taboo and not so taboo topics, how to find a publisher,

afkaSmhop · Mar 28, 2006

I have a really fun series of stories about strippers. This is not porn, nor even erotica, it is more along the lines of Brett Easton Ellis... a bunch of club hopping party going people and the borderline lives they lead.

The problem is, its a taboo subject! I mean ppl write and publish all sorts of sex and violence, but for some reason, this topic is off limits.

I am looking to find a publisher to submit too... and I dont want to submit to an erotica publisher. How can I research this?

thank you

veinglory · Mar 28, 2006

I would need to know a bit more about the length and genre--is it more sex in the city/US quuer as folk or with more explicit sex and crime stuff going on?

Jamesaritchie · Mar 28, 2006

afkaSmhop said:
I have a really fun series of stories about strippers. This is not porn, nor even erotica, it is more along the lines of Brett Easton Ellis... a bunch of club hopping party going people and the borderline lives they lead.

The problem is, its a taboo subject! I mean ppl write and publish all sorts of sex and violence, but for some reason, this topic is off limits.

I am looking to find a publisher to submit too... and I dont want to submit to an erotica publisher. How can I research this?

thank you

Nothing is taboo. You just have to find the right magazine, and there's a magazine for anything and everything.

How to research it? Same way you would for any other story, I guess. You go through all the listings in Writer's Market, you Google for other market listings, and Google for magazines, and Google in order to look for any stories similar to your own.

Sassenach · Mar 28, 2006

afkaSmhop said:
The problem is, its a taboo subject! I mean ppl write and publish all sorts of sex and violence, but for some reason, this topic is off limits.

I am looking to find a publisher to submit too... and I dont want to submit to an erotica publisher. How can I research this?

thank you

I don't think you've tried very hard if you think this is a taboo subject.

For example, have you worked on a query letter?

afkaSmhop · Mar 28, 2006

veinglory said:
I would need to know a bit more about the length and genre--is it more sex in the city/US quuer as folk or with more explicit sex and crime stuff going on?

Definately more sex in the city.. some sexy stuff is mentioned, but it is not overt. In fact, sex in the city is the perfect way to describe it.

I guess I get the feeling it is taboo bc so many who have read it seem to react strongly to the fact that the main two characters are stippers/ people have such bais about them.

veinglory · Mar 28, 2006

Maybe you are in a more conservative area than many of us. There will be a publisher for the topic--but again, without more details it is hard to make suggestions.

PattiTheWicked · Mar 28, 2006

The people who have read it that say "there is a bias against strippers" --- are these people in the publishing industry?

If not, I wouldn't sweat it. Finish your manuscript, get it cleaned up so there are no typos or plot holes, and then start sending out queries.

I've read plenty of books where the characters aren't particularly likeable, and it has nothing to do with whether they are strippers or not.

afkaSmhop · Mar 28, 2006

No, they are University folk.

Birol · Mar 28, 2006

And the basis they had for making this statement?

pdr · Mar 29, 2006

Sounds like literary snobbism at work!

Just write the best story you can, make the characters people the readers care about and find the right market. Check out the market lists in the sticky at the top of this board.

taboo and not so taboo topics, how to find a publisher,

afkaSmhop

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Jamesaritchie

Sassenach

5 W's & an H

afkaSmhop

veinglory

volitare nequeo

PattiTheWicked

Unleashing Hell.

afkaSmhop

Birol

Around and About

pdr