How to Get an Erotic Story Published

Getting an erotic story published is an easier feat then getting a book published, but having a story published can be a challenging endeavor as well. To get an erotic story published, you have to know and understand how the magazine world works. Use these steps to learn the process of getting an erotic story published and to make the query and submission process easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Write your story. Keep in mind that most short stories fall anywhere between a few sentences to 50 pages in length. Reread your story and correct any spelling, grammar or common sense errors. Have another person read the story as well to make sure that it makes sense to a reader.
2. Research the market to find publications specific to your story. Consider the level or eroticism in your story to help you determine the publications to which you'll submit your work. A magazine like Playboy doesn't publish material as graphic as Hustler. Or you may choose to write erotica geared toward the gay market, so you will need to familiarize yourself with publications like All-Boy.
3. Contact or look at the websites of erotica publishers, such as Circlet Press and Red Sage Publishing, to find out about submission guidelines and if they are currently accepting submissions.
4. Prepare your submission packet or query letter. It is best to use a query letter as this will save you postage and printing costs. If the magazine or publisher wants the whole manuscript though, send it!

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient and follow up about your submissions in a polite manner to get the status of your submission after 30 days.
• Try to get an agent within your genre. They will know exactly where to submit your story and leave you with time to edit and rewrite as needed.
• Sites like Writing-World and other market listings will show you specific requirements by magazines that are looking for submissions.
• Don't submit generically. Be specific in where you send your queries and manuscripts. You can easily waste time and money, not to mention that a bad impression of you may travel throughout the publishing world.