A Look from the Slush Pile

I had my first look at a smutty slush pile this past weekend. It was…interesting. I definitely enjoyed the chance to read other writers’ interpretations of our themes.

However, I admit not all of the experience was positive.

Not all stories were to our taste, which is fine! I do have a pretty specific taste, but I try to be open-minded. The diversity of viewpoints is part of the game when you launch a theme like “character-driven” smut.

Yet it’s not the content of the stories so much as the presentation that we saw the most diversity in. I’ve learned now that there’s no such thing as the “typical” submission, or at least that it shouldn’t be taken for granted.

I admit that on at least one occasion, I was so taken aback by the tone of a cover letter that I broke into raucous laughter.

Anyway, it’s encouraged my co-editor and I to refine our guidelines with a few additional tips. Check them out! They probably apply to many more slush piles than just ours.

And honestly? Don’t take this post as anything but encouraging. If you’re talented and polite, you’re golden. If you’re promising and friendly, you’re golden. If you’re completely off the wall, you’re still not half as off the wall as at least one thing I’ve seen this past weekend.

Oh brave new world, that has such creatures in it.