Call for Submissions: Queer Episodes

Hello You Gorgeous, Wildly Creative Creatures!

So,

Here's The Deal:

I'm co-editing an anthology with the phenomenal Lucie Barât—

founder the publishing house, social network & international non-profit Little Episodes,

an organization that "promotes the arts…"

[ get it? got it. good! ]

— & —

we're eager to check out your visual art & writing.

Entitled Queer Episodes, Lucie describes the anthology as "a celebration of queer literature:

loves gained, loves lost, loves shared, coming out, staying out, &

how the world looks from a queer eye."

In Catalyzed vernacular?

This one's for the rest of us.

As in:

the eccentric, unconventional, out-of-the-ordinary, marginalized, unique…

Wondering about that phrase 'queer eye'?

Well, it's got nothing to do with a reality TV program—

We're going for REALNESS up in hurr

instead!

While I've no interest in regurgitating opinions I've been vocal about in the past,

a veritable [AHEM!] Clint's Notes version goes something like

THIS:

Do you identify as trans?

Are you in a heterosexual relationship but aren't, you know, 'straight'?

Do you feel that your sexual orientation isn't a viable option among the standard choices available

on the drop-down menu of this Scantron test we know as our day-to-day?

For example…

When creating one's profile on a social networking site?

[ In the past, I went back & forth: either opting to not answer—which made me feel like a closet case, TBH—

or acquiescing & selecting "gay," cringing at all the connotations I'm far too aware accompany it:

I'm not "Happy!"; I don't spend a minimum of 30 hours/week at the gym; I hate musicals;

tl;dr/et cetera ]

Sparing [ further ] snooze-fest from excessive elaboration:

Ultimately, I believe queer is a far more inclusive term than 'gay.'

T H E       P A R T I C U L A R S

First & foremost?

Submissions are only accepted from members of the Little Episodes on-line community.

[ quotation about LE ]

Before you get your bowels in an uproar, or commence the requisite whiny

"But I Don't Want To Have To Sign Up For Another Social Network" response

I've been known to espouse, short of the long is this:

Little Episodes is an excellent resource for artists, including

a Notice Board where information regarding visual & verbal-based competitions/various

calls for submissions is posted [ that's information is, grammar police—don't try me! ];

a collaborative group in digital story-telling, discussion groups for Creative Writing,

the Visual Arts, Performance Arts—even On-Line Promotion

Moreover, there's really no reason for trepidation.

I mean, what are you thinking: someone's gonna show up at your front door if you haven't logged in

in three days?  Umm, yeah—sure thing.

Moving right along…

N O   P R E V I O U S L Y   P U B L I S H E D   W O R K

As in: not only other anthologies, but also magazines, 'zines, journals,

any sort of on-line anything.

You will retain the rights to your work upon the release of Queer Episodes;

we simply don't want a book that's full of repeat performances.

[ This ain't no "K-Tel Presents"; know what I'm sayin'? ]

S I M U L T A N E O U S    S U B M I S S I O N S

A C C E P T E D

However, you must designate them as such.

R E G A R D I N G

M O N E T A R Y      C O M P E N S A T I O N

At this time, there isn't any.

Before you ask…

Your work will appear in a perfect-bound, professionally-printed book—as in: the kind that's all certified & bona-fide,

complete with an ISBN-listing & a downloadable electronic companion [ read: Kindle Edition ] available.

In addition to bragging rights, there will be promotional events, at which you'll have the opportunity

to perform your work—or perhaps have your work performed by others.

Plus, you also might want to know…

"Little Episodes donates all profit to its outreach side: promoting awareness, & destigmatising depression

& addiction through the arts. There is also a 'Mental Health' group on our social network that

is for people affected by depression or addiction to chat & find helpful support information.

We provide visits to residential units or day centres. Little Episodes is keen to reach out

to people who can't get to other Little Episodes events. These visits can include

art, drama, music & writing therapy workshops, readings from the books,

performances &/or a general Q & A."

W H E R E   ,   W H E N  ,  &   H O W   ?

Prose, poetry and narrative non-fiction should be submitted in Word (*.doc/rtf) format

H E R E

Curious in terms of word count?  Aim for a max of 3K.

☆ ★ ☆ The deadline for submissions is April 29, 2011. ☆ ★ ☆

W H A T    A B O U T    A R T W O R K  ?

To celebrate the launch of Queer Episodes, we are inviting artists, photographers & illustrators

to submit a piece of visual work to be used as the cover illustration on the theme of  'Celebrating the Different.'

All visual submissions should ideally be submitted in pdf, jpg, gif,png or tiff format,

resolution should be set to at least 300dpi, & suitably sized for a 7 x 9″ (17.8 x 22.9cm) printing page.

Zap us those retinal treats

HERE

[ please & thanks! ]

Other queries, Marys?

Contact us at submissions@littleepisodes.org

&

DON'T FORGET!

☆ ★ ☆ The deadline for submissions is April 29, 2011. ☆ ★ ☆