely and flows toward an ending that works for these characters. This reader never got the sense that things were forced into place as in so many graphic novels these days. This novel features strong writing with complicated characters and is definitely one to add to the collection.

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--- Response To CB Pott's Column ---
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(See CB Pott's column here. Click on VIII-16.)

Felix Lance Falkon writes:

Here are some additions to Potts's advice, based on my seeing 100 or so unsolicited manuscripts (in the latest of the three fiction magazines I have edited over the past quarter century) every week:

Always put your address on the first page (or cover page) of every manuscript.This makes it easier for people to send money.

Identify every page of every manuscript with page number, the story or article's title, and your name. (short title and last name are usually enough here)

Do not staple manuscripts.

Never use a typeface smaller than 12 point.

A manuscript is not a business letter. So: indent the first line of every paragraph five spaces. Do not put extra space between paragraphs unless you want to show a break in continuity, scene, or (in essays) major subject.

Do start a new paragraph with every change of who is speaking in a conversation.

Felix Lance Falkon; FelixFalkon@comcast.net

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Crystal Canyon on the pros and cons of using a pseudonym...

The big pro, for me, is I can write freely without worrying that someday my family will know about my smuttier side.

The standard me writes respectable pieces. My alter ego, however, doesn't have kids, or a mother, or in-laws.

Someday, when my sons are old enough to be interested in this sort of thing, I'd also hate for them to sneak home a magazine and see my name in it. I'm saving them therapist bills, ok?

I can go to the grocery store, or the pool, or a PTA meeting, confident that no one in the room associates me with their masturbatory fantasies. Not that I mind writing the stories-just that I want to enjoy my sweet, suburban life without being That Woman.

I also have a sneaking suspicion that some mainstream editors may be less interested in printing my work in, say, a parenting magazine, if they know that I also write smut. The non-sexual pieces I write have paid a lot more, and are my bread-and-butter. I'd hate to lose any of that.

It's even fun to have a ridiculous, over-the-top pseudonym for my ridiculous, over-the-top stories. I'm considering adding another pen name, as well--something that doesn't sound so obviously fake and tarted-up.

Cons? Well, I haven't run into any cons yet. I am building my reputation as two separate people, and they are both doing well.

Crystal Canyon

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Have any thoughts on something you've seen in the newsletter? Send 'em to me at katy@katyterrega.com

Tara Alton writes that her story "Brownies Deluxe" was just published in Clean Sheets on July 9th.

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S. S. KSHATRIY tells us that his (non-erotica) book, Silicon Valley Greats, has been published. It has also been selected by The Library Of Congres for its Participants Program and will be distributed among American Universities. The book is a biographical work and is story of 9 Indian American stalwarts in Silicon Valley and details can be found here

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Sabrina Moses ( ssmoses@yahoo.com), erotica poet & writer, has a short, woman-spanking-man story, HOMECOMING, posted at http://www.pinkflamingo.com.

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Congrats to all of you! 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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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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Check out my column at http://www.absolutewrite.com/ on - what else?! - writing porn. This week I wrote an essay called "The Professional Porn Writer" that deals with the importance of professionalism. Check it out here - http://www.absolutewrite.com/specialty_writing/porn_101.htm (It may not be up must yet, but it will be soon...)

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Check out the new and improved, totally revamped story site at KatyTerrega.com and let me know what you think! Or there's always the (now free) Daily Jack-Off Stories to peruse...

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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 $5-$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.