Let the textual healing begin!

Get out your laptops and dust off your dirty minds, Hyphen readers, and let’s get loo-loose with it! In line with our just released print mag “The Sex Issue,” Hyphen is holding our first ever erotic writing contest!

We want it sensual, we want it torrid, we want it steamy, and we want it BAD. We are looking for any short story of any length that features an erotic encounter. The encounter can be based on any genre (from contemporary to historical to sci-fi), any time period, or any sexual orientation.

There’s just one rule: Keep it legal, folks. We want to be turned on and titillated, but please don’t disgust the shit out of us. No rape, pedophilia, incest, necrophilia (vampires ok), bestiality (shapeshifters ok), or anything else taboo or against the law.

Stories will be judged by Teresa Lo, author of the erotic fiction series The Red Lantern Scandals. Judging criteria will be based upon the erotic writing tips outlined in Hyphen's Books Section Feature “Textual Healing, A Guide to Writing Smokin’ Hot Erotic Sex Scenes.”

So remember, keep your characters well-developed, your settings sexy, your plots exciting, and your language and premises cliché-free!

Entries are due by September 9, 2013. The winner will be announced on September 30, 2013. The winner’s story will be published in Hyphen’s website and will receive swag galore from Hyphen’s sponsors (hint: a yellow dildo or two might be involved).

Please send your submissions to books editors Abi Licad and Cathlin Goulding at the following email addresses:

abigail.licad[at]hyphenmagazine.com

cathlin.goulding[at]hyphenmagazine.com

And if you have any questions, feel free to email Abi and Cathlin at any time.

Wishing you good luck, erotic dreams, and many happy orgasms!