SilkWords Submission Guidelines
www.silkwords.com
SilkWords is a new way to read fiction. Our target market is women who love erotic romance and erotica and who will enjoy interacting with a story by making choices that lead to different endings. We offer a variety of subgenres and heat levels and publish new stories every week, so we are able to work with your schedule.
Stories
We want stories with rich characters/settings that hook readers (in the first couple of pages) so they become invested early on and are compelled to make choices to reach the ending. We also want readers to enjoy the story so much they come back multiple times to explore different choices.
The majority of choices presented to the reader should be significant (i.e. a choice between two potential partners, two locations, two perspectives, etc.). We are flexible about the number and type of story branches; first and foremost we are looking for very high quality stories the reader becomes invested in.
SilkWords does not require HEA endings, but we do require that all stories have at least one upbeat or hopeful ending. We also require that characters be of appropriate age, and that sexual interaction is consensual.
Completed stories should be a minimum of 10,000 words.
Contract Options
We have two story formats: a reader-vote story, where authors develop stories in collaboration with readers on the SilkWords website, and a completed “pick your path” story (CYOA). For reader-vote stories, we work with authors to develop the story, and for both types of stories we provide developmental editing, copyediting, and cover art. We produce the final story as an e-book, make it available in the various outlets, and promote it via our website and social media. The author receives 50% of e-book sales. We ask for digital rights for 5 years.
All authors receive a bio page on the site, where you can promote your other work to our 2,000+ active members.
Proposals
Please specify which type of story you are submitting (see above). Send the beginning of your story, up to the first choice point. If you are submitting a CYOA story, please include all of the proposed choice points. If you are submitting a reader-vote story, provide a summary of the story’s general direction (we realize this will be loose, due to the voting aspect). The writing sample should be at least 1,000 words.
If you’ve submitted a CYOA proposal, and we like it, we’ll ask to see the completed story (and may provide feedback to help you fit the story to our needs and format).
Note: The content of your story up to the first choice point should not include sexual material or excessive adult language. Users don’t see an adult content warning until they sign up for a membership.
Submission Format
+ Use standard manuscript format (.doc or .rtf): Double-spaced, paragraph indent, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins.
+ Include title, author name, and page number in the header for each page.
+ Include a cover page with name (and pseudonym, if applicable), email address, mailing address, and phone number.
Send your proposal to the submissions editor: sharon@silkwords.com. Include “SilkWords proposal” and your title in the subject line.
We look forward to reading your submission!
Keri Multerer
Co-Founder SilkWords
www.silkwords.com
twitter.com/Silk_Words
